Putin loses his smile after lecture from Bush on democracy

[robbedvoter]

Putin loses his smile after lecture from Bush on democracy
http://news.independent.co.uk/low_res/story.jsp?story=614535&host=3&dir=73
By Andrew Osborn in Bratislava

25 February 2005

Putin loses his smile after lecture from Bush on democracy

Taras Chaban: Europe's leaders must start standing up to Putin

Leading article: The lesson of George Bush's tour is that Europe needs to pull closer together

President George Bush subjected Russia's Vladimir Putin to a public lecture on the fundamentals of democracy yesterday, injecting a chill into a relationship that has - until now - been characterised by bonhomie.

Meeting in the Slovakian capital, Bratislava, Mr Bush emerged from a three-hour meeting with the Russian President joking and smiling and full of warm words. But his frequent references to "Vladimir" and the "fella" were peppered with targeted criticism of the state of democracy in Russia with which the more hawkish members of his administration are said to have lost patience.

An unsmiling, visibly irritated Mr Putin squirmed as he listened to Mr Bush tell a press conference he had been told that Washington had "concerns about Russia's commitment in fulfilling" the "universal principles" of democracy. "Democracies always reflect a country's customs and culture, and I know that," Mr Bush said. "Yet democracies have certain things in common; they have a rule of law, and protection of minorities, a free press, and a viable political opposition."

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. The only use of the word "Diplomat" that he knows...

was by Dodge.

Chimpy: The K-car of Statesmen. Ugly, flawed, unreliable, makes you want to put a bag over your head if you are seen with him.

[ladjf]

Bush's remarks were strictly "for show". He and Putin have

long since made their backroom deals. For the short term, Bush will be
continue his quest to be Emperor of the World while he "looks the other way" as Putin takes over as dictator of Russia. In the long run, well, that may turn out to be problematic. They'll work that out when it becomes necessary.

[Conservativesux]

22. And hopefully the radioactivity levels wont be too bad. eom.

[ladjf]

25. Unfortunately, Bush and his cronies are so focused on taking

over the world that they are oblivious to the real dangers facing us all, particularly as a result of the actions.

[aneerkoinos]

30. Difference

Difference between Putin and Bush is that Putin is intelligent and authorative nationalistic populist leader who really has the best interest of Russia in his heart - or rather his perception about what is and should be Russia's interests. We don't have to agree with Putin to understand where he's coming from.

Bush, on the other hand, is just a puppet/usefull idiot of Corporate Fascism.

I feel kind of sorry for all the leaders who in the name of whorish diplomatic politeness (mafia kind of politeness, not forgetting realpolitik for a second) have to suffer socializing with that thuggish moran and showing happy face. Well, only kind of, not really...

[AuntiBush]

32. Agreed! Poor Putin! Who can blame him!

The Chimp opens our eyes to other nations leaders as "not so bad" after all visions. Nothing like stepping-back 100 years but then again, our times are seen through the eyes of a Chimp-Puppet!

[hadrons]

2. I would think Pooty-poop would be laughing his ass ....

after being lectured by Bush on democracy

[tjdee]

3. Bush's condescension has long earned him a place on my shit list.

First of all, he's stupid.

Second of all, like stupid people, he likes to talk about how much he knows, which is very little.

I'd be visibly irritated if I were Putin too. I don't excuse any of Putin's actions, but to have to stand there and listen to a mentally lazy, fraudently elected person wax poetic about democracy has to be one of the more painful things he has to do.

[Richard Steele]

4. "Democracies have certain things in common..." sez georgie

Rule of Law
Protection of Minorities
Free Press
Viable Political Opposition

Looks like the USA is 0 for 4 on the ol' "democracy checklist"; better start LECTURING other nations about THEIR faults!

[LynnTheDem]

33. "Democracies have certain things in common..."

-Gitmo

-Abu Ghraib

-Officially sanctioned Torture, Murder, Rape.

-Officially sanctioned extraordinary renditions.

-Patriot Act.

-Unprovoked wars of aggression invasions & occupations.

-"One Question Rule" for media.

-Lying troops to war without enough rifles, ammo, body armor, food, water, vehicle repair parts & equipment; keeping troops without enough rifles, ammo, body armor 2 years later.

-Cutting veterans' benefits.

-Conscription of troops.

-Leaders lying on a daily basis on all things, big and small.

-Violating the Constitution, national law, international law, the Geneva Conventions and most signed & ratified treaties.

-Ignoring their own citizen majority.

Wow...so what other democracies have the above in common, then???

[Jack Rabbit]

5. What do two yuppie fascists have to say to each other about democracy?

This is a sand box argument on a global scale.

[meegbear]

6. Kinda like the grand wizard of the KKK lecturing blacks on civil rights

[PATRICK]

13. More like...

The KKK lecturing the former South African apartheid government on same topic. Bewildering hypocritical chutzpah only a Corporate Pravda journalist could repeat with a straight face.

[Terran]

7. Thanks for the lesson, George

"Democracies always reflect a country's customs and culture, and I know that," Mr Bush said. "Yet democracies have certain things in common; they have a rule of law, and protection of minorities, a free press, and a viable political opposition."

Further evidence that we no longer have a democracy in the USA.

[Just Me]

8. Yep. He appeared to barely control his disdain.

Of course, "Smirk" was behaving like a spoiled child going "na na nana na". Embarassing.

[Conservativesux]

23. Do the math: Putin=ex-KGB assassin. *=draft dodging coward.

something here just dosent add up. Or does it?

[ClassWarrior]

9. Don't like being treated LIKE a child BY a child, Poot?

Guess that's what happens when you try to buddy up with a "strict father" type. (If you don't know what I mean, read "Don't Think of an Elephant" by George Lakoff.)

