Russian newspapers react to Biden confirming he thinks Putin is “a killer”: “Biden has crossed a red line”, “The era of partnership that began with Gorbachev & Reagan has been buried.” #ReadingRussia @BBCNews @BBCWorld https://t.co/q9sKL9ZyQI pic.twitter.com/ERsVBuXK08
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) March 19, 2021
Masha Gessen, at the New Yorker, on “How Biden Rattled Putin”:
Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin have been having an unusually lively exchange. On Wednesday, in a televised interview, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos asked Biden if he knew Putin and if he thought he was a killer. Biden responded, “Hmm, I do,” which most observers interpreted as a yes to both questions. Biden also twice promised that Putin would face repercussions, both for attempting to interfere in the 2020 election, on behalf of Donald Trump, and for being a killer. In response, Russia recalled its U.S. Ambassador to Moscow for consultations—a diplomatic move that says, “We are not talking to you.”…
Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the relationship between Russia and the United States had reached a dead end. Meanwhile, the Russian ruble lost ground against the dollar and the euro. Russian financial analysts believe that the drop, one in a long string of small and large blows to the ruble, resulted from Biden’s threat to make Putin pay, which presumably made currency traders nervous.
On Thursday night, Putin, clad in a fur-lined parka worn over a fleece, recorded a short video, in which he invited Biden to have a direct conversation, but only if the U.S. President would agree to talk live, broadcasting directly to the public. He sounded as if he were asking Biden to “take this outside.” Putin has always characterized his younger self as a thug, quick-tempered and vengeful, the kind to settle disputes with a sidewalk brawl. For the proposed showdown with Biden, Putin specified that he would only be available on Monday or Friday; over the weekend, he was planning to be in the taiga. Maybe he’d be wrestling bears. (On Friday, Biden responded to Putin’s offer, when a reporter asked him about it. “I’m sure we’ll talk at some point,” he said.)
It’s rare for Putin to spend this much time speaking directly to the camera, apparently unscripted, on a single issue. One gets the feeling that he will be coming back to this topic in the days to come. Such is the effect on Putin of the U.S. President saying something that’s true, even if it’s just “Hmm, I do.”
And Putin’s new American cheerleaders are even smaller. Remember when the GOP Death Cult worshipped Reagan and abhorred ‘commies Rooshians’?…
Keep in mind the zero-sum view Putin and his media present Russian relations with the US and the West in general. Either Russia is winning bigly or relations are bad. TLDR: you don't want these guys to be happy, ever. https://t.co/ABrsygkNxV
— Mig Greengard (@chessninja) March 21, 2021
So you’re saying he should have said “You think our country’s so innocent?’” https://t.co/YHqZk4zXQn
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) March 21, 2021
Putin is talking about the Russians being genetically "different" from Americans (meaning, no doubt, "superior"), the head of RT keeps talking about how stupid and uneducated Americans are, and here is Fox News, also rootin' for Putin, against Americans.https://t.co/TLEUwh3Hpy
— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) March 19, 2021
Well of course Putin never challenged Trump to a debate. They shared too many of the same writers.
— David Frum (@davidfrum) March 19, 2021
Because Russia is basically governed as a white, ultra-conservative, authoritarian Christian ethnostate and Putin has cultivated a far right view of the “culture wars” that aligns with theirs. And the lovefest between the right and Putin preceded Trump.https://t.co/lzdZf92zmQ https://t.co/0v9uY3Mk2F
— Joy-Ann Pro-Democracy & Masks Reid ? (@JoyAnnReid) March 20, 2021
I was a Reagan-era anti-Soviet cold warrior. After 1991, I argued for better relations with Russia, and even for giving Putin a chance. It is clear I and others who thought that way were wrong. This GOP / FOX turn toward Russia is just anti-liberal spite and it is traitorous.
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) March 19, 2021
Well, 20+ years ago, nobody knew who Putin was.
But if you asked Thomas Jefferson 220 years ago if the Republican Party was going to become the British monarchy cheerleading squad… Well, he'd ask you what a "cheerleading squad" is first, but you get the idea. https://t.co/Vzqozs8Hmx— Slava Malamud (@SlavaMalamud) March 20, 2021
Exactly. This is one reason Putin liked Trump as he had the same premise. https://t.co/yg7hEoci4W
— Tom Wright (@thomaswright08) March 18, 2021
Fun fact.
