Vladimir Putin

[Greyblades]

I think he's saying we aren't.

[Sarmatian]

Putin was answering questions for several hours on TV yesterday. There was a wide range of questions, from the price of bread and state of the roads to foreign policy. The answers were in his own style - clear, firm and optimistic. Some interesting questions news agencies reported:

Edward Snowden asked him whether Russia uses mass-surveillance of its own citizens. Putin answered that it doesn't and that Russia doesn't have the funds or the technology to do it on such massive scale.

Another interesting question was whether he thought Obama would save him if he was drowning - Putin was confident that he would, desribing Obama as "decent and courageous man", even though they don't have a good personal relationship. White House refused to confirm it

On account of Ukraine, he said that the hoped he wouldn't have to use force and welcomed success of the Geneva talks.

One of his statements is particularly interesting, at least to me - Putin offered European countries to build together a greater Europe from Portugal’s Lisbon to Russian Far East’s Vladivostok in order not to turn in little players from whom nothing will depend in the future.

We should seek to this, and I said about this many times, we should create Europe from Lisbon to Vladivostok. If we do this we will have a chance to take a worthy place in a future world.

It appears he didn't give up on west completely.

[Beskar]

Problem with Russia joining the European Union is that the sheer population and landmass size would cause it to dominate the Union. Only way a Union would really work is the national level of government to simply disappear and be replaced by a European one, leaving the various constitutional states of the members together.

[Sarmatian]

Problem with Russia joining the European Union is that the sheer population and landmass size would cause it to dominate the Union. Only way a Union would really work is the national level of government to simply disappear and be replaced by a European one, leaving the various constitutional states of the members together.

Why? Russia's got 150m people. That's Germany and UK or France put together. EU as a whole now has 500m.

The landmass doesn't really work in Russia's favour since decision making is based on population and country vote, so Russia with it's 17m sq km will have as much voting power as 20k sq km Slovenia.

It's economy is, about what, 60% of that of Germany's. Granted, with the predicted growth, it would probably become Europe's largest in a decade or two, but hardly powerful enough to dominate everyone else.

In reality, by joining EU, Russia would actually lose much of the influence it exerts over EU now.

[Husar]

Indeed, but then again, Germany is already dominating the EU right now and imposing its Nazi laws on poor Greeks via the strong hand of Führerin Merkel. Not to forget that Russia would have to become spineless to fit in, yet join them in forming a dictatorship to terrorize the population with light bulb bans and other measures to curb our freedoms and turn us into mindless slaves.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Indeed, but then again, Germany is already dominating the EU right now and imposing its Nazi laws on poor Greeks via the strong hand of Führerin Merkel. Not to forget that Russia would have to become spineless to fit in, yet join them in forming a dictatorship to terrorize the population with light bulb bans and other measures to curb our freedoms and turn us into mindless slaves.

The problem with the EU is that it is an autocratic institution, Germany currently dominates because Germany pays. This is the fault of the system, not Germany, but Germany does co-operate with it.

Earlier today, whilst sitting upon my throne, I reflected that Manuel Barosso has been in post an awfully long time, given his penchant for gaffes and upsetting the electorates of EU Countries, including Ireland, Greece and now Scotland. I then realised that this is because he is not an elected politician, but a technocrat - I then further reflected that I have NO IDEA how we would get rid of him, and certainly not by the ballot box.

This - in a nub - is the problem with the EU.

As to Russia joining - while Putin would fit right in with the autocrats at the EU Commission in one sense, I feel that they would not be a fan of his policies, and in any case they expect national governments to be democratic and therefore Russia does not qualify for membership.

In other news - the President of Turkey said that a job swap with the Prime Minister was "not suitable" for a democracy - which might make LEN feel a little better, maybe.

[gaelic cowboy]

on the EU thing it would be too big a border from kerry to kamchtaka would be too much

[Pannonian]

The problem with the EU is that it is an autocratic institution, Germany currently dominates because Germany pays. This is the fault of the system, not Germany, but Germany does co-operate with it.

Earlier today, whilst sitting upon my throne, I reflected that Manuel Barosso has been in post an awfully long time, given his penchant for gaffes and upsetting the electorates of EU Countries, including Ireland, Greece and now Scotland. I then realised that this is because he is not an elected politician, but a technocrat - I then further reflected that I have NO IDEA how we would get rid of him, and certainly not by the ballot box.

This - in a nub - is the problem with the EU.

As to Russia joining - while Putin would fit right in with the autocrats at the EU Commission in one sense, I feel that they would not be a fan of his policies, and in any case they expect national governments to be democratic and therefore Russia does not qualify for membership.

In other news - the President of Turkey said that a job swap with the Prime Minister was "not suitable" for a democracy - which might make LEN feel a little better, maybe.

You're a Bennite?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

...Another interesting question was whether he thought Obama would save him if he was drowning - Putin was confident that he would, desribing Obama as "decent and courageous man", even though they don't have a good personal relationship. White House refused to confirm it ....

He might want to, but seeing Putin fall in, The Detail would almost certainly whisk him into an armored Suburban before he could get the words "Coming Vlad" out. Once their principal was secure, it is very probable that one of the Secret Service folks would, at least, toss Vlad something that floats. Very likely.

Of course, I wouldn't bet my mortgage on it.....