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Putin's Approval Rating Reaches A New High

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Submitted by Pater Tenebrarum via Acting-Man.com,

Regime Change Must Wait …

According to a report at Russia Insider, something we thought would be nigh impossible has just happened – Vladimir Putin’s approval rating in Russia has soared to yet another all time high:

“Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval rating has reached historical maximum and hit almost 90%, according to a poll conducted by Russian Public Opinion Research Center (WCIOM). Putin’s approval rating has broken a new record reaching 89.9%. The last record was registered in June 2015 — 89.1%

 

According to WCIOM, ‘such high rating of approval of the Russian president is registered, first of all, in connection with events in Syria, Russian aviation’s airstrikes at terrorist positions.’ Sociologists reminded that the Russian president’s rating has remained higher than 80% for the last two years. ‘Putin’s rating started growing in spring 2014 against the backdrop of Russia’s reunification with Crimea and Sevastopol. In March 2014, the rating stood at 76.2% on average, in April — at 82.2%, and in May — at 86.2%,’ WCIOM said.

 

457

Putin adorned in his presidential ray-bans. He’s never been more popular in Russia

 

We have put together a chart of Putin’s approval rating history by using the most recent chart available from the Levada Center (another Russian polling company) and complementing it with the result of the recent WCIOM survey (unfortunately we couldn’t find a chart of the WCIOM poll’s history, but various news reports that on Putin’s rating that have appeared over time suggest that the two polls are tracking each other very closely, so this amalgamated chart should serve):

 

Putin Approval

The Levada Center’s Putin approval rating survey, with the latest WCIOM survey result added at the end – click to enlarge.

 

In short, all those who don’t like Putin or were hoping for some sort of regime change in Russia continue to be out of luck.

 

Mainstream Media, Here and There

One reason why we are even posting about this is that the Western press has also reported on the event, employing a somewhat less neutral tone of voice. For instance, the Washington Times writes: “Putin’s approval rating hits new high as Russia’s state media sells Syria campaign”

“From triumphant reports about the “liquidation” of “terrorist training camps” to Kremlin-friendly analysts praising Moscow’s growing international influence, the official media’s coverage of Russia’s dramatic entry into Syria’s more than 4-year-old civil war has been decidedly upbeat — and one more reminder of the Kremlin’s ability to dictate the terms of popular debate.”

Given that terrorist camps are apparently indeed liquidated by Russian air strikes, the Russian state media are not entirely wrong in this case. As Zerohedge recently reported, in a quite stunning recent development, even Iraq and Jordan are now cooperating with Russia and asking it to help them with subduing IS. They must have been impressed by something the Russians have done (very likely they are actually giving IS discernible problems).

However, what makes the above sour grapes style reporting (no doubt echoed elsewhere in the Western media) especially funny is that while it is true that the Kremlin exerts extraordinary influence on the media in Russia, one wonders in what way their reportage on Syria is different from the reporting in the happily self-censoring US mainstream media on the Iraq war, especially in the run-up to said war.

We seem to recall that there was unquestioning support of the administration’s quest to sell a war that was transparently based on little but lies. Anyone with an IQ above room temperature could simply not help realizing that the public was misled. The “free press” was happy to supply truly cheap propaganda in generous gobs (regardless of its presumed political leanings; e.g. the pro-socialist NYT was among the newpapers arguing most forcefully in favor of war and reported even the most ridiculous administration talking points as if they were gospel).

This was as blindingly obvious as the propaganda dished up by the Pravda in Soviet times. In fact, the handful of people who dared to ask questions when there was still time to potentially reconsider the administration’s course received almost Stalinesque treatment (this continues to this day, only now the people getting the “treatment” are those who dare to question US policy vs. Russia).

So this is clearly a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Who cares if the media are state-owned or if they are owned by a tiny corporate oligarchy that is in cahoots with the State? The result is exactly the same. This is not to say that Kremlin control over the Russian media deserves approval – far from it. When Putin kicked out the Yeltsin era oligarchs who basically ordered the latter’s government around as they pleased, he inter alia got rid of two media moguls. One of these, namely Boris Berezovsky, was probably the most powerful man in Russia during the Yeltsin era.

