Quote: (12-20-2017 04:09 PM)Royalist and Legitimist Wrote:
Sobchak said on Vladimir Solovyov's political talk show not too long ago that she wants to give Crimea to Ukraine.
And she's perfectly right.
However, it's not a question of giving but rather returning.
Crimea belongs to Ukraine, period. And it has since before Ukraine left the USSR.
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She also claimed that people want a "world without borders".
Got a video link? I'd like to see this.
Also I should clarify that I'm not saying Ksenia Sobchak is a viable or desirable candidate.
I'm saying she made some excellent points and raised an uncomfortable question which Putin evaded under the same pretext of why he invaded Ukraine ("coup d'etat blah blah, Maidan, blah blah, do you really want that HERE?" bullshit).
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I could go on with more examples but I think I made my point. So to be fair to Putin, the liberal opposition does a very good job of shooting itself in the foot without him needing to do anything.
Agreed on that point, the opposition doesn't need to be "liberal". I mean Putin is no conservative his shtick to the contrary. Classical conservatism (and classical liberalism for that matter) is about minimizing the role of the government in your life so you're free to go about your business. And Putin's high horse and constant whining about the West's policies while he's practicing the same interventionism he decries is laughable.
A true libertarian candidate is what Russia needs, and America for that matter, because the key issues facing both countires are essentially issues of freedom.
Economic freedom, freedom of press, freedom of speech, and freedom to go about your business without fear that a KGB goon (or a US police offer) will make things difficult for you.
The two countries couldn't be more different yet the principles that underpin these issues are immutable.
Quote: (12-20-2017 05:04 PM)hewey Wrote:
Ksenia Sobchak is a joke and is considered by most Russians to be their Paris Hilton. She only has a political career due to the fact her father was the mayor of St. Petersberg and is quite wealthy. Putin is loved by the common man there, I know this because my wife is Russian and comes from a rural area, the lefty politicians have next to 0 support outside the major cities. But the politician I like is Zhirinovsky now that guy is hilarious.
I know, I know, she's the Russian Paris Hilton.
I read the same YouTube title on the Russia Today video that you did, it must be true.
Except that she's exceptionally bright, educated and well spoken while Paris Hilton is n airhead with some serious BJ skills.
And that same father that gave her the political kickstart also had quite a hand in Putin's rise, were you aware of that?
I don't know what "common man" you're referring to.
The men I know in Russia, several of whom are entrepreneurs, face endless obstacles, deal daily with mafia and government thugs, send their kids to get educated in China because that's a better option now, take vacations to southeast asia at every opportunity, and almost cry when their time is up and they have to return to that hellhole.
BUT let's put aside whether or not Sobchak is a legitimate candidate and instead address the fact that she asked Putin great questions and brought up great points which he didn't address at all.
He just evaded them and said do you want another Maidan? In other words, his approach is to attempt to frighten people into keeping him in power under the guise that Oceania is at war with Eurasia; (therefore Oceania had always been at war with Eurasia.)
- Putin doesn't participate in debates: true or false?
- Putin has been in power for a long time (the immovability of power to which she referred). Most every democratic country has checks and balances in the form of term limits to prevent abuse and complacency.
- People are terrified to even rent a speaking space to an opposition candidate
- Government criticism and opposition is met with murder, imprisonment, threats, etc. Candidates to the presidency are character assassinated by the Novosti Press Agency (I mean, Russia Today) and allegations are fabricated agains them
- Press secretary Peskov claiming that the opposition is unripe and Putin claiming that they've no positive platform to run on. Excuse me, but is that for them to decide or for the people of the country?
I think given the unobstructed, and perhaps anonymous opportunity to get rid of Putler, a huge percentage of the Russian people would elect to do so.