Talking about Nazis...

[Muzh]

Bill Criminalizing 'False Anti-Russian Information' in the Works, Report Says
 
A State Duma deputy is preparing to submit a bill that would allow editors and media executives to be prosecuted for the "publication of false anti-Russian information," Izvestia reported Thursday.
 
United Russia's Yevgeny Fyodorov said the bill is a response to recent publications in the Russian media invoking inappropriate historical analogies and interpretations of events taking place in Russia and Ukraine. The bill would also criminalize media "providing information support to anti-Russian extremists and separatist forces, including the representation of events beyond Russian borders."
 
The journalists writing the articles will not be targeted for prosecution. Instead, the bill pursues legal action against managers and editors that persistently green-light the publication of articles that the Interior Ministry considers to be lies, Fyodorov told Izvestia, adding that the violations would fall under laws governing "crimes against the state" such as treason and espionage. The deputy said the amendments were designed to combat "deliberate deception of audiences by media professionals, intending to support terrorism, intervention, separatism and genocide."
 
Fyodorov has a history of pursuing restrictive legislation. In 2012 he drafted a law requiring foreign-funded NGOs to register as foreign agents, which has been criticized by human rights organizations as repressive. He said that he has considered expanding the provisions of the law to foreign-funded media outlets.
 
Independent media has come under fire from conservative politicians. The opposition-leaning television station Dozhd was dropped by the majority of Russian cable providers last month after it published a controversial poll asking if surrendering Leningrad to the Nazis might have saved thousands of lives. Legislators accused the poll of denigrating history. Victor Shenderovich, a columnist at Ekho Moskvy, also came under fire for comparing the Sochi Winter Olympics to Nazi Germany's 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.

The Moscow Times

[jone]

fas·cism  [fash-iz-uhm] 
noun

( sometimes initial capital letter ) a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.

[GQBlues]

...Victor Shenderovich, a columnist at Ekho Moskvy, also came under fire for comparing the Sochi Winter Olympics to Nazi Germany's 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin...

I agree with the State Duma. Blasphemous!

Beyond the fact these are two distinct seasonal games, in the Berlin Games, an African-American made history and obliterated the 'master race' in the track and field track that infuriated the Fuhrer, whereas in the Sochi Games, an African-American was merely an over-rated wannabe who was obliterated and didn't even medal in the long track and left with nary a murmur.

[TheTraveler]

gq -

the hitler / jesse owens stories are a myth, refuted by jesse owens himself.

germany and hitler were actually gracious to owens.

the racist fdr was the one who really snubbed him.

http://german.about.com/library/blgermyth10.htm

[Muzh]

I agree with the State Duma. Blasphemous!

Beyond the fact these are two distinct seasonal games, in the Berlin Games, an African-American made history and obliterated the 'master race' in the track and field track that infuriated the Fuhrer, whereas in the Sochi Games, an African-American was merely an over-rated wannabe who was obliterated and didn't even medal in the long track and left with nary a murmur.

 
 
 
 
 

[Muzh]

gq -

the hitler / jesse owens stories are a myth, refuted by jesse owens himself.

germany and hitler were actually gracious to owens.

the racist fdr was the one who really snubbed him.

http://german.about.com/library/blgermyth10.htm

Heh, FDR was a Klansman.

[lordtiberius]

Hugo Black was KKK all the way.  The democrats have always been the party of race bait.  They are masters at it.

[cc3]

I agree with the State Duma. Blasphemous!

Beyond the fact these are two distinct seasonal games, in the Berlin Games, an African-American made history and obliterated the 'master race' in the track and field track that infuriated the Fuhrer, whereas in the Sochi Games, an African-American was merely an over-rated wannabe who was obliterated and didn't even medal in the long track and left with nary a murmur.

Hardly cited, in Sochi reporting, is that 4 out of Russia's 13 gold medals were won by persons originating as citizens of western sphere nations. Vic Wild, American, had 2 individual golds in alpine snowboard racing for Russia, and Viktor Ahn, South Korean, had 2 individual speed skating goals and 1 team relay gold for Russia.

[GQBlues]

Hardly cited, in Sochi reporting, is that 4 out of Russia's 13 gold medals were won by persons originating as citizens of western sphere nations. Vic Wild, American, had 2 individual golds in alpine snowboard racing for Russia, and Viktor Ahn, South Korean, had 2 individual speed skating goals and 1 team relay gold for Russia.

Here, here...I had to explain to my wife why that is.

Both Olympians opted citizenship with Russia due to lack of sponsorship in respective countries. Vic' sport (snowboard racing) was a dying (dead) sport in the US. It was hot back in the '80s but these days, slope style and board extreme (half-pipe) are where the $$ is. As a matter of fact, the lone US Olympian in the parallel snowboard race have had to sleep in his van between circuits as part of his training. The guy was broke without any sponsor. He's DNF in Sochi.

