Putin Takes Post as GOP Pundit

Moscow's champion of democracy and paragon of integrity, Czar Vladimir Putin has pushed Tony Blair off GWB's lap so that he can curl up there and sniff the crotch of the leader of the free world.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that terrorists are aiming to derail U.S. President George W. Bush's chances at re-election through their attacks in Iraq.

"I consider the activities of terrorists in Iraq are not as much aimed at coalition forces but more personally against President Bush," Putin said at a news conference after a regional summit in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe.

"International terrorism has as its goal to prevent the election of President Bush to a second term," he said. "If they achieve that goal, then that will give international terrorism a new impulse and extra power."

Like Buchanan's, I'm not sure this endorsement actually helps Bush.

What exactly does Putin expect Americans to do with this opinion of his? Vote for Bush just to show those terrorists we'll vote for who we want to? Even if he truly believes this, what's the point of saying it before the election? Is he trying to help Americans make up their minds? Isn't he busy enough dismantling the infant democracy in his own country?

I think his vodka-soaked cerebellum has, finally, totally pickled.

Comments

[John Thullen]

Pat Buchanan and now the KGB endorse George W. Bush.

It's a hell of a gathering. Is there a tax cut of some kind that can be offered to Al Sharpton to join up too so things get so clearly delineated and so pristinely divided that we all know for certain where we all stand?

What's next?

[Katherine]

Don't forget Don King!

In fairness, Kerry has his share of embarrassing endorsers too.

Do these people actually think they're helping?

[John Thullen]

Yeah, Don King.

"Don't forget Kerry has his share of embarrassing endorsers, too."

Yeah, but I'm one of the few left.

By the way, the symmetry between Buchanan and Putin is Abu Gharib. They dig it. Torturing vaguely Semitic-looking people appeals to the two of them.

Cheap shot? You bet.

[felixrayman]

It is hardly surprising that Putin would lobby for Bush - they are ideological soulmates. Matt Yglesias sums it up as:

the creeping Putinization of American life (the Sinclair incident, the threatening letter to Rock The Vote, the specter of the top official in the House of Representatives making totally baseless charges of criminal conduct against a major financier of the political opposition [shades of Mikhail Khodorovsky], the increasing evidence that the 'terror alert' system is nothing more than a political prop, the 'torture memo' asserting that the president is above the law, the imposition of rigid discipline on the congress, the abuse of the conference committee procedure, the ability of the administration to lie to congress without penalty, the exclusion of non-supporters from Bush's public appearances, etc.)

[Nathan S.]

Edward,

Relax. Putin supports Bush in this election and thinks that Islamic terrorists don't want Bush to win. So what? I am sure you have the same contempt for all the folks in Western Europe who publicly detest the Hallichimperor.

Putin is dangerously consolidating power and acting like a dictator. He may have to be dealt with in the future. Right now, we have a bigger problem.

Oh, and making jokes about Eastern Europeans as drunks really helps your case.

[RepubAnon]

After all, Putin and Bush both practice and believe in "Pinochet-style" democracy...

[rilkefan]

"I think his vodka-soaked cerebellum has, finally, totally pickled."

Could you be thinking of Yeltsin? Putin is supposedly a teetotaller, or nearly. (Hmm, perhaps that was part of his soul-appeal to Bush.)

[crionna]

so that he can curl up there and sniff the crotch of the leader of the free world.

This truly is beneath you Edward. I hope you're feeling better soon.

I find that a bit of sushi with waaaaaay too much wasabi always gets the, er, juices flowing...

[liberal japonicus]

I thought this was an echo of Tucker Carlson's comment to Jon Stewart.

[Edward]

I thought this was an echo of Tucker Carlson's comment to Jon Stewart.

That was the tone I was going for (perhaps watched that clip once too often). Sorry if it offended you Crionna. Humor is probably best not attempted while overantihistamined.

[crionna]

Humor is probably best not attempted while overantihistamined.

Or to those not in the know ;) No offense taken Edward. Hope you're better soon.

[Gary Farber]

I wanted to check the date on that story, but the link only gets:

Sorry, the page you requested was not found.

The story or page you were trying to access may have expired.

The story says

"International terrorism has as its goal to prevent the election of President Bush to a second term," he said.

Could you give a link for this story that works, please, Edward? And the date it was first posted? And where/how you found it might be interesting.

[Gary Farber]

Oh, whoops, ancient thread. My mistake.

[Anarch]

I have to ask, how'd you find your way back here, Gary?