I am intrigued by Russian politics, post-USSR. I'd like to see an analysis of the technical or theoretical rights and the practical rights afforded average people in Russia vs. the same in the US. I still here people my parents’ age saying, “What is this, Russia”. No, you can smoke in a bar in Russia, and they export all the natural gas they can dig up.
This isn't your grandpa's Russia. May not be our friend. But don't get mired in the Cold War past.
One thing Putin has done for the United States is to provide us with an example of good government. If all you had to go on was our own last three presidents, you probably wouldn’t have any sort of an idea of what good government might look like.
Which is exactly my view. Conservatives need to be more pragmatic when it comes to setting foot on the global stage, and I’ll be the first to put my hands up and say I have slimed Russia in the recent past with Soviet-accusations, but we need to be honest. The world is not a chess board of black and white, as it was in, say, the 1950s. It may become that way again, but right now we are dealing with countries often going through dramatic changes.
Take Assad for example. Assad and his family are cold-blooded, corrupt, murderous Giraffe-looking versions of Al Capone’s mob, but I could see from the start that they were far better than any alternative that the Syrians would vote into power.
The fact is that today, Britain and France are more communist than Russia. Just look at the 75% hate tax on high incomes under Hollande! We have the Rose Parade displaying two men spooning, while Russia has banned sodomic propaganda to minors. Which country seems to be under the thrall of Marx’ anti-family agenda more?
We are likely never going to have a friendly relationship with Russia. We desire to remain a world power, and they by virtue of their size alone, will always be a world power. That’s not a stage where you make friends. However looking back, it was dumb for Mitt Romney to say they are our ‘no.1 geopolitical foe’. China is higher up the list than Russia, and what about Iran?
On any issue, the more conservatism in the world the better, whether it is adopted by our allies or those we have more frosty relationships with. Putin is not a pure conservative by any stretch, but he has pushed conservative agendas through in Russia with more ease than Bush ever did during his tenure here. In the realm of partisan politics, I don’t think anyone would disagree we could learn a thing or two from a man who at the very least, is a skilled politician.