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Reuters
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Communist party leader Gennady Zyuganov, tycoon and independent candidate Mikhail Prokhorov, Nationalist Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky and A Just Russia party leader Sergey Mironov will battle for the country's presidency on Sunday.
More than 100 million Russians will go to the polls on Sunday to elect a president who will be in office for the next six years. Msnbc.com's Alastair Jamieson examines the potential outcomes -- and what's at stake.
What do the polls suggest will happen?
Most polls indicate it will be an outright victory for Vladimir Putin, the current prime minister and former president who has made a deal with his ally Dmitry Medvedev, the former prime minister and current president. Despite initial public outrage over their job swap, Putin is consistently polling at around 50 per cent – well ahead of the fragmented opposition.
And even if voters do not endorse Putin, his victory is likely to be assured with the help of regional officials loyal to his United Russia party. Having extended the presidential term of office from four to six years, Putin would remain in charge until 2018 – or 2024, if he won a second term. By then, Putin would have chalked up 24 years in power out of the 33 years since the collapse of Communism thanks to his previous terms as president and prime minister.
If the outcome is such a certainty, why should the U.S. and other Western countries care?
Experts agree the U.S. will find Russia harder to deal with on Putin’s return. On Wednesday, British think tank Chatham House warned that “Russia’s stability is at increased risk” due to Putin's determination to stay in power. “The overriding objective of Vladimir Putin and his team is to preserve the narrow and personalized ruling system that they have built over the past 12 years,” it said in a report. “Real change, necessarily involving accountability and devolution of power, would disrupt the system. But without real change, Russia cannot develop as effectively as it could, and the Putin system is vulnerable to shock.”
PhotoBlog from Dec. 2011: Russians vote in election test for Putin
Opposition leaders believe Russia at a crossroads in this election, according to NBC News correspondent Jim Maceda.
“The choice is stark: six, perhaps 12, more years of an authoritative regime that is belligerent to critics ... and which sees the U.S. and its allies as Cold War rivals -- or a new, more democratic Russia that respects its neighbors and no longer snubs the West,” he said.
With less than a week until Russia's presidential elections, protesters of Vladimir Putin have one single message: "Putin, go away." Rock Center's Harry Smith reports.
“The feeling is that a President Putin will instinctively shrink from, rather than encourage, co-operation with the West on a range of issues including Iran and Syria, so there’s a lot at stake for the U.S. in this election," added Maceda, who has reported on the country since the days of the Soviet Union.
Although Putin enjoys strong domestic popularity, especially in rural Russia, dissatisfaction with his seemingly invincible regime has resulted in unprecedented public protests, with thousands joining recent marches in central Moscow that would have been unthinkable only a few months ago.
What happens if Putin doesn't do as well as the polls suggest?
If no candidate receives more than 50 per cent of the total votes cast, a second round run-off between the top two contenders will be held within 15 days, according to the country's electoral rules.
Russians rally for Putin -- and 2 days off work
Who are the opposition?
Putin’s United Russia is opposed by long-standing Communist rival Gennady Zyuganov and Sergey Mironov of A Just Russia. Two other candidates will liven up the contest. The first is Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party candidate who once suggested retaking Alaska from the U.S. His populist remarks have repeatedly landed him in trouble. The second is Mikhail Prokhorov, the 6’ 9” international playboy who is the multi-billionaire owner of the New Jersey Nets and business partner of rap star Jay-Z.
Meet the NBA tycoon who could be president of Russia
Eleven other candidates were summarily rejected by Russia’s Central Elections Committee as ineligible for reasons ranging from paperwork errors to not having the necessary two million verifiable signatures of support.
Is Prokhorov wasting his time?
“On paper, the ‘billionaire bachelor’ should probably pack it in and focus on his day job and the back half of the NBA season,” said Maceda. “But guess who is the only candidate surging in the polls? Prokhorov was hovering around one per cent when he launched his campaign in December, now he’s scraping 10 per cent.”
