Russian Presidential Election Results
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-03-05/russian-presidential-election-results
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, right, and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who claimed victory in Russia's presidential election, attend a rally of supporters at Manezh square outside Kremlin, in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 4, 2012. Putin has claimed victory in Russia's presidential election, thanking his supporters for helping foil foreign plots aimed to weaken the country, an election which the opposition and independent observers say has been marred by widespread violations. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Presidential Press Service)
Protesters have gathered in Moscow today following Vladimir Putin’s win in the Russian presidential election. Several opposition candidates have denounced the results and labelled the election a farce. There have also been widespread allegations of fraud and vote rigging. This protest and the ones following december’s desputed parliamentary elections have been the largest in Russia since the end of the Soviet Union. Despite the outcry over the results, yesterday’s win by Vladimir Putin was never really in doubt. The real question is how much the continuing unrest diminishes his status and threatens to his ability to hold onto power.
Guests
Andrew Weiss
director, Center for Russia and Eurasia at RAND Corporation and served on the National Security Council staff as a Russian expert under President Clinton
Svetlana Babaeva
senior analyst, U-S Bureau, Russian News Agency (RIA Novosti)
Lilia Shevtsova
Kremlinology expert and a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Moscow
Comments
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I realize this discussion is about Russia, however the U.S. national elections of 2000 and 2004 come immediately to mind with specific reference to Mark Miller's book "Fooled Again." On top of this focus on voter fraud is Indiana's Secretary of State and Main's recent Primary elections. No one has ever gone to jail, and I suspect Indiana's SoS will eventually get his felonies reduced to misdemeanors. And while national media attention is focused on the evil administrations of Russia, China, Syria and Iran, it is U.S. foreign policy that has promoted the most recent international conflicts. No doubt Mr. Putin will now receive his Nobel Peace Prize.
I'm with ndelaney47 on this one. I hear stuff all the time on NPR about the Russian and Iranian elections ("sparring partner oppoenents", "various conservative factions vying with each other while reformist candidates are excluded" etc) that could equally apply to US elections, and would be if we had a free press rather than a propaganda system.
Thanks to ndelaney47 and mattlove1!! One of the nastiest retorts I ever received from someone who had previously been friendly was in response to my mentioning the Florida election in 2000. The documentary "Unprecedented" made clear what happened there, but because it was not widely viewed, Fox News addicts not only believe everything went fine in that election, I learned they may get angry if someone suggests otherwise. Also, Congressman John Conyers report "What Went Wrong in Ohio" in 2004 was not widely read or reported, so the average American does not realize how close America is to other countries in this regard.
I agree right now the U.S. "media propaganda system" is doing a hit job on Rush Limbaugh for speaking out on the absurdity of the Sandra Fluke charade and calling it what it is, a deliberate put up by the democrat party and MSM to change the debate from an illegal government overreach to a women's health issue.
In Iran which has been under the occupation by an islamic/mullah mafia, there are no elections, what you see are "selections" not elections. The people of Iran are not free, so they can not elect anybody.
We have a tendancy in the west to believe that the same set of values and belief in rights is shared by the entire world. Free and fair elections are a construct that we hold dear, this is not nessacarily the same beliefs held everywhere and we should stop manipulating other countries to follow our ethos. Further more, the people are ultimately responsible for the government they allow to lead them. So, wether we as a people agree or not is irrelevant, only what the people of Russia think and more to the point what they are willing to work toward. We are not a police force for democracy, for crying out loud we aren't even a democracy, we are a republic, and if you think differently look up the definition of each before responding.
Thanks to Thurston Howell for being completely off the subject of the Russian election in particular and elections in general plus reinforcing that Limbaugh followers cannot think clearly.
thanks35 wrote:
"Thanks to Thurston Howell for being completely off the subject of the Russian election in particular and elections in general plus reinforcing that Limbaugh followers cannot think clearly".
Maybe you can point out to me how your first post I responded too "was on topic"? I do not see one reference to the Russian elections but only a ridiculous stretch to make a cheap shot to republicans in this country. Please explain?.
"Thanks to ndelaney47 and mattlove1! One of the nastiest retorts I ever received from someone who had previously been friendly was in response to my mentioning the Florida election in 2000. The documentary "Unprecedented" made clear what happened there, but because it was not widely viewed, Fox News addicts not only believe everything went fine in that election, I learned they may get angry if someone suggests otherwise. Also, Congressman John Conyers report "What Went Wrong in Ohio" in 2004 was not widely read or reported, so the average American does not realize how close America is to other countries in this regard"..
On topic? as much as I was! At least I am right. Your interpretation of what happened in Florida is wrong and I will bet your take on Ohio is equally misguided.