Evidently Putin quickly realized that exerting control over the media would be to his advantage, and so his government started to suppress dissenting voices while giving pro-government propaganda a great deal of room, especially on TV. However, on average the citizens of Russia aren’t any less perceptive than the citizens of other nations. Roughly 107 million Russians are e.g. using social media, so we can assume that Russians are in general fairly internet-savvy.

 

Putin-charts-SOCIAL-MEDIA

Russian social media users, in millions.

 

Similar to how this works in the US, it is very easy for the Russian government to whip up nationalist fervor when it is conducting a military intervention abroad. Those questioning the wisdom of interventions will naturally be few and far between, but we are sure they know where to get their information, regardless of what is broadcast on TV.

In an ironic twist, the places in the developed world where the population nowadays looks askance at any type of military engagement from the very outset are Germany and Japan – regardless of the rationalizations offered in its favor.

 

Possible Social Mood-Related Implications

Another aspect worth considering is that Putin’s consistently high approval rating is beginning to align with the trend of the Russian stock market – at least in ruble terms. Readers may recall that we once pointed out that president Bush’s sharply declining approval rating during his second term was one of several warning signs for the stock market at the time, as it indicated that the underlying social mood in the US was increasingly diverging negatively from stock prices.

 

MCX(Daily)

The MICEX Index, daily – surprisingly, it has maintained its recent uptrend in spite of oil prices weakening again and the ruble strengthening somewhat (on Tuesday the ruble has sold off sharply, but it remains quite a bit above its August low).

 

Since the Russian stock market has given back about half of the gain it achieved earlier this year in dollar terms due to the weaker ruble (it rose by more than 40% in the space of five months in the first half), this is something one should keep an eye on, as opportunity probably continues to beckon. Eventually a more positive social mood should also be reflected in a stronger or at least stable currency.

We realize of course that Russia’s economic fundamentals are quite weak at present, but they are not as weak as might have been expected in view of the decline in the oil price. Moreover, the currency’s value is primarily a matter of monetary inflation, yields and inflation expectations, and from these perspectives the ruble actually doesn’t look unattractive, ceteris paribus.

Obviously, the oil price still represents a wild card at this juncture – its recent weakness has at least for the moment weakened the case for a potential trend change we have discussed in these pages a few weeks ago (we currently assume that the bottoming process is simply becoming more drawn out). Conversely, if a trend change were to actually happen, it would lend strong support to the ruble and the stock market.

 

Conclusion

Putin is proving remarkably durable as a politician. It is ironic that his approval rating is actually better during the current recession than it was during the preceding upswing, but one should never underestimate the emotional appeal of nationalism. We have little doubt that he indeed enjoys strong voter support (e.g. the Levada Institute is well-known for the quality of its data).

Russia’s economic situation has forced the Putin administration to adopt a number of economic reforms as we have previously reported. While we are currently not sure whether these proposals have been fully implemented or how successful their implementation was/is, the pressure that has led to their adoption remains in place.

Although the performance of the stock market and especially the ruble obviously remains highly dependent on energy prices, we continue to believe that the Russian stock market represents an opportunity based on valuation considerations alone. It is still the cheapest stock market in the world, and usually tends to magnify EM rallies. Also, once it gets going, it usually runs up a lot in a very short time, so it is often interesting from a shorter term trading perspective as well.

 

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Sun, 11/01/2015 - 21:30 | 6738351 Teh Finn
Teh Finn's picture

Let me know when his approval rate reaches Kim Jong Un's...

Putin's a piker.

North Korea's Kim Jong-un elected to assembly without single vote against

 

Supreme leader wins unanimous support of his district on 100% turnout as secretive state goes to the polls

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 21:32 | 6738357 Boris Alatovkrap
Boris Alatovkrap's picture

You are do not mess with Vlad!

http://twitter.com/BorisAlatovkrap

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 21:56 | 6738415 wee-weed up
wee-weed up's picture

Yep, Putin making little Obozo his "bitch" has a lot to do with it.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 22:05 | 6738438 fudge
fudge's picture

things like this also help, many in Russia see this as a positive > you'll probally need to translate ..

Swiss bank accounts of the former Minister of Agriculture Elena Skrynnik arrested in the case of money laundering. Prosecutor General of the country requested assistance from Moscow in the investigation. Earlier media reported the arrest of 60 million francs (about 55.2 million euros) in accounts Skrynnik in Switzerland. She herself refuted this information and claimed that she "does not have such money."

http://www.dw.com/ru/%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BA%D1%83%D1...

