Posted on 01/06/2015 4:53:52 AM PST by elhombrelibre
After more than a decade in power, Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing what may be his most turbulent and difficult year in office. His economy is crumbling under the global collapse in gas prices; US and European economic sanctions are punishing his inner circle and most powerful state institutions; his military is occupying Crimea and still fighting in eastern Ukraine. Just before New Year's, thousands gathered in Moscow to protest the politically tinged conviction of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who announced from the courthouse, "This regime has no right to exist."
Putin's rule has been secure since he took office in 2000. At some point, though, his problems will become severe enough that the stability of his hold on power will become a live question.
I spoke about Putin's hold on office with Mark Galeotti, a professor at NYU's Center For Global Affairs who has been studying Russian politics for decades. The real question for Putin, he explained, is the loyalty of a few key groups keeping him in power — and what might cause those groups to abandon him. He also explained why he thinks that 2016 might be the year that Putin's regime finally starts to crumble.
(Excerpt) Read more at vox.com ...
Yawn. Russia plays dead. Again.
Whatever Vox says, the opposite will happen.
Amanda Taub - Senior Sadness Correspondent
Former human rights lawyer, now covering foreign policy, human rights, and shetland ponies.
Sounds like a foriegn policy expert.
-——It would be a sense among the elites that he was no longer an asset, but a danger.——
That might apply to Barack Obama as well. We thought the men in Gray Suits would come for clinton but never did. One wonders if they will show up on Barack’s door step one day soon.
If Putin loses power, I predict it will be via an “accidental death”; most likely a plane crash.
I think this is why the midget tyrants of North Korea only travel by slow moving, armored train.
You’re probably right.
Another good news story.
A good day for freedom, human rights, and Shetland ponies.
"The Collapsing Ruble Is Creating Food Shortages"
Putin, president for life: "Let them drink vodka."
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-ruble-is-falling-against-the-dollar-as-oil-prices-continue-to-slide-2015-1
Did you say midget? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3243654/posts?page=14#14
Putin has an 80% personal approval rating. And Russians are far more likely to blame the West for the country’s travails than Putin.
The Russian President is not yet in the danger zone where he might have to go. He pays careful attention to public opinion, always with an eye to ensuring his personal popularity.
Russia’s elites won’t move against the President in part because he is far more popular than them and his elected position precludes the kind of palace coup that brought down Khruschev in the 1960s.
Dude, you crack me up. You’re always here to cheer Putin on.
I’m pointing out the obvious facts of life in Russia today.
If you can’t see it, not my problem.
Western leaders wish in their dreams they had that kind of political popularity and political capital to spend.
Sure, Russia has its problems but the fact Putin is still around shows he understands his country far better than foreigners understand him.
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