Who Said This?

 

“And frankly, in the impending period of global reconstruction, which may take quite long, with its final design being uncertain, moderate conservatism is the most reasonable line of conduct, as far as I see it. It will inevitably change at some point, but so far, do no harm — the guiding principle in medicine — seems to be the most rational one. Noli nocere, as they say.”

This is as close to a quotation as I can find.  It comes at the end of this speech.  Who said this?  Condoleezza Rice?  Thomas Sowell?  Victor Davis Hanson?  I have removed the very few particulars that may give it away.

“We look in amazement at the processes underway in the countries which have been traditionally looked at as the standard-bearers of progress,” “Of course, the social and cultural shocks that are taking place in the United States and Western Europe …”  “Some people in the West believe that an aggressive elimination of entire pages from their own history, ‘reverse discrimination’ against the majority in the interests of a minority, and the demand to give up the traditional notions of mother, father, family and even gender, they believe that all of these are the mileposts on the path towards social renewal,”

“The only thing that I want to say now is that their prescriptions are not new at all,”  “It may come as a surprise to some people, but Russia has been there already,” “After the 1917 revolution, the Bolsheviks, relying on the dogmas of Marx and Engels, also said that they would change existing ways and customs and not just political and economic ones, but the very notion of human morality and the foundations of a healthy society. The destruction of age-old values, religion and relations between people, up to and including the total rejection of family … encouragement to inform on loved ones – all this was proclaimed progress and, by the way, was widely supported around the world back then and was quite fashionable, same as today. By the way, the Bolsheviks were absolutely intolerant of opinions other than theirs.”

“This, I believe, should call to mind some of what we are witnessing now,” “Looking at what is happening in a number of Western countries, we are amazed to see the domestic practices, which we, fortunately, have left, I hope, in the distant past.”

“The fight for equality and against discrimination has turned into aggressive dogmatism bordering on absurdity, when the works of the great authors of the past — such as Shakespeare — are no longer taught at schools or universities, because their ideas are believed to be backward,” “The classics are declared backward and ignorant of the importance of gender or race. In Hollywood, memos are distributed about proper storytelling and how many characters of what colour or gender should be in a movie. This is even worse than the agitprop department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.”

“Countering acts of racism is a necessary and noble cause, but the new ‘cancel culture’ has turned it into ‘reverse discrimination’ that is, reverse racism,”

“The obsessive emphasis on race is further dividing people, when the real fighters for civil rights dreamed precisely about erasing differences and refusing to divide people by skin colour,”

“I … find the following quote from Martin Luther King: ‘I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by their character.’ This is the true value,”

“However, things are turning out differently there,” “By the way, the absolute majority of … people do not think that the colour of a person’s skin or their gender is an important matter. Each of us is a human being. This is what matters.”

“In a number of Western countries, the debate over men’s and women’s rights has turned into a perfect phantasmagoria. Look, beware of going where the Bolsheviks once planned to go — not only communalising chickens, but also communalising women. One more step and you will be there,” “Zealots of these new approaches even go so far as to want to abolish these concepts altogether “Anyone who dares mention that men and women actually exist, which is a biological fact, risk being ostracised.”

“‘Parent number one’ and ‘parent number two,’ ‘birthing parent’ instead of ‘mother,’ and ‘human milk’ replacing ‘breastmilk’ because it might upset the people who are unsure about their own gender. I repeat, this is nothing new; in the 1920s, the so-called … Kulturtraegers also invented some newspeak believing they were creating a new consciousness and changing values that way. And, as I have already said, they made such a mess it still makes one shudder at times,”

“Not to mention some truly monstrous things when children are taught from an early age that a boy can easily become a girl and vice versa,” “That is, the teachers actually impose on them a choice we all supposedly have. They do so while shutting the parents out of the process and forcing the child to make decisions that can upend their entire life. They do not even bother to consult with child psychologists — is a child at this age even capable of making a decision of this kind? Calling a spade a spade, this verges on a crime against humanity, and it is being done in the name and under the banner of progress.”

