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2004-01-13 Europe

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Posted by Dan Darling 2004-01-13 12:04:23 AM|| || Front Page|| [11132 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I for one am willing to give Putin a pass, as long as he doesn't do something outright stupid (and "tightening the noose on the free media" and crushing opposition parties do not qualify... yet). Putin is not a bad choice given the alternatives.

Posted by Rafael 2004-1-13 12:23:17 AM|| 2004-1-13 12:23:17 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 I agree with Rafael. Putin may not be a poster-boy domocrat, but he the looks the best person for the job. I have little doubt that Putin will win the election and win fairly. Take a look at Belarus and most of the stans to see the likely alternative to Putin - some megalomaniac tin-pot dictator.

Posted by phil_b 2004-1-13 1:08:14 AM|| 2004-1-13 1:08:14 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 As much as I dislike Putin and his ilk, he seems the least terrible alternative. There are basically three parties in Russia right now with any degree of electability: Putin's faction (i.e., KGB), the Communists, and Zhirinovsky's faction (which are, well, National Socialists.)

Posted by Crescend 2004-1-13 1:52:22 AM|| 2004-1-13 1:52:22 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 "Putin may not be a poster-boy democrat"

Understatement of the century...

"but he the looks the best person for the job."

If his job is to crush democracy in Russia while still maintaining a respectable profile abroad, yeah he's definitely the best person for the job.

"Take a look at Belarus"

Belarus, the dictatorship of which supports and is supported by Putin you mean?

Since the "alternative" is Zhirinovsky's bodyguard, saying that Putin is better than the alternative doesn't mean much. Only reason that Russia makes even a pretense of democracy is that it still needs its international "image" abroad...

Posted by Aris Katsaris 2004-1-13 6:05:31 AM|| 2004-1-13 6:05:31 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 Hi Aris, Russia is a fuctioning democracy (although its still working on the checks and balances bit) and seems remarkably unconcerned with its international image. Its a big country thing! Where the government is not that concerned with how foreigners perceive them. A typically European obsession.

regards

Posted by phil_b 2004-1-13 7:36:38 AM|| 2004-1-13 7:36:38 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 Has the Kremlin contacted Gary Coleman?

Posted by Super Hose 2004-1-13 11:50:19 AM|| 2004-1-13 11:50:19 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 If his job is to crush democracy in Russia...

If by crushing democracy in Russia he prevents people like Zhirinovsky (or Communists for that matter) from coming to power, then by all means, I wish him all the best.

Posted by Rafael 2004-1-13 1:15:58 PM|| 2004-1-13 1:15:58 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Don't worry Kerry is getting ready to make a move in Schevestopol.. Schevestopol... that town 120 miles west of Moscow.

Posted by Shipman 2004-1-13 9:10:01 PM|| 2004-1-13 9:10:01 PM|| Front Page Top

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