 

And then there's this, though the idea has it's merits ( moving back to my Pioneer Days ;) ) there are clear community divisions for and against.

http://www.yaplakal.com/forum1/topic1236394.html

 

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 22:18 | 6738466 0b1knob
0b1knob's picture

89%?  Didn't Bush have apporval ratings of 90%+ right after 9/11?

 

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 21:47 | 6738392 Dickweed Wang
Dickweed Wang's picture

Putin's a piker.

 

 

Pullleeaaasssse . . . . no one's going to fall for your troll bait.  If Putin's a piker what is Obama?  Or Cameron?  Or that French asshole whom I can't even remember what his name is?

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 21:54 | 6738408 Teh Finn
Teh Finn's picture

I was obviously a comment made in jest.  Comparing the leader of a free nation against the norks?  I can't help it if putins fanbois are humorless.  :/

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 23:10 | 6738589 Majestic12
Majestic12's picture

" If Putin's a piker what is Obama?  Or Cameron?  Or that French asshole whom I can't even remember what his name is?"

They all are...there is a reason why Putin hangs with Sarkozy and Berlesconi...alter-boy buddies....

Pedophiles run the world and nobody cares..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFZRQcSMeeM

This fake east/west meme is all Bukkaki Theater, folks...

It's easy to get caught up in taking sides...

Don't do it... just say "no" and don't let them have your permission to continue...don't be an NWO puppet.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 23:23 | 6738623 fudge
fudge's picture

Putin would have been shot by his own security detail if it that were true. You are a fool.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 21:53 | 6738406 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

  They still have PB 82 pencils in the NORK's.

 Ha

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 21:35 | 6738366 will ling
will ling's picture

people are people, american or russian . they know, viserally,who has the vermin for leaders  and who doesn't.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 23:11 | 6738596 Majestic12
Majestic12's picture

"people are people, american or russian . they know, viserally,who has the vermin for leaders and who doesn't."

"leaders"? And yet they do nothing about it....

here are your "leaders"...watch an grow up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFZRQcSMeeM

Humans have "free will"...we do not need "leaders".

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 21:40 | 6738376 lolmao500
lolmao500's picture

That's cause most russians watch tv for their news... which means they are easily manipulated by the russian msm... easy to have such high approval ratings... but he deserves it for his awesome foreign policy...

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 02:18 | 6738866 Dakota Kid
Dakota Kid's picture

Just because they watch russian msm doesn't mean that they are as easily manipulated as people in the US are.  Russian people have been through hell in the last hundred years and are more in touch with reality.  Their experiences carry a great deal more weight than what some talking head on TV says.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 08:08 | 6739082 dustyfin
dustyfin's picture

There's more people reading newspapers in Russia than just about anywhere in the world.

Your point is simply untrue on all levels.

There's some 40,000 registered print media outlets in Russia. Everybody who wants a voice and a platform gets a voice and a paltform. Jsut becasue they might not always think what you want them to think does not mean they do not have the freedom to think, read and consume. Your attitude suggests a form of censorship by assuming that people are more stupid than they are.

It is a mistake to transfer the US paradigm of audience and media consumpotion to the Russian case - you probably were not doing that though - you just don't know what you are going on about.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 10:09 | 6739353 Quinvarius
Quinvarius's picture

You watch too much US TV news.  Putin is not unpopular.  Your bias is that he is unpopular.  So you look for some anything that will support your bias, even if it is invented.  I watch Russian news.  When they report on Putin, it is usually just Putin speaking.  They don't show a soundbyte and then do 20 minutes of telling you what he said and cheering, like they do for Obama.  Putin words have gravitas.  He is the real deal.  He is providing actual information about policy.  And Russian news in general is far less propaganda than US news.  They don't sit arund all day and yell the economy is great so buy stocks.  They openly discuss reality, and it is not all roses.  You can take it from the morons in the MSN, who know nothing, or you can take it from someone who can actually speak some Russian.  US media is an embarrassment.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 13:28 | 6740080 BarkingCat
BarkingCat's picture

Wrong. Russians have experienced generations of communism and are very cynical to what is presented to them.

