More and more clearly, the A I is just someone's Uncle Schmuley. The take on Putin by A I is strangely similar to what cynical, money-grubbing and Russophobic (nay, 'hating') Uncle Schmuley might say after he has had a few.
Thank you Julian, for never being cynical. Cynicism is the first, and last, refuge of the spiritually retarded.
Thank you, Julian. This is a well-researched and insightful piece on President Putin. One thing that consistently gets lost in Western takes is how much Putin frames leadership as service and self-discipline rather than self-expression. In his early memoir–interview, "First Person", he describes accepting the Presidency not as a life-long ambition but as a duty that grew out of municipal “grunt work” in St. Petersburg under Anatoly Sobchak that included licensing, food imports, port governance - the unglamorous and technocratic side of statecraft. That same ethos runs through his long Valdai appearances which is the constant refrain of “balance” and social stability over spectacle. Even his personal anecdotes are forged, among other experiences, in his practice of judo that cultivates control, respect, discipline as well as the preference for routine. These along with the admission that he keeps internet time limited in favor of reading, sports and conversation all fit the portrait you sketch - a leader who valorizes restraint and hierarchy, not the restless performativity that Western elites project onto him.
His "First Person" biography also complicates the western caricature of him as a power-maximizer. In 1991 he left the KGB to stand with the elected mayor, a choice that fits the later project of re-centralizing a chaotic state and subordinating oligarchic power to public authority. The Oliver Stone interviews reinforce the same ethos of wealth as distraction while routine and sport as self-command. One can oppose his policies and still see why many Russians found them persuasive. They brought regular wages, pensions on time and law and order after the 1990s. That profile of service first, hierarchy and restraint does not map onto the West’s projection of a purely performative power-maximizer.
Dear Chappy and Ichi - since your roommate keeps harping on the West and Western culture as DaCulprit in this game of accusing Putin as the ultimate source of all evil - please try to explain to him some facts of life.
1 - Western Civilization ceased to exist in the West - but it is now not only being preserved but also being restored in RUSSIA...with its main supporting pillar of Christianity (not to be confused with churchianity which actually lost WC in the west and which is now the visible pretend version of what used to be...more on this in DaLimbraw Library)
2 - Today's 'Western Civilization' is a proxy of DaSynagogue of Satan (DSOS) - which your roommate seems to assume is about religion - IT IS ABOUT ALL OF LIFE!
3 - The secret to winning a war is knowing BOTH your enemy and yourself - as Sun Tzu wrote. The problem your roommate has he's confused about the enemy - tell him his adopted country is also a vassal of DSOS....any country allied with DaUS is our enemy....but they're all hired hands of DSOS. But I don't have to tell you that....I know you cats understand that...it's those too smart for themselves humans who have trouble with REALITY....I've learned that lesson myself....we often make things so freaking complicated that nobody understands WTF we're talking about - including us.
Tell your roommate - KISS - keep it simple SHTUPID!
Julian I have just listen to the wonderful Nima interview Paul Craig Robert’s and he discussed Gilbert Doctorow recent opinion of Putin , that he has behaved cowardly with regards to announcements that tomahawk misses may be used etc .what do you think?
I don't normally pay much attention to Doctorow. Out of curiosity this time I read his last two posts on his site--and frankly he is once again very far off the mark. I really wonder where his following comes from ? That said, his posts are worth parsing to show how Western Russian "experts" think .
Thanks for your thoughts. I listened Judge’s discussion with Ritter today and he completely dismissed Doctorow claim that a coup could happen in Russia. It is an Interesting question on where his following comes from!
More and more clearly, the A I is just someone's Uncle Schmuley. The take on Putin by A I is strangely similar to what cynical, money-grubbing and Russophobic (nay, 'hating') Uncle Schmuley might say after he has had a few.
Thank you Julian, for never being cynical. Cynicism is the first, and last, refuge of the spiritually retarded.
Thank you, Julian. This is a well-researched and insightful piece on President Putin. One thing that consistently gets lost in Western takes is how much Putin frames leadership as service and self-discipline rather than self-expression. In his early memoir–interview, "First Person", he describes accepting the Presidency not as a life-long ambition but as a duty that grew out of municipal “grunt work” in St. Petersburg under Anatoly Sobchak that included licensing, food imports, port governance - the unglamorous and technocratic side of statecraft. That same ethos runs through his long Valdai appearances which is the constant refrain of “balance” and social stability over spectacle. Even his personal anecdotes are forged, among other experiences, in his practice of judo that cultivates control, respect, discipline as well as the preference for routine. These along with the admission that he keeps internet time limited in favor of reading, sports and conversation all fit the portrait you sketch - a leader who valorizes restraint and hierarchy, not the restless performativity that Western elites project onto him.
His "First Person" biography also complicates the western caricature of him as a power-maximizer. In 1991 he left the KGB to stand with the elected mayor, a choice that fits the later project of re-centralizing a chaotic state and subordinating oligarchic power to public authority. The Oliver Stone interviews reinforce the same ethos of wealth as distraction while routine and sport as self-command. One can oppose his policies and still see why many Russians found them persuasive. They brought regular wages, pensions on time and law and order after the 1990s. That profile of service first, hierarchy and restraint does not map onto the West’s projection of a purely performative power-maximizer.
Merci,une caresse au chat.
Dear Chappy and Ichi - since your roommate keeps harping on the West and Western culture as DaCulprit in this game of accusing Putin as the ultimate source of all evil - please try to explain to him some facts of life.
1 - Western Civilization ceased to exist in the West - but it is now not only being preserved but also being restored in RUSSIA...with its main supporting pillar of Christianity (not to be confused with churchianity which actually lost WC in the west and which is now the visible pretend version of what used to be...more on this in DaLimbraw Library)
2 - Today's 'Western Civilization' is a proxy of DaSynagogue of Satan (DSOS) - which your roommate seems to assume is about religion - IT IS ABOUT ALL OF LIFE!
3 - The secret to winning a war is knowing BOTH your enemy and yourself - as Sun Tzu wrote. The problem your roommate has he's confused about the enemy - tell him his adopted country is also a vassal of DSOS....any country allied with DaUS is our enemy....but they're all hired hands of DSOS. But I don't have to tell you that....I know you cats understand that...it's those too smart for themselves humans who have trouble with REALITY....I've learned that lesson myself....we often make things so freaking complicated that nobody understands WTF we're talking about - including us.
Tell your roommate - KISS - keep it simple SHTUPID!
And keep purrin'!
Thanks for your great work Julian!
We've shared this link on 'The Stacks'
https://askeptic.substack.com/p/the-stacks
The west as the unconscious civilization .
Future .. bleak!
Julian I have just listen to the wonderful Nima interview Paul Craig Robert’s and he discussed Gilbert Doctorow recent opinion of Putin , that he has behaved cowardly with regards to announcements that tomahawk misses may be used etc .what do you think?
I don't normally pay much attention to Doctorow. Out of curiosity this time I read his last two posts on his site--and frankly he is once again very far off the mark. I really wonder where his following comes from ? That said, his posts are worth parsing to show how Western Russian "experts" think .
Doctorow has been consistently wrong on Trump, Putin and others.
Thanks for your thoughts. I listened Judge’s discussion with Ritter today and he completely dismissed Doctorow claim that a coup could happen in Russia. It is an Interesting question on where his following comes from!