Your blog has been mentioned as one that contains serious but "appropriate" criticism of Russia designed to promote significant reform.
Oddly, when I looked at the first page of your blog, I saw you say "bugger off loser" to somebody in one post and then defend/rationalize Russian action against Belarus in another.
So I was wondering, could you link me to your last three critical posts about Russia? I'd love to read them! Russia is the best country in the world . . . except for all the others!
See also the thread starting here and the links in that diary (some of which are also listed in the above sentence).
There's been more in the comments around stories (in the daily Salon, where we discuss the news of the day). We discuss Russia regularly, feel free to jump in.
Generally, my position is clear: Putin is a small time despot who grabbed power thanks to the genocidal war in Chechnya, got lucky as world energy prices jumped through the roof (so much so that he and his mediocre siloviki cronies cannot even steal it all) and got even luckier as he has to face the stupidest and most criminal leaders in the West for a long while. He is popular because for most Russians, subsidized authoritarianism is better than empoverished chaos.
I usually defend Russia against the blatant hypocrisy of the West; I really don't like Putin otherwise. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
Why is Putin "small time"? He presides over the largest land mass on the globe and has nuclear weapons as well as a large store of fossil fuels. He abolished local elections, obliterated the TV news, wiped out opposition political parties and may have ordered many killings of political rivals. He's certainly sent a major rival to prison in Siberia.
I'm not sure I understand "the stupidest and most criminal leaders in the West for a long while." I'm quite sure POEMLESS would find this an outrageous and inappropriate smear, disqualifying you from her admiration. But the point is: Are you saying you think George Bush is worse than Vladimir Putin? Russia is the best country in the world . . . except for all the others!
Because we're not looking for somebody who defends Russia were looking for somebody who criticizes it.
No, you're looking for that. I don't mind pointing when Putin has a point, however despicable I may find him.
He presides over the largest land mass on the globe and has nuclear weapons as well as a large store of fossil fuels. He abolished local elections, obliterated the TV news, wiped out opposition political parties and may have ordered many killings of political rivals. He's certainly sent a major rival to prison in Siberia.
All true.
"the stupidest and most criminal leaders in the West for a long while."
That also includes Blair, Berlusconi & Chirac.
Are you saying you think George Bush is worse than Vladimir Putin?
For Russians: probably not. For the rest of the world: undoubtedly yes. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
I'd like to add that I think it's highly offensive to the Russian people that you don't hold them accountable for what their government does. Are they inferior beings like monkeys or dogs who can't be expected to come up to Western standards in this regard? You ought to stop hating them so much.
So if he fails to call Russians to account for the acts of their elected government, he's even less a true critic of Russia and certainly no alternative to La Russophobe. Russia is the best country in the world . . . except for all the others!
"Western" ? "standards" ? Care to elaborate what those things are ?
It's clear that you rarely right about Russia
Was that a typo for "you're rarely right about Russia", or for "you rarely write about Russia", though? The suspense is killing me. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
So your blog is not a source a reader could turn to for daily criticism of Russia, as mine is.
That's a precarious position to be in, you know - faced with stiff competition from the US administration, most of the "serious" media of the West and many European governments, you might be drowned out soon. Would you consider this success, or failure?
Here, you might get frequent criticism of the Putinocrats. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
I think the change of power is an excellent harbinger that this may happen, and I believe that opposing the neo-Soviet Union is a perfect bipartisan task which can unify both the American parties and the America-Europe divide in a common and meritorious struggle. Russia is the best country in the world . . . except for all the others!
Jerome: Putin is a small time despot who grabbed power thanks to the genocidal war in Chechnya, got lucky as world energy prices jumped through the roof (so much so that he and his mediocre siloviki cronies cannot even steal it all) and got even luckier as he has to face the stupidest and most criminal leaders in the West for a long while. He is popular because for most Russians, subsidized authoritarianism is better than empoverished chaos.
I usually defend Russia against the blatant hypocrisy of the West; I really don't like Putin otherwise.
LR [to Jerome]: "Given that you've written "I usually defend Russia against the blatant hypocrisy of the West" I assume you agree that POEMLESS has rather mischaracterized your writing about Russia, don't you? Because we're not looking for somebody who defends Russia were looking for somebody who criticizes it."
Kremlin and Putin on the one hand. Russia on the other. This is sad, really. The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom - William Blake
I'm working to change this. What are you doing about it? Russia is the best country in the world . . . except for all the others!
