Comments on: The Electoral Muscle http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/ Russia Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Official Russia | Nashi Looks to Expand Youth Militia http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/comment-page-1/#comment-195295 Official Russia | Nashi Looks to Expand Youth Militia Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:04:13 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/#comment-195295 [...] Nashi to form an All-Russian Association of Militias before the end of the year.  Nashi has had a youth militia program in the works since 2007.  The All-Russian version will incorporate the Nashi DMD and place the [...] [...] Nashi to form an All-Russian Association of Militias before the end of the year.  Nashi has had a youth militia program in the works since 2007.  The All-Russian version will incorporate the Nashi DMD and place the [...]

]]> By: W. Shedd http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/comment-page-1/#comment-11563 W. Shedd Thu, 01 Nov 2007 20:43:42 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/#comment-11563 http://en.rian.ru/russia/20071101/86235099.html <i>Russian opposition leader Garry Kasparov announced on Thursday that fresh opposition rallies are to take place in Moscow and St. Petersburg on November 24 and 25. "We have prepared an appeal to members of different political forces that are in opposition or believed to be in opposition to the current government to take part in the protests," the ex-world chess champion and head of the United Civic Front political party said. Kasparov, a main figure in The Other Russia opposition coalition comprising liberals, leftists and nationalists, said the rallies were designed to highlight the coalition's scorn for elections to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, due on December 2. None of the parties that make up The Other Russia have registration to stand in the coming parliamentary elections. "We are suggesting [that people] cross out all the parties on the ballot papers and put down 'The Other Russia' on them instead," Kasparov said. "This is our form of boycott". He said voters could thereby reinstate the "against all" choice on ballot papers. The option was abolished last year. </i> You can mark your calendar. November 24th and November 25th. Head. Cracking. Time. I'll be very surprised if some incident isn't written about or broadcast on Western news. I won't be surprised if Kasparov brings in a few hooligans as ringers just to start something to get attention. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20071101/86235099.html

Russian opposition leader Garry Kasparov announced on Thursday that fresh opposition rallies are to take place in Moscow and St. Petersburg on November 24 and 25.

“We have prepared an appeal to members of different political forces that are in opposition or believed to be in opposition to the current government to take part in the protests,” the ex-world chess champion and head of the United Civic Front political party said.

Kasparov, a main figure in The Other Russia opposition coalition comprising liberals, leftists and nationalists, said the rallies were designed to highlight the coalition’s scorn for elections to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, due on December 2.

None of the parties that make up The Other Russia have registration to stand in the coming parliamentary elections.

“We are suggesting [that people] cross out all the parties on the ballot papers and put down ‘The Other Russia’ on them instead,” Kasparov said. “This is our form of boycott”.

He said voters could thereby reinstate the “against all” choice on ballot papers. The option was abolished last year.

You can mark your calendar. November 24th and November 25th.

Head. Cracking. Time.

I’ll be very surprised if some incident isn’t written about or broadcast on Western news. I won’t be surprised if Kasparov brings in a few hooligans as ringers just to start something to get attention.

]]> By: Chrisius Maximus http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/comment-page-1/#comment-9135 Chrisius Maximus Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:50:13 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/#comment-9135 "Look around the political arena in Moscow — is it really, truly reasonable to “fear” that the elections are going to be taken over by some thugs with USAID badges on?" I said understandable, not reasonable. Actually I don't think the Kremlin is lying when they say they think an "orange revo," i.e., a coup d'etat, is possible. They are probably wrong, but I think they believe it. They know that the USSR was undone by a coup, and they think the Russian Federation may be as well. Losing your country is a very traumatic experience that leaves scars, after all. “Look around the political arena in Moscow — is it really, truly reasonable to “fear” that the elections are going to be taken over by some thugs with USAID badges on?”

I said understandable, not reasonable.

Actually I don’t think the Kremlin is lying when they say they think an “orange revo,” i.e., a coup d’etat, is possible. They are probably wrong, but I think they believe it. They know that the USSR was undone by a coup, and they think the Russian Federation may be as well.

Losing your country is a very traumatic experience that leaves scars, after all.