They have no delusion about freedom of anything.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 21:41 | 6738377 Setarcos
Setarcos's picture

Count me in in spades, the best world leader ever.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 21:47 | 6738389 ZippyDooDah
ZippyDooDah's picture

And W. was the worst American leader ever, but the MSM followed him dutifully right over the cliff in 2003.  We are still falling from the lemming rush over that precipice. When we hit bottom, the MSM will be the last to know.  So which media is more censored/guided/directed?

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 23:42 | 6738667 monk27
monk27's picture

W turned out to be abetter leader than Obozo, if nobody else. Better sense of humor, too...

https://fyiaka411.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/bush-miss-me-yet-billboard-021020104.jpg

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 07:35 | 6739048 Gavrikon
Gavrikon's picture

"W" was the worst.  Until we got "O."

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 09:35 | 6739278 11b40
11b40's picture

Without "W", there would be no "O".

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 13:34 | 6740093 BarkingCat
BarkingCat's picture

Not true. The establishment media was hell bent on shoving that turd down everyone's throat.

 

I swear they did it as a bet..  Watch what we can do and there are those that will even willingly vote for the guy.

Even his name is a big ass joke.

His middle name (Hussain)  is the same as the last name of someone that we just took out in Iraq because he was so evil.

His last name (Obama) is almost the first name of the evil villain terrorist that was behind 9/11 and used for the country to go to war.

 

 

It is like a script from some black comedy... except we all lived it.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 18:14 | 6741250 11b40
11b40's picture

We took out Saddam Hussein because he was 'so evil'. 

Boy, you really did drink the Koolaid.

No Bush/Cheney/Neocons = no Iraq war.  Haven't figured that out yet?

Had Bush played his cards right after 9/11, he could have given his party the Presidency for a long time, but the arrogant pricks blew it big time.  Now, his little brother can't figure out why the public doesn't like him.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 21:42 | 6738383 Dickweed Wang
Dickweed Wang's picture

. . . . while it is true that the Kremlin exerts extraordinary influence on the media in Russia . . .

 

As if this doesn't happen to the same extent, or even more so, in the "west"???  For crying out loud, the MSM in the USA acts as a defacto arm of the US government by mindlessly repeating whatever the State or Defense Departments tell them with no questions asked whatsoever.  Not to mention all the stories that don't get reported on, or even investigated, at the "request" of the government.  At least in Russia they have no problem letting people know about their direct involvement in the media (RT for example).

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 22:29 | 6738493 Lurk Skywatcher
Lurk Skywatcher's picture

“From triumphant reports about the “liquidation” of “terrorist training camps” to Kremlin-friendly analysts praising Moscow’s growing international influence...”

So, Russian media crowing about the actual destruction of ISIS is bad, but Western media ignoring that no terrorists were harmed during 13 months of airstrikes is good?

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 21:51 | 6738400 Smegley Wanxalot
Smegley Wanxalot's picture

Putin's approval rating in the USA is also likely a lot higher than barack oshithead's.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 21:54 | 6738410 JailBanksters
JailBanksters's picture

How do you P off, John Kerry ?

He must be really P'ssed, all his bad work just got flushed.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 23:13 | 6738603 Majestic12
Majestic12's picture

"How do you P off, John Kerry ?"

You take away his "oat bag"....

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 15:11 | 6740450 BarkingCat
BarkingCat's picture

Drive him by the glue factory

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 21:57 | 6738411 roadhazard
roadhazard's picture

So is Obama's and he didn't have to take off his shirt. BFD

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 21:58 | 6738416 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

 Putin is the "poster~boy" for  http://www.serengeti-eyewear.com/

 

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 22:21 | 6738467 yomutti
yomutti's picture

Russian popular delusion reaches new high!

THis has a lot to do with why Russians are so poor. THey love nothing more than charismatic strongman who screws them out of everything. THey loved Stalin too.

 

 

 

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 22:32 | 6738499 rejected
rejected's picture

Well at least the strongman screwing the Russians is charismatic!  All we get from our strongman is screwed...

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 22:39 | 6738523 bunnyswanson
bunnyswanson's picture

No, the Russians understand "it can get worse."  I suggest the Russian govt create a GOFUNDME site and allow the world to thank them.  I know I would donate as would many others.  Greece did this.  Russia can too.  I would wage a bet that before the first day is over, if the GOFUNDME page is made known, would reach 1 million dollars.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 22:25 | 6738479 MEFOBILLS
MEFOBILLS's picture

Clinton’s telecommunication act of 1996.