“Well, if someone likes this, let them do it. I have already mentioned that, in shaping our approaches, we will be guided by a healthy conservatism,” “That was a few years ago, when passions on the international arena were not yet running as high as they are now, although, of course, we can say that clouds were gathering even then. Now, when the world is going through a structural disruption, the importance of reasonable conservatism as the foundation for a political course has skyrocketed — precisely because of the multiplying risks and dangers, and the fragility of the reality around us.”

“This conservative approach is not about an ignorant traditionalism, a fear of change or a restraining game, much less about withdrawing into our own shell,” “It is primarily about reliance on a time-tested tradition, the preservation and growth of the population, a realistic assessment of oneself and others, a precise alignment of priorities, a correlation of necessity and possibility, a prudent formulation of goals, and a fundamental rejection of extremism as a method. And frankly, in the impending period of global reconstruction, which may take quite long, with its final design being uncertain, moderate conservatism is the most reasonable line of conduct, as far as I see it. It will inevitably change at some point, but so far, do no harm — the guiding principle in medicine — seems to be the most rational one. Noli nocere, as they say.”

 

Answer: Vladimir Putin.

What have we come to when a Russian oligarch can voice the very observations and warnings of where and what catastrophe we are being led into, and that our own conservative representatives in government will not utter?

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  1. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Is there anyone who objects to even a single line in this speech?

    I’m not saying at all that Putin’s motivations are benign in bringing this to world attention.  Just that if it’s obvious to him that he can push it in our faces, how can we not, collectively, see this?  And how can not our conservative leaders make this same speech every day from the House and Senate floors.

    • #1
  2. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    The problem with Vladimir Putin is that the Russian people didn’t give him that retirement gift that he and every other KGB thug merited: a 9mm one to the base of his skull in that room in the basement of the Lubyanka with the sloped floor and a drain in one corner.

    Hey Vlad … maybe for your next retirement, they’ll make up for it by giving you two.

    • #2
  3. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Percival (View Comment):

    The problem with Vladimir Putin is that the Russian people didn’t give him that retirement gift that he and every other KGB thug merited: a 9mm one to the base of his skull in that room in the basement of the Lubyanka with the sloped floor and a drain in one corner.

    Hey Vlad … maybe for your next retirement, they’ll make up for it by giving you two.

    Yeah, he’s still KGB.  But to be mocked with the truth?  I understand CACrabtree’s Fellini feeling.

    • #3
  4. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Got a source for this? I’d at least like to know who the audience was.

    • #4
  5. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    The Reticulator (View Comment):

    Got a source for this? I’d at least like to know who the audience was.

    This speech was delivered during a plenary session of the 18th annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi, Oct., 18-21, 2021.  I don’t know what day it was delivered.  Wikipedia describes it as a Moscow-based think tank and discussion forum closely associated with Putin, established in 2004.

    This is the link to the web site.  I’m sure you can get more from it that I can write here.

    • #5
  6. Stina Inactive
    Stina
    @CM

    I guessed it right before I got to the end.

    Putin will be judged by God at the end and I’m not entirely convinced that his political moves in his country were not for the better.

    He is leading a reformation in his country and his focus has been on a return to orthodoxy and sovereignty.

    If his political enemies are anything like Trump’s – where their goals are to usher the US into a global coalition, stripped of her sovereignty and constitutional government – then I don’t see Putin as worse than Caesar Augustus.

    I’m suspicious of the origins of animosity towards him. Am I supposed to hate him because the globalists tell me I should hate him? Then maybe I should be contrary and love him. I won’t go that far. By I’m highly reticent in accepting the current orthodoxy on the subject.

    I don’t wish to be brainwashed.

    • #6
  7. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Stina (View Comment):

    I guessed it right before I got to the end.

    Putin will be judged by God at the end and I’m not entirely convinced that his political moves in his country were not for the better.

    He is leading a reformation in his country and his focus has been on a return to orthodoxy and sovereignty.

    If his political enemies are anything like Trump’s – where their goals are to usher the US into a global coalition, stripped of her sovereignty and constitutional government – then I don’t see Putin as worse than Caesar Augustus.

