Sunday, October 11, 2020

Putin’s Got His Problems, Too

James Buchanan: Putin’s Got His Problems, Too 

While our Beltway elites are obsessed with Russia and Putin, seeing in them a mortal threat to our democracy, close observers are seeing something else. 

Before the first Trump-Biden debate, moderator Chris Wallace listed the six subjects that would be covered: 

The Trump and Biden records, the Supreme Court, COVID-19, the economy, race and violence in our cities, and the integrity of the election. 

According to a recent Gallup survey, Wallace’s topics tracked the public’s concerns — the top seven of which were the coronavirus, government leadership, race relations, the economy, crime and violence, the judicial system, morality and family decline. 

As an issue, national security did not even break Gallup’s Top 10. 

It ranked below education and homelessness, just above climate change. 

Which raises a question: 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: The number one issue/problem in Russia today is the pandemic. It is on everyone's mind, and it is impacting the economy. The second top issue is national security. A number of Russia's neighbors are in crisis mode, and some of them are openly hostile to Russia. And then there is the issue of Russian President Putin himself. Is he the leader that can help Russia navigate these troubling times? For the moment most Russians are accepting his leadership role. But after 20 years of ruling Russia the younger generation want change. I see and hear it all the time when I talk to family and friends back home. They want the end of corruption, and better relations with the West. Two issues that Putin has failed miserably in. My prediction. Those who remember the Soviet Union and the terrible economic cost when it fractured is (and will) support Putin and his policies. But this generation is dying off. Bottom line. Putin is 68 years old. The winds of change are approaching him and his rule. And I think he knows and sees that. At least I hope he does. 

1 comment:

Anonymous said...


The changing of the guard.
Putin's foreign affairs on the borders, Crimea, Ukraine, the northern areas, have caused the country to continue to develop expensive military equipment and live with unnecessary friction. The Syria situation is not winning him a great deal of accolades in Russia, and as you point out in prior articles, criticism from younger citizens.
I would think more attention would be paid to the eastern border with China. Also another area where he is stumbling, judging by recent and ongoing demonstrations against the government.

I will say this, Russia is not the old Soviet Union I grew up reading about except for one glaring remnant; the corruption.