The return of the Putin III

[abomvubuso]

I think this vid is pretty succinct, how'dya think? Well, the exit polls are unambiguous. There'll be no 2nd round, Putin wins the presidential election in Russia. 58-60% roughly. And no surprise there.

The result was anticipated, and is hardly a shock for anybody. More important is what the opposition's reaction would be and what are Putin's next

Comments

[mahnmut]

Putin may be returning to Kremlin but meanwhile Russia has changed. It's no longer that Russia, and he may not be aware of that just yet. He has ceased being the beloved irreplaceable leader who can save the country (from itself?) Now more and more people are getting fed up with him. They call it the Putin-Medvedev two-headed hydra, and that's telling.

Putin's system is running out of steam, and he's becoming irrelevant. He could go in peace but obviously he won't. This only promises a lot of turmoil. Interesting times are coming ahead for the Russians.

You be very careful next time you go there.

[luvdovz]

Putin's understanding of a 'modern' Russia includes a very strong state that could guarantee security and order in society and to preserve the Orthodox faith as a basis of the Russian identity. That's why his party is mostly nationalist, it's not either progressive or conservative. In the whole scheme the personal rights and democratic principles are of secondary if not tertiary importance. That's the essence of his system.

But in his megalomania he has lost a connection with reality. His sense of invincibility is the seed of his downfall.

If suddenly his conscience speaks up tomorrow and he decides to address the real problems of his country, like corruption, elction fraud, state dictate on entire economic sectors and the judicial system, it would eventually destroy the whole system he created. And even if those are his intentions, which I doubt, the resistance from those who benefit from the system would be immense. Too strong even for Putin the 3rd.

[mahnmut]

It's interesting, the similarities and the differences between the US president and the Russian president. They're both controlled by apparatchiks who stay behind the curtains, to a certain extent. But the Russian president, at least in Putin's case, seems much more powerful.

On a side note, the hardliners are gaining ground in Iran at the moment. There were local elections these days, and Ahmadinejad is made to look like the mildest among moderates in Iran. Yet another puppet who's being pulled by strings.

[luvdovz]

I've never seen Putin so weak and defensive. On several occasions he had to resort to petty tactics, whining like a spoiled brat. There was even some conspiracy scenario with some assassination plot against him or some such shit. Sure, his victory was pre-determined. But not because he's so awesome and he can kill a fucking polar bear with his bare hands, no way. It was because he didn't have any viable alternative candidate against himself. And for a reason

[abomvubuso]

Let's not underestimate his chameleonic capabilities, though. He may look visibly older, but the question is, does he have enough willingness to show himself as a "modern" and strong leader and reformer? Because that was his trademark in the past. Let's recall that in the beginning he was Mr Nobody. He was hand-picked by Yeltsin because the old man believed his protege would be easy to control. And for a time Putin was indeed a very useful tool. Remember what he looked like in the beginning. He was hardly able to say two sentences in front of more than 10 people. It was never his speciality to be a charismatic orator in the first place. But his polit-technologians from his Effective Policy foundation worked very hard on him and they polished his image of a modern Tzar. One of them even likened Putin to a doctor and the Russian society to a patient who urgently needs their leg set in plaster. Well, plaster indeed it is. Russia hasn't removed that plaster ever since

[ddstory]

I recently watched a documentary on ARD (a German TV) that showed the "other side" of Putin. It focused mostly on his early years before and during his training in KGB. Putin the idealist boy, the self-made man, etc. The lady who was interviewed by Stewart has called her book The Man Without A Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin. And that says a lot.

[zzerzonat]

Nice vid. Well there we have it 65% and it is a new Tcar. He already choosed his way and it is not peacefull. He will not soften his regiment also and with strengthening of unlawful people with the rise of same 90's banditism country will might soon come to a fail state. As I live in RF for all my life I am comparing today's situation with 90's - all the same terracts, murder and suicide news every freaking day.

[mahnmut]

That's bad to hear. Well, you know what you have to do.

[luzribeiro]

Grab a gun?

[mahnmut]

More like, put pressure on the motherfuckers.

[telemann]

I saw Masha Gessen's interview with Jon Stewart, discussing her biography of Putin. I'm going to buy an electronic copy of the book tonight, it looks fascinating. If anyone else is reading it now, I'd love to hear what you think of it. Thanks ;)

[abomvubuso]

Da, comrade. Same interview :)
I'm going to pirate-download an electronic copy of the book and read it a.s.a.p. ;)

[telemann]

EEEEpppp. Sowwy, I should never cook dinner and do laundry and LJ at the same time, so I didn't *clicky* the link.

As a lowly music editor who makes such a pittance, I GASPETH at Maestro Kol, the pirate. :P

[abomvubuso]