So tell me somebody, Conservative to Conservative, tell me why I should dislike Putin.

He’s a thug. He persecutes those who oppose him. He poisoned a KGB agent who ‘defected’ (allegedly). He’s selling nuclear material and intelligence to Iran. He’s about ten seconds away from becoming the dictator of Russia again. They’re talking about putting him in a position of power when he stops being Prime Minister or President or whatever. He talked about attacking Israel.

He’s a KGB thug who became what he is through intimidation and consolidating of power. He’s not good.

So tell me somebody, Conservative to Conservative, tell me why I should dislike Putin.

Like, but verify if you know what I mean. He’s still an unknown quantity after all this time, keeps his cards close to his chest. I’d like him if I was Russian but I wouldn’t want a nuclear Iran on my borders, a farcical repeat of the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact if you ask me.

Russia has had a strange and violent history, but the world is a dirty ugly place and the USA is going to need powerful and mean friends. The gentle philosophers of the EU won’t cut it, not against threats like China and islam. We need Putin and Russia. And Putin and Russia need us. Doesn’t matter whether we like one another, there’s a better glue for this relationship. Self-interest.

Yup and its in the self-interest of both parties to deny independence to Kosovo. You have the workings of an alliance right there.

Russia has had a strange and violent history, but the world is a dirty ugly place and the USA is going to need powerful and mean friends. The gentle philosophers of the EU won’t cut it, not against threats like China and islam. We need Putin and Russia. And Putin and Russia need us. Doesn’t matter whether we like one another, there’s a better glue for this relationship. Self-interest.

One final point. Recently some twerp in the Seattle School System decided students should be told that Thanksgiving should be a day of mourning because of what the US did to the indians. That’s what our kids are being fed. Meanwhile under Putin Russian kids are being taught to honor their country, its past, its traditions and its institutions.

So tell me somebody, Conservative to Conservative, tell me why I should dislike Putin.

Not to throw Biblical Prophesy in the face of any unbelievers but I would think you will find it interesting in how clearly it is being fulfilled. Throughout all of history, Russia and Iran have never been allies before just recently. Ezekiel 38- 39 is coming into focus as clear as day. Is Putin Gog? only God knows and time will tell but Jesus did tell us Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh: …..Also, I’m sure most of you have heard this ditty- …..Red skies in the morning, sailors warning-Red skies at night sailors delight. Mat 16:3 And in the morning, [It will be] foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O [ye] hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not [discern] the signs of the times?
a short interpretation of Ezekiel 38-39

I disagree with your interpretation here. The attack on Israel by Gog and Magog in the Bible is I think carried out by 72(?) hostile nations.

I think if Russia falls on hard times and breakaway Muslims republics form then 55 nations Islamic nations (the prophesy excludes Saudi Arabia iirc but I am counting Kosovo for practical purposes) combine with former Russian territories turned Islamic republics then you’d be on firmer ground.

However I don’t like to interpret these things on general principle. I think its blasphemous (not sure where I read that) and in any case we won’t know until it’s happened.

I can maybe see how you could say Putin or even Gore has affected more history lines (I don’t agree but for debates sake) BUT how the hell does the Harry Potter writer effect anything? Does anyone believe that if even Harry potter was never even written that the world time line would be blip? And I seriously doubt she will be even mentioned in any history book short the Times biased BS.

And bear in mind that the cover for that issue was hardly flattering of Hitler:
http://www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty/marcuse/projects/hitler/sources/30s/391time/391timemanyear.htm

“From the unholy organist, a hymn of hate”. Sadly the page does not note if Hitler had read that issue of Time magazine, or indeed any issue of Time magazine.

It ends with:
“To those who watched the closing events of the year it seemed more than probable that the Man of 1938 may make 1939 a year to be remembered.”
which is only true in Europe; for the US, 1939 was an unexceptional year.

Gore was in second place. I mean, come on.

In 70 years, I truly don’t expect anyone will have ever heard of Al Gore.
JiangxiDad on December 19, 2007 at 12:58 PM
That is so true except, Gore will be remembered only in the context of
“Chicken Little” & “The Boy that Cried Wolf”.
TheSitRep on December 19, 2007 at 1:16 PM

I would submit that within 20 years the term “being gored” will take on whole new meaning, such as: Gored,verb; “to fool or be fooled; being duped by a self-serving, self-righteous charlatan with dubious “facts,” and shrill rhetoric.”

But even so — more influential than Putin?

Not by a long shot.

Putin’s mark on history will be as much more than Petraeus’s as Petraeus’s is more than mine.

Time becomes more despicable every month, I just let them keep sending me a free issue so I can throw it in the trash unread, where it belongs.

I have to hand it to the Dems. I didn’t figure any party could figure out how to blame their opponents for the weather, but they did it. Practically owning the “gullible twits” constituency probably helped, of course.

Should Petraeus have been Time’s man of the year?

I would say Yes! … AND I am no big fan of Time magazine, but – they have laid out a pretty good case as to why Putin was chosen. I personally think fear the future will be filled with much more of Putin than anyone could imagine or are just not talking about at this time. From the article- “Now that Putin has solidified his grip on power, he no longer seems overly concerned with courting Western approval.” Not to throw Biblical Prophesy in the face of any unbelievers but I would think you will find it interesting in how clearly it is being fulfilled. Throughout all of history, Russia and Iran have never been allies before just recently. Ezekiel 38- 39 is coming into focus as clear as day. Is Putin Gog? only God knows and time will tell but Jesus did tell us Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh: …..Also, I’m sure most of you have heard this ditty- …..Red skies in the morning, sailors warning-Red skies at night sailors delight. Mat 16:3 And in the morning, [It will be] foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O [ye] hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not [discern] the signs of the times?
a short interpretation of Ezekiel 38-39

1939 Time Man of the Year: Adolf Hitler….need I say more?
reppac122 on December 19, 2007 at 12:49 PM

Actually, Hitler was MotY in 1938. Stalin took the prize in 1939. (Churchill and Roosevelt were men of the year in 1940 and 1941, respectively).

Remember, the Man of the Year title is not about who we love the most but who, “for better or worse, has most influenced events in the preceding year.” In this sense, Hitler in 1938 was a much better choice than, say, Haile Selassie (1935), James F. Byrnes (1946) or Pierre Laval (1931).

“I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. We had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul; a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country.”

I think the evidence has shown he is very committed to his country (or his vision of it) and he has pursued those interests despite our concerns. What Bush said was diplomatic, but got spun by MSM as ignorant or foolish. I don’t buy that theme.