]]> By: mab http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/comment-page-1/#comment-9132 mab Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:32:06 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/#comment-9132 CM, there were the 90s and there are the 90s. The actual 90s were a hellish time for most people, and they were a time when they saw and heard a great deal of what was happening in their country, which made it triply hellish. But they were also years when lots of Russians went abroad for the first time, or bought their first cars, or came out of the closet, or went to wet t-shirt contests. Then there are the 90s are portrayed by the present administration, which are very different from the actual 90s. Look around the political arena in Moscow -- is it really, truly reasonable to "fear" that the elections are going to be taken over by some thugs with USAID badges on? And even if there were any fears of this -- don't we want the state bodies that are supposed to oversee the elections to do their job -- and not have politically engaged teenagers involved? Am I the only crack pot who still harbors a belief in, uh, laws? Why do we need vigilantes? CM, there were the 90s and there are the 90s. The actual 90s were a hellish time for most people, and they were a time when they saw and heard a great deal of what was happening in their country, which made it triply hellish. But they were also years when lots of Russians went abroad for the first time, or bought their first cars, or came out of the closet, or went to wet t-shirt contests. Then there are the 90s are portrayed by the present administration, which are very different from the actual 90s.

Look around the political arena in Moscow — is it really, truly reasonable to “fear” that the elections are going to be taken over by some thugs with USAID badges on?

And even if there were any fears of this — don’t we want the state bodies that are supposed to oversee the elections to do their job — and not have politically engaged teenagers involved? Am I the only crack pot who still harbors a belief in, uh, laws? Why do we need vigilantes?

]]> By: Chrisius Maximus http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/comment-page-1/#comment-9131 Chrisius Maximus Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:12:39 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/#comment-9131 Well I would, and I also object to Nashi, but I think it is understandable in the latter's case given the trauma of the 90s and the identification of coming out of it with VVP. I think people are scared of a return of the 90s. I'm reminded of when Yeltsin accounced a few years ago that he might be returning to politics (or something to that effect) and everybody freaked out. Well I would, and I also object to Nashi, but I think it is understandable in the latter’s case given the trauma of the 90s and the identification of coming out of it with VVP. I think people are scared of a return of the 90s. I’m reminded of when Yeltsin accounced a few years ago that he might be returning to politics (or something to that effect) and everybody freaked out.

]]> By: mab http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/comment-page-1/#comment-9130 mab Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:03:04 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/#comment-9130 If there were a group of politically engaged young Americans who wore Bush Tshirts and signed up to "help the cops" keep order during the elections -- let's call them BEBT (Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed) -- wouldn't you object? If there were a group of politically engaged young Americans who wore Bush Tshirts and signed up to “help the cops” keep order during the elections — let’s call them BEBT (Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed) — wouldn’t you object?

]]> By: W. Sparticus http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/comment-page-1/#comment-8921 W. Sparticus Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:53:33 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/#comment-8921 <i>I’ve been puzzling over what offensive phrase was deleted here. “Sheep lovers”? “Putin shills”?</i> I was guessing "Putin Lovers" or "Sheep shills". ;-) I’ve been puzzling over what offensive phrase was deleted here. “Sheep lovers”? “Putin shills”?

I was guessing “Putin Lovers” or “Sheep shills”. ;-)

]]> By: Chrisius Maximus http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/comment-page-1/#comment-8911 Chrisius Maximus Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:00:15 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/#comment-8911 "I suspect they aren’t discussed on Russian television at all." They are. “I suspect they aren’t discussed on Russian television at all.”

They are.

]]> By: Chrisius Maximus http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/comment-page-1/#comment-8910 Chrisius Maximus Tue, 25 Sep 2007 11:59:26 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/#comment-8910 "Fifth. I think it would be better to ask those living in Russia about their experience with Nashi. If they noticed Nashi’s presence at all :))" I haven't, other than on TV and in print media. “Fifth. I think it would be better to ask those living in Russia about their experience with Nashi. If they noticed Nashi’s presence at all :) )”

I haven’t, other than on TV and in print media.

]]> By: Michael Averko http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/comment-page-1/#comment-8883 Michael Averko Tue, 25 Sep 2007 06:02:27 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/09/23/the-electoral-muscle/#comment-8883 Keep at it, seeing how it puts you in a more constructive state. Keep at it, seeing how it puts you in a more constructive state.

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