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 ...
“...Some cannot understand the concept of grudging respect... Yes, Putin is our enemy. He wishes us harm...”
Precisely. He’s NOT “the Good Guy”. Yet, his own people seem to have a lot of respect for making them “feel” strong and respected again (like Hitler did with Germany and that didn’t work out too well for them ultimately).
It’s not real hard to understand.
But he’s no “Russian Reagan” for sure. That’s not a good comparison; it’s only apropos insofar as Putin loves his own country and wants it to remain strong, like Ronaldus Magnus did for us.
I suspect Reagan would have looked at him as a dangerous adversary that would need to be constantly watched and checked, rook for rook and pawn for pawn.
Much like he did with Gorbachev.
Agreed. The similarities with Reagan end at (his apparent) love of country.
They would probably need Depends more than knee pads.
That’s a straw argument and false equivalence
I was asking questions not making an argument. I was also not equating Putin with Bathhouse Barry. Barry and his Globalist puppet masters are far, far worse than Putin.
As I said earlier upthread - people out here see this guy and contrast him with what WE are currently temporarily employing.
It’s pathetic.
And yes, the use of the word “conservative” anywhere near Putin is absurd - but deliberate.
To repeat a comment I made on another thread:
Too bad Obama doesn’t feel about America the way Putin feels about Russia.
I don’t think Putin is our buddy, but he is not stupid. He is gaining ground by taking what made America great and usurping it to replace us with them.
Obama admin who basically apes what the Soviets used to be is the perfect vehicle for Vlad to replace us with him.
Ugly stuff here, but the US made the mistake of electing the very people to bring us down. Right now, the US is divided. The bad guys act like the good guys and Putin knows that.
What made America great is what Putin is going to take as his own. In his mind it worked. As long as America has become the Soviet Union and he becomes America, he wins.
No wonder he is laughing.
An interesting way to understand him, his popularity and the Russians who support him.
He, like Reagan did for US, has done much to restore a badly damaged Russian self image and restore some of the Russians' lost national self esteem.
He's not necessarily a friend, and given what he and possibly the Chinese almost did to US in 2008 via Fanny and Freddie, he's more likely a foe.
On the other hand, I can't blame him for taking advantage of our utter fiscal insanity for some payback.
If we actually believed our self expressed ideals and values, founding documents, etc. and lived by and up to the "In God We Trust" motto, I would be more upset by 2008 and now.
But we don't. And until we do, I'm more inclined to accept that we've earned whatever nasty thing this way comes, including the one known as "obama" and all that flows from him.
A great country IS feared.
Have you read Machiavelli? If not, you should.
Fear works far better in international relations than love.
Well, he does believe in state/govt control of industry & media.
I don’t defend aggression against any country. We should certainly oppose Russia getting license to annex entire countries.
I believe the West delivered the message.
Putin’s remarks are obviously racis.
Yeah, if presiding over a thoroughly corrupt nation & imprisoning & killing your political foes is your kinda thing.
So just Eastern Ukraine is okay? How much of a country with internationally recognized borders can he annex before you object?
Such sentiments you have expressed are why you are dismissed as a propagandist for totalitarian regimes.
From where I (and a lot of others) sit, that's exactly what you're doing.
Fortunately, all that propagandistic vomit of all you apologists, joe palookas, or useful idiots, whichever you are, counts for nothing in the world out there.
Didn't we see another leader back in the 30s present himself as the guardian of Germans everywhere (Sudetenland).
If I remember my history , during this period the US was also in the process of defunding the military..... How did that work out?
Not really. Defense spending dropped to about 1-2% of GDP immediately after WW1, and gradually but pretty steadily increased to 2-3% of GDP in the 193os, with a couple of upward spikes around 1932 and 1935.
Unbelievable. You just spun him in his grave.
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