Nobody in Russia, save for old, befuddled people and crooks in power, worships Putin as much as American Trumpists do.
In Russia, people often call him "an old man in a bunker" and make fun of his inane pronouncements. Hey, that explains Trumpists' love, come to think! https://t.co/9oYUsiT3C0— Slava Malamud (@SlavaMalamud) March 20, 2021
Ha ha Biden triggered Putin who had to whine to erdogan to back him up. What a bunch of snowflakes. ?????? https://t.co/81glAOCYMm
— Wonder Woman Demands Justice (@AlsoWonderWoman) March 20, 2021
zhena gogolia
When I heard Biden answer Stephanopoulos that way, it was music to my ears. Just the fact that the U.S. president is on OUR side is such a relief.
Boris Nemtsov thanks him.
John Revolta
Russian state TV bashing Biden’s mental state
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/66ce79671066cd43c57e0ff9210ea4162e1c5f8ad59b21d5ebaa227ee00112a5.png
(h/t Wojciech @ LGM)
mrmoshpotato
Cool story, broskovich! Now do the effect of you bastards attacking our elections.
debbie
Fox is doing this only to impress Trump.
Mike in NC
When the Russians look to collect the money they loaned the Trump crime cartel, Asshole Junior might have to worry about falling out a window like so many other people Putin targeted.
Baud
Biden should ask Hillary Clinton to act as a special envoy to smooth things over.
Mike G
Shorter Biden:
“I’m not kissing your ass and following you around like a whipped puppy like my predecessor”
MattF
It’s possible that I’m more pleased about Putin being pissed off than I really ought to be. Putin is smart— smart enough that you can’t rationalize his lies as narcissism or sociopathic bullshit. He’s just a bad person, and quite dangerous. Watching him sputter at Biden, watching all the little Putins expressing outrage… it’s just great.
Mary G
Still love this one:
M31
Biden should say he’ll talk to Putin after he’s done talking to other countries with larger economies, like Italy and Canada.
Raoul Paste
Somehow this reminds me of Mitch McConnell’s recent outbursts and threats about the Senate
In both cases Biden is winning
And I think the Russian people know that Putin IS a killer
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
Speaking of the Яussian media, how is Matt Taibbi reacting?
Mike G
@M31: Haha, that would be a sweet burn.
Baud
Speaking of Turkey
zhena gogolia
@Baud:
That would be great!
MattF
@Baud: I wonder what provoked Erdogan into doing that.
Brachiator
@John Revolta:
Dear Russia:
Get back to me when you have an honest election.
Sincerely,
The rest of the goddam world that believes in democracy
Another Scott
@Mike G:
With a beaming smile, also too.
I hope someone on our side hired Christopher Steele to do a Dossier Mark-II. There’s too much hinky stuff that hasn’t been explained.
Cheers,
Scott.
Omnes Omnibus
Has anyone who is upset by Biden’s comment actually denied or contradicted the substance of it?
John Revolta
Why should they even care? They’re dead to him anyway.
Commenting at Balloon Juice since 1937
Only the toughest strongest leaders deal with their opponents by poisoning their underpants.
debbie
@MattF:
Looking small behind his desk is the perfect visual for how he’s been diminished by Biden.
debbie
@John Revolta:
They want back in.
John Revolta
@Brachiator:
Heh. I read a comment somewhere that went like:
Putin: Debate me!
Biden: Well I’m kind of busy. Maybe you should debate some of your critics in your own country. Oh wait, you killed them.
Baud
@John Revolta:
It’s critically important to the right that a Dem president be seen as weak.
NobodySpecial
You know a man by his enemies, and President Biden seems to have all the right ones.
John Revolta
@debbie: I suppose. Well, good luck to them. The sucking up will have to be epic.
mrmoshpotato
@John Revolta:
Fixed. :)
cain
@Baud:
I see they quit cold turkey, eh?
?BillinGlendaleCA
@cain: “Cold Turkey has got me…on the run”
Mousebumples
(https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1372948460832387074?s=03)
TheflipPsyd
OT? Anyone read this article and what do you think? I appreciated the last line of the article. I really have always believed Obama most likely did the best that he could with all the limitations and challenges he faced. I don’t even really believe that he would agree with the narrative of the article that he believed merit and working is always the most moral choice. But I do think the question is valid. Is working hard and merit good enough?
https://www.currentaffairs.org/2021/03/the-banality-of-merit-unlearning-obama
Omnes Omnibus
No.
