WP: Bush Gently Prods Putin on Democracy

[kskiska]

Russian Denies a Return to Totalitarianism

Friday, February 25, 2005; Page A01

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, Feb. 24 -- President Bush urged President Vladimir Putin to reinvigorate Russia's fragile democracy Thursday and then accepted Putin's word when the former KGB colonel insisted he was not turning his country back toward totalitarianism.

Taking a gentle approach in the first application of his inaugural pledge to challenge foreign leaders to promote freedom, Bush said he raised his concerns about Putin's crackdown on political opposition "in a constructive and friendly manner" and emphasized that overall the two agreed more than they disagreed.

"Vladimir heard me loud and clear," Bush said.

(snip)

Bush, capping a five-day European trip, pronounced himself pleased without securing any specific commitments or directly contradicting any of Putin's points. "The most important statement that you heard, and I heard, was the president's statement when he declared his absolute support for democracy in Russia and they're not turning back," Bush said. He went on to vouch for Putin's credibility. "When he tells you something, he means it."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49358-2005Feb24.html

[LynnTheDem]

1. Sure wish the arrogant stupid fratboy would just STFU.

Is he so stupid he's unaware of the fact that the entire world hates his guts & thinks he's the stupidest MF on the planet??? Half his own country thinks likewise.

[saltpoint]

2. "Yessirr, Vlad. You buy into the George Bush Democracy --

-- package plan and we'll throw in a thousand Diebold votin' machines, absolutely free."

[The Animator]

3. "Bush said he raised his concerns...

...about Putin's crackdown on political opposition"

Yeah I can see it now

W: "Now Vlad, I gotta tell ya I'm concerned about you crackdowns on your political opponents."

Vlad: "What kind of concerns George?"

W: "You're not cracking down hard enough."

Vlad: "What do you mean?"

W: "You gotta intimidate them, ya know, make em' scared to say anything against ya."

Vlad: "You mean like, if you're not with us, your with the terrorists?"

W: "Yeah that's it exactly, damn you're a fast learner! I can't tell ya how much time Karl spent trying to get my mind around it."

Vlad: "This does not surprise me."

W: "Yeah, well tough talk will only get you so far, you gotta back it up."

Vlad: "With weapons?... George, Russia is no longer..."

W: "No, no, no, not with weapons, well not yet anyway, but we'll get to that. You back it up by having an army of reporters backing up your point of veiw."

Vlad: "That's the way we used to do it. Back when we were the U.S.S.R., but our goverment doesn't own the media outlets anymore."

W: "Well we don't technically own our media either, my friends do through, I tell em' what I want them to say, and they'll say it. I feel a little like a puppeteer."

Vlad: "You mean a vantrilloquist?"

W: "Hell no! I don't like gays. No siree! Now where were we? Oh yeah the media."

Vlad: "(grins) I hear their are some in your press who screw people for money."

W: "Yeah, there called Pundits, there like attack dogs."

Vlad: "Like bulldogs?(snicker)"

W: "Yeah, like bulldogs, you just tell em' to attack, and off they go to rip someone a new asshole.

Vlad: "(chuckle) any bulldogs you like best?"

W: "Well yeah, there is a guy we have in the press room, a bald guy named Gannon. I tell him I want some guy's reputaion destroyed and he'll say 'yessir! I'll get right on top of him sir!' I can always trust Gannon to stay on top of things"

Vlad: "(Uproarous, uncontrolled belly-laughter)"

W: "Vlad, what the hell is so funny? and why are you rollin' on the floor?"

[NightOwwl]

4. Great imitation of Bush....

Stupid and arrogant at the same time. I could actually hear his voice in my mind speaking those words. *shiver*

[Dirk39]

5. It was so funny...

wasn't the >discussion< between Bush and Putin shown in the USA?
Hearing Bush lecturing Putin on FREE PRESS and the necessity of an OPPOSITION....

Ouch in Germany,
Dirk

[NNN0LHI]

6. Clinton would have kicked that beady eyed little former KBG agents ass...

...all the way back to the Kremlin until he got back in line. Bush is a wimp just like his old man.

Don

[truthisfreedom]

7. did he keep his gloves on indoors while "prodding" as well?

[rodeodance]

8. Bush is jealous of Pee-u-tin!!

[truthisfreedom]

9. and bush loves the Russian ladies! (photo... don't lose your lunch!)

[llmart]

10. I watched about 10 minutes of this on C-Span.....

and it was actually funny and painful to watch. Funny because Putin looked like he couldn't care less about what Bush was saying. He had a disgusted look on his face. Bush, as usual, was a friggen' embarrassment. God, is he ever stupid and inarticulate. I know 6th graders who can speak off the cuff better than this imposter of a president.

[Disturbed]

11. Bush and Junta are a bit.

worried about Russia selling weapons to Iran and Syria. It may be soon that Russia, China and Iran are alligned against the Bush Junta.

[robbedvoter]

12. They left out the best part? W lectured thusly:

"Yet democracies have certain things in common; they have a rule of law, and protection of minorities, a free press, and a viable political opposition."

Funny that WP left it out.

[peacebird]

13. according to the Independent - Putin was outraged as * lectured him

"President George Bush subjected Russia's Vladimir Putin to a public lecture on the fundamentals of democracy yesterday, injecting a chill into a relationship that has - until now - been characterised by bonhomie."
(snip)
"An unsmiling, visibly irritated Mr Putin squirmed as he listened to Mr Bush tell a press conference he had been told that Washington had "concerns about Russia's commitment in fulfilling" the "universal principles" of democracy."

:wtf:

is * trying to insult EVERYONE? and this is his attempt at a "charm offensive"? What a fool.... Uniting the world against us yet again.

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=614535