[shrinkermd]

Russia restored is in everyone's interest. Like our Western friends, Putin is not above sticking a stick in our eye from time to time.

With as sharply diminished presence on the world stage we can expect Russia and Putin to give expansive speeches albeit with little chance for expansion.

[Old Retired Army Guy]

I would be willing to bet the house after the Russian parliament elections that they change the constitution to allow Putin to run for President again in March.

[Leisler]

You can’t restore what never was. Russia was never tall in the world. It’s been weak, it’s been murderous. That’s it.

And now? It doens’t have the dumb masses of China. It doesn’t have the intellectual power or innovation or quality of the west. At best it’s future for the next 50-100 years is a resource extraction economy. It could have one like Canada, but most likely a Zaire.

[DB]

If Puttie keeps it up he’ll get it to 101% like Saddam.

[the invisib1e hand]

his approval ratings now exceed 80 percent -- is an artifice.

Of course it is! 80%? 80% of a sampled population agreeing on anything is a dysfunctional mob.

Extraordinary-Popular-Delusions-and-the-Madness-of-Crowds alert.