One of the most controversial aspects of the act:

The Act, signed by President Bill Clinton, represented a major change in American telecommunication law, since it was the first time that the Internet was included in broadcasting and spectrum allotment.[1] One of the most controversial titles was Title 3 ("Cable Services"), which allowed for media cross-ownership.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_Act_of_1996

Since the act has passed, the Media has consolidated into a few players.

Here is a graphic of the players, and usual money powered suspects are implicated.

http://www.dailystormer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Who-Controls-Your-Mind.jpg

Dig into the prime movers and shakers for Clinton’s act, and we find the same suspects.

Dig into Atlantasist (sp?) movement to take over Russian media, and we find the same suspects.

 

Putin signed into law a ban on certain foreign NGO’s, May 2015.  This law aims at money power agents who use NGO’s as a front to undermine Russian sovereignty.  This act helped free up Russian press from undue foreign money power influence, especially NED (national endowment for democracy).  Soros has admitted to helping fund NED in Ukraine.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 23:23 | 6738618 Majestic12
Majestic12's picture

"Clinton’s telecommunication act of 1996."

You forgot the "G-lite" DSL standard that disallowed "symmetrical" (and therefore the ability to host at home or small business) which was the brainchild of Colin Powell's son, Michael Powell.

It allowed the RBOCs to keep local-loop bandwidth (dedicated) at artificially high prices of the old monopolies and in one blow was more responsible for the "dot-bomb", since most of the start-ups featured multimedia content-rich apps (that are now just coming back) that could not work over asymmetrical networks.

You like network "caching" schemes, thank Clinton and Powell?

Please wait....loading.....loading.....loading....404

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 15:14 | 6740468 BarkingCat
BarkingCat's picture

Powell has always been a political piece of shit.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 00:30 | 6738749 Jorgen
Jorgen's picture

"Putin signed into law a ban on certain foreign NGO’s, May 2015.  This law aims at money power agents who use NGO’s as a front to undermine Russian sovereignty.  This act helped free up Russian press from undue foreign money power influence, especially NED (national endowment for democracy).  Soros has admitted to helping fund NED in Ukraine."

They are not done with that project yet:

 

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 15:15 | 6740471 BarkingCat
BarkingCat's picture

Russia should ban Soros from the planet Earth.

 

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 22:32 | 6738502 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

 This entity gets' it. Well done

 NGO= Soros 

 The sooner that self serving assclown dies, the better.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 22:59 | 6738569 Shad_ow
Shad_ow's picture

He has a son who is following his lead.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 22:32 | 6738503 HolyfieldsOtherEar
HolyfieldsOtherEar's picture

ZH reported recently taht portrait artists in Damascus or Baghdad are coining it by painting pictures of Volodya. Could you imagine that ever happening with Bush (take your pick) or Obama?

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 22:35 | 6738508 Grandad Grumps
Grandad Grumps's picture

Do poor kids who could not find another job, other than being a paid mercenary for the CIA, really deserve to be killed?

We think that all of these CIA/Saudi/Mossad mercenaries deserve to die at the hands of Putin's armies because they are involved in a morally and ethically unjustifiable war, killing unarmed civilians and trying to overthrow the leader of a country...their big goals are depopulation and global control. The complicti pawns in the their game are just misdirected people who should be pitied.

Personally I would leave it to God (not Satan or his minions) to decide who lives and who dies.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 22:58 | 6738516 .National Suici...
.National Suicide 1980's picture

Putin has a weird, novel conception of governance: Do what is best for your country, and its people.

Stalin died a long time ago. His spirit floated over to the USA sometime after that. 

Obama, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Reagan...it wasn't their fault. It's demonic possession...Or, Stalanic possession.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 23:07 | 6738585 Albertarocks
Albertarocks's picture

You're just not used to seeing a leader actually do some impressive leading.  Can hardly blame you, we haven't seen any real leadership in the west, nothing even close to it, for decades.  Putin is a true leader of his people.  Love him or hate him, the entire world is impressed with Putin for that reason.  It's very easy to see why his people love him and why a huge percentage of the rest of the world admire him.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 23:24 | 6738625 August
August's picture

>>>we haven't seen any real leadership in the west, nothing even close to it, for decades.

