http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 en-US 60 <p>If you guys have time....try to look at YouTube for a few Russian news video clips.</p> <p>For instance, RussiaToday (RT). It is an English language Russian channel covering the news from Russian perspective.</p> <p>If u have time, also watch several interviews of Vladimir Putin.</p> <p>Also take a look at the comments from ordinary Russian people, the YouTube comments posted there by Russians.</p> <p>In my opinion, he is a smart and well-balanced man. He is also genuinely popular among many ordinary Russians. Not all of them 'brainwashed' like what western media says, because quite alot of them are expatriate Russians who live abroad and access all sources of news.</p> <p>About this transition......this maybe a Russian style smooth and peaceful transitioning of power. Remember not all countries and societies in the world is the same. As noted, in Singapore, a rather similar method is used. And in other countries, they have kings and all sorts of different systems in the world today.</p> <p>So who are we to critisize this Russian method?</p> <p>The Russians themselves didn't object to it. Why must outsiders impose their views?</p> <p>Of course, for western media, they like to paint a negative picture. They assume they are the most 'civilized' and they believe that whatever they are familiar with, automatically all other nations must also practice it, otherwise it is wrong.</p> <p>If you read afew Russian media or watch those YouTube Russian clips, there are different perspectives about this transition. One is, Putin maybe is genuinely stepping down, and helping to phase out and gear a smooth transition to a new president. They did make a few points, that if Putin really wanted, he could have drawn a new consitution, or even override the constitution, but he didn't. He chose to obey it and step down in time.</p> <p>Then another thing, western media says Medvedev is a 'puppet', or inner-circle, unknown guy etc. No offence but first time I saw Medvedev I got a good impression just from his looks.</p> <p>This is a young, handsome, dynamic, and energetic person. He is also someone who will most likely bring continuity with recent years of Russian stability, and Putin policies, instead of abrupt changes from a radical president.</p> <p>If u look also at what Medvedev has been saying in interviews, he talks about rule-of-law, democracy, human rights. This is not just recently when his name is a candidate, but even from old interviews from past periods. This gives u a glimpse into his mind and what his instincts are. His background also, is not KGB or security agencies, but a civilian.</p> <p>So when Putin stepped down in time, obey constitution, didnt get tempted despite his obvious ability, and when he chose someone not from a security minded person, young, dynamic, has some reform mindset, and is doing it in a smooth transfer, ensuring stability and continuity for Russia's future, then...how can u blame him...?&nbsp;</p> <p>For the west, this event is being spun as something 'negative' , but negative for whom? Is it negative for Russia?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Meat Pao.</p> Sat, 10 May 2008 04:10:17 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8074988 Meat Pao http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <blockquote> <div class="quote_from">Originally posted by googoomuck:</div> <div class="quote_body"> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /> america also same, it's not a matter of right of wrong ,but minority or majority,that's democracy</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 22:20:22 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8074369 rokkie http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <blockquote> <div class="quote_from">Originally posted by rokkie:</div> <div class="quote_body"> <p><br /> organisation tream ppl according to their performance,</p> <p><span style="color: #0000ff;">That's fair</span></p> <p>ppl get the right to take part in making decisions,but actual it can not function ,so nowaday, ppl elect the representative to represent ppl's interest.So i don't know ppl can take part in making decision to wat extent.Somehow ,wat decision the minister take is out of control.</p> <p><span style="color: #0000ff;">Read more of Sgforum's Speakers' corner. People who elected the government have no one to be their voice in parliament. That's not democracy</span></p> <p>And a lot of ppl don't care about politics.</p> <p><span style="color: #0000ff;">That's so true or maybe they're scared</span></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>&nbsp;</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 22:15:04 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8074348 googoomuck http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <blockquote> <div class="quote_from">Originally posted by googoomuck:</div> <div class="quote_body"> <p><span>Fair and equal treatment of everyone in an organisation or nation, and their right to take part in making decisions.</span><img src= "/images/emoticons/kde-3.5.8/ccmathteam.com/biggrin.png" alt= "biggrin.png" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /> organisation tream ppl according to their performance,</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>ppl get the right to take part in making decisions,but actual it can not function ,so nowaday, ppl elect the representative to represent ppl's interest.So i don't know ppl can take part in making decision to wat extent.Somehow ,wat decision the minister take is out of control.</p> <p>And a lot of ppl don't care about politics.</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 22:02:21 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8074307 rokkie http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <p><span>Fair and equal treatment of everyone in an organisation or nation, and their right to take part in making decisions.