Well, at least we don't live in Russia

[ShaneGR]

Where Presidential candidates just "disappear"

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/02/09/russia.rybkin/index.html

MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- The mystery surrounding the disappearance of a Russian presidential candidate has deepened with the launch -- and then cancellation -- of a murder probe.

Ivan Rybkin -- former speaker of Parliament and strong critic of President Vladimir Putin -- went missing on Thursday.

Rybkin's family and staff filed a missing persons report Sunday, and the FSB -- Russia's Federal Security Service -- launched an investigation.

On Monday morning, Moscow prosecutors announced a criminal case on charges of pre-meditated murder. But they canceled it almost immediately, saying there was "no basis" for such a case.

[hlthe2b]

1. No... only whistle blowers disappear in the US (currently)...

Vast improvement, eh?

[Mairead]

2. I think you forgot to add "yet".

So far, our ruling class hasn't needed more than a tame media to 'disappear' its opposition, in part because most of its 'opposition' really isn't.

[Minstrel Boy]

3. but sometimes they end up on pantry floors

[Don_G]

4. I Love My Shortwave Radio

Where I can get news untainted by "Mikey" Powell , weight-loss pills and a overpriced NASA mattress.

[Monte Carlo]

5. It's bad here, but it's nowhere near Russia...

... where anarchy largely reigns. Russia still lacks a strong foundation for a liberal democracy like that of the United States; they have no history of it.

Things are bad here, but we don't see troublemakers like Dean suddenly disappear one day.

[cosmicdot]

6. some are pre-empted ... some are blacked/blocked out ...