NGU.

[Rose Siding]

10. Senior officials warned that would happen, but bush ignored the advisors

from last week...

Bush to nudge Putin on democracy, but not publicly

WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Despite calls for a harder U.S. line on Russia, President George W. Bush will likely question growing Kremlin authoritarianism in private, rather than in public, when he meets Russian President Vladimir Putin this week.

The calculation reflects a fear that public criticism of the Russian president could backfire, said U.S. officials, as well as the fact U.S. influence over Russia has waned in recent years, foreign policy analysts said.
...
"Oftentimes the impulse among the commentariat is to scold publicly as the first resort, as the default, but that isn't necessarily, in the real world, the most effective way to achieve your objectives," said a senior U.S official.

"If you talk to Russian experts, they will tell you Putin recoils from public criticism -- that's not the most effective way to deal with him," said another senior official. "Bush has been criticized by some for not being more vocal publicly. On the other hand, the point is (that) you want to be effective."

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N18380946.htm

[leesa]

21. Don't MOST people recoil from public criticism? They have to TELL

him that?!?

[LibertyorDeath]

11. Putin Regains his smile This is now a done deal

original news source:

story.news.yahoo.com
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is preparing to sign a deal with Iran this month to start atomic fuel shipments for a Moscow-built nuclear reactor there, a Russian nuclear source said Monday.

The move is certain to enrage the United States which says Iran can use Russian fuel to secretly make a nuclear bomb. Washington has long called on Russia to drop the plans.

The source in Russia's Atomic Energy Agency said Moscow and Tehran had largely settled all remaining technicalities and were preparing to sign the accord when Alexander Rumyantsev, the agency's head, travels to Iran at the end of February.

[pandorasox]

16. Will Russia also be providing security for the nuclear facility?

It will no doubt be the target of international terrorists like Bush...

[Delphinus]

12. How the hell does he get off even speaking about democracy?!

quote: An unsmiling, visibly irritated Mr Putin squirmed as he listened to Mr Bush tell a press conference he had been told that Washington had "concerns about Russia's commitment in fulfilling" the "universal principles" of democracy. "Democracies always reflect a country's customs and culture, and I know that," Mr Bush said. "Yet democracies have certain things in common; they have a rule of law, and protection of minorities, a free press, and a viable political opposition."

If * knows this, that democracies have a rule of law, a free press, etc., then why isn't he working for us to have it here? It's like the pot calling the kettle black! Ol' Vlad needs to address this bullshit spewing from *'s mouth to the same press that * did.

[Mandate My Ass]

15. Something tells me when Vlad addresses this insult

it won't be to the press. But Bush will rue that he got on his high horse and lectured Putin. Putin is just as corrupt and ruthless as Bush, but a helluva a lot smarter.

[Conservativesux]

20. That isnt saying much. Almost anyone is smarter then *. eom

[shantipriya]

14. Bush lecturing about democracy

The shrub should apply some of those principles of democracy at home.
Besides,what the hell does he know about democracy?He has inteligence of a 10 year-old and by own admission never one to read- why would anyone listen to this moron?

[Merlin]

17. Soon FAUX will begin lecturing PRAVDA on journalistic integrity

This is a ploy to deflect criticism to what he thinks is a more besmirched target than even he is. I'd say it's a toss-up.

[ClassWarrior]

18. Pootie, just say, "Spank me, Georgie**, spank me!!" just like...

...Jeff Guckert did.

NGU.

[sam sarrha]

19. so where does Bu$h come from..?? not from where he discribes, fantacy land

[kentuck]

24. Doing what he does best....

Trying to create civil unrest.....this time in Russia. Then, it's back to dividing the AARP and the rest of America.

[omulcol]

26. Precisely !!!

I was just going to write the same thing - especially after recalling he urged Iranians to fight for freedom and democracy too.
Putin knew exactly what Bush was implying - and we shouldn't underestimate Russia's new alliance with China.

[robbedvoter]

27. W talking about democracy - like a leper giving facials (bow to Robin

Williams).
Interesting how WaPo looked at the same event and came with "W gently prods Putin to democracy"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49358-2005Feb24.html

[cosmicdot]

28. Bu$h** giving ideas for 'homeland' protest sign themes?

Demanding ...

-Rule of Law
-Protection of Minorities
-Free Press
-Viable Political Opposition

walk the talk at home

democracy without Diebold

etc.

[yorkiemommie1]

29. i had to read that last sentence twice...

meanwhile...back in the U S A.....bushco is doing all it can to suppress all four.

hypocritical ASS****

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

31. FOOL's, ALIENATING US, Condescending Rhetoric- *'s a Delusional & INSANE

It's like a mentally disabled guy lecturing to a group of Scientists about "proper" Scientific Technique.
WTF?
Who is allowing this Idiot to make an ASS of himself while REPRESENTING US?

Get this idiot out off the World Stage fast or WE MAY NOT RECOVER.
This is serious.

You cannot go around talking shit with the other key players and expect results.
In fact he may very well be trying to disrupt things.
He knows if the U.S. is in a perpetual war he may just get to become the permanent Chimp that he wants to be--Permanent Self appointed for life.--All he needs one mini 911 and that's it--Permanent lockdown, Permanent Chimp. Martial Law, no more elections.
This is not whacked out thinking-- it's very logical and very possible.

The damage being done may set the stage for the end of everything.

Seriously, we've had somewhat mature leaders in this world since humanity has developed the ability to destroy the world, up til now--

Now we have a mentally disturbed greed chidlike spoiled brat in charge of an arsenal that can disintegrate the earth 100 times over.

Somebody save us!!
Quick!!