Russia fears a recession will hurt pro-Kremlin politicians, so it's moving up elections

a reply to: DJW001

This is how they bury the topic that they are unable to defend. They drag the discussion off topic and change the focus and then run the discussion in circles.

originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: DJW001

This is how they bury the topic that they are unable to defend. They drag the discussion off topic and change the focus and then run the discussion in circles.

The least they can do is study a little bit of American history before they embarrass themselves. "Roosevelt stacked the Supreme Court?" He tried, but the system worked. The Russian system is designed to allow the Leader to do anything he wants, even if it is bad for the rest of the country.

originally posted by: DJW001

originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: DJW001

This is how they bury the topic that they are unable to defend. They drag the discussion off topic and change the focus and then run the discussion in circles.

The least they can do is study a little bit of American history before they embarrass themselves. "Roosevelt stacked the Supreme Court?" He tried, but the system worked. The Russian system is designed to allow the Leader to do anything he wants, even if it is bad for the rest of the country.

As far as I know Putin is trying to move elections up. It didn't say he succeeded.

Now I would like you to explain how Russia's system is designed the way you are saying without just copying Wikipedia in your own words.

originally posted by: luthier
As far as I know Putin is trying to move elections up. It didn't say he succeeded.

Sure however one has to ask why he wants it moved up in the first place.

originally posted by: Xcathdra

originally posted by: luthier
As far as I know Putin is trying to move elections up. It didn't say he succeeded.

Sure however one has to ask why he wants it moved up in the first place.

Because he is a tyrant. That's what they do. Why did Roosevelt want to add judges? Because he couldn't do it legit. Why did Republicans redistrict democrats out of areas of the country? My favorite Democrat Kucinch was completely redistricted out of a job. Why do dead people end up casting ballots? Corruption. Its everywhere.

Russia is a lower level thug culture politically. The us has so much power that corruption can do a lot of harm (Iraq).

I guess in the end i do agree with you Putin is a tyrant. The only question is would there be a worse one waiting in line if he goes. Russia is not a single culture its a lot like the us in that respect.

I always tell my conservative friends you want to impeach Obama?...go ahead if you think Joe Biden would do a better job.

a reply to: luthier
The Roosevelt issue was brought up and explained in either this thread or another. The Us has checks and balances in place for each branch of government to protect it from the other. Russia has no such system. We can debate that topic if you want to create a new thread so we don't derail this one.

Gerrymandering is a part of the US political system.

Is there a person worse than Putin? Always a possibility however we would need to know why, if it occurs, Putin was removed / replaced.

If Russia is not a single culture then why do they require Russian centric education and language? Russian is the official language.

As for impeaching Obama again new thread. Lets not derail this one.

originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: luthier
The Roosevelt issue was brought up and explained in either this thread or another. The Us has checks and balances in place for each branch of government to protect it from the other. Russia has no such system. We can debate that topic if you want to create a new thread so we don't derail this one.

Gerrymandering is a part of the US political system.

Is there a person worse than Putin? Always a possibility however we would need to know why, if it occurs, Putin was removed / replaced.

If Russia is not a single culture then why do they require Russian centric education and language? Russian is the official language.

As for impeaching Obama again new thread. Lets not derail this one.

[snipped]

As far as the Roosevelt issue being addressed it hasn't. He tried. As of now the Kremlin is trying. As far as having no checks and balances you are not correct. Not that it matters the cronies will do what they want.

originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: luthier
The Roosevelt issue was brought up and explained in either this thread or another. The Us has checks and balances in place for each branch of government to protect it from the other. Russia has no such system. We can debate that topic if you want to create a new thread so we don't derail this one.

Gerrymandering is a part of the US political system.

Is there a person worse than Putin? Always a possibility however we would need to know why, if it occurs, Putin was removed / replaced.

If Russia is not a single culture then why do they require Russian centric education and language? Russian is the official language.

As for impeaching Obama again new thread. Lets not derail this one.

