Less than 1 day elected, Medvedev test Obama

**ZECH** · 11-06-2008, 07:20 AM

OK Obama, what you gonna do?

Medvedev Sends President-Elect a Tough Message - WSJ.com

MOSCOW -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev issued a chilly reception to the incoming U.S. administration, threatening to station missiles deep inside Europe and lambasting the U.S. for "selfish" foreign-policy and economic blunders.

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Reuters
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's address showed few signs of a hoped-for softening toward the West.
Mr. Medvedev also proposed extending the term of the Russian president to six years from four, a change that may benefit his predecessor and prime minister, Vladmir Putin, who may run for president again in 2012.

Without mentioning U.S. President-elect Barack Obama by name, Mr. Medvedev said he hoped the new administration in Washington will take steps to improve badly damaged U.S. ties with Russia. But he suggested it is up to Washington, not Moscow, to improve relations.

"We have no problem with the American people, no inborn anti-Americanism," he said.

Mr. Medvedev's speech, his first state-of-the-nation address since he became president in May, bore few signs of a hoped-for softening toward the West, or of the authoritarian political system established under Mr. Putin.

Germany's foreign ministry called Mr. Medvedev's plan to deploy missiles in response to U.S. plans for an antimissile system "a wrong signal at the wrong time."

The Kremlin has repeatedly called on Washington to abandon the planned missile system.

"The steps that the Russian government announced today are disappointing," said U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. "But, again, this is not directed at them. Hopefully one day they'll realize that."

Analyst George Perkovich said the speech recalled the threats delivered in 1961 by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev to another newly elected U.S. president, John F. Kennedy, at a summit in Vienna.

"It looked like a clumsy effort to test the new president's mettle," said Mr. Perkovich, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington. "It's a psychological ploy the U.S. should not fall prey to."

Mr. Medvedev repeated earlier assertions of Mr. Putin that a realignment was needed in international politics, with a demotion of U.S. influence.

"Mechanisms must be created to block mistaken, egoistical and sometimes simply dangerous decisions of certain members of the international community," he said shortly after starting the 85-minute speech.

Mr. Medvedev said a "selfish" U.S. foreign policy set off the war in Georgia. He said the U.S. used the war as a pretext to send North Atlantic Treaty Organization warships into the Black Sea, and speed up its plan to deploy antimissile systems in Eastern Europe.

Mr. Medvedev said the Kremlin would deploy ground-to-ground missiles in its westernmost territory in Europe, the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, bordering on European Union members Poland and Lithuania.

He said Russia would also electronically jam the U.S. system, parts of which are due to be deployed in Poland and the Czech Republic, and scrap plans to stand down three Cold War-era nuclear missile regiments.

He peppered the address with references to freedom and democracy but proffered only minor changes to an electoral system that has shunted aside opposition parties and turned parliament into a Kremlin-controlled body that rubber-stamps its decisions.

Mr. Medvedev announced plans to lengthen legislators' terms by a year to five years and make it easier for small parties to win parliamentary representation.

Sergei Mitrokhin, head of the Yabloko political party, said Mr. Medvedev's proposal to prolong the presidential term to six years "is a signal of the continuing bureaucratization of the country and that the government is heading toward stagnation and will be even more isolated from the people."

Mr. Medvedev, who came to power promising to curtail the encroachment of government on business, said his government will continue economic liberalization. So far, however, the Kremlin's economic bailouts in response to the global financial crisis have led to greater state control over industry and banks.

**Big Smoothy** · 11-06-2008, 07:28 AM

I don't think this was a test. Not at all.

This issue has been going on for some time.

Remember, Obama is NOT in office until Jan. 20th.

**ZECH** · 11-06-2008, 07:39 AM

He starts getting highly classified info TODAY. Yes he is in office.

**Big Smoothy** · 11-06-2008, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by dg806

He starts getting highly classified info TODAY. Yes he is in office.

I know he and the VP get classified info today.

He is NOT in office.

GWB is still President and has the authority to act as President only.

GWB is now passing many many policies as quickly as he can. He is very busy right now.

**busyLivin** · 11-06-2008, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by Big Smoothy

GWB is now passing many many policies as quickly as he can. He is very busy right now.

Wonder if any of those are undeserved pardons...

**DOMS** · 11-06-2008, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by busyLivin

Wonder if any of those are undeserved pardons...

That's the standard MO. Clinton did a crap load of them. AKAIK, all presidents do it. They're on the way out and they have nothing to lose, and a lot of IOUs to collect.

