Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
Dmitri Medvedev is hoping for Obama's reelection:
"I can tell you directly that I would like to see the election of Barack Obama for a second term as president of the United States of America over the election of anyone else," Medvedev said. ...
He said relations between the two countries could change dramatically if a new president was elected.
"We understand that there are representatives of the very conservative wing, who try to solve their political problems by, among other things, venting their emotions at Russia," Medvedev said. "I count myself lucky that my partner as president is a modern man, who wants to see change, not just in the United States, but also in the world order."
Dmitri, let me be blunt--which I can be, because I don't live in Russia, where you whack your journalists, and we all know it. I just visited your country. All I heard from anyone was cynicism and despair. It is the most corrupt large nation on earth:
Russian citizens are the least likely out of their global peers to believe they have any shot at making in a difference in the fight against corruption. Only 45% believe they can make a difference as ordinary citizens, compared to 62% in Asia Pacific, 73% in Latin America and 81% in North Africa and the Middle East, two regions of the world where ordinary citizens were able to overthrow corrupt, money-hoarding dictators.
That's exactly what the Russian citizens I spoke to said to me, in very graphic terms. Even Turks seem positively optimistic and satisfied with their prospects by comparison, and that's saying something.
Alcoholism, widely accepted atheism, and a gangster’s take on morality has hindered Russia ever since Mikhail Gorbachev officially closed the office of the president of the USSR in December 1991. Since then, Russians have been increasingly ravaged by disease and death. It is the only BRIC country facing a shrinking population. Alcohol related health problems have life expectancy for men at just 60 years old, about the same as in Myanmar and Haiti.
That's exactly what I saw, with my own eyes. That's your fault. You and your circle of former KGB thugs created this hell and you failed to crack down on it, despite all your tough speeches about it. You killed any last flicker of hope in your country. So if you're telling me that your idea of a modern man who wants change in the world order is Barack Obama, spare me.
- Comment (19)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (0)
Comments :
Jun '10
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
Only because Jimmy Carter isn't available.
May '10
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
Man oh man, those two are filled to the brim. With insight!
Um, the reason most people want a break from appeasement of Russia is that we know our aims are antithetical. And we're winning, so appeasement is so not necessary. Our interests aren't necessarily in conflict, but Russia is a Tsarist state at present, and doesn't go with its interests. They, as with many enthusiasts of the knout and the pogrom, like to justify themselves by setting us up as the enemy. Well, OK, we can brush that insult off, but don't expect us to take it seriously as a true indicator of national policy, and then rush to make things right because you say bad things about us. Save it for the faculty lounge. We can wink and nudge as well as you can, when we have adults in charge.
Jul '10
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
The squandering of the promise of post-Soviet Russia is one of the greatest tragedies of modern times.
As one who followed developments in Russia since I was a child, I rejoiced, when the USSR fell, that a long-suffering people would have their chance at freedom and prosperity.
But I was as naive as those who recently held hope for the emergence of democracy during the Arab Spring. Neither Russia nor the Arab world has the fundamental social, political and philosophical foundations necessary to break the bonds of corruption and tyranny.
Medvedev, of course, doesn't really celebrate Obama as a "modern man". He simply appreciates that our President is a weak man whose anti-American impulses serve the ends of the Russian oligarchs who enjoy seeing the United States enfeebled by his fecklessness.
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
Kenneth, serious question. North and South Korea--how do you explain the difference? You can't appeal to "fundamental social, political and philosophical foundations." Historically, it's the same culture. You have to appeal to specific, relatively recent events. It would be absurd to deny that. That strongly calls into question the idea that these things must evolve over hundreds of years, or that it is entirely naive to assume some cultures can ever become free, or freer--or that they could do so rapidly. Don't you think?
May '10
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
Am I alone in dreading Medvedev's deployment of the term "modern man"? Like the Alec Baldwin defense of Weiner. If either he or Obama start sending pics of their, um, areas, I'm so commandeering some guns and a younger dog and provisions and booze and a yacht like it's the Zombie Apocalypse.
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
You're not. And when you follow it with an allusion to "change in the world order," you have one of the more powerful anti-endorsements ever written.