    I’m suspicious of the origins of animosity towards him. Am I supposed to hate him because the globalists tell me I should hate him? Then maybe I should be contrary and love him. I won’t go that far. By I’m highly reticent in accepting the current orthodoxy on the subject.

    I don’t wish to be brainwashed.

    You don’t need to hate him, but you should oppose him with all the might appropriate for one who is not actually living in his country.

    He is the corrupt leader of corrupt government.  He is a good politician, which is what enables him to talk a good game.   But he will let nothing interfere with his power, no matter what good ideas he may have.  

    His main political enemies in Russia have been assassinated by his goons or are in prison.  Those who are trying to fill in the gaps are increasingly harrassed by lawfare and intimidation. 

     

    • #7
  8. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Flicker (View Comment):

    The Reticulator (View Comment):

    Got a source for this? I’d at least like to know who the audience was.

    This speech was delivered during a plenary session of the 18th annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi, Oct., 18-21, 2021. I don’t know what day it was delivered. Wikipedia describes it as a Moscow-based think tank and discussion forum closely associated with Putin, established in 2004.

    This is the link to the web site. I’m sure you can get more from it that I can write here.

    I found the YouTube videos of his speech, but one is dubbed in English and the other is in the Russian but doesn’t have English subtitles. I’d like to actually hear him speak (contrary to my preference with American politicians) but I don’t understand a lot.  I’ve watched a bit with Russian subtitles, and that helps a little. 

    • #8
  9. Stina Inactive
    Stina
    @CM

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    He is the corrupt leader of corrupt government.  He is a good politician, which is what enables him to talk a good game.

    I don’t think I have enough unbiased information to draw this conclusion.

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    You don’t need to hate him, but you should oppose him with all the might appropriate for one who is not actually living in his country.

    I oppose him as an enemy of this country. But I support him as an enemy against the globalists.

    And in so far as our country is a pawn held in thrall to globalists, I recognize the tension. My people come first.

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    His main political enemies in Russia have been assassinated by his goons or are in prison.

    Since I do not know the nature of those enemies and I’m not convinced “democracy” is a great form of government, my jury is still out on this. And that’s why I said God will judge him.

    This speech is true and good, though. Regardless of the man saying it or his motivations, it’s correct.

    • #9
  10. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    For all I know Putin may have been fostering CRT, and transsexuality, and racial division in the US for years.  And I’m pretty sure he probably has.

    I don’t think he’s an international communist ideologue, just a pragmatic totalitarian nationalist.

    But to say these things, even if he doesn’t care one way or the other if they are true or not (and as far as the US goes, he does not) he clearly shows that he understands them.

    • #10
  11. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Flicker (View Comment):
    But to say these things, even if he doesn’t care one way or the other if they are true or not (and as far as the US goes, he does not) he clearly shows that he understands them.

    Good point.

    • #11
  12. Kevin Schulte Member
    Kevin Schulte
    @KevinSchulte

    Flicker (View Comment):

    For all I know Putin may have been fostering CRT, and transsexuality, and racial division in the US for years. And I’m pretty sure he probably has.

    I don’t think he’s an international communist ideologue, just a pragmatic totalitarian nationalist.

    But to say these things, even if he doesn’t care one way or the other if they are true or not (and as far as the US goes, he does not) he clearly shows that he understands them.

    I believe he is a murderous thug. However, an intelligent murderous thug understands a stable culture is best for his craft to function predictably. The only way you get a stable culture is thru stable moral/Christian families with healthy traditions. Everything the west is moving away from.  

    • #12
  13. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Here is a link to a transcript of the entirety of the speech and the follow-up Q&A.

    • #13
  14. Jim McConnell Member
    Jim McConnell
    @JimMcConnell

    The Reticulator (View Comment):

    Stina (View Comment):

    I guessed it right before I got to the end.

    Putin will be judged by God at the end and I’m not entirely convinced that his political moves in his country were not for the better.

    He is leading a reformation in his country and his focus has been on a return to orthodoxy and sovereignty.

    If his political enemies are anything like Trump’s – where their goals are to usher the US into a global coalition, stripped of her sovereignty and constitutional government – then I don’t see Putin as worse than Caesar Augustus.