"Leadership" is discouraged among the western sock-puppets, since it could potentially run counter to the desires of the actual leaders (or owners, as the case may be).

 

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 09:26 | 6739258 spoon-fed
spoon-fed's picture

>>>we haven't seen any real leadership in the west, nothing even close to it, for decades.

An excellent article for French speakers on this very topic:

http://www.lefigaro.fr/vox/monde/2015/10/28/31002-20151028ARTFIG00328-po...

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 22:51 | 6738548 Skiprrrdog
Skiprrrdog's picture

Putin in 2016... lets write him in! I know he is not an American, but heck, neither is O'Blowhard...

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 23:08 | 6738590 ajkreider
ajkreider's picture

It's telling that in free states, with a free media, leaders are never that "popular".  In authoritarian states, it's commnplace. PRK leader are wildly popular.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 23:13 | 6738601 Still Losing Money
Still Losing Money's picture

Looks like russian war mongering is good after all

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 23:54 | 6738685 Expectorant
Expectorant's picture

Obama is a wimp, compared to Putin.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 00:13 | 6738710 Big_Sister_Is_W...
Big_Sister_Is_Watching's picture

I think Putin is doing very well by the Russian People and deserves his popularity.  He is a strong leader who refuses to bow down to the western globalist oligarchs. At the moment he is making Obama look petty and weak.  Where is the American Politician/potential president with that kind of gravitas or intelligence?

The corruption in Washington, and the liberal rot that pervades popular culture here in America, is the reason why Putin is not only immensely popular in Russia, but also gaining a lot of respect from conservatives in the US.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 00:11 | 6738712 Jorgen
Jorgen's picture

"Russia’s economic situation has forced the Putin administration to adopt a number of economic reforms as we have previously reported."

Quite possibly there is still one reform Putin may eventually implement:

English translation: The words on bear's desk mean "Russia's oil" and the bear is saying "This is not money! Gimme roubles! Roubles!

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 09:15 | 6739223 Pomkiwi
Pomkiwi's picture

The narrative last year was that energy exports by russia are priced in US dollar, so what they lose on oil price is recouped on lower rouble rate v US dollar - a wash. Lower rouble pushed up import prices so they responded with countersanctions and import substitution. It is true that russia doesn't want to hold dollars but they still need them as payment for exports so that they can retire US dollar finance and convert surplus reserves to gold or whatever. Russia is under attack and when the people see obama gloating that he has shredded the russian economy there can be no doubt.

Russians understand what's going on and amongst the people there is a war coalition in my opinion.

 

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 00:30 | 6738747 83_vf_1100_c
83_vf_1100_c's picture

  If obozo could get an 89% approval rating he would shoot down a flying hospital full of burned orphans.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 00:39 | 6738765 uhland62
uhland62's picture

Turkey's hero Erdogan just zapped 2 media outlets. What exactly is special about government controlled media? 

There's a lot more to come when you look at Portugal because their President refusas to approve of a majority elected government, giving the finger to democracy and elections. There's Sisi in Egypt, a junta in Thailand - why would Putin give a toss. Russians know that their country is sort of bullied and that's why they rally behind their leaders, mostly. Stop bullying Russia and you'd all be much happier. 

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 00:51 | 6738779 DaveA
DaveA's picture

If you say or do something that social-justice warriors don't like, they'll attack you, and if you try to make amends, they'll attack you even harder until your life is destroyed.

If, like Putin, you ignore the SJWs and do as you please, they'll quickly get the message, shut the fuck up, and hope that no one noticed this demonstration of their impotence.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 15:23 | 6740503 BarkingCat
BarkingCat's picture

Social Justice Warrior... These people are not warriors.. these are little angry brainwashed douche bags.

 

Oh, I know, the W stands for Wussbag.

 

Social Jizzim Wussbag

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 02:18 | 6738867 datura
datura's picture

I don't know why people keep repeating lies about media in Russia. Most media in Russia are pro-Western! Especially newspapers. And yes, there are also pro-Western liberal TV channels. And even Russian state TV channels seem to be much more objective than those in the West. Recently I watched a debate on a Russian state TV channel, where liberals were arguing with nationalists. It was fun to watch. They even shouted at each other. But liberals were allowed to express their opinions, although they are very unpopular in Russia. There is far more freedm of speech in Russia than in the West. (Now, I am not talking about political freedom, but about freedom of speech, which is a different thing). 

