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I'm the world's only true democrat, says Putin
Reuters ^ | June 4 2007

Posted on 06/04/2007 10:28:20 AM PDT by ASC2006

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's President Vladimir Putin has described himself as the world's only "pure" democrat and attacked the United States and Europe, which have criticized him, for falling short of their own ideals.

In an interview with Western media released on Monday, he rejected Western criticism that he has centralized power in the Kremlin, marginalized the opposition and increased state control over the media.

Asked whether he agreed with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's description of him as an "impeccable democrat", Putin replied laughing:

"Of course I am an absolute, pure democrat. But you know the problem? It's not even a problem, it's a real tragedy. The thing is that I am the only one, there just aren't any others in the world."

Putin said the West's record on democracy was less than perfect.

"Let's look what happens in North America -- sheer horror: torture, the homeless, Guantanamo, keeping people in custody without trial or investigation," Putin said in the interview ahead of this week's summit of the Group of Eight (G-8) industrial nations.

"Look what's going on in Europe: the harsh treatment of demonstrators, the use of rubber bullets, tear gas in one capital or another, the killing of demonstrators in the streets."

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: communist; democrat; nakedcommunist; putin; ussr
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1 posted on 06/04/2007 10:28:23 AM PDT by ASC2006
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To: ASC2006

I'm the world's only true democrat, says Putin

Probably because the Democrats here are to the left of Putin.

2 posted on 06/04/2007 10:30:42 AM PDT by TommyDale (More Americans are killed each day in the U.S. by abortion than were killed on 9/11 !)
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To: ASC2006

Is he running against Hillary and Obama for the nomination?


3 posted on 06/04/2007 10:30:43 AM PDT by PBRSTREETGANG
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To: ASC2006

And still people want to vote democrap.


4 posted on 06/04/2007 10:30:47 AM PDT by Khepera (Do not remove by penalty of law!)
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To: ASC2006

5 posted on 06/04/2007 10:31:42 AM PDT by Jake The Goose
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To: ASC2006
"Look what's going on in Europe: the harsh treatment of demonstrators, the use of rubber bullets, tear gas in one capital or another, the killing of demonstrators in the streets."

As opposed to using poison gas on hostage situations and radiation to assassinate detractors?

6 posted on 06/04/2007 10:31:49 AM PDT by SunStar (Democrats piss me off!)
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To: TommyDale

He’s more of a Rockefeller Republican.


7 posted on 06/04/2007 10:32:30 AM PDT by RightWhale (Repeal the Treaty)
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To: ASC2006; Owl_Eagle; Sam's Army; Lazamataz; Darksheare; pissant; najida; r-q-tek86; blackie; ...

Like that is something you want known in public.............


8 posted on 06/04/2007 10:32:43 AM PDT by Jersey Republican Biker Chick (RIP Eric Medlen. You will be missed.)
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To: ASC2006

I’m pretty sure I’ve seen video of Putin’s thugs shooting a woman protester up with a syringe of something which caused her to pass out. Not sure we do that here.

Oh well, at least he is honest about “Communist” being the same as “Democrat”.


9 posted on 06/04/2007 10:32:56 AM PDT by L98Fiero (A fool who'll waste his life, God rest his guts.)
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To: TommyDale

I believe Zell Miller is still alive.


10 posted on 06/04/2007 10:34:55 AM PDT by BARLF
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I’m Spartacus!


11 posted on 06/04/2007 10:35:03 AM PDT by Jakarta ex-pat
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To: ASC2006
Vlad frantically alternates between "American ABMs in Europe pose a great threat to world peace" and "our ICBMs can easily defeat any ABM force" (statements which beg an obvious question), and now in this most recent interview he sounds like that nutjob in Iran, making patently ridiculous claims. Pooty sounds like he's losing it.
12 posted on 06/04/2007 10:35:50 AM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: ASC2006

Does Howard Dean know about this?


13 posted on 06/04/2007 10:35:56 AM PDT by Southside_Chicago_Republican (Fred Thompson 2008)
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To: ASC2006

I’d have to hand it to him, he tells it like it is..........


14 posted on 06/04/2007 10:36:05 AM PDT by Red Badger (Bite your tongue. It tastes a lot better than crow................)
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To: ASC2006
This a laugh riot.

"After the death of Mahatma Gandhi there's nobody to talk to," he concluded.

Hey, Putipute. Just channel him if you want a nice talk.

15 posted on 06/04/2007 10:38:21 AM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: ASC2006

What’s his DU name?


16 posted on 06/04/2007 10:38:54 AM PDT by Hegemony Cricket (Don't mistake timid driving for defensive driving.)
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To: ASC2006

I think Putin has gone mad — literally.


17 posted on 06/04/2007 10:39:26 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: ASC2006

Our ideal isn’t democracy. We are supposed to be a constitutional republic of citizens, not a rabble led by a strongman.


18 posted on 06/04/2007 10:40:41 AM PDT by oblomov
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To: ASC2006

Maybe that’s what Bush saw (and liked) when he “looked into Putin’s soul”.


19 posted on 06/04/2007 10:41:18 AM PDT by PBRSTREETGANG
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To: ASC2006

So what?


20 posted on 06/04/2007 10:42:57 AM PDT by onedoug
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