Same with Viktor in Seoul. SK's interest lie in long track, not short track. Whatever...I think the Short-track team pursuit was extremely nutty!

It's Russia's gain, Olympic-wise.

I hope they ban 'Curling'. Whoever thought that was a sport? If they're going to allow that silliness, the least they can do is make a rule that the women have to be topless to keep the spectators from falling asleep.

The men...well, they can be moving target for the biathletes...

[cc3]

Hardly cited, in Sochi reporting, is that 4 out of Russia's 13 gold medals were won by persons originating as citizens of western sphere nations. Vic Wild, American, had 2 individual golds in alpine snowboard racing for Russia, and Viktor Ahn, South Korean, had 2 individual speed skating golds and 1 team relay gold for Russia.

Edit: golds for "goals"

[cc3]

 
I hope they ban 'Curling'. Whoever thought that was a sport? 

 

People who think that Molsons and Labatt are good beers.

[jone]

Not to mention Leinenkugels.

[Shadow]

Taht will be the end of the Moscow times. Good riddance.

[jone]

Taht will be the end of the Moscow times. Good riddance.

One of the great freedoms you have in your country is freedom of the press.  I would rejoice over any country losing such freedom.    (not.)

[Shadow]

One of the great freedoms you have in your country is freedom of the press.  I would rejoice over any country losing such freedom.    (not.)

I rejoice any country getting rid of pres that abuses the freedom of press concept to spread lies.

[jone]

I have always enjoyed the Moscow Times.  When my son was young he wrote a letter to the editor. 

Shadow, you have debased yourself.  I would like to know what lies the Moscow Times writes.  Please, be specific so that we may all be enlightened.  Otherwise, back away from the bottle.

[Shadow]

I have always enjoyed the Moscow Times.  When my son was young he wrote a letter to the editor. 

Shadow, you have debased yourself.  I would like to know what lies the Moscow Times writes.  Please, be specific so that we may all be enlightened.  Otherwise, back away from the bottle.

Just read my reactions over time on pieces from the Moscow times that appeared here and you will know.

[Muzh]

I rejoice any country getting rid of pres that abuses the freedom of press concept to spread lies.

Now, now. This is a Shadow that is kinda surprising.
 
You are reminding me of Dr. Strangelove.

[Muzh]

Just read my reactions over time on pieces from the Moscow times that appeared here and you will know.

Dude, I have read bullshit from the Wall Street Journal that I despise, but you don't hear me calling for their closure.
 
It is a very dangerous slope when you get rid of dissenting points of views.

[lordtiberius]

Dude, I have read bullshit from the Wall Street Journal that I despise, but you don't hear me calling for their closure.
 
It is a very dangerous slope when you get rid of dissenting points of views.

Agree.

[Muzh]

One more op/ed from that Russian "rag" the Moscow Times.
 
Putin's Crimean Trap
 
The Kremlin's military intervention in Ukraine has created an entirely new reality for Russia at home and abroad.
 
In response to the revolutionary events in Kiev, President Vladimir Putin has suddenly embarked on an aggressive and risky geopolitical venture to prevent "the loss of Ukraine."
 
From now on, Russia's entire policy can be summed up in a single word: unpredictable.
Even in a best-case scenario ending with a peaceful resolution, the recent events in the Ukrainian crisis will have long-term negative consequences for Russia, Europe and the world.
 
It appears that the Kremlin has already decided to annex Crimea. All that remains is to wait for the predictable outcome of the Crimean referendum on Sunday. Once this is done, Russia will have violated all of its existing international legal obligations regarding Ukraine. Throughout the past two decades, Russia has always recognized Ukraine as a sovereign independent state within its current borders. This recognition is codified within the framework of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the 1994 Budapest Memorandum as well as the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation signed in 1997. Now, Russia has trampled on all of those treaties, agreements and guarantees under the false pretext of protecting Russian-speakers in Crimea from "persecution."

After this treaty violation, Moscow's signature on any agreement will be worthless.

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko is probably recalling the offer Putin made to him six years ago that Belarus become part of Russia. He doubtless remembers how Putin reminded him that 70 percent of Belarussians speak Russian in addition to their native language, and that Belarus is critically dependent on annual financial assistance from Moscow.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev also remembers that 4 million of his country's 17 million citizens are ethnic Russians and that Moscow might express a sudden desire to "protect" them as well. This especially applies to northern Kazakhstan, a region that Russian nationalists consider "native Russian soil" and that they contend was artificially annexed to Kazakhstan much in the same way as former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev handed Crimea over to Ukraine in 1954.

Now, nobody can guarantee that Moscow will not seek to annex South Ossetia and Abkhazia or the self-proclaimed Transdnestr republic.

