Polling Posters on Putin's Perspicacity

[Antilogic]

Some choice quotes from Chancellor Merkel of Germany on our favorite shirtless Russian übermensch: she questioned whether he "was in touch with reality" and claimed he was "in another world" (link to one of many sites carrying these quotes).

So, is he?

 

[Formaldehyde]

I see a lot of different quotes in that article, but none by Putin. Am I missing something?

Here is a BBC article that does quote him:

"If it's a revolution, what does that mean? It's hard not to agree that a new government is appearing in this country, just like in Russia after 1917," Putin said. "We didn't sign any documents with this government."

"I want you to understand if we make this decision we will make it to protect the people of Ukraine," Putin said.

"This is legitimate and corresponds with our interests of protecting people who are historically tied to us, who have cultural ties to us, who have economic ties … This is a humanitarian mission. We won't dictate anything to anyone but of course we won't stand aside if people are threatened," he said.

"He has no political future. I told him so," Putin said, and decried the extent of Ukrainian corruption and cronyism which blossomed under Yanukovych and which he argued were excessive "even by Russian standards".

What a mad man?

 

[Antilogic]

They aren't by Putin, but by people such as the German Chancellor who think Putin is off his rocker.

 

[innonimatu]

She already denied that citation. It seems to have been a 'leak' made up in the spirit of f*ng the EU...

Not that I care about the EU in the least bit, mind you.

 

[Antilogic]

She already denied that citation. It seems to have been a 'leak' made up in the spirit of f*ng the EU...

Not that I care about the EU in the least bit, mind you.

Hadn't seen that, but I'm still asking the question!

 

[Verbose]

Oh, I'm sure Putin is not actually crazy.

I'm not at all sure he hasn't gotten lost in the maze of propaganda a rubber legislation he has created, and may have started finding it difficult getting useful, actionable information about what's really going on, and the significance of things. Possibly because other key people around it might be equally challenged when it comes to discerning what they would like situations to be, and what they actually are. They've all been cooking the books for rather a long time, and with other political leaders of various hues engaged in putting a preferential spin on things, the longer you keep at it, the more things as they really are seem to recede.

That's at least what I've been implying when surmising that Putin might have "lost his touch".

 

[Verbose]

Hadn't seen that, but I'm still asking the question!

It seems it might have come from German officials who were listening in on the Merkel-Putin exchange.

 

[DinoDoc]

Polling Posters on Putin's Perspicacity
Can you say that 3 times fast?

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

No, I think he knows what he's doing. I just wish he could have found another way to keep Ukraine from turning fully westward.

 

[ywhtptgtfo]

Oh, I'm sure Putin is not actually crazy.

I'm not at all sure he hasn't gotten lost in the maze of propaganda a rubber legislation he has created, and may have started finding it difficult getting useful, actionable information about what's really going on, and the significance of things. Possibly because other key people around it might be equally challenged when it comes to discerning what they would like situations to be, and what they actually are. They've all been cooking the books for rather a long time, and with other political leaders of various hues engaged in putting a preferential spin on things, the longer you keep at it, the more things as they really are seem to recede.

That's at least what I've been implying when surmising that Putin might have "lost his touch".

I'd imagine American politicians + supporters are even more out of touch in their War on Terror anyway... What Putin's doing is pretty rational but also quite selfish. But at the same time, what world leader has not been incredibly self-serving these days?

 

[Perfectionist]

quotes from Chancellor Merkel

Nope. Quotes from anonymous DC insiders supposedly briefed by anonymous German insiders who supposedly knew what may or may not have happened on a call between Merkel and Putin. Conclusion: Even less credible than usual nonsense from anonymous DC insiders; do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars.

 

[Antilogic]

I think people are missing the point. Do you agree or disagree with whoever thinks El Putino might be a tad on the loony side and why?

 

[Kyriakos]

Some choice quotes from Chancellor Merkel of Germany on our favorite shirtless Russian übermensch: she questioned whether he "was in touch with reality" and claimed he was "in another world" (link to one of many sites carrying these quotes).

So, is he?

I think that a jewish hand casts the appropriate shadow on that fiend:

 

[Mise]

I don't think he's completely mental, but I do think he's made a huge miscalculation that will be damaging for Russia in the long run.

Merkel may not have said that Putin has lost the plot, but the White House has said this:

"This chapter has proven decisively that when it comes to soft power, the power of attraction, Vladimir Putin has no game,"

That's an assessment that I agree with. I don't think Putin really knows where he's going with this: he has no plan, no exit strategy, no vision for how this fits in with Russia's long term strategic goals in the region.

 

[Kyriakos]

That WH quote (WH) sounds more like a troll from WH40K.

 

[Yeekim]

Oh, I'm sure Putin is not actually crazy.

I'm not at all sure he hasn't gotten lost in the maze of propaganda a rubber legislation he has created, and may have started finding it difficult getting useful, actionable information about what's really going on, and the significance of things. Possibly because other key people around it might be equally challenged when it comes to discerning what they would like situations to be, and what they actually are. They've all been cooking the books for rather a long time, and with other political leaders of various hues engaged in putting a preferential spin on things, the longer you keep at it, the more things as they really are seem to recede.

That's at least what I've been implying when surmising that Putin might have "lost his touch".

Well put. If you've been in the business of manufacturing alternative realities for so long, your contact with the actual one is eventually bound to wane.

I don't think Putin really knows where he's going with this: he has no plan, no exit strategy, no vision for how this fits in with Russia's long term strategic goals in the region.

The goal may be to create a Transnistria-like region in Ukraine to ensure the country cannot join NATO.

 

[Verbose]

Well put. If you've been in the business of manufacturing alternative realities for so long, your contact with the actual one is eventually bound to wane.

Quite. Especially when something as unanaticipated as unwelcome suddenly cathches you off-guard.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

That WH quote (WH) sounds more like a troll from WH40K.

Forget the power of technology and science, for so much has been forgotten, never to be re-learned. Forget the promise of progress and understanding, for in the grim dark future there is only war. There is no peace amongst the stars, only an eternity of carnage and slaughter, and the laughter of thirsting gods.

Why would someone from WH40K talk about "soft power" again?

I don't think he's completely mental, but I do think he's made a huge miscalculation that will be damaging for Russia in the long run.

Not something that can brushed off like the 2008 South Ossetian war?

 

[Mise]

Yeah, I think he thinks it will be brushed off like South Ossetia/Georgia, but I think he's wrong.

 

[Kyriakos]

Why would someone from WH40K talk about "soft power" again?

Sometimes even the misanthropes can alter their rhetoric, when met with a Dreadnought