Does Putin have a soul?

[tounge]

The guy cheats at golf too.

[idesign]

The guy

cheats at golf too.

Be careful tongue, it all depends on the meaning of what the word "is" is.

It can get you a few "strokes" on the golf course....

[tounge]

Like my Granddaddy told me,when he

taught me the wonderful game of Golf.

" A person who cheats at golf, can't be trusted at anything."

[Alex157]

You might also add

the lawyers...

Yes, Greg, I know that Americans don’t like lawyers very much

Ok Alex, we will not drink and play cards in the same evening,

unless you are like Pushkin.

But

if I win, you could pay your debt with a poem that would win the heart of a lovely Russian woman.

Should I write in English? It will win the heart of a

lovely Russian woman more likely

My name is Joseph Gregory. My father is Odell.

So your Russian

name is Joseph Odellovich. Nothing difficult
There are no second

names in Russia

Johnny Walker is a good drink, but I prefer single malt scotch,

there are many.

Yesterday a friend of my father brought Chivas Regal. Not bad stuff too,

I think.

I will

bring you a bottle of Glenmorangie. Scotch is definitely not a lady's drink, but some women will drink it.

Well, I think that

the male drink is rum.

I will tell you a story when we are drinking Scotch together.

OK, when are going to vizit Moscow?

I understand, it

is the same worry that the West has with Putin. He is seen as a figure who is not known, and not predictable. Also,

the history of Russia will always be "an enigma wrapped in a mystery". As with all countries, history and culture

are a weight which moves slowly and with much effort.

The problem is that PUtin (and his guys too) is the most predictable one

from all our politicians. He has a quite clear idea. To make Russia more stable and rich and then to start

experiments with democracy.
Actually, I am a pro-Western person, but I

am against democracy here now. We haven’t a middle class and without it it is a risky business.

So, you are saying that the prostitutes are in good physical

shape? Maybe I will visit you soon.

[COLOR=

black][/COLOR]
Yeah, in great shape, everybody is welcome

Yes, capitalism suffers when capital leaves the country. Its too

bad. Political stability is the first requirement, you know this. That is the main question with the Putin dynasty.

They must create an environment of national stability and growth.

They

try…

You are right, politics will lead economics, and in Russia

there has never been an environment conducive to capitalism.

Well, I think that in the end of the XIX century Russia was

a more or less normal European Empire. However as well as Germans and Japanese we had monarchy too long. It is not

healthy.

Again,

spoken like nobody but a Russian can speak. You are a wonderful people waiting to be born into the world. What can

you do? I suppose you can wait for time to deliver changes which may or may not happen. You've never had politics

in your homes, and now you see the world but have no choices.

The main problem is that talented youth prefer to leave the country, not

to try to improve it. So far we have no chances for more or less good life in near future.

I hope he is not cut from the same cloth as Putin.

Believe me, the other our politicians are much worse. There

are half-fascists as Zhirionvisy or the communist morons. But the worse thing is our stupid, worthless and ignorant

so called ‘democrats’…

Good question Alexey. A super-model I think...

Well, now a joke is

popular here - ‘whom you are going to vote for on the elections of Medvedev?’.


It seems that your situation is a bit more complicated…

[idesign]

The problem is that

PUtin (and his guys too) is the most predictable one from all our politicians. He has a quite clear idea. To make

Russia more stable and rich and then to start experiments with democracy.



Actually, I am a pro-Western person, but I am against democracy here now. We

haven’t a middle class and without it it is a risky business.



Well, I think that in the

end of the XIX century Russia was a more or less normal European Empire. However as well as Germans and Japanese we

had monarchy too long. It is not healthy.

Believe me, the other our

politicians are much worse. There are half-fascists as Zhirionvisy or the communist morons. But the worse thing is

our stupid, worthless and ignorant so called ‘democrats’…

I

understand what you say about Putin. For you, it is a question of progress, and it is imperative for certain things

to be established after a long communist rule. Its true that without a middle class Russia could change from one

socialism to another form of socialism.

Do you see opportunities for a middle-class to grow? Is there a good

environment for small business to start and prosper? What businesses are growing? Is employment increasing? Do

you have any pets?

I imagine that its difficult for a Russian to think about Democracy. We have talked about

this. Your election choice of Medvedev is only slightly different than our "choices" of two parties. You have a

choice with one face, ours has several.

OK, let me be sure about it, I will visit, we will drink and play cards,

I will win, you will write a beautiful poem to a beautiful Russian woman, I will meet her and be happy. I will

bring the Scotch, do you prefer her to be blonde or brunette?

[Alex157]

I understand what

you say about Putin. For you, it is a question of progress, and it is imperative for certain things to be

established after a long communist rule. Its true that without a middle class Russia could change from one socialism

to another form of socialism.

I wouldn’t say that I am against socialism. My sister lives in France

and they have much more socialism than we had in the Soviet Union. Actually, I think that the US have much of it

too.

Do you see

opportunities for a middle-class to grow? Is there a good environment for small business to start and prosper?

It is a difficult question. Under Yeltsin average mobsters in the Moscow

region had some thousand dollars a moth (it was very good money – for comparison girls in the library near my house

got $20 a month for full day work). Everything was so criminalized that it was difficult to distinguish business

from crime.
Plus don’t forget about fantastic corruption on all levels.

Now the government got back the control over the country, but it means that you have to have your men in power to be

protected. If your business becomes a problem for your rivals you will be crushed by them with a support of the

authorities. For example, it is always easy to find out that you broke some rules of fire-safety or something like

this. Your factory will be closed for inspection for a couple of months and it will be enough you never can raise

again.

What

businesses are growing? Is employment increasing?

I cannot say for special

branches but salaries definitely grow. But again, nobody knows what happened tomorrow.



Once again, till they

haven’t built some political system it may fall any moment.

Do you have any

pets?

You mean

domestic animals? Well, I don’t like cats that much and a dog needs to be walked with it everyday – it is not

possible for me
What about you?

I imagine that its difficult for a Russian to think about

Democracy. We have talked about this. Your election choice of Medvedev is only slightly different than our "choices"

of two parties.

Well, first that’s because you are too right country . Actually, you

have two similar right parties. In France, for example, they have really left and right parties. But all the same it

is a choice. I think that a choice is possible between politically close candidates only. Yes, you can choose

between Hitler and Lenin but one time only . The next elections are going to be some 70 years later.

OK, let me be sure

about it, I will visit, we will drink and play cards, I will win, you will write a beautiful poem to a beautiful

Russian woman, I will meet her and be happy.

OK, but if I win, you write a poem and I marry her. OK?

I will bring the Scotch, do you prefer her to be blonde or

brunette?

I

prefer red-hair girls

[idesign]

Hi Alexey, I've been thinking

about our conversation and I am deeply perplexed and disturbed. After reading your insightful posts I thought you

were a smart man. Your last comments make me think you are not so intelligent. How can you prefer a red-hair girl?

Everyone knows that a brunette is better.

History has proven that red is inflammatory, look at Lenin and his

passion for "Red". What a disaster!



Seriously Alexey, I've been thinking about our discussion, and will

contribute something hopefully meaningful.