Putin and the Playboy: A Glimpse of Mikhail Prokhorov
Diane Ellis, Ed. ·
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:35am
In his cheerfully optimistic post on political developments in Russia, Peter reports that Russian billionaire tycoon and new owner of the New Jersey Nets Mikhail Prokhorov has announced his intention to run against Putin next year. Peter goes on to say,
Russia is still Russia, I'll grant you. But someone has the guts and resources to defy Putin by mounting a serious campaign for president? And believes he can gather the signatures of two million ordinary Russians? Try as I might...I can see no way to construe this as anything but good news.
And now an early glimpse of the man who will dare to defy Putin:
Still optimistic, Peter?
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Comments :
Aug '10
Re: Putin and the Playboy: A Glimpse of Mikhail Prokhorov
A libidinous oligarch with a genuine educational background in international finance vs. a former KGB officer with a whole lot of blood on his hands?
Yeah, I'd say that's cause for cautious optimism in the context of Russian politics.
Plus, is it not fair to say that the owner of an NBA team would have a big incentive to improve relations between Russia and the USA?
Edited on Dec 12, 2011 at 10:55amRe: Putin and the Playboy: A Glimpse of Mikhail Prokhorov
It still is good news. When troublemakers are preoccupied with trouble at home -- Syria's Assad, for instance; or Russia's Putin -- we all get a break from their troublemaking abroad.
A power struggle within Russia is a good thing.
Mar '11
Re: Putin and the Playboy: A Glimpse of Mikhail Prokhorov
I will bet you $10,000 he will end up in jail.
Apr '11
Re: Putin and the Playboy: A Glimpse of Mikhail Prokhorov
In Russia? Or in the US?
Mar '11
Re: Putin and the Playboy: A Glimpse of Mikhail Prokhorov
Gen. Victor Ball
In Russia? Or in the US? · Dec 12 at 12:15pm
Ha! In Russia. They don't take kindly to political challenges. Maybe he will share a cold Siberian cell with the uppity ex-oil oligarch. Actually, this stuff isn't funny but as black comedy.
Re: Putin and the Playboy: A Glimpse of Mikhail Prokhorov
Hey there, big spender.
Well, he's already defied the odds in not being murdered in Russia in the 1990s which Prokhorov describes as the "wild, wild west...a territory with no sheriff." Plus, he was forced to sell off his portion of his banking and mining empire just before the global collapse. So he's certainly got luck on his side.
On the other hand, he's already been to jail too (in France). And he liked jail—he said it was real fun.
But if I had Romney's stash of cash, maybe I would take the bet just for the heck of it.
Re: Putin and the Playboy: A Glimpse of Mikhail Prokhorov
Diane, Diane, of course I'm still optimistic. Russians will now be able to choose one bad guy over another. That may not sound so wonderful to us, but it wouldn't. Our history is a happy one. To Russians, the mere fact of a choice--a real choice, even if only between Lout A and Lout B--represents a dramatic break with a thousand years of tragedy, autocracy, poverty, and gloom.
Edited on Dec 12, 2011 at 4:21pmRe: Putin and the Playboy: A Glimpse of Mikhail Prokhorov
Peter Robinson: Diane, Diane, of course I'm still optimistic. Russians will now be able to choose one bad guy over another. That may not sound so wonderful to us, but it wouldn't. Our history is a happy one. To Russians, the mere fact of a choice--a real choice, even if only between Lout A and Lout B--represents a dramatic break with a thousand years of tragedy, autocracy, poverty, and gloom. · Dec 12 at 4:07pm
Edited on Dec 12 at 04:21 pm
Peter, what you say here reminds me of a quotation that really caught my attention in the Russian novel Homo Zapiens by Victor Pelevin:
Dec '11
Re: Putin and the Playboy: A Glimpse of Mikhail Prokhorov
I would bet he probably owns the jail. And hey, at least he's a fan of Western sports; am only surprised he bought into NBA as opposed to NHL.