Blackout, why do you want nationalists to win? Let' s pretend they do win...what is their foreign policy towards the United States? ...Europe and Asia? ...the Middle East? ...what about domestic freedoms and liberties for fellow Russians? I do not think the Russian nationalist parties would help Russia and the world. The same we could say for the Communist party (even though they are the SECOND most popular party in the Duma and the recent elections).

They are because many former supporters from the the soviet union time are still alive. I'm not saying nationalists would help Russia, I'm just making a prediction. I don't think neither nationalists or communists would win. At most moderate socialists or Putin's. I don't want them to win, and don't forget many nationalists nowadays disguise their fascism under then name of 'democratic nationalism', like they do in europe, and a lot of people believe it. They won't come out as being openly fascist

Nationalists policies are usually centered on 'all for the nation, none against the nation', and it would fit them since russians won't allow anyone to intervene with their business

Blackout,

1. Your prediction would be a little flawed knowing that the Communist Party is more popular than the nearest nationalist party in the recent elections.
2. The nationalist platform is actually a Pan-Russian platform which calls for more military adventures outside the Russian borders. Therefore, ignoring the nation-state boundaries of bordering nations simply to "protect" ethnic Russians(something Putin has adopted to simply keep power in Russia).
3. I do not think, other nations will bother ethnic Russians. But then again nationalists would simply interpret some laws as being oppressive towards ethnic Russians and expand the definition of a "Russian" to include Slavs.
4. The best alternative is for Russia to use their economic tools to assist Russians in other nation-states.

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By the way, just to think about it, there was no need for Russia to invade Crimea if the Russians and the Ukrainians simply created a contract to share Crimea.

Fair enough, you are correct

It's normal that nationalists would look to expand the borders, it's something that has always happened. But being a nationalists means you value your nation and citizens above anything else.

The communist party is the second most popular party if I'm not mistaken. I'd like to know what would happen if they got back into power.

I'll just vote to keep Putin for now because I don't think the USA has reasons to intervene with Russia's internal political affairs, it won't result in something good.

And I agree about Crimea, I consider Russia's actions unnecessary

Putin might not fulfill my longing for the 'hairy, burly lumberjack type', but his masculine persona is really hot.

I hope he's a bottom and has a high threshold of disgust.

Blackout, I am not really a fan of the Communist party. They will mismanage the affairs because there is nothing in their political philosophy for some kind of free market unless they follow the Chinese model. Then again, by defacto they may have no choice but to follow the Chinese model knowing that current economic infrastructures within Russia. Economic mismanagement will lead to internal instability. For me, Putin could have been the best alternative until the recent incident and the Crimea miscalculation (which proves that he is missing something in his psyche - pragmatism in the craft of diplomacy over Crimea).

(July 24, 2014 at 9:56 am)CristW Wrote: Blackout, I am not really a fan of the Communist party. They will mismanage the affairs because there is nothing in their political philosophy for some kind of free market unless they follow the Chinese model. Then again, by defacto they may have no choice but to follow the Chinese model knowing that current economic infrastructures within Russia. Economic mismanagement will lead to internal instability. For me, Putin could have been the best alternative until the recent incident and the Crimea miscalculation (which proves that he is missing something in his psyche - pragmatism in the craft of diplomacy over Crimea).

The Chinese model is not a good option, and I don't consider China to be a legitimate socialistic/communist country either way. I see Putin for now as a good option considering the others are worse. If he just banned some ridiculous laws like the anti-gay one

(July 23, 2014 at 8:17 pm)CristW Wrote: Hello, Should USA pursue a policy to actively remove Pres. Putin? and replace him with Socialists, Communists, or Nationalists? I think it is best we promote a policy which will help the Socialistic parties within Russia(there are 3 which are listed in the Duma) and to strengthen relations with Russia and work with Russia with our space program and global foreign policy objectives.

I don't think so. An successful policy to weaken and remove Russian president necessarily grossly weakens Russia as a major independent power in Euroasia for the short to medium term. Regardless of American loathing for a Russia that does not either keel over and die immediately, or resign itself to doing American bidding while slowingly withering away, Russia has been an active, calculating, and rational independent power pursuing rational self interests. Given the track record of American bad behavior and clumsiness and lack of astuteness when it has a freehand to interfere in world events, the world would not be better off if we remove Russia as a major independent power with the will and capacity to pursue rational self-interests contraary to the desires of American ambition.

So, no, we should keep Putin because we are better off with a strong enemy that can keep our more extravagant excesses and blunders in some check.

Blackout, the anti-gay legislation is ridiculous. I think they will be a minority and will not affect the natural rights of individuals. There is no supernatural or psychic phenomena associated with having gays in your nation. They do nothing to your own existence as a heterosexual. As for the Chinese model - Central command hybrid, may be the outcome if the Communist Party comes into power in Russia. For the Communist Party to follow their own doctrine many free market mechanisms will have to be removed and then controlled by government services. If they decide to allow free market economy then what is the point of being called a "Communist" unless by defacto they will borrowing the Chinese hybrid model.

(July 24, 2014 at 1:05 pm)CristW Wrote: Blackout, the anti-gay legislation is ridiculous. I think they will be a minority and will not affect the natural rights of individuals. There is no supernatural or psychic phenomena associated with having gays in your nation. They do nothing to your own existence as a heterosexual. As for the Chinese model - Central command hybrid, may be the outcome if the Communist Party comes into power in Russia. For the Communist Party to follow their own doctrine many free market mechanisms will have to be removed and then controlled by government services. If they decide to allow free market economy then what is the point of being called a "Communist" unless by defacto they will borrowing the Chinese hybrid model.

I think using the free market sets aside the possibility of being called a communist by it's own nature...