You think Russia is a single culture because of there text books. That's ridiculous and hardly anthropological. You are telling me Siberian culture of the Mongols is the same as slavics from Moscow? Text books don't mean anything at all.

a reply to: luthier

Reread what I stated.

Russia is a multi culture nation. The point I was making is the Russian culture is the only one that matters to Putin. They ignore / suppress other cultures that make up Russia.

a reply to: Xcathdra

We finally agree. They certainly do.

Accept when it comes to star athletes then they support every culture. Russia has some of the best combat sports champions (wrestling, sambo, judo, boxing) in the world. A lot of them come from the east.

a reply to: luthier

There are different cultures in RF, but you are mistaken to think that Siberia is mostly inhabited by "Mongols"
Official Russian Census . Not exactly cultures, but you can get this statistics and extrapolate which culture they probably belong

According to the 2010 census, ethnic Russian people make up 81% of the total population. This share remained steady over the last few decades. Six other ethnicities have a population exceeding 1 million – Tatars (3.9%), Ukrainians (1.4%), Bashkir (1.1%), Chuvash (1%), Chechens (1%) and Armenians (0.9%).

I think there are also, like 3-5 millions of unofficial guest workers from different Stans. Probably around 1-2 millions of illegal Chinese and may be half a million of Koreans.

[quoteoriginally posted by: kitzik
a reply to: luthier

There are different cultures in RF, but you are mistaken to think that Siberia is mostly inhabited by "Mongols"
Official Russian Census . Not exactly cultures, but you can get this statistics and extrapolate which culture they probably belong

According to the 2010 census, ethnic Russian people make up 81% of the total population. This share remained steady over the last few decades. Six other ethnicities have a population exceeding 1 million – Tatars (3.9%), Ukrainians (1.4%), Bashkir (1.1%), Chuvash (1%), Chechens (1%) and Armenians (0.9%).

I think there are also, like 3-5 millions of unofficial guest workers from different Stans. Probably around 1-2 millions of illegal Chinese and may be half a million of Koreans.

I didn't say anything of the sort nor do I assume anything of the sort. Being a wrestler and judoka myself I have studied some of the styles from the stans and Mongolia (with those funny costumes)

a reply to: luthier

Now I would like you to explain how Russia's system is designed the way you are saying without just copying Wikipedia in your own words.

It's more fun to let the Russian Constitution speak for itself. It spends quite a bit of time talking about democracy and human rights, then says the following:

3. The rights and freedoms of man and citizen may be limited by the federal law only to such an extent to which it is necessary for the protection of the fundamental principles of the constitutional system, morality, health, the rights and lawful interests of other people, for ensuring defence of the country and security of the State.

--Chapter 2, Article 55

That's a pretty vague list of reasons to deprive people of their fundamental rights, wouldn't you say?

These need to be taken together:

The laws and other legislative acts of the subjects of the Russian Federation may not contradict the federal laws adopted according to the first and second parts of this Article. In case of a contradiction between a federal law and an act issued in the Russian Federation the federal law shall be applied.

--Chapter 3, Article 76

In other words, Moscow legislation trumps local legislation.

The federal bodies of executive power in order to exercise their powers may create their own territorial organs and appoint corresponding officials.

--Chapter 3, Article 78

Governors are appointed by Moscow.

The President of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Russian Federation shall ensure, according to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the implementation of the powers of the federal state authority in the whole territory of the Russian Federation.

--Chapter 3, Artcle 78

In practice, the President personally appoints the ranking officials in any territory or region.

The President of the Russian Federation shall be elected for six years by citizens of the Russian Federation on the basis of universal, equal, direct suffrage by secret ballot.

--Chapter 4, Article 3

How long has Putin served? Do you honestly think he will ever step down?

Article 83 is too long to quote in full, but it gives the President extensive powers to appoint officials. The Legislature does not have the power to overturn the appointments. There is vague language about the President "consulting" with the "appropriate committees."

