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Music and Art at the Ukrainian Institute of America
Posted by Possible liberal Russian candidates... on September 08, 2005 at 19:16:07:
In Reply to: Re: true people confuse Putin/Kremlin posted by with Russia/Russian on September 08, 2005 at 18:04:37:
You'll get no argument from me about Putin. There are actually quite a few able new-generation Russian liberal-democrats who with the proper support may be able to give the chekists a run for their money. These include: Vladimir Ryzhkov - A young, Member of Duma from Western Siberia. He is the complete package: Charismatic, extremely intellegent and yet possesses a real and genuine common touch and a very direct and simple manner of speech. Very decisive yet pragmatic, he is my personal favourite pick. However he still lacks political experience and more importantly sufficient exposure to become a national leader. Mikhail Kasyanov - Already earned the nickname the "Russian Yuschenko". Similarly to the current Ukrainian president, he was the prime minister during Putin's first term and many attribute Russia's economic recovery from the 1998 Ruble default to him. Got sacked by Putin when the KGB colonels essentially took over the government completely in 2004. Now he is contemplating a run in 2008. However his experience may work against him as now he is facing two corruption charges over allegedly illegally privatizing a dacha outside Moscow, so instead of running a 2008 presidential campaign, he may share a prison cell with Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Which brings me to him. Formerly Russia's richest oligarch convicted of massive fraud and jailed for 11 years by the chekists. However Khodorkovsky has written a few very interesting articles about the future of Russia (Russia's turn to the left, he called it) that seem to show that not only that he understands Russian policy, he also has a deep understanding about what the common Russian wants. His popularity has constantly increased and now he is ranked in the top 3 or 4 most popular public figures in the country. However he is still in jail... Garry Kasparov - The former world chess champion and the only liberal politician that has openly talked about orchestrating a revolution. Obviously quite intellegent, he however overplayed his hand with some really of the mark comments and managed to allienate some of his former liberal allies. Also his Azeri (by mother) and Jewish (from father) may work against him. Irina Khakamada - If Kasyanov is the Russian Yuschenko than she is definitely the Russian Timoshenko. Charismatic, no-nonsense, highly intellegent, experienced and possessing the fireband personality and mentality that made her quite famous, she may become a major player. However her Japanese background (by father) is an obstacle to many Russians. She is also too connected to the discreted band of the constantly squabling old-school Russian liberals from the 1990's such as Nemtsov, Yavlinsky, Gaidar and so on. Not only have these guys have trashed and robbed the country after the collapse of the USSR not unlike Kuchma and co., they have also completely discredited the liberal-democratic brand in Russia for quite a long time. Thankfully it is beginning to recover and hopefully with the new generation leaders as well as with the help of our Ukrainian brothers, real democracy will come to Russia.
: : Wouldn't you all the hardcore Ukrainian nationalists would LOVE to see Russia screw itself up, and gloat on it? Can't we all get along? I'm a Russian who supported the orange Revolution in Ukraine hoping it will also bring democracy to my country as well. I stood side by side with my Ukrainian brothers to help tople one of the most cynical regimes in history. I was actually optimistic enough to believe that Ukraine will flourish and drag Russia with it. And today, when Ukraine is in a crisis, all you have to say is "trash Russia"? Along with other comments such as "Russsian culture of deceipt and murder" makes me somebody who wants your country to do well, sick to my stomach. Can't we all get along, and approach the Russia-Ukraine issue in more constructive manner? Unlike what you may believe many Russians are your friends and, yes brothers who want you to be happy. So let's stop this anti-Russian as well as anti-Ukrainian B.S. on this forum and have a normal discussion.
: : : More and more people think that Russia is becoming more and more like Russia under Stalin. Democracy is disappearing, and it is becoming a police state. Some people even feel that Russia is nothing more than a Third World Country with nuclear weapons.
: Hey, hang up there - I am not trashing Russia but Putin. I want Russia and Russians to enjoy true democracy and support free elections in 2008 but it will not be easy - with crackdowns on political opposition.