Could his pro-business platform resonate with Russians sick of endemic corruption and bribery? “He is learning to connect with ordinary Russians,” said Maceda. “His performance of a Russian rap tune has gone viral on the web and, who knows, maybe if this goes into a second round and enough voters who want neither Putin not Zyuganov rally round the new face, anything could happen.”
But would communists really switch support from Zyuganov to back the world’s 32nd richest man in the event of a second round? “There is no evidence that suggests that is likely,” said Professor Richard Rose, director of the Centre for the Study of Public Policy at Glasgow'sUniversity of Strathclyde and co-author of the "Popular Support for an Undemocratic Regime."
Can the results be trusted anyway?
“Vote fraud was widespread in December’s parliamentary elections and it is likely to be a factor again,” said James Nixey, an expert on Russia with Chatham House and a co-author of Wednesday’s report. “It is likely a Putin victory will be solidified through fraud before and after, rather than on polling day itself.”
A Wall Street Journal analysis of December’s Duma election results showed United Russia party captured a high share of voters in districts where turnout was well above the national average, suggesting ballot-stuffing.
But although the issue has angered many voters, Russians seem resigned to the problem. “Russians are not particularly concerned with the process,” said Rose. “They do not view the elections in the same way an independent observer might.”
What issues have featured in the campaign?
“Wages and economic prosperity are what matter most,” said Nixey. “There has also been a patriotic narrative from Putin, which strikes a chord with voters.”
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, there were wider questions about what sort of society could be created and how it should be structured. “Now, most educated professionals spend their time bogged down in how to make schools and hospitals work for the best,” said Rose, adding that there was not widespread demand for political upheaval.
A crowd of over 100,000 people brave bitter-cold conditions in Moscow to push for free and fair presidential elections. NBC's Jim Maceda reports.
Putin succeeded in imposing some kind of order in the post-Soviet Russia he inherited from the unpredictable Boris Yeltsin. He won a power struggle with the country’s new super-rich oligarchs -- tackling them with the ruthlessness learned during his time working for the KGB -- and used media stunts such as bare-chested horseback riding in order to maintain his appeal to ordinary Russians.
Given Putin’s poll lead, the opposition is not focused on whether Putin wins, but how. “This election is about the first round,” said Maceda. “If other candidates do better than expected and Putin is forced into a second round, the opposition will see it as a major victory and the beginning of the end for Putin.”
But a decisive, unchallenged victory for Putin could see the opposition neutered until the next election cycle in six years’ time, he added.
So what, if anything, might change?
Putin has pledged more than $160 billion in campaign promises, Maceda said, so some Russians will reap the benefits of his determination to stay in office.
Further protests could also draw concessions, particularly to the country’s frustrated middle classes. “The very fact that there have been protests shows that there is the sense of an ending around Putin’s regime, that it is aware of its own mortality,” said Nixey.
However, there is no wider expectation of reform. Data from the country’s Levada Center polling organization shows four out of five Russians don’t believe elections make any difference to national affairs.
A laidback Yankee in trouble in Putin's court
Is social media playing a role?
As in the Arab Spring, protesters have used Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to get their message across. In December, video footage and pictures that appeared to show election officials rigging ballots in favor of United Russia were widely shared online, sparking a furious backlash against Medvedev.
The president -- a keen user of social media with 759,000 Twitter followers of his Russian language account and 144,000 in English -- saw thousands of negative comments posted on his official Facebook page by internet users accusing him of burying the issue of election fraud by holding an internal inquiry.
Meanwhile, Russia’s independent elections monitor, Golos, has created an interactive map for voters to upload video and photographs of any election violations on Sunday directly from their mobile phones. The organization, funded largely by Western governments, has been targeted by a documentary on state-controlled television accusing it of serving American interests, according to a New York Times report.
Plot to kill Putin foiled, pro-government TV channel reports
Will there be violence?