**maniclion** · 11-06-2008, 02:36 PM

I would tell him, "Hey we have watched your country crumble time and time again, if we must we can speed along your next one..."

**min0 lee** · 11-06-2008, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by Big Smoothy

I know he and the VP get classified info today.

He is NOT in office.

GWB is still President and has the authority to act as President only.

GWB is now passing many many policies as quickly as he can. He is very busy right now.

Perfect time to pass policies while all the attention is on Obama.

**min0 lee** · 11-06-2008, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by busyLivin

Wonder if any of those are undeserved pardons...

Originally Posted by DOMS

That's the standard MO. Clinton did a crap load of them. AKAIK, all presidents do it. They're on the way out and they have nothing to lose, and a lot of IOUs to collect.

Yeah, he definitly pardon his fair share. I hope they not as bad as the people Clinton pardoned.

**min0 lee** · 11-06-2008, 02:58 PM

Although Biden's comment may have been something kept private I would have to agree with him.

**Big Smoothy** · 11-06-2008, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Perfect time to pass policies while all the attention is on Obama.

Rolling back environmental regulations, deregulating other areas and rolling back civil liberties. And yes, the pardons.

**ALBOB** · 11-06-2008, 06:07 PM

If Bush could do one single thing right in his entire presidency, he needs to pardon Campeon and Ramos.

**Big Smoothy** · 11-06-2008, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by ALBOB

If Bush could do one single thing right in his entire presidency, he needs to pardon Campeon and Ramos.

Good call, ALBOB.

Now that you mention that, it could possibly happen.

**Dale Mabry** · 11-07-2008, 06:23 AM

Originally Posted by ALBOB

If Bush could do one single thing right in his entire presidency, he needs to pardon Campeon and Ramos.

And ruin his perfect record?

**busyLivin** · 11-07-2008, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

And ruin his perfect record?

Bush screwed up a lot, but I wish people would just give Bush credit for keeping us safe for 7+ years. Say what you will, but this was in no way by accident. I really think history will treat him differently.

This is the first time my party is not in the White House while I have been interested in politics. I just hope I'm not the same bitter person that liberals were out of power. Makes me sick how many of my friends are coming out & saying it's the first time they are proud of their country, that now we need to heal... they are willing to defend & work toward unity only when their candidate wins. Otherwise, they'd be unleashing the same shit storm they did on Bush & Palin.

I like to think conservatives aren't like that. I'm not.. Elizabeth Hasselbeck isn't (which btw, is pretty funny: the media is having a field day saying she supports Obama now. They just don't get it. Actually, she supports America who supported Obama.. and therefore supports our President.. as all Americans should. I'm not saying don't question or criticize him, but give him the respect he deserves.. unlike the disgusting disrespect Bush got).

I'd love to see a united country & I pray Obama can do it... But I still think the majority of liberals suck as Americans.

**largepkg** · 11-07-2008, 08:22 AM

I agree with you Busy.

We'll see how he handles adversity soon enough I believe. I hope for all our sakes he can be as tough as GWB but time will tell.

**tucker01** · 11-07-2008, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by busyLivin

Bush screwed up a lot, but I wish people would just give Bush credit for keeping us safe for 7+ years. Say what you will, but this was in no way by accident. I really think history will treat him differently.

This is the first time my party is not in the White House while I have been interested in politics. I just hope I'm not the same bitter person that liberals were out of power. Makes me sick how many of my friends are coming out & saying it's the first time they are proud of their country, that now we need to heal... they are willing to defend & work toward unity only when their candidate wins. Otherwise, they'd be unleashing the same shit storm they did on Bush & Palin.

I like to think conservatives aren't like that. I'm not.. Elizabeth Hasselbeck isn't (which btw, is pretty funny: the media is having a field day saying she supports Obama now. They just don't get it. Actually, she supports America who supported Obama.. and therefore supports our President.. as all Americans should. I'm not saying don't question or criticize him, but give him the respect he deserves.. unlike the disgusting disrespect Bush got).

I'd love to see a united country & I pray Obama can do it... But I still think the majority of liberals suck as Americans.

There is no difference between parties when it comes to assholes. Each one has there fair share.

I am impressed by your position.

**ZECH** · 11-07-2008, 10:08 AM

You never heard any conservatives saying they would leave the country if Obama got elected like in the past several elections liberal hollywood actors did.

