President Vladimir Putin’s cruel tyranny is driven by paranoia

[dualstow]

Did anyone catch the 3/24/13 episode of 60 Minutes? Great recap of what went down with Pussy Riot. I especially love the clips of one of the girls suddenly kissing female Russian cops while another girl films it. It's almost violent, but it's hilarious.

The KD Lang comment above just made me laugh all over again. 

[MediumTex]

I see that Putin and his wife are getting a divorce.

How much of a jackass do you have to be to make a woman want to divorce you if you are the head of state of one of the most powerful and high profile nations in the world?

Think of all of the perks and interesting experiences she is walking away from by divorcing him.  Women will usually stay with the most awful men just to be able to continue living that lifestyle.  Look at Hillary Clinton.

[dualstow]

I hadn't heard about the divorce. That's big news!

How much of a jackass do you have to be to make a woman want to divorce you if you are the head of state of one of the most powerful and high profile nations in the world?

Well, you have to be a big enough jackass to become the head of state of one of the most powerful nations in the world. That should do it. :-)

She said "I have problems with flying", and cited this as one of the reasons for wanting a divorce.

Erica Jong finally got translated into Russian.

[smurff]

She said "I have problems with flying", and cited this as one of the reasons for wanting a divorce.

It is curious, though, because she apparently worked as a flight attendant when she met Putin.

Maybe "I have problems with flying" is a translation of some Russian euphamism about sex.

The temptation to comment is great, but I'd better leave this one alone.

[Ad Orientem]

I am not seeing any evidence that she is the one who wants the divorce. They are saying it was a mutual decision and the Russian media is heavily speculating that he may be the one who made the first move. In any event divorce is a sin, but sometimes the lesser of evils. We live in a fallen world. My guess is she will be given a generous settlement with the understanding that she is to keep a low profile and her mouth shut.

[MediumTex]

I am not seeing any evidence that she is the one who wants the divorce. They are saying it was a mutual decision and the Russian media is heavily speculating that he may be the one who made the first move. In any event divorce is a sin, but sometimes the lesser of evils. We live in a fallen world. My guess is she will be given a generous settlement with the understanding that she is to keep a low profile and her mouth shut.

She's lucky that she's getting out of it alive.

When Stalin's wife gave him trouble they found her in her room dead a short time later.

Putin has certainly shown that he's not above having his enemies killed or imprisoned.

[smurff]

Let's see if it continues as a "friendly" divorce.  Once the media starts digging through a marital breakup, all kinds of hell can break out.

[Ad Orientem]

I am not seeing any evidence that she is the one who wants the divorce. They are saying it was a mutual decision and the Russian media is heavily speculating that he may be the one who made the first move. In any event divorce is a sin, but sometimes the lesser of evils. We live in a fallen world. My guess is she will be given a generous settlement with the understanding that she is to keep a low profile and her mouth shut.

She's lucky that she's getting out of it alive.

When Stalin's wife gave him trouble they found her in her room dead a short time later.

Putin has certainly shown that he's not above having his enemies killed or imprisoned.

Putin is many things but Stalin is a bit over the top for comparison.

[Pointedstick]

Putin is many things but Stalin is a bit over the top for comparison.

If anything, it's a favorable comparison. Putin didn't have his wife killed!

[MediumTex]

I am not seeing any evidence that she is the one who wants the divorce. They are saying it was a mutual decision and the Russian media is heavily speculating that he may be the one who made the first move. In any event divorce is a sin, but sometimes the lesser of evils. We live in a fallen world. My guess is she will be given a generous settlement with the understanding that she is to keep a low profile and her mouth shut.

She's lucky that she's getting out of it alive.

When Stalin's wife gave him trouble they found her in her room dead a short time later.

Putin has certainly shown that he's not above having his enemies killed or imprisoned.

Putin is many things but Stalin is a bit over the top for comparison.

I agree.  Maybe Putin is more like a Mini-Me to Stalin's Dr. Evil.

[Ad Orientem]

She's lucky that she's getting out of it alive.

When Stalin's wife gave him trouble they found her in her room dead a short time later.

Putin has certainly shown that he's not above having his enemies killed or imprisoned.

Putin is many things but Stalin is a bit over the top for comparison.

I agree.  Maybe Putin is more like a Mini-Me to Stalin's Dr. Evil.

Putin is an extremely shrewd politician and statesman with a nasty streak of authoritarianism and corruption. He does not meet the definition for a dictator much less a totalitarian monster like Stalin. Stalin killed at least 20 million of his own people. Add another 2-5 million in Soviet occupied states and you get one of the greatest mass murderers in history. Hitler was a piker compared to Stalin.

By contrast Putin is more like a combination of Peter the (not so)Great and Tony Soprano.

[MediumTex]

Putin is many things but Stalin is a bit over the top for comparison.

I agree.  Maybe Putin is more like a Mini-Me to Stalin's Dr. Evil.

Putin is an extremely shrewd politician and statesman with a nasty streak of authoritarianism and corruption. He does not meet the definition for a dictator much less a totalitarian monster like Stalin. Stalin killed at least 20 million of his own people. Add another 2-5 million in Soviet occupied states and you get one of the greatest mass murderers in history. Hitler was a piker compared to Stalin.

By contrast Putin is more like a combination of Peter the (not so)Great and Tony Soprano.

How about a Micro-Me to Stalin's Dr. Evil?

It's not that Putin is the same breed of monster that Stalin was, it's just that Putin just has that shady demeanor and reptilian look in his eyes that reminds me a bit of Stalin. 

If Putin came out with a men's cologne, it would be called "Thug."

[dualstow]

In any event divorce is a sin,

Not really. I respect that people of certain faiths view it that way but for me it was a blessing.
My ex and I are both happier now after "graduating" from each other. We're like old friends, and more importantly, I wouldn't have been free to meet my wife if I hadn't parted ways with the first one.

[Ad Orientem]

If Putin came out with a men's cologne, it would be called "Thug."

With a name like that and backed by Putin, I would be seriously tempted to create a small VP.

[MediumTex]

If Putin came out with a men's cologne, it would be called "Thug."

With a name like that and backed by Putin, I would be seriously tempted to create a small VP.

You may not be a shady authoritarian leader of a nuclear state, but when you are wearing Thug cologne you can smell like one.

[smurff]

LOL!