“With security forces being full of young guys carrying machine guns, there is always the fear that these protests could turn nasty,” said Nixey, whose report suggests a "next wave of protest in the Soviet-era provincial cities, fuelled by social and economic discontent, is inevitable" However, he added: “If I had to predict whether there would be serious public disorder I would guess not. The country is generally more secure than those caught up in the Arab Spring.”
Rose added: “The fragmented opposition would first need to rally around one particular issue, and then use that to create some kind of significant embarrassment for Putin. That doesn’t appear a realistic prospect at the moment.”
NBC News' Jim Maceda contributed to this report. Follow Alastair Jamieson on Twitter.
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Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world
Leave a Comment:
Why do I NEED to know these 10 things?
The only important thing to know is that Russia's Democracy is it is as big a shame as ours is...Neither party is ever going to give up one ounce of POWER that they have taken from the people...We both vote for the "Candidate" that we are supposed to, and the winners were decided years before the campaigns begin
Who cares? It's their country and our elections aren't without fault.
Just look at his history. Financially, politically, etc. This should never happen.
Political junkies will want to know it. Plus:
Okay, how can both of these guys be the former president and current prime minister? The author/editor of this article needs to correct this error. Seriously, I thought you guys proofread your work.
Either you changed the text or they corrected the mistake - read it again.
Let me just suggest that some may want to be a little more concerned about Putin. Putin's desire to remain in power as president is based on Glasnost. Gorbachev made so many concessions that it damaged Mother Russia. Putin wants to be around so that when the history books are later rewritten he will be the man who brought home the goods. He understands that president Obama, who has already given away our back pastures, is ready to give away the entire farm; the rest of the land, the tractors, the crops, and all of the livestock. One look at what Mr. Obama has already conceded, with nothing in return from Russia, will give you a good idea of what is yet to come.
wy talk of putin rival this peaple need to talk about ron paul hi is the real leave along other countrys focus in our s
drope 1.7 Please give me the translation of your post.
Because knowledge is power!! ;D
The only way that the Russians can avoid another twelve years of Putin and his cronies is to shoot the lying, cheating POS. The whole idea of democracy is that it permits an orderly change of power, and that is the ONE thing Putin does not want.
No possibility of a change in power = No democracy (it's as simple as that)
We need to be aware of what is going on in both Russia and China. They are the two largest "opposers" of our, more or less open, form of democracy. Our politicians slaughter their opposition with negative/poisoning ads. Their "politicians"(party favs) slaughter/poison their opposition...literally.
Bottom line, if Putin and Medevdev pull this off, we are right back on the edge of the "Cold War" days. With everything else going on in the world right now, and the idiot/pacifist/unworldly White House staff we have, we sure as hell do not need to go back there!
Russian spring, what a joke , if Russians take the streets it will be a massacre and the end of Russia. We'll see the voice of the separatist who want to have their independence from the tirany of Moscu and at the end they will be more divided and weak than before because Russia is not an unified country that share the same culture, history and values, it will be like Checoeslovakia. Puting never left power , nothing is going to change , he is the puppet master , he was taking a break to get strengt for his next 12 years. 50 % are in favor of the nationalist party and none of the others candidates will get enaugh votes for a secon round, even so in a second round communist will favor Putin.
Is it me, but dont the guys running against Putin look like the have been secretly fed some polonium?
We really only need to know one thing: The Russian elections are a farce.
Deal with your own election farce. Russians will mange own elections.
Ya why even have an election..Lets just slingshot someone in their.
You have to actually visualize that, someone flying through the window of the Whitehouse..Well who are you ? I'm the new President.
Putin is much like George W., an enormous crook who steals (or has his friends steal) everything they possibly can. In America it's called "privatizing" but that's code word for theft and profiteering. It's been done in the medical industry (costs up 1000% in less than twenty years), the military (costs up HUNDREDS of BILLIONS) the prison system (judges make millions in kickbacks for sentencing adults and children to prisons for profit, see just one case involving 3 judges in Pennsylvania) and now they're going after your schools (Michele Rhe, John Deasy, etc.)
The only difference is Putin is a lot smarter and SCARIER personally than George W. so he'll reign for a long, long time.
