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Vladimir Putin is hours away from seizing power until 2036 as he casts his ballot on final day of 'rigged' vote on the future of constitution
UK Daily Mail ^ | July 1, 2020 | Tim Stickings

Posted on 07/01/2020 4:44:02 AM PDT by C19fan

Vladimir Putin is heading for victory in a referendum that could extend his rule until 2036 as Russia enters its final day of voting today. The Kremlin strongman would normally reach his term limit in 2024, but voters are set to back a plan to reset his tally to zero and allow him to run for two more terms. The package of constitutional changes would also increase Putin's powers to dissolve parliament and expand his influence over courts and prosecutors.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: alexeinavalny; dictatorforlife; juliuscaesar; kgb; putin; putinsbuttboys; russia; termlinits; vladtheimploder
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To: tlozo

As long as Russia leaves their neighbors alone, I couldn’t care less what system of government they have. Democracy isn’t for everyone, heck I even wonder now if it’s for us.


41 posted on 07/01/2020 6:01:02 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: apillar
Russia's defining circumstances are that it is a geographically large, climatically difficult country with abundant natural resources but limited transportation and isolated urban centers. And Russia's formative historical experience was of intermittent invasions and often harsh rule by Mongols and other hostile neighbors. Russians thus have a deep preference for strong man rule to hold the country together and defend it, which makes them a poor prospect for democracy in even the best of times.

Since Putin and his cronies have stolen their country blind and isolated it economically and politically, they cannot relinquish power or permit genuine reforms or democratic freedoms. As with the Brezhnev era under the Soviets, Russia will continue to stagnate. Soon after Putin finally passes, there will be a transition. Perhaps Russians will then make another try at democracy.

42 posted on 07/01/2020 6:02:53 AM PDT by Rockingham
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To: yardboyd

I used to be annoyed that the Russians still prominently displayed the hammer and sickle at their parades for WWII.

But now, I understand, it is their history, just as the Civil War was ours’. And they intend to preserve their history and celebrate their heroes.

A nation that doesn’t celebrate their heroes, will be ruled by one that does.


43 posted on 07/01/2020 6:02:56 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: C19fan
Would you recommend visiting Russia on a trip? I always wanted to go there.

Well I would as long as you did a fair bit of research and knew what to expect. I had the advantage of going on a company trip where all the people I traveled with, and most of the people I was working with, spoke English and there were company guides on hand to arrange my housing and necessities.

The first thing you will quickly learn is that outside of the International hotels and restaurants Russia doesn't really cater to Western Tourists in the slightest. Oh, they'll be friendly enough and serve you, but there is virtually no English language translations or guides available. So don't expect it to be like, say France or Germany, where you can walk into a store or restaurant and the signs are bi-lingual and a clerk is readily available who speaks descent English.

Personally, if I went for vacation rather than business, I would go as part of a tour group where the tour company takes care of everything. Something as simple as a foreigner renting a car in Russia can be a multi-day adventure of trying to navigate paperwork written in Russian. Also bring cash as money can be hard to get, because of the financial sanctions most ATM's don't accept non-Russian cards, (though there are a few in some of the major hotels that will)

We were warned about safety, however there was never a time I felt unsafe, there were always plenty of police on the streets, but there had been incidents of tourists being carjacked and robbed. But I doubt it is any more dangerous than any major US city.

Other than that, the people are very friendly, and curious when they find out you're American, very few Americans go to Russia even on business. Again, not many speak English so it's good to have somebody who can translate with you.

44 posted on 07/01/2020 6:06:19 AM PDT by apillar
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To: apillar

Would google translate on your smartphone suffice?


45 posted on 07/01/2020 6:10:27 AM PDT by null and void (It never ends when you go down that slippery slope of digging for the truth.)
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To: dfwgator
As long as Russia leaves their neighbors alone, I couldn’t care less what system of government they have

Lol, so you think Putin is leaving his neighbors alone?

I care about Russian government when Putin threatens to nuke Florida.

https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-showed-video-of-nukes-hitting-florida-outraging-trump-2018-7

46 posted on 07/01/2020 6:18:36 AM PDT by tlozo
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To: Mr. K
I really don’t care who Russians want as their leader, as long as it is not a power-hungry dictator bent on taking over the world.

And Putin does not seem to be that- is he?

I think he just might be, but he is more subtle than most.

