Vladimir Putin becomes a laughing stock: Russians giggle at President as press conference leaves him humiliated

GBNews ^ | 12/14/2023 | Dan Falvey

[Rockingham]

Quite true. Being a dictator has great job security, but a transition to retirement is dodgy. Close observers of Putin's Russia describe his key role as being a mediator and peace keeper between the powerful economic and political interests that collectively control and loot Russia. These include the so-called siloviki, the "men of power" who run Russia's military, police, and intelligence agencies.

There were analysts who, months ago, described Putin's bungling of the Ukraine invasion as causing great distress among the siloviki. Heavy troop casualties, purges of military and security service leaders, the decline of Russia's military reputation, and the reinvigoration of NATO are heavy marks against Putin.

For Putin, one of his nightmares must be to be ousted and killed like Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. He was reelected as dictator in 1989 as discontent simmered. In December of 1989 though, Ceaușescu went from dictator to dead in a matter of days. The key moment was when a routine public appearance went wrong as a crowd erupted in insults and abuse.

Ceaușescu ordered his troops to fire, which touched off riots, his flight for safety, capture by the army, and trial and death by military execution. The entire episode took less than a week and was touched off when the Romanian security services stirred up the initial outburst of public derision.

Perhaps this fiasco of a press conference is a warning to Putin to change course, but I think it is more likely to be notice from the siloviki that, like Ceaușescu, even if reelected, Putin will not be permitted to remain in power and will be ousted violently if necessary. If I am correct, then events will move quickly as Putin stands down from reelection and Russia contrives a successor.

[dennisw]

You're a live wire at FR these days, a regular Chatty Kathy wind-up doll. But your IQ remains low as ever.

[JonPreston]

Ukraine DID hold out for seven months (hell, they’ve been holding out for almost three years!), against a larger and stronger Russia; and, it DID recover much of its lost territory.

Show us the link

[kiryandil]

d the d

[delta7]

For the life me, I can’t understand how Putin can be your hero.
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He is not my hero, he is the President of the Russian Federation, and he is simply outsmarting corrupted, senile Joe and his gang sitting in the White House, at every turn.

I can’t for the life of me understand how senile Joe can be your hero, and that goes for corrupted St Zelensky.