Election by lottery. Worked for the Romans.
Slavix Tube - The U.S. may have its problems with elections but it pales in comparison to Russia. Openly stuffing the ballot box and the media who try to expose the abuses are hunted down and killed by the powerful and politically connected in Russia. Hardley a comparison to a hanging chad!
Slavix Tube - sounds like someone who desperately needs to be taken around to the back of the Post Office, ordered to dig a hole, shot, and then kicked into the hole.
Russians deserve free elections. They have learned and know now what freedom is all about. Putin is just going to bring less freedom to those who have fought and demanded a "Free Russia". Russians are well educated people, and they need a new leadership who will represent them for the next 6 years. The old guard should back off and stop controling the WILL of the Russian people. The World does not need another COLD WAR!!!! The Russian people want to be free and democratic. Let the Russian people enjoy more freedom and have at least a chance to have a democractic government (freely elected), not chosen by the same people running the country today. God bless Russia!!!!
Worry not about Russia's elections. Russia already has free elections. Russia already is FREE. Cold war type propaganda is coming from west and US in particular. Keep you nose out of Russia's internal affairs. Mind your own country's problems.
TNRebel-4016842 why don't you learn some new words and come to 21st century. There is no KGB, aside from those stuck in cold war mindset. You are the onces showered with anti-Russia cold war style propaganda, always smearing, slandering, insulting Russia and Putin in particular. You are the type trained to hate Russia and Russia's leaders when it suits your elites. I hope YOU end up in a ditch begging for your life like you are wishing for Putin.
There is NO KGB moron. It does not exist for 20+ years. Learn some new words ignoramus. Get an education.
Is Slavix Tube really Putin? It's obvious things are corrupt in Russia. People can say elections are a farce here in this country but we've never had a leader who made special position for themselves after they lost an election. I mean really, wtf's the point of having a president and a prime minister?
My first real life exchange with Russians was not in Moscow but in Benares, India. I was traveling circa 1961 and had decided to see the Bodhi Tree in Deer Park, ( where they say the Buddha achieved "enlightenment"). I figured that I could use a taste of that. Up pulled a bus full of fine upstanding Russian tourists. They are staring at me and I, in turn, am staring at them. "Damn Russians, we had been taught to 'hate' them." I decide to walk over and greet them as they came off their bus. It was good; handshakes, smiles, laughter, and the proper exchange of cigarettes. Today, they want me to "hate" all Muslims. I am not buying that at all. There were many times in my life when people of the Muslim faith invited me into their homes, fed me, warmed me, and treated me like a son.
And Ours Is Really That Different.....
My bet is on Putin, the dictator disguised as a 'Democratic' leader.
Putin is not a dictator, but a very popular and trusted politician. Calling Putin dictator is an insult to Russians who support and trust Putin. There is not 'disguising', Putin truly IS a democratic leader. In fact Putin is probably the most popular leader comparing to any western leader. Putin's approval rating is around 65%.
This is the fact that is always denied by Russia haters and western msm propaganda that wants a leader who will serve Washington's interests, not Russia's. That is why the drunk idiot Eltsin was a 'democrat', but a popular Putin is 'autocrat' in western propaganda.
The Russian Marfia will make sure that Putin is in power.
American Mafia will make sure bankers and military-industrial complex remain in power in US.
Where would the world be if U.S. policy mirrored that of Putin's?
His desire is to take Russia back to the Old Ways.
I'm sure a lot of Russians would really enjoy going back to the days of OLD?
>>His desire is to take Russia back to the Old Ways.
What do you know about Putin's desires? Your msm told you he is evil and that is all you know.
Why don't you read his election program if you actually want to know what Putin wants to do.
Putin published 7 articles on his policies if elected. I suggest you read the articles (not western msm misinterpretation) and you will hopefully better learn that Putin is, in fact, not the person you were taught to believe. Putin is a great leader and any country would be lucky to have a decent, honest, smart, honorable man like Putin for president.
