Pravda Seems To Be Backing Obama

[Conan71]

Good news for Obama, the Russkies seem to like him too:

http://newsfromrussia.com/world/americas/28-02-2008/104274-hillary_clinton-0

"Hillary Clinton is not so smart as she is painted to be. She lost the inseparable part of the political race, the TV debate with Barack Obama. Moreover, Hillary Clinton showed that she had to learn a lot about international affairs outside the United States."

(referring to Russert debate in Feb)

"Experts unanimously concluded that the TV debate showed Obama's advantage over Clinton, despite the confusing moment with the name of the Russian presidential successor. One could see that Hillary Clinton was being nervous during the discussion, whereas Barack Obama was staying absolutely concentrated and calm. "

They understand his backing of Rev. Wright as well:

http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/28-03-2008/104704-obama_pastor-0

All this bodes well for Mr. Obama.

And in other worthwhile news from Russia, Putin is rumored to have secretly divorced his wife and is getting married to a 24 year-old gymnast:

http://english.pravda.ru/russia/kremlin/17-04-2008/104931-putin_kabaeva-0

Figured I'd scoop FOTD on this wonderful news.

[iplaw]

The only thing lacking now is an endorsement from Zawahiri.  I'm sure it will be in the next "Terrorists Gone Wild -- Naughty Training Camp" video.

[FOTD]

The previous avitar was much better, Conan.

BTW, why the hate towards Russia? You want to go to war with them too?

[iplaw]

Do you even know what the definition of "hate" is, it doesn't seem so?

[cannon_fodder]

I don't hate Russians at all, I rather like all the Russians that I have ever really known on any personal level.

BUT, there is certainly reason for pause:

Destruction of the free press (including murders of those known to speak out against the state), hand picked successors, more state control of assets, black mailing neighboring nations with energy policy, assassinations of political rivals (globally), banning of opposition parties (the latest election had all viable candidates banned but those approved), and the outgoing president will be the new Prime Minister and in control of parliament (in addition to picking the new president) after racking up multiple BILLIONS of dollars while in office.  

Add to the domestic issues that point to trouble -  the renewal of bomber flights to the US and English coasts, over flights of our carrier patrols, the sale of nuclear materials to Iran, supplying arms to rebels in Georgia, continued political trouble with former Balkan republics, the Ukraine, Kosovo, and Chechnya...

If that isn't enough to make you concerned about Russia's future as a democratic state then I'm not really sure where you're coming from.

[we vs us]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

And in other worthwhile news from Russia, Putin is rumored to have secretly divorced his wife and is getting married to a 24 year-old gymnast:

http://english.pravda.ru/russia/kremlin/17-04-2008/104931-putin_kabaeva-0

This is because his verility is unmatched by man or nature.

[cannon_fodder]

Great, now wevus has about 3 months to live.  If your face turns orange and bumpy, we'll know why.  Hope it was worth it.  [^]

[Conan71]

Yes Wevus, but can he do this?



I don't think I've seen a photo of his wife, but I couldn't blame the guy if he went for this:

[USRufnex]

As much as I hate to get back on topic...

the Russians and their media know more about Nunn-Lugar and Lugar-Obama legislation than most Americans and American media do...

One of the untold stories of Obama's campaign (so far) is his political positioning and potential in the foreign policy arena... not surprised at all about Sam Nunn's endorsement of Obama... Nunn and Lugar go way back... and I believe Lugar will have a large influence on Obama's policies towards Russia...

(this entire article is a good read, btw... hint, hint...)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/chi-0509230360sep23,1,1485325.story?coll=chi-newsspecials-hedto

A foreign classroom for junior senator

Barack Obama tours the former Soviet Union, monitors the destruction of Cold War munitions--and takes notes from a senior statesman
By Jeff Zeleny | Tribune correspondent
September 23, 2005

quote:Trips like this are successful if they evoke such big-picture sentiments, Lugar said, in addition to providing a "profound, gut feeling about the place of the United States in the world--strength and vulnerability."

"He has profited from it. It becomes capital in the bank, in terms of knowledge," Lugar said, reflecting on Obama's first foreign trip as a senator. "I hoped he would be on the Foreign Relations Committee. This was an important decision in shaping his career."

At the end of a 13-hour day, as Lugar settled in for an espresso in the bar of his hotel, a longtime staff member handed him a copy of a Russian newspaper that announced his arrival in Moscow. It featured an old picture of the Indiana senator's short-lived 1996 presidential campaign.

"That's for Barack," Lugar chuckled. "I'm beyond that now."

[USRufnex]

When Obama reached Lenin's tomb, a guide told a story about the bodies buried near the Kremlin wall. Several of the women, according to legend, were his lovers.

"I didn't know Lenin was a player," Obama said, cracking a wide smile.

Like Putin, Like Lenin... []

[Conan71]

Ruf,

Sort of an aside to this discussion which was started tongue-in-cheek anyhow (Imagine that coming from me [:I]) would you say Lugar is a Republican equivalent to David Boren in the Senate?  I'd not paid a whole lot of attention to Lugar until you'd mentioned him a-plenty on here and he sounds like he's bi-partisan "till the world looks level".  

Interesting fellow, to say the least.  I do find some irony that Evan Bayh has been rumored as a potential running mate for Hillary and Lugar is apparently a trusted advisor to Obama.

[USRufnex]

Yeah, I can go with certain similarities to David Boren...

http://www.lugar2012.com/cats/about.asp

Back in the day....

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE6DA113EF933A15752C1A967958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

2 Senators Seek to Revive Plan to Divert Pentagon Funds to Soviets
By ROBERT D. HERSHEY JR.,
Published: November 20, 1991

In an effort to break a political impasse, two senior Senators said today that they had agreed to urge bipartisan revival of a plan to use up to $1 billion from the defense budget to aid the Soviet Union.

"Let's take the pledge" to avoid injecting the issue into the 1992 campaign, David L. Boren, an Oklahoma Democrat and a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said in outlining the initiative. "It matters too much for any of us to take cheap shots and make it a campaign issue."

Mr. Boren's main partner in this new effort for a truce that would clear the way for Soviet aid is Richard G. Lugar of Indiana, the committee's ranking Republican.