Putin slams "foreign interference" in Russia vote

Source: Reuters

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin accused Washington on Monday of plotting to undermine December parliamentary elections seen widely as a demonstration of his power in Russia.

Putin, who must step down as president early next year, said Russia needed a strong defence sector to "to discourage others from poking their snotty noses in our affairs".

"We have information that, once again, this was done on the recommendation of the U.S. State Department," Putin said at a meeting with activists of his United Russia party.

"Actions such as these cannot wreck the elections in Russia. Their aim is to deprive the elections of legitimacy, that is absolutely clear. But they are not going to achieve that," he said in his home city of St Petersburg.




Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL2656204020071126

Why is the Bush administration attempting to create a new Cold War with Russia?

progressives should also be heavily opposed to many of Putin's reforms, and support his opposition.

Putin is no democrat.

There will likely only be two parties in the next parliament: Putin's, and the opposition communists. That will be the choice of the Russian voters.

there are other parties of Western-minded liberals who wish to promote democracy. They might be weak in russia, but that doesn't mean we can't support them.

I never said the options were pretty...I just simply said that we shouldn't have to support United Russia.

What attributes distinguish an "elected dictator?" I want to know, to see if they are applicable to other countries.

if you're elected...and you rule essentially by decree, you're a dictator.

If there is no viable parliamentary check and balance, then you're essentially "dictating" how the government is going to be ruled.

Bush with the Republican majority could probably be conceived as an elected dictator (or unelected, if you believe he stole the elections, as I do).

In public perception, the term dictator is seen to apply to unelected or non-accountable rulers. But, in reality, to be a dictator, one just needs to run essentially by decree.

I hate to say it, but Chavez will have some dictatorial powers, conferred to him by constitutional reforms that representatives of the Venezuelan people approve. So, dictatorial powers can be the outcome of democratic processes where the people PERMIT the leader to have dictatorial powers in certain matters.

as is the case with Mr. Kasparov.

Kasparov probably has as much electoral support in Russia as Lyndon LaRouche does in this country.

by any standards of decency or democracy. And while I imagine that the US is meddling (what don't we meddle in?) the same is said for the dictator Putin.

and while you are at it, watch closely, because the election is less than a year away.

at the rhetoric of our current administration. Maybe I am crazy but I detect parallels here.
I think Bush would like nothing more than to have Russia involved militarily. He has spoken to God, remember and God is telling him what to do.

If only I listened to the voices in my head!