**min0 lee** · 11-07-2008, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by busyLivin

Bush screwed up a lot, but I wish people would just give Bush credit for keeping us safe for 7+ years. Say what you will, but this was in no way by accident. I really think history will treat him differently.

.

Can you be clear on that?
Safe from attacks on our homeland?

It wasn't until he took office that we had to worry about it, not saying it was his fault but anyone in office would have tightened security.

**busyLivin** · 11-07-2008, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

It wasn't until he took office that we had to worry about it, not saying it was his fault but anyone in office would have tightened security.

Mino.. I know you're smarter than that. 9/11 was planned well before Bush was even a candidate for President.

Anyone in office would have tightened security? Bill Clinton did nothing the first time the WTC was attacked. He did nothing, and they struck again.

I'm not drudging this all up again, but you my friend are wrong.. but I still like you.

**busyLivin** · 11-07-2008, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Can you be clear on that?
Safe from attacks on our homeland?

It wasn't until he took office that we had to worry about it, not saying it was his fault but anyone in office would have tightened security.

Absolutely safe from attacks on our homeland. If they could have, they would have. His war on terrorism stopped them. Anyone denying that is lying to themselves.

**maniclion** · 11-07-2008, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by busyLivin

Mino.. I know you're smarter than that. 9/11 was planned well before Bush was even a candidate for President.

Anyone in office would have tightened security? Bill Clinton did nothing the first time the WTC was attacked. He did nothing, and they struck again.

I'm not drudging this all up again, but you my friend are wrong.. but I still like you.

Bill Clinton wanted strategic missile strikes in Afghanistan but the GOP made a huge fuss about it, we were actively searching for Bin Laden back then I saw message while in the Navy confirming that. We were also keeping watch on other terrorist cells. We had a secret war on terrorism for a long time and Bush failed to utilize the info....In fact he decided to put the country on Auto Pilot for 8 months knowing full well that things were heating up....

**busyLivin** · 11-07-2008, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by maniclion

Bill Clinton wanted strategic missile strikes in Afghanistan but the GOP made a huge fuss about it, we were actively searching for Bin Laden back then I saw message while in the Navy confirming that. We were also keeping watch on other terrorist cells. We had a secret war on terrorism for a long time and Bush failed to utilize the info....In fact he decided to put the country on Auto Pilot for 8 months knowing full well that things were heating up....

You can't be taken seriously when you lay it all on Bush. Bush was in office 7 months. The planning took much longer than 7 months.

I don't blame anyone but the terrorists. I just think people solely blaming Bush is complete bullshit.

**min0 lee** · 11-07-2008, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by busyLivin

You can't be taken seriously when you lay it all on Bush. Bush was in office 7 months. The planning took much longer than 7 months.

I don't blame anyone but the terrorists. I just think people solely blaming Bush is complete bullshit.

To me this was an attack on Americans, that's my honest opinion.

Now what really happened I don't know so I will never assume anything different.

**DOMS** · 11-07-2008, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by busyLivin

You can't be taken seriously when you lay it all on Bush. Bush was in office 7 months. The planning took much longer than 7 months.

I don't blame anyone but the terrorists. I just think people solely blaming Bush is complete bullshit.

Good luck with that. It's been over 7 years and so many of them still don't understand that simple point.

They're only interested in mutual bukake.

**maniclion** · 11-07-2008, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by busyLivin

You can't be taken seriously when you lay it all on Bush. Bush was in office 7 months. The planning took much longer than 7 months.

I don't blame anyone but the terrorists. I just think people solely blaming Bush is complete bullshit.

Bush knew that they were threatening another attack soon, the Cole had been Bombed only a month before he was elected. It should have been a top priority for him instead of vacation after vacation.... I don't blame him all the way but I do beleive he could have taken a more proactive role considering he was A)a new President whom the terrorists would want to test and b) having been given a security brief the month before saying Bin Laden was determined to strike in the US.....

**Big Smoothy** · 11-07-2008, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by maniclion

Bush knew that they were threatening another attack soon, the Cole had been Bombed only a month before he was elected. It should have been a top priority for him instead of vacation after vacation.... I don't blame him all the way but I do beleive he could have taken a more proactive role considering he was A)a new President whom the terrorists would want to test and b) having been given a security brief the month before saying Bin Laden was determined to strike in the US.....

9/11 was the best thing that happened to GWB/Cheney and the PNAC and NeoCons in the bureaucracy.

Without 9/11 they could not have invaded Iraq in order to get access and profit sharing to the Black Gold. It would not have been politically feasible.

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