Russia's Medvedev backs Putin for another presidential run

[K. A. Pital]

Because the Russian Communist Party actually has a social-democratic program? Because last time I heard from the CPRF, their program was watered-down social democracy (nationalization only in the oil-gas sector, tax exemption for small business). Yah that's so communist. And so much worse than Putin, whose program is what, "More money for us. Fuck you."

Seriously, Thanas, Mung Beans knows shit about Russian politics. He's an idiot.

As for Putin and Medvedev, my position has always been "A plague o' both your houses!"

[mr friendly guy]

No actually he looked like a fucking moron. Riding shirtless. Wrestling tigers. Saving bears. Finding amphoras. It's fucking pathetic and for some reason the same westernes who would deride that sort of PR stunts as appalling if it came from their own leaders somehow they think it looks good for Putin.
Honestly try to imagine Putin as a leader of your own country whether US, UK, France or Germany. You still think those stunts look good? If yes why?

The main question to ask though, is not whether you are or I "bought into it", its whether Putin's target audience did. Certainly if I was a member of the target audience I would have said contrary to you he looks good (in that tough guy image he likes to project) but so what, because I vote on policy not personality / appearance. Given his party is still in power I have a feeling the unsubtle propaganda actually has some effect, or else Putin is just wasting his time and resources which could be spent on better advertising / propaganda.

[K. A. Pital]

Given his party is still in power I have a feeling the unsubtle propaganda actually has some effect

The answer is more simple - the elections are completely corrupt, everything is rotten to the core, they are nothing more than a stamp of approval process for a candidate supported by the oligarchy and decided purely by money and administrative pressure. If you think that the elections mean anything or that anybody except the picked candidates has 'a chance', you're seriously misguided.

[Thanas]

Because the Russian Communist Party actually has a social-democratic program? Because last time I heard from the CPRF, their program was watered-down social democracy (nationalization only in the oil-gas sector, tax exemption for small business). Yah that's so communist. And so much worse than Putin, whose program is what, "More money for us. Fuck you."

Seriously, Thanas, Mung Beans knows shit about Russian politics. He's an idiot.

I do not care if this is true or not, what I do care about is posting one-liners. I'd accept them from you if it pertained to Russian politics, but last I checked bobalot was not an expert in those so why should his one-liners be given credit?

[K. A. Pital]

"Well better Putin than the neo-Stalinists of the Communist Party" is the very definition of a fucking stupid one-liner from a person who has no fucking clue about Russian politics.

I wouldn't speak for bobalot since I don't know if he knows anything about Russian politics. However, I do and Mung Beans is a fucking idiot. And his post is a dumb bullshit one-liner. There.

[Thanas]

I wouldn't speak for bobalot since I don't know if he knows anything about Russian politics. However, I do and Mung Beans is a fucking idiot. And his post is a dumb bullshit one-liner. There.

So what? Does that in any way change the content of Bobalots post?

[K. A. Pital]

So what? Does that in any way change the content of Bobalots post?

Nah. His post is a stupid one-liner just like the above.

[Irbis]

If anybody is surprised about this then he has been living under a rock.

Eh, I honestly expected Miedwiediew to stay, if only for appearance's sake. Wasn't that his purpose from the start?

Also, not that this will matter, but doesn't being PM give Miedwiediew more power? I thought it was the PM who decides things in the Russian politics, not the President, though current two won't war against each other, certainly.

[Bernkastel]

As things stand, I imagine that Putin will stay in power until either he becomes too decrepit to rule or he dies. Quite saddening, though has been expectable from the moment Medvedev popped up.

Irbis, Medvedev is around as Putin's place holder. The chances of him doing anything with what power he has, apart from what Putin tells him to do, are minute.

[K. A. Pital]

The chances of him doing anything with what power he has, apart from what Putin tells him to do, are minute.

Don't mistake Medvedev for Putin's tool. He is the tool of Putin's masters. Russia's oligarchs have deep ties with Medvedev, it is no surprise he became president. In 1993-1998 he was covering up the murder spree of the so-called forest oligarchs, Russia's timber and paper processing tycoons who consolidated their property into "Ilim Pulp" by killing directors of paper factories in Siberia and the Far East. After that he spent 8 years leading Gazprom's Board of Directors as Chairman (2000-2008).

The power is not going to shift. Both of them are oligarch instruments, a collective Russian Pinochet under whose iron heel the oligarchy keeps, guards and increases its capitals.

[Irbis]

Irbis, Medvedev is around as Putin's place holder. The chances of him doing anything with what power he has, apart from what Putin tells him to do, are minute.

Uh, read my post again. I said Miedwiediew is there for appearance's sake and his powers will not matter much

I just wonder why Putin jumps back into the seat, not keeps appearances for 4 more years, after all, he just wasted what PR Miedwiediew bought Russia in his term. Does the Russian president office come with free wodka supply or anything?

[K. A. Pital]

he just wasted what PR Miedwiediew bought Russia in his term...

What PR? Medvedev's presidency has been absolutely ruinous for Putin's PR. His initiatives were met with a loss of confidence and popularity in Russia for quite a few times. And politics is an internal matter.

[Irbis]

he just wasted what PR Miedwiediew bought Russia in his term...

What PR? Medvedev's presidency has been absolutely ruinous for Putin's PR. His initiatives were met with a loss of confidence and popularity in Russia for quite a few times. And politics is an internal matter.

Not Putin's PR, Russia's PR. As far as I'm aware, Miedwiediew was seen as this nice, polite liberal guy who wants to combat corruption and modernize his country, even trying to do reforms on his own ('seen' before anyone nitpicks this part) - that is, good partner for talks, with Putin back, everyone's perceptions are going to change back closer to that of Lukashenko next door.

I admit I don't know enough about how Putin is seen internally these days, seeing he is mostly about internal politics and press covers mostly external one, symbolized by Miedwiediew. BTW, by 'his' you mean Putin's?

[K. A. Pital]

I mean Medvedev's, obviously. Not that he has any initiatives which are his own, he's a complete oligarch tool.

[Bernkastel]

Don't mistake Medvedev for Putin's tool. He is the tool of Putin's masters. Russia's oligarchs have deep ties with Medvedev, it is no surprise he became president.

I am aware that Putin has his own masters. I am just staing what has admittedly been already stated: Medvedev is only around to fill Putin's seat. While there is the whole act of rivalry and the pretense of difference between the two, there is no actual difference from if Putin is actually in the seat himself, which he will be soon.

[quote="Irbis]Uh, read my post again. I said Miedwiediew is there for appearance's sake and his powers will not matter much

Sorry for that. Anyway, everyone is aware that there is no real difference between the two now, so there is nothing to be gained from Medvedev being in the seat. Perhaps the Oligarches will replace him if they feel that they can gain from such an action. As noted by Stas, he's a toll of the Oligarches. Since that is a widely known fact, I doubt Russia is gaining anything in terms of PR from him at this point.