Jay
Jay
@Jay:
in moderation for a tweet with too many hashtags
Jay
Jay
L85NJGT
How does one say “Cletus safari” in Russian?
Putin fails in promise.
Putin is leaving a raft of disasters in his wake, and hand waving at Gorbachev isn’t going to fix anything.
TheflipPsyd
@Omines Omnibus: I agree completely but how many people believe that? How many people forget that yes they may have worked hard but where they got in life is not only the hard work they did, but also more than likely a result of privilege and luck as well. And as someone who was raised in the 70s and 80s (and that time should not be held up as a model at all) the words JFK said still resonated in the country, about giving back and doing for others. The mainstreaming of the prosperity gospels in our culture has individualized success. Success — particularly financial — is a result of being a good person. And working hard is what makes a person good. A circular argument but one I hear way too much now. And then in the 80s this attitude became the zeitgeist with trickle down economics, greed is good, and that rich people are the job creators. Which is so untrue since a strong middle class keeps the economy moving for all people more than anything else. But what still gets used as the marker of good economy even today? The dow jones.
I certainly graduated high school, with a number of people who said their goal was to become a yuppie, so I know my gen x screwed the pooch there as well. Although lots of my cohort never got to be a yuppie because we graduated college at a time whe jobs were slim, the attitude remained. And those who did get a job and became successful too often decided their success was a result solely because of their hard work rather than recognizing that perhaps there was some luck involved. And when someone recognizes that part of their success may have been a result of luck and being in the right place at the right time, they are most likely more humble and willing to give back in order to allow others to succeed.
Zelma
For just about everybody I know who has been more or less successful, dumb luck has played a role. When I was looking for a position, there were 2 other people in town who had sent in vitas with similar credentials. Chair put them in alphabetical order. I was last. First didn’t answer her phone, second was 8 months pregnant, and then there was me. I retired from the department 37 years later. Father knew the hiring guy from Kiwanis. Son walked into a congressional office to apply for an internship and found a classmate at the desk. I think everyone of us had the “merit” and had “worked hard.” But luck was also important.
Baud
Saw this on my feed. Didn’t click but thought it fit here.
Omnes Omnibus
@Baud: I am okay with it.
Baud
@Omnes Omnibus: But it’s indefensible!
gwangung
@Zelma: Talent and hard work are indispensable.
But talent, hard work and luck probably beats the first two by themselves.
cain
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
I’m not much for Turkey, if they renamed it to Pastrami I might feel better inclined towards them.
karen marie
@David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch: Who?
cain
@Zelma: That’s why meritocracy is bullshit.
WaterGirl
@Omnes Omnibus: @Baud:
I first read that as indispensable, and thought “it sure is”.
Omnes Omnibus
@Baud: To be fair, so am I.
geg6
@Mary G:
That’s my favorite so far regarding Putin’s hissy fit. Plus, nobody calls him Handsome Vlad. Unlike Handsome Joe.
MisterForkbeard
@Baud: What part of it is indefensible? The “global” part, the “muscular” part or or the “liberal” part? :)
zhena gogolia
@Omnes Omnibus:
@Baud:
I skipped church this morning because I went to a zoom memorial service. My husband says it was a great choice, because our berniebros were complaining about Biden’s foreign policy. HAVE THEY BEEN ASLEEP FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS?
Butter Emails
@MisterForkbeard:
Depends on who you’re talking to. For RepubliQans it’s the liberal part. For the “left”, it’s the muscular part.
Geminid
@zhena gogolia: The Bernie Bros complain about foreign policy because they have to complain about something, and Biden has been crushing it domestically.
Similarly, the Republicans gripe about the border, because Biden just kicked theirs asses on domestic policy, and they know it.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@TheflipPsyd: current affairs? Really?
TheflipPsyd
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I’d never heard of it before. It was on my Google News feed and I clicked on it. Lol. How bad is it? And how bad did i get suckered?
cain
@Geminid:
This. They are so desperate they are defending Russia – but then again Russia is on their side and on white supremacist christianist side too.
David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch
@TheflipPsyd: They’re so far to the left, they make Bernie look like Barry Goldwater
Chris T.
@mrmoshpotato:
I think a better way to put it is: “About time! It’s been dead for almost 20 years and has really stunk up the place.”