I can't post links here (so much for freedom of speech) so you will have to search for the articles yourself.
Thank you Slavix Tube for explaining,from the Russian viewpoint,what I thought was right all along.After the Yeltsin mess,Putin has given Russians pride in their country again.I think he wants to leave a legacy of a rebuilt stronger Russia.To hopefully rebuild part of the unity they once knew.I've studied a lot on the history and people of Russia.And admire your people for your bravery in WW1 and WW2,and the culture Russia as given the world.
Thank you Uncle Bob. Wish you all the best.
This article is misleading. Putin is polling 58-66% in latest polls, not 'around 50' as claimed in this article. Notice that the poll quoted has answers like 'would not go', 'hard to answer'. Amongst those who have decided to vote Putins' rating is much higher.
Putin V.
51,7
53,3
54,7
53,5
Zyuganov G.
8,3
10,3
9,2
10,8
Zhirinovsiky V.
7,4
8,2
8,0
8,9
Mironov S.
4,3
3,3
5,0
4,3
Prohorov M.
4,1
4,6
5,8
5,6
I wouldn't go to the polls
11,7
9,8
8,1
7,8
Hard to answer
10,1
9,8
8,4
8,0
Putin is combining "Chicago Politics", intimidation, and the flaw of the multiparty system to maintain himself in power. He doubtlessly sees no imperfections in the mirror and his "Chicago-style" supporters see his viability as their own viability. Unfortunately, even if he has his way, change will ultimately come from within after even some of his most ardent supporters become disgusted with this sham of "democracy".
Putin is a product of Russia's authoritarian/totalitarian past. Okhrana, Cheka, NKVD, KGB, SVR/FSB...they are all nothing more than a product of paranoia and political greed...In the US, it would be like the CIA/FBI and Mafia all rolled together to maintain Obama in power...a bit farfetched. But, in Russia this has been the norm ever since it started out....Democracy is a sort of "orphan". in this cold, brutal country that has used bloody conquest to spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Putin is just VERY "normal" for that godforsaken land.
And the Russians DO deserve better, but even democracy confounds this group of lost souls. Thanks to the KGB's deep deep cynicism gained when it hid behind the facade of "International Communism" it learned how to pervert and destroy budding democracies all over the world that were emerging from centuries of colonialism, tribalism and monarchy...and it was thorough in its attempts to lay blame for the problems of the world at the foot of the world's democracies.
This is the "school" where Putin and his fellow predators come from. To them, democracy is just one more barrier to be manipluated and shoved aside in their search for dominance. So, why are the Russians so "hobbled" when it comes to achieving political freedom? It comes from their history and their inability to compromise and unite...like the Venezuelans are doing..under one champion..to attain peacefully that which is each and every Russian's God-given right.
As I said...change will eventually come from within...hopefully it will be non-violent....
man, for a second there I thought you were talking about the USA, if it wasn't for you saying the name Putin and KGB, I swear you were talking about the US History and how thru bloody conquest they spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and how they have abused the latin american countries and taking advantage of them for decades after they gain their independence. Phewww, I'm glad you are not talking about the US.
obama is learning a lot from putin, chavez (obama's idol), castro and soros!!!
Putin is by far, the most trusted and supported politician in Russia because he has proven himself as a reliable, patriotic leader that has manged to do a lot to improve his countrymen lives. All the anti-Putin propaganda that has been streaming across western msm for years won't change the fact that Russians trust Putin over any other competition. Putin will be DEMOCRATICALLY elected president.
Putin is a strong democratic leader that cares and works for his country. Who won't sell it the highest bidder. Who will protect Russia's interests. Russians know this and will vote for him in huge numbers. Opposition will scream 'fraud' as they always do and western msm will agree with opposition as they always do.
I am not Obama supporter and never was. I saw him as another banker's tool that he is way before he was sold to the public in a 'hope and change' package.
All right than, no hard feelings. btw, Putin is the man. You would do well to get out of the bubble of Putin hatred spread by your msm and learn about the guy. He truly is a man of the people and can be trusted to deliver what he promises.
