Comments on: Reluctant Democracy? http://accidentalrussophile.com/2007/12/02/reluctant-democracy/ Topics on Russia and the Former Soviet Union Sun, 03 Feb 2008 00:31:00 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Michael Averko http://accidentalrussophile.com/2007/12/02/reluctant-democracy/#comment-625 Michael Averko Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:35:00 +0000 http://accidentalrussophile.com/2007/12/02/reluctant-democracy/#comment-625 Awhile back, a certain NY based academic noted Nemtsov's ties to the dubious Russian oligarch money grabbing of the last decade. Prior to that, BN was thought to be a potential future leader. <br/><br/>American CSPAN aired Sunday's RTTV election coverage. It included plenty of sharp criticism from Zyuganov, Kasparov, Yavlinsky and Nemtsov. Some pro-Russian government propaganda outlet. Awhile back, a certain NY based academic noted Nemtsov’s ties to the dubious Russian oligarch money grabbing of the last decade. Prior to that, BN was thought to be a potential future leader.

American CSPAN aired Sunday’s RTTV election coverage. It included plenty of sharp criticism from Zyuganov, Kasparov, Yavlinsky and Nemtsov. Some pro-Russian government propaganda outlet.

]]>
By: Chrisius Maximus http://accidentalrussophile.com/2007/12/02/reluctant-democracy/#comment-624 Chrisius Maximus Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:43:00 +0000 http://accidentalrussophile.com/2007/12/02/reluctant-democracy/#comment-624 I didn't factor in that the parties with under 7% of the vore would have their seats "shared" by the parties that did. So UR did get a handful of more seats. (So did the KPRF.)<br/><br/>Personally, I wish Nemtsov would just go away. I can't stand the fucker. He looked so freaking ridiculous with his "Free Garry Kasparov" sign, as if Kasparov were Nelson Mandela. The whole lot of those guys are such a bunch of hypocrites, considering what Yeltsin did to the KPRF in 1996. "Democracy is when people I like are in power." I didn’t factor in that the parties with under 7% of the vore would have their seats “shared” by the parties that did. So UR did get a handful of more seats. (So did the KPRF.)

Personally, I wish Nemtsov would just go away. I can’t stand the fucker. He looked so freaking ridiculous with his “Free Garry Kasparov” sign, as if Kasparov were Nelson Mandela. The whole lot of those guys are such a bunch of hypocrites, considering what Yeltsin did to the KPRF in 1996. “Democracy is when people I like are in power.”

]]>
By: Michael Averko http://accidentalrussophile.com/2007/12/02/reluctant-democracy/#comment-621 Michael Averko Mon, 03 Dec 2007 16:58:00 +0000 http://accidentalrussophile.com/2007/12/02/reluctant-democracy/#comment-621 Is Russia democratic?<br/>Yes - but so what?<br/>http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=11996 Is Russia democratic?
Yes – but so what?
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=11996

]]>
By: W. Shedd http://accidentalrussophile.com/2007/12/02/reluctant-democracy/#comment-620 W. Shedd Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:52:00 +0000 http://accidentalrussophile.com/2007/12/02/reluctant-democracy/#comment-620 I actually thought the 61% or whatever number, was rather low considering opinion polls showed considerably higher favorable ratings for Putin among the Russian population.<br/><br/>C.M. on SRB indicated that he believe the overall result would be fewer, not more, seats in the Duma for United Russia. I actually thought the 61% or whatever number, was rather low considering opinion polls showed considerably higher favorable ratings for Putin among the Russian population.

C.M. on SRB indicated that he believe the overall result would be fewer, not more, seats in the Duma for United Russia.

]]>
By: Michael Averko http://accidentalrussophile.com/2007/12/02/reluctant-democracy/#comment-619 Michael Averko Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:04:00 +0000 http://accidentalrussophile.com/2007/12/02/reluctant-democracy/#comment-619 As per last post at his thread, that’s “zombification.” As per last post at his thread, that’s “zombification.”

