History Repeating

[Professor S]

This is NOT GOOD. Reminds me of a series of political events that happened about 70-80 years ago...

http://www.comcast.net/news/index.js...cvqh=itn_putin

[Bond]

I really thought Putin was a good guy when he was first elected in 2000. It's appearing to be not so.

[Angrist]

Kasparov, lol.

[Typhoid]

I see nothing wrong with it.

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by Typhoid

I see nothing wrong with it.

Shocker

[Typhoid]

The fact he's going to stay somewhat in power and I see nothing wrong with him going from a Presidential seat to a Prime Minister and changing the layout of Russian Democracy has nothing to do with my stance on him, or anything of the sort. He's changing his country. Whether it for the better or the worse is yet to be decided, or even seen.

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by Typhoid

The fact he's going to stay somewhat in power and I see nothing wrong with him going from a Presidential seat to a Prime Minister and changing the layout of Russian Democracy has nothing to do with my stance on him, or anything of the sort. He's changing his country. Whether it for the better or the worse is yet to be decided, or even seen.

As Prime Minister he would essentially be President. His power is nearly absolute as it is, to the point that his endorsement for presidency all but guarantees that mans election to the office.

There is a chance that he's moving in a pro-democracy direction, but that hasn't really been proven by his history. Most of his policies in the political arena have been to remove democratic power, not increase it, the biggest example being when he repealed the ability for individual provinces to elect their own governors. Now they are all appointed by HIM.

Now this could be an example of him cracking down on corruption, but it is a tenuous situation at best when you remove corruption with borderline fascism. I'm not saying his intent couldn't be altruitistic, and it wouldn't be the first time that a leader reluctantly took the reigns to save his people (Lord Protector comes to mind), but it is exceedingly rare that the motives are pure. Add to that the number of questioning journalists that have "disappeared" in Russia and the short term period of assassinations via radioactive poisoning, you know, from an ore that only comes from Russia, and you have plenty of reasons not to trust this man. He doesn't quietly kill political enemies, he sends obvious MESSAGES.

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. We'll have to wait and see if Putin has been corrupted (we know he is insanely vain). I just hope that we hear that he is not, because if he is it might already be too late considering his loyalty to China and Iran.

[Dylflon]

I wonder if Bush is taking notes.

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by Dylflon

I wonder if Bush is taking notes.

I was wondering how long it would take someone to use this thread as an opportunity to slam Bush. Thank you for not disappointing me

[Bond]

Even if Bush could stay in power for more than eight years, I can't see him wanting to.

[Dylflon]

Originally Posted by Professor S

I was wondering how long it would take someone to use this thread as an opportunity to slam Bush. Thank you for not disappointing me

But it's just so easy.

Honestly though, does anyone out there still respect the guy?



Also, I don't think you can really call my comment a slam.

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by Dylflon

But it's just so easy.

Honestly though, does anyone out there still respect the guy?



Also, I don't think you can really call my comment a slam.

For me, that is the uandary that is Bush. I DO respect him, I just don't agree with 75% of his politics. I think he does what he feels is the right thing to do. People want to scream that he's pursuing the Iraq war for fun and profiot, but I don't think even those that say it really believe it because a cursory examionation of the facts show how that theory fails on nearly every level.

I think he really believes that America and its allies installing democracy in the region is the Middle East's last best hope (mthats the one aspect of his presidency I agree with). I think he really believes that providing a legal home for illegal labor helps everyone. I think he really believes that he can cut taxes and still increase spending and it will all work out in the end.

He is not a panderer, or at least far less of one that most politicians, and that I respect.

[manasecret]

To go more general, I can respect people who believe something and can back up their belief with good explanation and facts.

I can not respect people who believe something despite having many facts and explanations fly in the face against that belief. That turns into belief without reason.

Case in point (remember I'm generalizing), my father is a horrible driver. Everyone that has every ridden with him (and I mean everyone) has thought so. He is oblivious to the world and everyone outside of the car when he drives, which is not a good thing when driving.

Yet he still believes that he is a good driver and that everyone else is wrong or out to get him or just harping too much. But when everyone tells you you're a bad driver, at what point do you stop and think -- hey, maybe I am a bad driver, maybe I should change how I drive.

I can't respect people who can't stop and think that, hey, maybe I'm wrong about this thing I believe -- or that thing I believe -- or even this belief that goes to my very soul and I am SURE I am right about. Even the deepest held beliefs should be questioned.

Bush doesn't do that. Or as far as I can tell, for the majority of the time he doesn't do that. I don't have explicit examples. So maybe there are examples of times he has. But my guess is the times he hasn't questioned himself outweigh the times he has.

[Bond]

I've often wondered if any president ever has time to stop and smell the roses?

[Dylflon]

Originally Posted by Bond

I've often wondered if any president ever has time to stop and smell the roses?

I often find time to think while I do other things.