Putin is the Czar. A modern version and embodies all the characteristics - Autocrat of all the Russias of past Czars.
This obviously does not make him a democrat. Continued use of Cold War expressions misstate what he is. The Czars of past history were absolutist & oligarchs. If they wanted to be the richest man in Russia they could do so with the wave of their hand. Primarily he is a Russian nationalist. Too many Americans associate the word Czar with Nicholas II. Probably the only Czar they have heard of or know anything about. Nicholas II was J. Wellington Wimpy compared to his predecessors.
None of what I have said should be interpreted as liking or preference for Putin. Its just a recognition that Russia has returned to the past (Its roots!) in the type of leadership it wants.
That being said there is no reason for viewing Russia with automatic hostility. Through most of our history relations with Russia were not close but respectful. I see no reason why we can’t return to that.
Stalin modeled himself after his hero, Ivan the Terrible.
No dispute about that.
But remember the above article claims that Putin is some kind of "hero" to American conservatives, and that is just not true!
It's not just untrue, it's impossible by the very definition of the words "American conservatives".
We do not admire, much less make heroes of czars, or dictators, or "dear leaders" or any other such people.
US American conservative means, at core, two things: our Constitution and Bible and neither has room for a Russian KGB thug "czar" as our "hero".
Do you disagree?
Reily: "None of what I have said should be interpreted as liking or preference for Putin.
Its just a recognition that Russia has returned to the past (Its roots!) in the type of leadership it wants."
If that's all the above article said, then there's no disagreement here.
But it went beyond that to say we admire Putin as "hero" and that's too much to let go unchallenged.
Reily: "That being said there is no reason for viewing Russia with automatic hostility.
Through most of our history relations with Russia were not close but respectful.
I see no reason why we can’t return to that."
The fact is that every president since the fall of the Berlin Wall has hoped & tried to "reset" our relationship with Russia and all have been disappointed.
Sure, it's no "bad" on Trump if he tries yet again, but do not be surprised if he too is disappointed.
Indeed, I would predict that President Trump's success with Putin is 100% a function of how strong Putin views the US as being under our new leadership.
If we are weak we will not be happy with the results.