The President of the Russian Federation shall have the right to suspend acts of the Bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation in case these acts contradict the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the federal laws, international commitments of the Russian Federation or violate the rights and freedoms of man and citizen until the issue is solved by a corresponding court.

--Chapter 4, Article 85

In other words, whatever legislation the Duma does manage to pass can be "suspended" by the President. Article 90 is a doozy:

1. The President of the Russian Federation shall issue decrees and orders.

2. The decrees and orders of the President of the Russian Federation shall be obligatory for fulfillment in the whole territory of the Russian Federation.

--Chapter 4, Article 90

The President of the Russian Federation shall possess immunity

==Chapter 4, Article 91

It's good to be the Tsar. He can only be impeached if he commits "high treason,"whatever that is... but don't worry, members of the Duma also have immunity, making the Duma the perfect place for gangsters to take up residence. Do I need to go on, or are you beginning to get the picture?

a reply to: DJW001

Don't forget -

“I, a citizen of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, upon entering the ranks of the armed forces, take this oath and solemnly swear to be an honest, brave, disciplined, and vigilant fighting man, strictly keep military and state secrets, and unconditionally fulfill all military regulations and orders by commanders and superiors. I swear that I will conscientiously study military affairs, protect military and public property in every way possible, and be devoted to my people and my Soviet homeland and Soviet government until my final breath. I will always be ready to come to the defense of my homeland, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, at the order of the Soviet government and, as a fighting man of the armed forces, I swear that I will defend it courageously, skillfully, and with dignity and honor, sparing neither blood nor life itself to achieve complete victory over enemies. But if I violate this solemn oath of mine, may the harsh retribution of the Soviet law and the universal hatred and scorn of the working people befall me”

I find it interesting the oath used during the Soviet Union does not suppo0rt the current actions of the Russian President.

a reply to: DJW001

Nice try. Its fun to take things out of context and mix and match.
Are we talking about rights? Or checks and balances.

What did it take for the US to throw away the constitution? We have a better one but we ignore it when the military industrial complex needs to sell equipment. A lot of people got rich off the back of the 911 tragedy. We also trampled the constitution, due process, and bypassed the powers of congress.

a reply to: luthier

He answered your question and proved his point by citing the issues in the Russian constitution. Simply trying to disregard his post because it contains information you don't like doesn't invalidate what he said or what the Russian Constitution states.

The US Constitution allows for things to be challenged between the different branches. The same cannot be said about Russia.

Nothing was taken out of context nor was anything mixed and matched. He provided the links back to what he cited.

a reply to: Xcathdra

a reply to: luthier
First off that's not what the US did after 911. They did not amend the constitution. Do you understand the process? You can not suspend due process legally. If you are referring to the enemy combatant thing then you are naive. Not to mention the 4th being taken apart without the amendment process. The president is also required to have congress vote for an act of war in order to have checks and balances.

And yeah he linked it. So what? I already have an understanding of Russian political structure. I didn't need to wiki it to try and find an argument I don't fully understand. Like i said try to use your own words to describe the system. Oh I bet you can't because Wikipedia can't possibly give you an understanding of the history of Russia before or after the fall of the soviet union or it constitution.

If I read our constitution on wiki I would see immediately we have violated a lot of our constitution. Why because we haven't used our checks and balances to amend the constitution which is the only process in which we can change the constitution (or a supreme court ruling).

originally posted by: Greathouse
a reply to: luthier

I will explain the difference to you. American politicians get richer by millions . Putin's cronies get richer by billions . Using that as a gauge you can see which system is the most corrupt .

The "millions" that are gained by crooked western politicians is only a finders-fee for the hundreds of billions in public funds they secure for various corporations whether it be tax breaks or bogus contracts that the pentagon cannot seem to keep record of.

I really do not understand the interest Americans have in exposing corruption in Russia. Why not fix their own country where they have some measure of control? Do any of you think Putin gives a damn about what you think of him?

a reply to: MALBOSIA

Putins actions thus far would suggest he very much cares about what others think about him. He stated as much we he complained about not being treated as equals / respect.