OBAMA: Putin's No Genius

[uhnope]

Source: Business Insider

In a new NPR interview published Monday morning, Obama dismissed those who hailed Vladimir Putin as a crafty world player when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine.

"Three or four months ago, everybody in Washington was convinced that President Putin was a genius and he had outmaneuvered all of us, and he had bullied, and strategized his way into expanding Russian power," Obama said, according to NPR's transcript. "Today, I'd sense that — at least outside of Russia — maybe some people are thinking what Putin did wasn't so smart."

Earlier in the year, the Russian government forcibly annexed Crimea, a region in southern Ukraine. As a result, the US and others leveled economic sanctions against Russia. The Obama administration also accused Moscow-backed separatists, still active in other parts of Ukraine, of shooting down a Malaysian passenger jet over the summer.

Obama didn't name his critics, but many prominent Republicans lambasted the White House for being insufficiently tough in the face of Putin's aggression. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who is considering a run for president in 2016, said Obama was a "kitty cat" next to the Russian bear.


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-putins-no-genius-2014-12

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[Mike Nelson]

1. Ted Cruz...

...could move to Russia and be closer to his idol.

[samsingh]

4. ted cruz seems to love the soviet union

and misses it.

he should renounce his newly minted US only citizenship and move to russia so he can be under putin.

[1step]

7. perhaps literally!*

*referencing your last sentence.

[PeoViejo]

2. Rouble is down 8.38% so far Today.

Putin's Bailout of the Russian Banking System is having problems.

[nichomachus]

5. Better stock up on gas

Once we and the Saudis have crashed the Russian economy, gas will shoot back up to $5 a gallon.

[roamer65]

6. The Russians and Iranians will retaliate.

If gas goes back to $5, it will be because of war in the ME.

[louis-t]

3. Yeah but Obama didn't start WWIII, so repugs hate him.

So there's that.

[olddad56]

8. In light of what Obama is quoted as actually saying. I'd say the headline is bullshit.

[davidpdx]

10. True, it does really exaggerate what he said

But then again we are talking about the press.

[freshwest]

9. That pic has to be photoshopped but it's got me LOL. n/t

[Cha]

12. Another pic and quote below that's not, fresh.

[Cha]

11. Another quote of President Obama's on Putin..

Good luck with your crush on putin, cruz.. and all the other putin fans who are so smitten.

[freshwest]

13. People who heart Putin have a presidential ticket for 2016:

Perhaps they should ask themselves what they find so appealing about Putin and his chief admirers in the USA - Palin, Rush, Cruz, Faux, etc.

There is a definite mindset there that many not comprehend they support.

Then think about why they love a conservative, GOP and Libertarian Party hero. Like GAS are all Putinistas, plus Steven Seagal who promotes guns in elementary school.

Then what they have in common with the racists, misogynists, homophobes and the 2nd Amendment Solution crowd and Open Carry Absolutionists.

If it's not too hard...

to the ingenious napkinz!

[Cha]

14. They go.. "if only-sigh".. either that are find a way to get to Russia and live under him.. I

sincerely wish they could.