    I’m suspicious of the origins of animosity towards him. Am I supposed to hate him because the globalists tell me I should hate him? Then maybe I should be contrary and love him. I won’t go that far. By I’m highly reticent in accepting the current orthodoxy on the subject.

    I don’t wish to be brainwashed.

    You don’t need to hate him, but you should oppose him with all the might appropriate for one who is not actually living in his country.

    He is the corrupt leader of corrupt government. He is a good politician, which is what enables him to talk a good game. But he will let nothing interfere with his power, no matter what good ideas he may have.

    His main political enemies in Russia have been assassinated by his goons or are in prison. Those who are trying to fill in the gaps are increasingly harrassed by lawfare and intimidation.

    When he first came to my notice after the collapse of the Soviet Union, I had great hopes that he would be the reformer Russia needed, but with his KGB background, that would be a tall order. I have since thought that he may have been a good man who was corrupted by power. He is certainly corrupt now.

    • #14
  15. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Flicker (View Comment):

    For all I know Putin may have been fostering CRT, and transsexuality, and racial division in the US for years. And I’m pretty sure he probably has.

    I don’t think he’s an international communist ideologue, just a pragmatic totalitarian nationalist.

    But to say these things, even if he doesn’t care one way or the other if they are true or not (and as far as the US goes, he does not) he clearly shows that he understands them.

    I agree. Basically, he is a Czar in all but name, and, let’s be honest here, the Russian people support that. Oh, we can be unhappy with it, but that is what they have.

    It is odd that we constantly have to put people into “All Evil” or “All Good” camps. I am not a Putin supporter so to speak, but I am not against him either. He is trying to do what he thinks is best for Russia, not just Putin. Worse people have been in charge of Russia.

     

    • #15
  16. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    For all I know Putin may have been fostering CRT, and transsexuality, and racial division in the US for years. And I’m pretty sure he probably has.

    I don’t think he’s an international communist ideologue, just a pragmatic totalitarian nationalist.

    But to say these things, even if he doesn’t care one way or the other if they are true or not (and as far as the US goes, he does not) he clearly shows that he understands them.

    I agree. Basically, he is a Czar in all but name, and, let’s be honest here, the Russian people support that. Oh, we can be unhappy with it, but that is what they have.

    It is odd that we constantly have to put people into “All Evil” or “All Good” camps. I am not a Putin supporter so to speak, but I am not against him either. He is trying to do what he thinks is best for Russia, not just Putin. Worse people have been in charge of Russia.

    If you’re not Russian you should be wary of him.  If you’re Russian you should be glad he’s not your enemy.  But I’m not sure Russians should think he’s on your side.  He’s been running Russia for two decades and Russia doesn’t seem to be any better off than when he first took office.

    I tend to agree with Kevin that his morality is pragmatic, to stabilize the state for his own benefit and ease of control.  And if that helps the Russian populace, so much the better.

    The same is demonstrated with his iron cathedral, which is not clearly Christian though it uses Christian iconography, but definitely dark and militaristic with a metaphysical tone.  If the cathedral represents Putin’s mind, then he’s a pretty scary guy.

    • #16
  17. Norm McDonald Bought The Farm Inactive
    Norm McDonald Bought The Farm
    @Pseudodionysius

    “Turd Ferguson”

    Oh, wait, who? Vlad the Impaler? Well, I was close, I think.

    • #17
  18. Unsk Member
    Unsk
    @Unsk

    Great Work Flicker.

    Some people just seem to have trouble admitting that Vlad Putin is more truthful that almost all Democrat Politicians – with a tiny few exceptions- and almost all Never Trumper politicians. 

    Putin is right on all counts in this speech.

    Flicker:

    The same is demonstrated with his iron cathedral, which is not clearly Christian though it uses Christian iconography, but definitely dark and militaristic with a metaphysical tone.  If the cathedral represents Putin’s mind, then he’s a pretty scary guy.

    For what it’s worth, apparently Putin’s mother was a closet Christian. 

    • #18
  19. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Unsk (View Comment):

    Great Work Flicker.