Putin is not popular because of any propaganda, but because Russians understand that they are in a war and that their leader is defending them. He proved it to them by having the courage to take Crimea. That was the proof they needed. He was very popular even before, but Crimea proved that he will stand for Russia no matter what. This is why his ratings have been increasing since then and no economic troubles will change this. 

This is a video about the mood in Russia in March, which explains a lot. Despite the pro-Western slant of the report, you can clearly see, why these Russians stand behind Putin. Especially, when you see signs like: "Stop this American colonization."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo3CL8AovDM

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 03:29 | 6738912 forputin
forputin's picture

Yes, we have this so called controlled opposition. Like if there is discussion than we have about 14 pro-Putin people and one so called "opposition" and so everyone see that it's minority. Yes, we have very good show of freedom of speech. And funny thing is - that one guy who "represents opposition" is our guy too :D ha ha ha! We control everything!

But those who really speak against us get's in jail. During Stalin rule we would shoot him but today we can't do that (with exceptions) so we simply jail them or discredit them using controlled media.

 

But yes we have very profesional journalism:

Ridiculous lie on Russian TV: a child was crucified in Ukraine.


Ukrainian “punishers” are fighting to get slaves, - new portion of bullshit from Russian TV.
Mon, 11/02/2015 - 06:05 | 6738975 datura
datura's picture

I can tell you one thing, dear CIA trolls, here in EU the anti-American mood is growing and you can't blame any Russian propaganda for it, because all we have is anti-Russian propaganda in our Western media. But Europeans are getting sick of all those American lies and wars. Most Europeans already understand that the flow of immigrants is the USA's fault. Most Europeans now understand that it is the USA, who is supporting ISIS. No amount of trolls like you spreading hatred against Russia will be able to change that. If ever there is a war, we will not fight againt Russia. The USA will be alone in that. 

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 06:39 | 6738991 bunnyswanson
bunnyswanson's picture

Anti-American sentiment is at breakneck level, and it is so focused that it is my belief it is being fed through funding in an organized manner to divert attention away from the REAL criminals at large, the culprts who pulled off 911 and every other explosion, real, or on the movie set, complete with rehearsal and the same leading actors.  I suspect ISREAL and MOSSAD of course....and history tells us that when a campaign is in place to turn society against a particular group (white Christians, Causasians appear to be another group of people from the applications I am forced to fill out, stating I am WHITE now and NOT caucasian), fucking genocide is about to take place ... America should please with Russia to help, even if it means joining the Russian govt; it would be preferable to China ... who through businessmen now given 10 year visas, is buying up the property hand-over-fist with US DOLLARS.

Black America is in a parallel universe and Just Another Problem.  Religious Right is praying for the prophecy (our decline into hell) to come true.  Business world is going global and Agenda 21 is putting a Yellow Ribbon around prime real estate like it is a crime scene (debt for nature).

Cries coming out of America will be ignored if the FUCKING POLITICIANS in this sorry excuse of a country don't snap out of it and tell Israel they are own their own.  The world can do without israel but it cannot due without the USA.  The castles and stately homes should be in the cross hairs, not Christian Soldiers who are fighting men living in rubble, fed methamphetamine rather than food, and have NOTHING but their religion to hold onto.

US govt members who are ISRAELI firsters are a disgrace to their country and an affront to first world nations, who stood to the side while the Rich Kid On the Block became the only thing standing between justice and complete societal collapse, The World Police.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 06:43 | 6738998 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

I agree on "But Europeans are getting sick of all those American lies and wars "

but would expand it to:

"Europeans are getting sick of all those American and Russian lies and wars"

if there is anything Europeans in general agree, and at the core of all "european projects" is simply this:

cut on the lies, cut on the agitatory propaganda, cut on wars, particularly near us

we generally like both Russia and America, and particularly the people

we are sick of the imperial games done with special emphasis in dividing regional powers (the old "divide et impera") into friends and foes so that MICs have their feeding frenzy

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 11:39 | 6739652 Max Steel
Mon, 11/02/2015 - 16:41 | 6740829 BarkingCat
BarkingCat's picture

Ghordius is a troll??? Damn he is one persistent troll as he has trolled ZH for well over 4 years.