47 posted on 07/01/2020 6:20:21 AM PDT by null and void (It never ends when you go down that slippery slope of digging for the truth.)
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To: tlozo

How many missiles do we still have aimed at Russia, and why are we deliberately trying to provoke them by flying the gay flag at our Moscow Embassy? How would you like it if Russia flew the BLM Flag at their Washington Embassy?


48 posted on 07/01/2020 6:20:31 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: apillar

I was thinking of doing the 72-Hour trip to St. Petersburg from Helsinki, since it doesn’t require a Visa.


49 posted on 07/01/2020 6:21:27 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: C19fan
As a Generation Xer I think it is funny how Russian women went from the fat woman in the boiler suit from the Wendy’s commercial to Western men traveling to Russia to try to find a bride.

LOL, or Russians being portrayed as rich enough to afford having a mini-Giraffe.

50 posted on 07/01/2020 6:22:19 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: null and void
Would google translate on your smartphone suffice? Probably now days it would, I went 10 years ago so I wasn't aware of it, (if it existed at all).
51 posted on 07/01/2020 6:23:56 AM PDT by apillar
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To: apillar

And I always heard when asked who their favorite US President is, most said “Reagan”, because they saw him as a true leader.


52 posted on 07/01/2020 6:24:02 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: moovova
Sirius Lee ~ “If voting mad a difference, they wouldn’t let us do it.” ~ I think Mark Twain?”

moovova ~ ...or, George Carlin.

Both truth-tellers with a great sense of humor.

Jello Biafra as well.

An oft repeated but always underappreciated truth.

53 posted on 07/01/2020 6:25:03 AM PDT by null and void (It never ends when you go down that slippery slope of digging for the truth.)
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To: chiller
DJT shouldn’t count on blind support from Vlad, but cooperation rather than alienation will be very helpful against the true menace just south and east of Russia.

"Our" media has very, VERY thoroughly poisoned that well.

Collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion!

54 posted on 07/01/2020 6:28:15 AM PDT by null and void (It never ends when you go down that slippery slope of digging for the truth.)
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To: EQAndyBuzz

Russia is doing nothing of the sort. Communism is dead in Russia and there is no effort whatsoever to revive it. The KPRF still exists as a party, but they are a minority joke.


55 posted on 07/01/2020 6:28:50 AM PDT by billakay
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To: dfwgator

Many Freepers don’t understand that a victory parade with hammer and sickles being flown doesn’t mean that the Communists are back. It simply means that the Russia people helped save the world from Hitler under that flag, and they respect their history.


56 posted on 07/01/2020 6:30:34 AM PDT by billakay
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To: icclearly

Good screen name, it suits that post.


57 posted on 07/01/2020 6:31:32 AM PDT by null and void (It never ends when you go down that slippery slope of digging for the truth.)
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To: C19fan
Putin is not "seizing power until 2036" with these amendments. The amendments actually dilute the power of the presidency in several ways, and additionally put a hard term limit on future presidents (as opposed to the two consecutive term rule they had before). The amendments also do a lot of other really positive stuff.

What the anti-Putinistas are upset about is that it also performs a one-time reset on the term clock so that Putin can potentially be elected to his two terms under the new rule after he completes his current term.

He still needs to run for president and be successfully re-elected two more times to say in until 2036.

I fully support the amendments and my in-laws in Russia do as well. If I could vote for them, I would.

58 posted on 07/01/2020 6:34:56 AM PDT by billakay
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To: dfwgator
And I always heard when asked who their favorite US President is, most said “Reagan”, because they saw him as a true leader.

I had gone on my trip shortly after Obama was elected. Most Russians really did not have an opinion of him one way or the other (and probably couldn't have picked him out of lineup). Lol! I did have one Russian guy say in true astonishment, "Why would a white country ever elect a black man?"

One thing you quickly learn about the Russians, is that what we call "political correctness" simply does not exist. Our first day in Russia, we were introduced to our Russian co-workers in a crowded meeting, the Russian branch manager introduced us by spreading his arms wide and said, "Look at all these beautiful Russian women. I think you will have a great time working with us...unless you are...what you call...a f**ggot." Needless to say you would never hear that from a manager in a packed meeting in the US (or if you did he would an ex-manager in 10 minutes).

59 posted on 07/01/2020 6:35:11 AM PDT by apillar
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To: tlozo

Putin successfully decoupled Russia’s destiny from that of oil. Huge accomplishment.


60 posted on 07/01/2020 6:36:04 AM PDT by billakay
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