    Some people just seem to have trouble admitting that Vlad Putin is more truthful that almost all Democrat Politicians – with a tiny few exceptions- and almost all Never Trumper politicians.

    Putin is right on all counts in this speech.

    Flicker:

    The same is demonstrated with his iron cathedral, which is not clearly Christian though it uses Christian iconography, but definitely dark and militaristic with a metaphysical tone. If the cathedral represents Putin’s mind, then he’s a pretty scary guy.

    For what it’s worth, apparently Putin’s mother was a closet Christian.

    Maybe that just means that, paraphrasing Ahnald in “Commando,” he’ll imprison or execute her last.

    (That is, if she’s currently still alive.)

     

    • #19
  20. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Unsk (View Comment):

    Great Work Flicker.

    Some people just seem to have trouble admitting that Vlad Putin is more truthful that almost all Democrat Politicians – with a tiny few exceptions- and almost all Never Trumper politicians.

    Putin is right on all counts in this speech.

    Flicker:

    The same is demonstrated with his iron cathedral, which is not clearly Christian though it uses Christian iconography, but definitely dark and militaristic with a metaphysical tone. If the cathedral represents Putin’s mind, then he’s a pretty scary guy.

    For what it’s worth, apparently Putin’s mother was a closet Christian.

    Maybe that just means that, paraphrasing Ahnald in “Commando,” he’ll imprison or execute her last.

    (That is, if she’s currently still alive.)

     

    “Mom, I lied,”

    • #20
  21. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Unsk (View Comment):

    Great Work Flicker.

    Some people just seem to have trouble admitting that Vlad Putin is more truthful that almost all Democrat Politicians – with a tiny few exceptions- and almost all Never Trumper politicians.

    Putin is right on all counts in this speech.

    Flicker:

    The same is demonstrated with his iron cathedral, which is not clearly Christian though it uses Christian iconography, but definitely dark and militaristic with a metaphysical tone. If the cathedral represents Putin’s mind, then he’s a pretty scary guy.

    For what it’s worth, apparently Putin’s mother was a closet Christian.

    Maybe that just means that, paraphrasing Ahnald in “Commando,” he’ll imprison or execute her last.

    (That is, if she’s currently still alive.)

     

    “Mom, I lied,”

     

    • #21
  22. GFHandle Member
    GFHandle
    @GFHandle

    Flicker: What have we come to when a Russian oligarch can voice the very observations and warnings of where and what catastrophe we are being led into, and that our own conservative representatives in government will not utter?

    I think maybe we have come to a crafty Putin, who is trolling in order to strengthen the woke movement, which he knows is good for him. “Those right wing extremist enemies of ours on Ricochet are parroting Putin’s propaganda for him. They agree with the KGB.”

    The logic: Putin lies, Putin attack’s cancel culture, therefore cancel culture is good.

    Compare what happened to Trump when the alt-right endorsed him.

    • #22
  23. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Flicker (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    For all I know Putin may have been fostering CRT, and transsexuality, and racial division in the US for years. And I’m pretty sure he probably has.

    I don’t think he’s an international communist ideologue, just a pragmatic totalitarian nationalist.

    But to say these things, even if he doesn’t care one way or the other if they are true or not (and as far as the US goes, he does not) he clearly shows that he understands them.

    I agree. Basically, he is a Czar in all but name, and, let’s be honest here, the Russian people support that. Oh, we can be unhappy with it, but that is what they have.

    It is odd that we constantly have to put people into “All Evil” or “All Good” camps. I am not a Putin supporter so to speak, but I am not against him either. He is trying to do what he thinks is best for Russia, not just Putin. Worse people have been in charge of Russia.

    If you’re not Russian you should be wary of him. If you’re Russian you should be glad he’s not your enemy. But I’m not sure Russians should think he’s on your side. He’s been running Russia for two decades and Russia doesn’t seem to be any better off than when he first took office.

    I tend to agree with Kevin that his morality is pragmatic, to stabilize the state for his own benefit and ease of control. And if that helps the Russian populace, so much the better.