]]>
By: Michael Averko http://accidentalrussophile.com/2007/12/02/reluctant-democracy/#comment-618 Michael Averko Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:45:00 +0000 http://accidentalrussophile.com/2007/12/02/reluctant-democracy/#comment-618 This morning’s, NBC cable affiliate MSNBC portrayed a questionable result based on the stated impression of an over 60% Putin tally being overwhelming by Western standards.<br/><br/>In Georgia, where was the second guessing when Saakashvili received a 96% presidential vote tally? Likewise with Shevardnadze’s 92% win, when he was in the good graces of Soros and the neocons?<br/><br/>On the mentioned morning segment, NBC’s Jim Maceda said that the Russian political opposition believes the claimed rigging could’ve actually meant Putin receiving a vote in the low 50% range. Rather than note the lack of outrage in Russia with the result, Maceda uncritically quoted Russian opposition leaders saying that they could’ve won. He mentioned an Igor “Lavitsky” (last name spelled as it sounded) as one of the opposition leaders. I gather he meant Grigori Yavlinsky. Such is the level of knowledge of some of the non-Russian English language mass media reporters in Moscow.<br/><br/>This morning’s televised BBC feed to America showed a small gathering of Nashi supporters outside the BBC’s Moscow office. The impression was given that they served to intimidate opposition figures from going to the BBC. Yet, that same segment showed a Western observer criticize the Russian election on an unnamed Russian radio station (probably Ekho Moskvy, which is owned by the “Russian state giant” Gazprom). Russians are free to travel and have access to other views from United Russia. There isn’t a great “outrage” among Russians on the election. As one Russian in the BBC segment said, there’s a “zombifaction” of Russian society on political issues. Sounds like my own country of origin.<br/><br/>On the matter of elections, it was reported that the Venezuelan president didn’t get enough votes to have a prolonged stay in office, well past five years. No applause for Venezuela conducting a “free and fair election,” despite the result being the one preferred by the American foreign policy establishment at large.<br/><br/>This leads to the view that some in the world don’t seek to please Uncle Sam on account that official Washington will not offer much in terms of a positive feedback. I suspect that Russia falls into that category. This morning’s, NBC cable affiliate MSNBC portrayed a questionable result based on the stated impression of an over 60% Putin tally being overwhelming by Western standards.

In Georgia, where was the second guessing when Saakashvili received a 96% presidential vote tally? Likewise with Shevardnadze’s 92% win, when he was in the good graces of Soros and the neocons?

On the mentioned morning segment, NBC’s Jim Maceda said that the Russian political opposition believes the claimed rigging could’ve actually meant Putin receiving a vote in the low 50% range. Rather than note the lack of outrage in Russia with the result, Maceda uncritically quoted Russian opposition leaders saying that they could’ve won. He mentioned an Igor “Lavitsky” (last name spelled as it sounded) as one of the opposition leaders. I gather he meant Grigori Yavlinsky. Such is the level of knowledge of some of the non-Russian English language mass media reporters in Moscow.

This morning’s televised BBC feed to America showed a small gathering of Nashi supporters outside the BBC’s Moscow office. The impression was given that they served to intimidate opposition figures from going to the BBC. Yet, that same segment showed a Western observer criticize the Russian election on an unnamed Russian radio station (probably Ekho Moskvy, which is owned by the “Russian state giant” Gazprom). Russians are free to travel and have access to other views from United Russia. There isn’t a great “outrage” among Russians on the election. As one Russian in the BBC segment said, there’s a “zombifaction” of Russian society on political issues. Sounds like my own country of origin.

On the matter of elections, it was reported that the Venezuelan president didn’t get enough votes to have a prolonged stay in office, well past five years. No applause for Venezuela conducting a “free and fair election,” despite the result being the one preferred by the American foreign policy establishment at large.

This leads to the view that some in the world don’t seek to please Uncle Sam on account that official Washington will not offer much in terms of a positive feedback. I suspect that Russia falls into that category.

]]>