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A Glimpse of the Future: Russia’s 21st Century Rotocracy
Medvedev chose the day after we in the U.S. elected our next president to deliver his annual address, a speech that is not traditionally given in the Fall. Of course this is no coincidence. Medvedev chose to waste no time throwing down the gauntlet at Obama’s feet. His most fiery rhetoric came when addressing the U.S. plan to place a missile defense system in Poland, near Russia’s border. In fact, he has ordered short-range missiles to be stationed along NATO borders in response. He also blasted the U.S. for causing the world’s
Medvedev
market collapse and sponsoring Georgia’s unprovoked attack on a civilian city in South Ossetia.
While all of the above is very troubling and worthy of much discussion, I wish here to focus on a separate issue: Medvedev’s announcement that presidential terms will be extended from four years to six.
At first this seems like a maneuver by an independent leader with strong-arm tendencies to extend his power, especially since his Prime Minister, Putin, has publicly been against such an amendment to the constitution. (though elsewhere it has been reported that it was in fact his idea and that he’d voiced it the previous year before dropping it like a dead cat) But here’s the problem: this change WILL NOT apply to the incumbent president. So what is Medvedev’s motivation? First one must decide to believe that something like this could go forward without Putin’s approval. This is a challenge; it just doesn’t fit with what we’ve seen of the Kremlin’s dynamic so far.
Putin
But seen through the lens of Putin’s political career, his disapproval would serve as a prudent and preemptive defense against future criticism of, let’s say, another run for president. If Medvedev were to choose not to run again in 2012, it would clear the way for another twelve years of Putin rule. The Russian constitution allows a maximum of two consecutive 4 year (now 6 year) terms for any president. However, there is no limit on TOTAL terms.
So imagine a rotational set-up, a Rotocracy, in which:
The Office of President: Putin serves 12 years, Medvedev serves 6, Putin serves 12, Medvedev serves 6, Putin serves 12, Medvedev serves 6, and there goes more than a half-century.
The Office of Prime Minister: Putin serves 6 years, Medvedev serves 12 years, Putin serves 6 years, Medvedev serves 12 years, and on and on.
Though it would be less blatant to have different inter-Putin presidents, the advantages of keeping Medvedev and having only two participants are huge and, in a country that by all accounts would not mind a Putin life-presidency, worth any bad press.
Could we be seeing the nascence of a new flavor of dictatorship, a rotational autocracy, a Rotocracy? I admit, the scenario is a bit fanciful. One thing is certain though: the fact that Putin allowed this term extension while publicly opposing it leaves no doubt of his intentions. He will be back.
By Ryan Yetts
Uh, I’m Sorry. I just need to let this out.
I’ve just watched a piece on FOX news in which two McCain campaign workers were being interviewed.
They were involved in bringing Sara Palin up to snuff on her world knowledge.
This story has been confirmed by others.
They were trying to fill her in on the politics of Africa.
She kept getting confused.
Because she thought Africa was a country.
They had to teach her that there were lots of countries within the continent of Africa.
I couldn’t go to sleep. I had to tell someone.
Things like that don’t happen anymore. Someone that high in the hierarchy is not a child. That was how it was once, in the days of princes and seven year old heirs to the throne. But even the child emperors were schooled.
That powerful. That ignorant. This story is not a joke. It was on their own channel. It has been confirmed. Has she looked at a map? She thought they were counties, maybe.
UPDATE DEC. 20th: I understand that the Africa story may have been exaggerated by people angry with Sara. But hearing how much so many people hated her– boy, I think she is maybe not a very good person overall.
БАРАК СТАНЕТ ПРЕЗИДЕНТОМ!!!
McCain to Obama: ‘You’ll be Sorry . . .’
Barak keeps Grounded as
Florida and Pennsylvania
Results Come in.
рHey! It’s Keeper. Listen
Boy oh boy you guys are good. Recently we’ve had such a monsoon of new submissions that I had to dam the levy and close the site to the public. Don’t worry, it’s just ’till we get the new stuff sorted and decide what to put up. Besides, most of you who care have the password anyway, am I right? Good night you princes of Maine, you kings of New England.
Keeper
США — Самая Лицерменая Страна Всего
В последнее время трудно не замечать много анти-русских пропаганд в США. Политики, особенно правые республиканцы говорят что Россия нельзя вмешиветься с делами других стран– так лицермено!