Obama, Putin ... not much difference really ... both are just looking for unlimited power and to take out anyone against them.
Oh wait .. that's right ... Putin doesn't appologize 24/7 for everything
Speaking of Power - the Bush Dynasty is still in power. Bush III is looking like he is going to get re-elected so 20 years of Bushes
KIRK ... are you really that stupid and naive ... Bush still in power huh ... your an idiot.
Texas - name one real and tangible difference between Bush II and Bush III.
Some people just can't see the forest for the trees!
I really never understood what the GOP has against Obama, because he has only continued Bush policy.
Those who reference him as Bush Lite see no credible difference between him and his predecessor.
Russia has 5 candidates running for president. If they choose Putin then so be it. The USA does not have a patent on nationalism. Let's work on our own system. We the people have allowed our elected govt to legalize their own corruption. Bribery is classified as campaign funds. Our reps listed to the people giving them the legalized bribes, not the people who elected them. If one lives in a glass house refrain from throwing stones into the atmosphere. Russia will still be around when the geniuses in the USA go bankrupt.
someone has a crush on Putin big time.
Unless you are a member of the voting public in Russia, this should not be any of your business.
Putin will keep the One World Order people from taking over the planet. We need a strong leader like him to keep things in check.
No TNRebel .. that would be Obama.
Well TNRebel .. at least 99% of the gov in DC should be removed from office forever ....
The Spending has to stop, it has long been out of hand and Obama has made it worse ... it is clear NONE of them in either party are really willing to stop adding to the debt and operate on a balance budget ... Hell Obaama hasnt even had an approved budget
Putins campaign slogan: Vote for me or die!
You are full of it. Lying about Putin is so customary in US. Any lie goes.
No you are just brainwashed by anti-Putin propaganda. Any and every allegation against Putin is taken on face value by western msm and requires no evidence. Only Putin critics get to comment on Russia in western msm. Constant stream of lies, slander, smears and disgusting insults. That is what western coverage of Russia consists of. This is what you 'pay attention' to.
Putin is not a girl running for miss America. He is not supposed to be liked or appeal to you.
Putin is candidate for Russia's president, so his support by Russians is what matters.
Slavix ...perhaps if he were not a former member of the KGB and was not clearly demonstrating his desire to revert to the old Soviet Union ways of winning elections ....Americans would embrace him. For those who say it is none of our business ....Russia's elections are very important to the US. Just as our elections are important to them ...
>>perhaps if he were not a former member of the KGB and was not clearly demonstrating his desire to revert to the old Soviet Union ways of winning elections ....Americans would embrace him
Bush Sr. was head of CIA, that did not prevent Americans electing him. KGB despite being a synonym of 'devil' in minds of many Americans (result of cold war propaganda) was a security agency, not unlike security agencies in many other countries. Putin was an intelligence officer serving his country honorably.
As for 'old Soviet Union ways of winning elections' I doubt you have a clue what you are talking about whether about Soviet Union's elections of current. Americans are trained to hate leaders who American elites want to get rid off. Your msm constantly lies about and smears Russia and Putin. You only get to hear from those who are ready to criticize Russian government and accuse Putin of misdeeds and crimes. Most Americans have NO IDEA about real state of Russia, Russia's democracy, elections and the rest of it. The little info that you get about Russia is filled with lies and anti-Russia propaganda.
I could say exactly the same thing about the Russian media in regards to the US .....While I cannot disagree with your KGB/CIA comparison ....I will say this ....you cannot deny that Putin would like nothing more than to revert to the old ways. He is a power hungry egocentric ....just like any other politician. Only more dangerous. I cannot believe that their so many Russian people who would support someone who clearly wants to reemerge as their supreme leader...... Why not make him CZAR vladimir and be done with it ......
I think you don't know anything about Putin, the man or his desires. You don't have a CLUE. I can not and don't want to debate with you on subjects you obviously don't know what you are talking about. All I can tell you - get out of the bubble of anti-Putin propaganda and learn something REAL about the man. Look up those pre-election articles I told you about. Maybe this will help you..
