Why Medvedev Is President
Because he’s short (like Putin). And because of this:
h/t R.
Update: I think that it’s quite likely that this was released by Putin supporters to make Medvedev look silly and, uhm, unmanly. And the fact that he’s dancing to a song titled “American Boy” can’t go over well with the mouth-breathing set.
Even Yeltsin did better. It helps to be black though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsWpvkLCvu4&feature=player_embedded#at=45
Comment by So? — April 20, 2011 @ 9:03 pm
Yeltsin was actually entertaining. He was just crazed and out of control and obviously inebriated–all he needed was a lampshade on his head. Medvedev just looks fey. And anybody who could dance to that execrable “music” is obviously a loser geek.
Not touchin’ the other thing.
I’ve been of the opinion Medvedev should be impeached for the past few months.
I do not recognize him as Russia’s President.
Comment by Sublime Oblivion — April 20, 2011 @ 10:09 pm
S/O–I’d be interested to know why, exactly.
@ SWP, because Medvedev does not ruthlessly exterminate dissent. You should know Sublime Oblivions love for totalitarianism by now….
Comment by Andrew — April 21, 2011 @ 4:00 am
Cut the guy some slack on the music. I am sure he would have preferred Speed King from Deep Purple’s-Made In Japan.
Comment by pahoben — April 21, 2011 @ 9:23 am
He is a liberal infiltrator to the Presidency who despises the Russian people.
Usually, Presidents get their own nation’s jets. That’s why Medvedev opted for an Airbus.
Refused to support Putin in his condemnation of Western imperialism in Libya.
Prancing about to “American Boy”.
He wants to sell out the Russian people to neoliberal tyranny.
I can’t see his back out of the Kremlin soon away – and hope that Putin chooses more wisely in the future.
Comment by Sublime Oblivion — April 21, 2011 @ 3:07 pm
Someone not from the St Pete Pakhanate this time, please.
Comment by So? — April 21, 2011 @ 6:26 pm
Sublime-I support all opposition to neoliberal tyranny but I am sure our views of Putin’s motivations are much different. The Siloviks in their own way have contempt for the Russian people thinking them incapable of meaningful participation in their own governance.
I also do not like Airbus and much prefer Boeing. I guess if Obama chose an Airbus for Air Force One and a Mercedes for Limo One I would think he was just being less dishonest than usual about his disdain for the US
(I understand Putin’s usual transport is Mercedes).
Maybe Putin wouldn’t let him use the Ilyushin 96 with the gold faucets, wash basins etc. Airbus is kind of slumming it in comparison.
Comment by pahoben — April 21, 2011 @ 9:01 pm
I remember when Medvedev attended the G-8 in 2008. I remember thinking that he looked intoxicated with happiness because at the G8 he was accorded the respect due the President of Russia but in Russia he was accorded the respect do to a ventriloquist’s dummy.
Comment by pahoben — April 21, 2011 @ 9:46 pm
There was a meme bouncing around the idea-sphere around 2004 that a Pinochet style government would be good in Russia. There are parallels with Putin’s second term but the diarchy is a novel more sophisticated twist on the still in place Pinochet theme.
You shouldn’t blame Medvedev he is sticking to the script much better than other options. He is more a tragicomic than an anti-Russian villain.
Comment by pahoben — April 21, 2011 @ 10:38 pm
Actually in 2000 everyone was projecting their own hopes on Putin. For the Russian liberals, it was “Putin = Pinochet”. As they say, be careful what you wish for. Of course, he is no Pinochet. One of his early stated goals was to catch up with Portugal’s per capita GDP. So more like Salazar. But since even that goal is yet to be attained, not even Salazar.
Comment by So? — April 21, 2011 @ 11:56 pm
I think Putin started his first term with the best of intentions. You will remember one of his early stated goals was to reign in the bureaucracy that ended in nought with a couple public embarrassments as I remember-bad numbers provided etc. At the very end of his first term and of course throughout his second term the focus was on acquiring wealth. I can tell you with certainty around the start of his second term there was widespread discussion about the desirability of a Pinochet type figure in Russia.
I agree there are parallels to Salazar but the discussion at that time centered on Pinochet. If the analogy is judged based on personal wealth then my estimation is that Putin is Pinochet on steroids.
Comment by pahoben — April 22, 2011 @ 8:33 am