Remember, Putin was the former head of the KGB...you didn't get that posting in the old USSR if you were not a HARDCORE, ardent communist!
As some of you know, I am a U.S. Army officer. Anyway, many years ago when I was just a "baby" 2LT, the Commanding General of the armor division I was assigned to, gave each new tank platoon leader a print out of a speech given by a Lecturer at the Lenin Schoold of Political Warfare in 1981, and we had to carry it around at all times...I still have it, and it is displayed on my home office bulletin board! It says:
"Today of course, we are not strong enough to attack. To win, we shall need the element of surprise. The bourgeoise will have to be put to sleep. So, we shall begin by launching the most spectacular peace movement on record. There will be electrifying overtures and unheard of concussions. The capitalist countries, stupid and decadent will rejoice to cooperate in their own destruction. They will jump at another chance to be friends. As soon as their guard is down, WE SHALL SMASH THEM WITH OUR CLENCHED FISTS!"--Dimitry Z. Manuilsky--Lecture at the Lenin School of Political Warfare--March 1981
Prophetic?
Socialists and Communists back Yuschenko and George Soros, too.
I never believed communism was wiped out when the wall fell. Just quietly waiting, pushed underground, going by a different name... it seems your post would confirm my suspicions about the true nature of the "New" Russia vs. the USSR.