Posted on 03/18/2014 10:53:20 AM PDT by goldstategop
(Reuters) - To thunderous applause, cheers and even tears, Vladimir Putin delivered a fiercely patriotic speech on Tuesday that laid claim to Crimea and set out a vision of a Greater Russia that could define his third term as President.
In a 47-minute address to his loyal political and business elite that was interrupted by clapping at least 30 times, Putin described a deeply conservative world view in which Russia hankered after land lost when the Soviet Union collapsed.
Presenting himself as the guardian of the nation and of Russians everywhere, the former KGB spy spat defiance at the West and charted an inward-looking course that underlined the shift in his thinking since he first rose to power 14 years ago.
"In the hearts and minds of people, Crimea has always been and remains an inseparable part of Russia," Putin said in a passionate address, delivered from a lectern in the Kremlin's glittering St George Hall two days after Crimea voted in a disputed referendum to become part of Russia.
Two years after mass protests in Moscow and other big cities that briefly shook his grip on power, this was the Putin of old - confident, defiant and steely, and, for many Russians, at his best in a crisis.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Then again, conservatives are the ones who look at the world as it is, not how it should be.
Russia's President Putin is many things, but being a starry-eyed liberal wet dreamer isn't one of them.
Funny how Al Reuters seems to cheer lead for Putin’s Conservatives and destroys Tea Party Conservatives.
Check mate, Barry.
The Russian Ronald Reagan.
We miss the Gipper!
That was before they discovered Putin is not onboard with the homosexual agenda.
Putin has his first body bag in Crimea. You keep good company, FRiend.
He’s the first true leader there since Kruschev
Putin - conservative? Brush up on your definitions, he is on the opposite side of the spectrum: the classic textbook variety of a fascist. The sad fact is that overwhelming majority of Russians are the same xenophobic maniacs. I say: nuke them.
I hadn’t thought of that, but your right, Putin is sort of the Russian version of Reagan.
“The Russian Ronald Reagan.”
More phony propaganda from you to support a bloody dictator. Reagan served to liberate nations from totalitarian governments, while Putin’s ambitions to recreate a “Greater Russia” is the totalitarianism Reagan served to deter and defeat.
This is a back-handed way of smearing US conservatives by implying they are just like Putin.
He must have total contempt for Obama and his “Tell Putin I can be more flexible after my election”.
Nobody loves a traitor except rats.
No, you are both wrong. Using your logic, let’s declare Saddam Hussein a Reagan of Mideast.
Patriotism, respect for one’s ancestors, conserving past traditions and maintaining a backbone - I consider those conservative values.
Our own leaders dismiss them as 19th Century values! Putin gave us a sharp lesson today in what it means to stand up for one’s country.
Even I consider him our adversary, I cannot find fault with anything he has said.
Vladimir Vladimirovich said: “This is not about your little fegs eny mores, you Vestern fegs, it’s about my beeg umpire! Here, hear me sing a tuna by one of your oppressed minorities Fets Domingo “Blooberry Hill”.
Consider how Americans felt proud of Reagan and he restored our country’s greatness and prestige.
Putin has done that for Russia and Obama has shamed us by displaying effeminate servility before friend and foe alike.
If we want to be a great country, we mus be feared.
How many kids has Obama droned to death? How many Christians have Uncle Scam's Al Qaeda allies slaughtered in Syria?
These are the same people who called the hardline communist conservatives. You’re duped twice if you think that’s a complement.
But then again, it's the same person who said..."The sweetest sound...." and...."I will stand by the Muslims....."
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