Russian Presidential election 2008

[Banquo's Ghost]

Now, I realise everyone is so bored with the utter predictability of the US primaries and no doubt, the consequent election with its appointed winner.

But that's no reason to neglect, in the arrogant way we Westerners have, the most exciting, nail-biting electoral question in the civilised world - who will succeed Vladimir Putin?

The field is diverse (including a man who wears a banana yellow suit, for Pity's sake, but sadly the chess player has pulled out, no-one knows why. And to please the conservatives, the Democratic Party is polling less than 1 per cent - there is a God...) and nobody has a clue who they are is going to win. Who will he choose as Prime Minister? What will his policies be?

The race is so close that the electorate are rumoured to be confused to the point of paralysis. President Putin, so desirous of a valid, unambiguous and undoubted result that he has ejected those spreaders of maliciousness, the OECD observers, has personally appealed to voters to stop being confused and vote for Medvedev. Honestly, it's not that cold out (and party workers may be calling on you just in case you forgot).

The media of course, are going all out to publish truthful manifestos and give all candidates equal air time on widely disseminated debate programmes. Even this commitment to even handedness has not inspired the people from their hopeless confusion.

You see, this is what happens when you have a free and fair democracy. Voters get apathetic - wasn't like that in the good old days of 99% turnout.

March 2nd. You know what's good for you.

[Fragony]

Democracy in Russia, I don't know they are so fatalistic. A true russian accepts that he has 4 big problems, spring summer fall and winter what is voting gonna do; Oh aunty how terrible is all this

[Tribesman]

Banquo , has by any chance your better half been getting on your case during this free democratic election process ?

[Banquo's Ghost]

Banquo , has by any chance your better half been getting on your case during this free democratic election process ?

You might think that - I couldn't possibly comment.

(Actually, she's still rooting for an imperial restoration, so the niceties of the democratic herd are merely grist to her mill).

[Caius]

I'd say they aren't going to get his *** out of their homes to vote.

[CountArach]

Disillusioned with Democracy Banquo?

It was a hilarious post though

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

All Hail Emperor Prime Minister Putin and President Medvedev!

[KrooK]

All in all election is cheap :)
Long live Medvedev :)

[Marshal Murat]

I don't know about this Russian presidential candidate. All he seems to offer is hope and poetry, when you clearly need to govern in prose...

He could break away from the crowd, not be a puppet for Putin.

[MiniMe]

I don't know about this Russian presidential candidate.

he's a nice chap even though he's from S-Petersburg (every good Muscovite cant tell thee all S-Peteburgians are perverts)

All he seems to offer is hope and poetry.

not quite so

I'm finishing my third cup of coffee and going to vote for him. I feel a bit stupid since I know he's going to win these elections without my personal vote. Nevertheless, he's far better choice than commie (de facto - labourist) Zuganov or populist clown Zhirinovsky.

What makes me feel really embarassed is that Zhirinovsky with his cheap tricks has 10% of people support.

...I don't know they are so fatalistic. A true russian accepts that he has 4 big problems, spring summer fall and winter what is voting gonna do; Oh aunty how terrible is all this

yep, so true. that is how we got the biggest country in the world, won a couple of wars, sent man to space and rebuilt our economy from zero level after damn socialists. We did that cause we are fatalist and accept our destiny to be Zee Russians

[Conradus]

You actually rebuilt it?
And who else would want to rules such vast amounts of ice-desert, at least the Russians had a use for Siberia

[Fragony]

Sending a russian into space was a good idea but I doubt it makes a real difference.

[MiniMe]

You actually rebuilt it?

Well, not me precisely, to be honest

And who else would want to rules such vast amounts of ice-desert, at least the Russians had a use for Siberia

It appears we here have an mutual agreement on who has the holy and sole right to claim Northpole for themselves

[Conradus]

You know the Northpole isn't actually land

[MiniMe]

You know the Northpole isn't actually land

you ruined my beautiful evening
I'm out of this conversation to see There Will Be Blood

[Vladimir]

Very clever Banquo. I hoped someone would start a thread on this. Unfortunately (and inevitably) it has decayed into one-liners.

So what does anyone know about this guy? He seems far too young to lead the resurgent Russian empire. Where does he stand; is he inheriting Jock Chirach's legacy? How many more poisonings can we expect? (sorry, had to throw that in)

[CountArach]

What makes me feel really embarassed is that Zhirinovsky with his cheap tricks has 10% of people support.

Don't worry, I have a feeling he will only be getting 2% of the vote anyway...

[HoreTore]

It appears we here have an mutual agreement on who has the holy and sole right to claim Northpole for themselves

NO BLOODY WAY!!!

Polar bear territory is our territory!

EDIT: And in a thrilling election where every vote counted, Medvedev took a shocking victory in the race to be the next president!

[Geoffrey S]

Opinions on Putin and his independence weren't all that great at the time - I wonder if Medvedev will similarly prove to be his own man.

[CrossLOPER]

NO BLOODY WAY!!!

Polar bear territory is our territory!

EDIT: And in a thrilling election where every vote counted, Medvedev took a shocking victory in the race to be the next president!

What are you going to do with it?

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I'm glad it was Medvedev that won. Looking at the two runner-ups (Communist Party with 17.8% of the vote and the Liberal Democratic Party with 9.4%), I think that Medvedev will be the one most willing to deal with the west, the least radical, and the most diplomatic.

[Vladimir]

NO BLOODY WAY!!!

Polar bear territory is our territory!

EDIT: And in a thrilling election where every vote counted, Medvedev took a shocking victory in the race to be the next president!

Not for long!

[Ronin]

yes...thank god the russian people choose wisely

[Guildenstern]

There were no debates, no primaries, no competition, and no choice. It was just a monopoly. There was only one candidate who must be elected. The practically unknown Medvedev knows very well that the main reason why he became president was his very close relationship with the enormously popular Putin. Russians believe Putin restored Russia's role as a world power after the fall of the Soviet Union. Actually he had a great stroke of luck during his presidency with very high prices of oil and gas, which are Russia's major exports. As a consequence of this economic boom, very few people want their lives to be different today. It's understandable, though I think they're just afraid of any kind of change. They voted for continuity but Putin's "managed democracy" is anything but democratic. Unfortunately this topic must hold little interest for most Russians.

Regards