 

While I do not agree with him on many issues, he always backs it up with a philosophical argument and I do not ever remember his comments being anything but that would indicate a lack of intelligence or sophistication.

 

Wish I could claim that mine would match such a high standard.

Your comment on the other hand speaks volumes.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 16:43 | 6740838 Johnny Horscaulk
Johnny Horscaulk's picture

def not a troll.

just wrong half the time - but seemingly more open to discussion than 90% of people on the intertubes.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 07:06 | 6739009 Big_Sister_Is_W...
Big_Sister_Is_Watching's picture

Unfortunately some European leaders are still playing Washingtons game and foisting refugees upon their populations, instead of uniting and confirming the truth to their people i.e. that it is Washingtons fault... therefore they also bear culpability. This tells me they are in thrall to the same people that Washington is.  Unlike others, I do not call it a Zionist conspiracy... I call it a Masters of the Universe game. Money and power is their only true religion, and we are all expendable in their pursuit thereof.

Hegelian dialectic... break it, and after a bit of culling organize the pieces that are left more efficiently and apportion to the winners/survivors accordingly.

Yeah, they are trying to figure out how they are going to sell the next major war to a lot of skeptics here in the USA as well.  Sadly that means they will need to create a false flag of epic proportions to spur willingness for sizeable numbers of ground troops to go into Syria... but it will doubtless happen.

... and yes, the guy you were responding to is either a CIA, or US State Dept. meat puppet... or a wanna be.  Unfortunately they are wasting their time commenting on Zero Hedge threads... where they stick out like sore bums.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 07:58 | 6739072 dustyfin
dustyfin's picture

When approval for the current leadership is as it is there is nothing left but 'controlled' (manufactured) opposition.

Here's the reality:

90% of Russians support the government in their choices in Ukraine and Syria (as well as economically, that's a given)

10% of Russians think that the government has not done enough in Ukraine or Syria.

Right now even the Russian opposition supports the government - read up on a bloke called Eduard Limonov. ;)

You will not find any significant group of people who think that Russia should not be in Syria or Ukraine. The result: terhe's not a lot of coverage for that position. Just as in the US there's not a lot of coverage of, for example, USA and Canada merging - it simply isn't on the agenda so it gets no airtime.

 

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 03:24 | 6738910 forputin
forputin's picture

Soon our dear leader Mr. Putin will reach approval level that Kim Jong-un have!

I remmeber how during USSR polls went - when anyone asked: "Do you approve USSR comunist party work" - everyone approved it! Everyone! Yes... that didn't worked out well...

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 08:02 | 6739078 Raul44
Raul44's picture

He does have a remarkable approval in outside world which cannot be enforced and is voluntary, so its not the same. 

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 05:55 | 6738972 kaboomnomic
kaboomnomic's picture

A NOBODY. Trying to spew hatred for Putin??

What? Trying to blames your shitty life of Putin??

Nice try dude. Your an order of magnitude lesser than Mr.Putin. Good luck trying to smear him.

Bwaha.. bwaaaaaahahahahahaha... loooooooser!!

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 05:55 | 6738973 roddy6667
roddy6667's picture

"one wonders in what way their reportage on Syria is different from the reporting in the happily self-censoring US mainstream media on the Iraq war, especially in the run-up to said war." WTF? Why wonder? You can read all the Russian newspapers online daily.

It's called the Internet. It's gonna be big.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 06:20 | 6738981 thurstjo63
thurstjo63's picture

It's rather simple to me. Russia is in a position where they can stick closer to the truth than the western countries. There might be a bit of hyperbole in the coverage one finds on say RT but it's orders of magnitude less than the wholesale BS the MSM is trying to sell to western audiences.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 07:54 | 6739067 Raul44
Raul44's picture

I had no doubt from day one that Putin use media in his favor just as Stalin did. However, I only care about what he do and public bias doesnt affect me. Lot of Syrian people were saved because of him and I can perfectly understand his move behind Crimea. It would be much worse to imagine world without Putin today, where US government can do as they please, with literally zero stopping power. 

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 08:28 | 6739102 danepol
danepol's picture

 

Obama's incredible mismanagement created the opportunity for Putin's major geopolitical breakthrough which transformed Russia overnight into a dominant power in the Middle East with greater influence in the region than even at its peak during the Cold War. 

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