Putin seems determined to hang on to power forever and return Russia to a dicatorship under the cover of new laws!
Another lier.
There is no dictatorship in Russia. Putin is NOT a dictator, but POPULAR and TRUSTED leader who will be ELECTED by majority of Russians for the post of PRESIDENT. So shut the hell up moron. You have no clue about Russia.
MIND YOUR OWN COUNTRY'S PROBLEMS.
Slavix Lube: Dude, or Dudette as I don't want to be accused of being gender biased, you seem to think that a nuclear armed Russia selling that technology along with their inferior weapons around the world to every snot nosed wanna be Idi Amin isn't part of our country's problems. Just like Putin and, evidently you, consider the U.S one of Russia's problems. I don't mind you blowing Putin's...whatever you're blowing on Putin...but don't make it out that he's not like every other high profile politician in a nuclear armed country 'cause he is. lol
I guess I hit one of them Slavic buttons. roflmao
There's a reason that the middle class in Russia are out protesting. I don't think it has anything to do with American propaganda. I think it has to do with the rich getting richer and the middle class getting screwed. This is a familiar theme it would seem world wide. I will say this about the Russians. 'Data from the country’s Levada Center polling organization shows four out of five Russians don’t believe elections make any difference to national affairs.' They're more intelligent than Americans. Over here it's only about 50% depending on if it's an election for Congress (about 35%) or president. lol
Is our US elections any different? Only difference I see is Russia has longer terms in office and that has benefits, stability for one. A president can finish an action that he started and not have the next president scrap it in 4 years. But make the terms too long and...well...would that not be an elected dictatorship?
The US elections is corrupt as well, the best man for the PEOPLE and the NATION as a whole gets dirt drug up on him/her and chased out of the race while the multi-millionaires that only want the power of the office to help themselves and their rich backers...to hell with the common person, middle or lower class working stiff. Its all about the money and nothing else.
I think the US needs to pay more attention to its own political scene and fix it before damning other countries.
I suggest all of you - Russia's 'critics' pay attention to own country's huge problems.
Watch this video:
Nothing like this is in Russia
Compare arrested protesters in US and in Russia
Unfortunately links were removed from last post.
Gee, what a great video. I feel all warm and tingly after watching that. Wait...sorry that was a rerun of 'The Waltons'. They won't let you post links on here, Lube. lol
It's Russia's business so why should I care. Let them deal with their own problems, we have enough of our own here with our politicans heh heh
I just have this to say. Buy American. We have better small arms. We have better weapon platforms. We have better tanks. We have better aircraft. We have better biological and chemical weapons. For all your dictatorial and genocidal needs look no further than your friendly neighborhood weapons dealer dealing exclusive American merchandize. lol
And they are all for sale to any petty dictator in the world to kill our kids heh heh. Like I said, we have enough problems with our own politicans lol.
Yep. Ain't capitalism great? lol
'A capitalist is someone who will sell you the gun you need to shoot him with.' Lenin
Glad it was Lenin and not Obama that said that heh heh.
JC2.2, I suggest you to get educated about the is really happening around you. If you are speaking about selling weapons, I suggest you to read about "Fast and Furious" scandal regarding our gov selling guns to Mexican drug cartels. Do you hear much about that? Maybe not, because is not in the best interest of our great politicians to let the media get involved in these issues. Let's mind our own business and lets worry about how we can get out of our own deep s**t that we are in. Let the Russians run their own business.
JMDM79 Gee, not born and raised in the ole homeland I notice. Slavic or Chinese I'd say judging by your use of the infinitive and some other little things. I'll go out on a limb and guess Slavic seeing as how you're commenting about Putin and Russia. I'd normally charge for this but being an all round nice guy I'll give you a lesson on American English as a Second Language for nothing.
'I suggest you to get educated about....'
Leave out the infinitive. It's not 'to get', it's, 'I suggest you get educated about....'
