United Russia Winning Elections To Crimean Parliament - Exit Polls

Itar Tass ^ | 09/14/2014 | Itar Tass

[goldstategop]

The ruling party of Russia - United Russia has won the regional elections in Crimea by a landslide of 70.36%. It was expected but the margin is impressive. Putin has a record 85% popularity rating. The incumbent party of power could cash in on it. No one else came close and for the first time in Russian history, the Communists placed a distant third with 6.56% of the vote. If you're Vlad, there was plenty to smile about today - which US President Obama can only envy.

[FredZarguna]

As Vlad's idol once said, "It doesn't matter who has the votes. It only matters who counts the votes." Why would anybody be surprised at the results of a typical Russian "election?" This isn't news. It's been going on since 1917.

[elhombrelibre]

Still, you got to wonder about the invincible ignorance of those who think this is a big win for Putin The Great, President for Life, and KGB Colonel, retired. He pulled off the greatest elections since Saddam won with 99% of the vote.

[McGruff]

Saddam won with 99% of the vote

That's mre than Porkyshenko got in Ukraine isn't it?

[GeronL]

Putin will win whatever election he holds. No matter how unpopular he might be.

[GeronL]

Facists win, fascists win

they don’t need to bother to actually count the vote

A poll of 3,600 will do

[Viennacon]

LDPR are the nationalists correct?

[FredZarguna]

Don't wonder about it at all. They fall under three categories: 1) Paid shills working for the Cheka/NKVD/KGB/FSB [they're all the same organization] 2) Russian nationalists who think it's better to be a slave in a powerful militaristic dictatorship than a free man in a weak democracy 3) Deluded half-wits who were born that way.

In any event, I'm not going to try to convert anybody. My confrontations with them on FR are strictly for the benefit of passersby who might be misled...

[elhombrelibre]

Yes, I agree. Also, I'd hate to think that a young person comes the this site to learn about conservative thought. Instead of learning what conservatives values are so they can consider if these ideas suit them, they end up reading some Americans praising a foreign autocrat whose spirit and intellectual philosophy comes straight from Vladimir Lenin (What is to be Done?), Machiavelli (The Prince) and Nietzsche (Beyond Good and Evil).

Worse still is all the talk about him being a strong leader, as if we're all in favor of unlimited power and Czarism (and the word Tsar does come from Caesar). These are the values of Rome after the Republic ended. Unless one is just naturally attracted to bullies, there is nothing about Putin that a real American, especially a conservative, should embrace.

[GeronL]

Does anyone think the election in Crimea was a real election?

[GeronL]

We know leftists love bullies and tyrants like Hugo and Fidel, it is sad that some “on our side” have the same problem

[goldstategop]

Yup.

They did poorly because they have achieved their “Greater Russia” agenda.

And the Communists offered no popular or compelling alternative to Putin.

[elhombrelibre]

No, I don’t.

[elhombrelibre]

Actually, I believe many of those who praise Putin or make excuses for his bullying have more in common with the fans of Hugo and Castro. They all critique America in much the same way. America is not good enough for them. Foreign dictators have a style and effectiveness that they admire. There were many critics of the US, especially in the 1930's and then again in the 1960's who sold like these people do today. America's best days are gone. Only a real radical solution will improve things.

I'm reminded of these lines of Joseph Conrad's THE HEART OF DARKNESS when I think of those who support a Putin or a Castro.

"This visitor informed me Kurtz's proper sphere ought to have been politics `on the popular side.' He had furry straight eyebrows, bristly hair cropped short, an eye-glass on a broad ribbon, and, becoming expansive, confessed his opinion that Kurtz really couldn't write a bit--'but heavens! how that man could talk! He electrified large meetings. He had faith--don't you see?--he had the faith. He could get himself to believe anything--anything. He would have been a splendid leader of an extreme party.' `What party?' I asked. `Any party,' answered the other. `He was an--an--extremist.'"

[goldstategop]

Human nature doesn’t change. Powerful people who use power to deter their foes get respect.

Leaders who can’t do it are the subject of universal scorn. That’s the way its always been.

People who are too trusting end up being someone else’s dinner.

[elhombrelibre]

You're thinking of that quote of bin Laden's, right? The one where he reminds his dopey Islamists fans that always man favors the strong horse? It goes like this.

"When people see a strong horse and a weak horse, by nature, they will like the strong horse.”

And I think you and bin Laden are correct. For people who have no real values, unlike, say, American conservatives who don't just admire someone only because he's STRONG, there is a type of human who admires brutes and bullies. I suppose in prisons, for example, the bully and the vicious thug are all greatly admired. So, if you're amoral, then, thinking like bin Laden might be a perennial idea that's still worth keeping. Post Jesus Christ and the rise of Judeao/Christian ethics most people stopped admiring a man just because he could inflict pain and suffering on others. This is one reason the Romans hated the Christians and Hitler hated Christianity, too (granted not as much as he hated the Jews). He hated the Christians who truly believe in God's teachings because they were unwilling to admire sheer brutality for its own sake.

[goldstategop]

There are those who believe fear is the shortest way to reputation and fame.

I am not one of them. But Joseph Conrad and Bin Laden make the same point: playing by the rules is for losers.

And power attracts certain kinds of people who think the rules don’t apply to them.

[elhombrelibre]

Joseph Conrad did not admire Kurtz, his character in the book. And if you’re saying you admire bin Laden for breaking rules, well, I guess you couldn’t make my case about your comments any better than that.

[goldstategop]

I didn’t say that.

I did say that in politics you’re going to wind up with strongmen.

In free societies, politicians fall far short of the ideal also.

[elhombrelibre]

And you don’t admire Putin or you do?