By invading Crimea and threatening to annex it, Moscow has violated the principle of the inviolability of its neighbor's borders. This will prompt other former Soviet republics to revise their own military and strategic policies and to seek additional security guarantees from countries other than Russia. With this act of agression, Moscow has destroyed all faith in Russia as a guarantor of any other state's sovereignty or territorial integrity. What's more, the NATO countries that neighbor Ukraine and Russia will seek additional security measures from the alliance.

Once Russia officially annexes Crimea, the West will inevitably apply more serious sanctions against Moscow. Even if the mildest form of sanctions are applied against specific individuals and cause little damage to the economy, they will seriously compromise Russia's international status and prestige. Western sanctions will place Russia on par with rogue states such as Iran, North Korea, Belarus and Syria. The last time something like this happened was when the U.S. imposed sanctions against the Soviet Union after its invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.

Following a year that saw only 1.4 percent growth in gross domestic product, the Russian economy might contract this year. Russian public companies are quickly losing value on the stock market, capital flight is growing, investment is expected to decline and the government will face additional expenses in military outlays and for annexing and supporting Crimea.

The crisis in Ukraine will also spur the European Union to diversify its sources of oil and gas and will expedite decisions in Europe to develop shale gas, build new terminals for receiving liquefied natural gas, improve the system for transporting gas and to step up the use of coal. The U.S. will also speed up a decision to export gas and perhaps oil to Europe. In the coming years, all these measures could lead to a further loss of markets for Gazprom and other Russian oil companies, reducing their revenues and lowering global oil prices. Russia's federal budget, which depends on oil and gas exports for more than 50 percent of its funding, will inevitably go into a deficit. As a result, the country will have to find other ways to finance government spending, particularly when defense spending is growing. Financing a budget deficit will be difficult if Russia's credit rating falls because of its global isolation and political instability.

Meanwhile, the Russian authorities seem bent on buttressing their position by fanning the flames of chauvinism, patriotism and nationalist fervor with such slogans as "Russia will not surrender its own!" They have also intensified pressure on all dissenters, whether in the media, the political opposition or nongovernmental organizations, already branding them as "traitors to the Motherland." This wave of hatred and aggression will inevitably prompt even greater numbers of Russia's most active and progressive individuals to leave the country.

Plans to spur economic growth through greatly expanded military spending and state investment are now doomed to failure. The same is true of any hopes for "nationalizing" the elite — that is, of convincing Russia's oligarchs and corrupt officials to bring their money back into the country and begin investing it in the economy. Now, just the opposite will happen: The far greater risks and uncertainty caused by Moscow's actions will only accelerate capital flight and business owners' efforts to seek more reliable financial safe havens in the West — if the West is willing to accept their assets.

For now, Russians have welcomed Putin's expansionism in former Soviet territory. But Russians will continue to support the seizure of neighboring territory and saber rattling only as long as it does not cost the lives of loved ones or results in a decline in their standards of living.
 
Notably, Russians are already feeling economic pain as the ruble continues to decline in value.
By recklessly intervening in Crimea and Ukraine, Putin will ultimately destroy the very foundation that boosted his own power and longstanding popularity — the seeming stability and predictability of his vertical power structure. Previously a guarantor of stability, Putin has suddenly become the main source of political, economic and social risk not only for Russia, but for the world.

Putin risks following the example of Napoleon who, as soon as he had occupied the Kremlin in the winter of 1812, realized that he had actually lost power and the war. Crimea might once again prove to be the fatal banana peel on which a seemingly unshakeable authoritarian Russian regime slips and falls.

Vladimir Ryzhkov, a State Duma deputy from 1993 to 2007, is a political analyst.
 
The Moscow Times

[lordtiberius]

This guy is very much against the war in Crimea.  And is the leader of a party that wants to join Navalny.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_of_Russia_%E2%80%93_People%27s_Freedom_Party

Not everyone is marching lock step toward this war.

[GQBlues]

You folks make a mountain range that rivals the Himalayas out of teeney-weeny, itsy-bitsy single mole hill. LOL!

Putin is everyone's hero! Less than a week ago, he was nominated for a Nobel Peace prize! And where's the Nobel Committee located at you asked? Yup - Europe.

http://time.com/13194/putin-reportedly-nominated-for-nobel-peace-prize/

You just got to love these Euros...Gore, Obama and now, Putin.

[Larry1]

Putin is everyone's hero! Less than a week ago, he was nominated for a Nobel Peace prize! And where's the Nobel Committee located at you asked? Yup - Europe.

http://time.com/13194/putin-reportedly-nominated-for-nobel-peace-prize/

You just got to love these Euros...Gore, Obama and now, Putin.

It's rumored that an Italian chef has invented a new dish in his honor: Pasta Putinesca 

I hope someone besides Sandro finds that funny.

[lordtiberius]

Do you deny that Russia has not suffered from his aggression in Crimea?