'If you are speaking about selling weapons, I suggest you to read about "Fast and Furious" scandal regarding our gov selling guns to Mexican drug cartels.'
Again leave out the infinitive 'to read' and add a couple of articles. The sentence should read, 'I suggest you read about the "Fast and Furious" scandal regarding our gov selling guns to the Mexican drug cartels.'
'Maybe not, because is not in the best interest of our great politicians to let the media get involved in these issues.'
Need to add a construct here. Here we go. 'Maybe not, because it is not in the best interest of our great politicians to let the media get involved in these issues.', is the correct structure.
There we go. All in all not bad for someone whose cradle language wasn't English.
To answer your question. Yeah, I read about it. So? You think that's something new and unusual? We've been selling and trading weapons to cartels and death squads for drugs and money for decades. Ever hear of the Iran-Contra weapons for hostages under Ronnie Rayguns? If not I suggest you go read about it and then come back and comment some more about what I should be commenting on pertaining to anything I frigging want to comment on. lol
Instead of worrying about someone's English.You'd be better served paying attention to the points raised in the post.
Bob: I couldn't give a rat's ass less what you consider the points in his post are. He asked a question I answered it. The rest of that BS in his post was a pitiful attempt at a slam. Seeing as how he's a frigging foreigner probably in this country on a visa and he's whining about this country's leaders like a good many of the BS repubs on here I gave him the answer he deserved. You folks want to whine about Obama and carp. Hell I don't like Obama but he's a hell of a lot better than any nazi radical religious teabagging repub. Since 1968 to 2008 there have been 2 frigging dems in the White House for a total of 12 years. All the rest of the sorry SOBs have been Repubs. From 1996 to 2006 both branches of congress were controlled by frigging repubs yet all that's heard from teabagging slicks of sewer scum nazi repubs is how frigging terrible dems are. They've frigging gutted the middle class and made billions for their frigging corporate fascist buddies. In 1970 the middle class comprised 70% of the folks in this country. Boy George and his frigging culture club along with Ronnie Rayguns and his frigging BS 'trickle-down' economics and Pappy Bush crushed that down to 44% 19% of that lost 26% went into the poverty class. Ronnie Rayguns raised taxes 11 frigging times but I don't hear the frigging nazi repubs bitching about that. The nazi repubs started war after frigging war sacrificing thousands of servicemen for lies so they could make money for corporate fascists like Halliburton, Brown&Root, GE and on and on and on. STFU about his frigging post and his so-called points. lol
Actually had you read his post it wasn't an attack on Obama.(Who I voted for by the way.And probably will again.)He was making the point that we sell weapons as well.And instead of attacking Russia for doing the same thing we do.We should mind our own business first.A very wise idea by the way.
I bet Putin can't wait to put on that green Hugo Boss suit with the knee high leather boots again. This pretending to be moderate and legitimate must be killing him.
Nations that are pro-development & pro-human threaten the Brutish Empire, especially now that the game is up on their usurious speculative global system. That's why they go ape, like Chatham House has demonstrated, and try to assassinate great leaders- so they can attempt to prolong their Power and assumed right to loot, starve, enslave, kill, manipulate, etc... Now that their system is going down, we just need a U.S. president with the brains not to be their tool, and to instead work with Russia, China, & India, and other sovereign nations, for the progress of the human race as a whole. Time for the "Glass-Steagall" act , H.R. 1489!
The truth about Putin. The main reason the West doesn't like Putin is that he is the only politician in the world that can stand up to NATO. Another reason, is that Russia has 40% of the world's natural resources. When the Soviet Uniton broke apart Russia's industry was controlled by the western compaines. For example Russia was selling oil but none of the profits from selling the oil stayed in Russia. All the profits went to western companies. When Putin came to power he reformed the economic system and so that Russia once again controlled it's own resources. The truth is that since Putin was in power the quality of life in Russia has increased dramatically.
If you're going to be a surrogate for Putin, you'd better stay in school and keep taking remedial English.