</span><img src= "/images/emoticons/kde-3.5.8/ccmathteam.com/biggrin.png" alt= "biggrin.png" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 21:38:03 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8074236 googoomuck http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <p>democracy is a good word ,but it's not the food or water we eat every day .Without it ,cannot survive.So may i ask wat is a real democracy?</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 21:26:11 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8074191 rokkie http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <p>The problem with Russia is that many Russians are not interested in politics.</p> <p>Russia is a nation of people who are scared, just like Singaporeans.</p> <p>Boris Yeltsin brought down communism. Now Russia is a fake democracy under Putin.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 21:17:37 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8074160 googoomuck http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <blockquote> <div class="quote_from">Originally posted by tai gok nang:</div> <div class="quote_body"> <p>I agree that Russia remains a big power but its power has deteriorated a lot compared to the&nbsp; USSR days. Since the breakup of USSR, Russia has seen many breakaway republics and Slavic countries defecting to the US camp. Georgia, Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, and Czech. And they are back to check and weaken Russia, their own Slavic cousin. It hit the bottom during Yeltsin.</p> <p>After the USSR collapse, I thought the world would enter a permanent peace and democracy. I thought that the US represented democracy and freedom. I disregarded some futurists' warning that the US hegomony would be even worse than Cold War.</p> <p>Now I come to a realization that we need regional powers to keep the US in check.</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /> russia is still big in population and territory</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 21:08:26 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8074139 rokkie http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <blockquote> <div class="quote_from">Originally posted by tai gok nang:</div> <div class="quote_body"> <p>I agree that Russia remains a big power but its power has deteriorated a lot compared to the&nbsp; USSR days. Since the breakup of USSR, Russia has seen many breakaway republics and Slavic countries defecting to the US camp. Georgia, Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, and Czech. And they are back to check and weaken Russia, their own Slavic cousin. It hit the bottom during Yeltsin.</p> <p>After the USSR collapse, I thought the world would enter a permanent peace and democracy. I thought that the US represented democracy and freedom. I disregarded some futurists' warning that the US hegomony would be even worse than Cold War.</p> <p>Now I come to a realization that we need regional powers to keep the US in check.</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /> war between human is never ending</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 21:06:24 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8074133 rokkie http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <blockquote> <div class="quote_from">Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:</div> <div class="quote_body"> <p>I cannot help but feel that the transfer of power in Singapore is exactly the same as in Russia.</p> <p>There are no real political leaders in Singapore.</p> <p>That is why there is no real support for PAP among the public.</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>'no real support for pap among the public'? are you in a denial mode? pap enjoys very good public though it is diminishing by the days.</p> <p>we have no political leaders because we have emperor!</p> <p>btw, what are you trying to say about the political situation in russia? care to elaborate?</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 20:22:27 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8074041 lotus999 http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <blockquote> <div class="quote_from">Originally posted by rokkie:</div> <div class="quote_body"> <p>anyway,russia is still a big power,he is strong in military ,sports.World is becoming multipolarity</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>I agree that Russia remains a big power but its power has deteriorated a lot compared to the&nbsp; USSR days. Since the breakup of USSR, Russia has seen many breakaway republics and Slavic countries defecting to the US camp. Georgia, Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, and Czech. And they are back to check and weaken Russia, their own Slavic cousin. It hit the bottom during Yeltsin.</p> <p>After the USSR collapse, I thought the world would enter a permanent peace and democracy. I thought that the US represented democracy and freedom. I disregarded some futurists' warning that the US hegomony would be even worse than Cold War.</p> <p>Now I come to a realization that we need regional powers to keep the US in check.</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 18:58:39 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8073916 tai gok nang http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <p>anyway,russia is still a big power,he is strong in military ,sports.World is becoming multipolarity</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 15:19:40 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8073522 rokkie http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <p>If you don't see beyond that, then there's nothing more that I can say.</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 13:58:28 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8073303 Kuali Baba http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <p>Personally, I support Putin. He has restored the pride for the russians, the economy and what nots from the brink of collapse. Putin also endorse Med and that says alot about Med. The lesser he is known by people, the more powerful he will be in times to come. He's more like the power behind the throne.