Dec '10
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
I think the "modern man" thing is just a little flattery aimed at the American Left. They like to think of themselves as sophisticated and avant garde and better than the common folk. It could even be an attempt at flattering Obama who, I am sure, adores hob-nobbing with the international elite.
I didn't find this endorsement surprising at all. A con man always has nice things to say about his mark.
May '11
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
I took a course in Russian history in college and a course in Russian foreign relations back when Reagan was still in office.There was a pretty dramatic quote from some visitor to Russia which gave such a bleak description of Russia, with its paranoia, tyranny, violence against those trying to escape, etc. The point was that the quote sounded like it could have been written in the 1980's but was in fact from the 1890's or thereabouts.Korea was able to go both directions, but Russia seems stuck in a centuries old rut. I'm sure it can improve, but there is hundreds of years of inertia to overcome first.
Jun '10
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
Claire, I've had that picture e-mailed to me under the heading "Irish yoga."
Mar '11
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
I hereby endorse Mr Obama to run for President - of Russia.
Sep '10
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
"As long as the dark foundation of our nature, grim in its all-encompassing egoism, mad in its drive to make that egoism into reality, to devour everything and to define everything by itself, as long as that foundation is visible, as long as this truly original sin exists within us, we have no business here and there is no logical answer to our existence. Imagine a group of people who are all blind, deaf and slightly demented and suddenly someone in the crowd asks, "What are we to do?"... The only possible answer is, "Look for a cure". Until you are cured, there is nothing you can do. And since you don't believe you are sick, there can be no cure."
Who was Vladimir Solovyev?
Sep '10
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
Its the Chicago way.
May '10
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
Speaking for Kenneth, the Koreans and the Japanese (who are as different as night and day in some ways) both crave social order and dread anarchy, and both can maintain democracy once it is set in place, due to their orderliness. North Korea took an unfortunate Marxist turn in the chaos that followed WWII and carried orderliness to an absurd extreme.
Jan '11
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
Dmitri Medvedev via Claire Berlinski, Ed.:
I guess that Rock IV speech had an affect than we never could have imagined!
Edited on Jun 20, 2011 at 6:45amJan '11
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
Communism was one of the few occasions in history when a society wiped out the spiritual, and discovered (the hard way) that when the political has no counterweight, society deteriorates. Where all you have is crass political calculations, and no values are considered, fellow citizens stop being individuals with dignity. Instead, everyone and everything is a pawn, and everyone is playing games.
Jun '10
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
I wish I had more time to contribute to this post, but I had just one question. Which countries wouldn't want another Obama administration? Seriously. Most countries typically loathe a firm hand by the United States in international affairs which is more characteristic of Republicans. I could only assume Israel and maybe Poland would want a change. Am I off here?
Aug '10
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
As for North South Korea and Russia, I am beginning to think that collectivist practice is alot like advanced theory exercise, and probably looks good,may even work , in the hands of highly intelligent and honest individuals. My brother in law , a judge and a lifelong liberal is an example, his naivete ( as I see it ) in believing in Obama's programs is reasonable as he probably sees himself as the person able to conduct such a business and it might work up to a point when the basic rapacious nature of mankind switches to default mode when the equality principle snatches something from their child's hand. Then it's over.
Now taking a feudal society and strapping on a control economy without the threat of slavery or death just can't work without those two motivators.
And ,as KC so sagely posits, society deteriorates without the spiritual.
.
May '11
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
"I count myself lucky that my partner as president is a modern man, who wants to see change, not just in the United States, but also in the world order."
That is not empty flattery but an accurate description of how Obama sees himself. I think Obama is already auditioning for his future role as a post-national world spokesman. It will be hard to watch but I hope it begins in 2014.
Apr '11
Re: Medvedev Endorses Obama, Which Should Tell You Something
My parents grew up and lived in communist Romania until the regimes fall in 1989. They always knew what it meant for a US leader to be praised by any of the Eastern Block regimes. The praise of a Russian kelptocrat is just another tick against Obama's disoriented and pathetic foreign policy.
If I was Russia I'd also love to have a weak and applause loving, lead from the rear president of the US.