[Kaslin]

This is scary for the Russian citizens

[dp0622]

There were some posts on here last year saying “God Please Bless Putin” :)

I am Glad that he hit ISIS until we got a real president to take care of it.

I’m glad that he knows that Russia needs Christianity in it to survive, though I don’t think at all that he believes.

And I think worse could be in charge over there.

Perhaps he is more of a nationalist than a communist now, but not the way we use the word.

I say respect him to an extant, work with him when you can, but Never trust him and Always Know what what he is.

A man whose enemies don’t stay alive too long too often

[libh8er]

Basically he is president for life.

[rrrod]

Do as you are told peasants!

[NorseViking]

The planned reform is nothing like it is described so far. Technically it makes the government more liberal and democratic but who knows what would be the practical application.
This Putin bashing is somehow tiresome. I agree that he is probably a couple terms too long in power but you won’t even find that bad press on Stalin.
Do people really believe he is worse than Stalin? If true I want facts and not spins.

[McGruff]

Putin, Putin, Putin!

Be careful what you wish for.

[billakay]

Almost every 'Russia' article makes it sound like Russia is on a downhill path, deteriorating more and more every year, and that Putin is just grabbing everything he can for himself. Anyone who actually lives in Russia does not recognize this picture that is being painted...it is like a dystopian novel that has no resemblance to the real life.

Do not forget that the collapse of the Soviet system was economically and socially catastrophic...the resulting Russian Federation had some VERY dark days while we in the US were enjoying the boom of the 1990s.

Under Putin's leadership, Russia continues to improve every year. Corruption is way down, inflation is minimal, employment is up, birth rates are up. Economic growth is actually being down-regulated by the central bank via interest rates in order to prevent a bubble caused by excessive rate of growth. The middle class is vibrant and growing. More people have more disposable income than at any time in the last 30 years.

Yet, all we hear about in the media are the grumblings of the malcontents that are pretty much equivalent to our left wing...essentially the millennials who can't seem to get off their asses and make something happen for themselves, so it must be the fault of the system. It just happens that this narrative is convenient for the Russia bashers.

Putin-Hate is the same as "Orange Man Bad". No more, no less. Just BS.

[thoughtomator]

this is neoliberal propaganda

Easy tell right away - you ever hear GHWB referred to as “former CIA Director”?

[yoe]

Vladimir Putin Seeks Power, Confronts Protests

American Progressives are giving power to Russians.