</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 13:49:04 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8073273 小白脸 http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <p>Personally, I support Putin. He has restored the pride for the russians, the economy and what nots from the brink of collapse. Putin also endorse Med and that says alot about Med. The lesser he is known by people, the more powerful he will be in times to come. He's more like the power behind the throne.</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 13:49:04 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8073274 小白脸 http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <p>similar to singapore. just that Russia dont have president mentor.</p> <p>maybe 2 terms later, russia will create PM mentor,</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 13:34:16 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8073220 reyes http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <p>There used to be a balance of power between USA and Soviet Union.</p> <p>After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, USA became the global hegemon and became cocky and full of itself.</p> <p>This is the period when the aggressiveness of USA began to increase.</p> <p>War after war after war.</p> <p>We are still in this period.</p> <p>The world needs stronger powers to keep a check on this hostile, unstable and militarily aggressive USA.</p> <p>But some people cannot see this simple logic.</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 13:21:31 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8073193 Poh Ah Pak http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <p>Putin may be good for Russia, but he isn't for the rest of world- just ask the people in Eastern Europe. Bush is also a tosser however.</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 13:18:47 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8073185 Kuali Baba http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <p>Singapore is different from Russia.</p> <p>In the wake of the US threat, Russia needs Putin.</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 13:14:34 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8073170 tai gok nang http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <p>I cannot help but feel that the transfer of power in Singapore is exactly the same as in Russia.</p> <p>There are no real political leaders in Singapore.</p> <p>That is why there is no real support for PAP among the public.</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 11:44:52 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8072946 Poh Ah Pak http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <p>Medvedev Professor to President. <a href= "http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/09/stories/2008050956482000.htm" rel= "nofollow">http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/09/stories/2008050956482000.htm</a></p> <p>BBC's Profile of Dmitry Medvedev</p> <p><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7136556.stm" rel= "nofollow">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7136556.stm</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Without a doubt, Medvedev will be under Putin's influence when it comes to policy making.&nbsp; Russia still has Putin in charge... so to speak.</p> Fri, 09 May 2008 11:36:02 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8072923 Shotgun http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946 <p><strong><span class="">Mr. Limonov on Mr. Medvedev</span></strong></p> <p><em>We have now two presidents in Russia: old one is Mister Putin and a new one, appointed on March 2, Mister Medvedev. That idiocy will be formally ended on May 7, when Mr. Medvedev will be inaugurated in Kremlin’s seat. But nevertheless, for more than two months, Russia was headed by two presidents.</em></p> <p><em>As to Putin’s in his first years of presidency to Mr. Medvedev also could be addressed banal questions: "Who is Mister Medvedev?"</em></p> <p><em>Because Mr. Medvedev is not a political figure, he is a practically unknown bureaucrat, one of a huge crowd of bureaucrats surrounding Putin.</em></p> <p><em>As Putin himself is a small bureaucrat, one from a huge crowd of "chinovniks" surrounding Yeltsin. If the elected president had been named Zyuganov or Yavlinski or Kasparov or even Limonov, nobody in Russia would have asked a question: "Who is that man?" Because these are political leaders, actors in Russian political play.</em></p> <p><em>They are known to general population. Mr. Medvedev, on the contrary, is not known, or wasn’t known, at all. Mr. Medvedev is not a leader of political party, he is not a member of political party, so he is not a political man. We can guess that he is a member of Putin’s circle of close friends, a member of some inner circle. If he is to be appointed to the post of guarding of their interests, we are guessing that Mr. Medvedev is trusted by Mr. Putin’s group and Mr. Putin himself.</em></p> <p><em>So the answer to the question of "Who is Mister Medvedev?" is shamelessly simple. He is a...</em></p> <p><a href= "http://www.exile.ru/articles/detail.php?ARTICLE_ID=18948&amp;amp;IBLOCK_ID=35" rel= "nofollow">http://www.exile.ru/articles/detail.php?ARTICLE_ID</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Parliament approves Putin as prime minister</strong></p> <p><a href="http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080508/106914463.html" rel= "nofollow">http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080508/106914463.html</a></p> <p><strong>President Medvedev's economic challenges</strong></p> <p><a href="http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20080507/106805663.html" rel="nofollow">http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20080507/106805663.html</a></p> <p><strong>The enthronement of Dmitry Medvedev</strong></p> <p><a href="http://english.pravda.ru/russia/kremlin/105107-0/" rel= "nofollow">http://english.pravda.ru/russia/kremlin/105107-0/</a></p> Fri, 09 May 2008 11:25:11 +0800 www.sgforums.com:10:316946:8072899 Poh Ah Pak http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/316946