    The same is demonstrated with his iron cathedral, which is not clearly Christian though it uses Christian iconography, but definitely dark and militaristic with a metaphysical tone. If the cathedral represents Putin’s mind, then he’s a pretty scary guy.

    I don’t see how he is the enemy of the Russian people, unlike, say Lenin and Stalin. He is a Russian nationalist and patriot. It is possible to be those things and not be a democrat or republican type leaders. Indeed, I think he is more of a patriot than Democrats are towards America. 

    I think Putin is more complex than “I am going this all for me and mine”. I find that to me more likely, in fact, that Biden. Biden is in it for Biden and his family and nothing else. 

    • #23
  24. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Stina (View Comment):

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    He is the corrupt leader of corrupt government.  He is a good politician, which is what enables him to talk a good game.

    I don’t think I have enough unbiased information to draw this conclusion.

    If you watch the muckraking videos put out by Navalny’s anti-corruption foundation, and then watch the responses from the Russian government, you’ll find you have enough information.  

    • #24
  25. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):
    I think Putin is more complex than “I am going this all for me and mine”. I find that to me more likely, in fact, that Biden. Biden is in it for Biden and his family and nothing else. 

    I think both Putin and Biden are more complex than that. Most any corrupt politician has mixed motives.  

    • #25
  26. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    The Reticulator (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):
    I think Putin is more complex than “I am going this all for me and mine”. I find that to me more likely, in fact, that Biden. Biden is in it for Biden and his family and nothing else.

    I think both Putin and Biden are more complex than that. Most any corrupt politician has mixed motives.

    Putin may be more complex, but Biden hasn’t seemed complex at any time in his multi-decade “career.”

    • #26
  27. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    kedavis (View Comment):

    The Reticulator (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):
    I think Putin is more complex than “I am going this all for me and mine”. I find that to me more likely, in fact, that Biden. Biden is in it for Biden and his family and nothing else.

    I think both Putin and Biden are more complex than that. Most any corrupt politician has mixed motives.

    Putin may be more complex, but Biden hasn’t seemed complex at any time in his multi-decade “career.”

    This

    • #27
  28. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    kedavis (View Comment):

    The Reticulator (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):
    I think Putin is more complex than “I am going this all for me and mine”. I find that to me more likely, in fact, that Biden. Biden is in it for Biden and his family and nothing else.

    I think both Putin and Biden are more complex than that. Most any corrupt politician has mixed motives.

    Putin may be more complex, but Biden hasn’t seemed complex at any time in his multi-decade “career.”

    Well, not in the same way, but he has to listen to competing voices of progressives, each advocating for its own advantage in oppressing the people.   It’s complicated.  

    • #28
  29. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    The Reticulator (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    The Reticulator (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):
    I think Putin is more complex than “I am going this all for me and mine”. I find that to me more likely, in fact, that Biden. Biden is in it for Biden and his family and nothing else.

    I think both Putin and Biden are more complex than that. Most any corrupt politician has mixed motives.

    Putin may be more complex, but Biden hasn’t seemed complex at any time in his multi-decade “career.”

    Well, not in the same way, but he has to listen to competing voices of progressives, each advocating for its own advantage in oppressing the people. It’s complicated.

    Maybe in theory, but I still don’t think Biden is at all complex, and maybe that leads to his conflicting statements and actions etc about those competing voices.  He has no clue how to somehow blend them together, perhaps “triangulating” as they said about President Bubba.

    • #29
  30. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Unsk (View Comment):

    Great Work Flicker.

    Some people just seem to have trouble admitting that Vlad Putin is more truthful that almost all Democrat Politicians – with a tiny few exceptions- and almost all Never Trumper politicians.

    Putin is right on all counts in this speech.

    Flicker:

    The same is demonstrated with his iron cathedral, which is not clearly Christian though it uses Christian iconography, but definitely dark and militaristic with a metaphysical tone. If the cathedral represents Putin’s mind, then he’s a pretty scary guy.

    For what it’s worth, apparently Putin’s mother was a closet Christian.

    Maybe that’s where he got the idea from.  But have you seen it?  It’s very strange.  Watch ’til the end.  I won’t comment on it beyond this.

    • #30
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