Russia retreats to autarky as poverty looms

And the way to keep the people quiet of course will be to make further military adventures for the honor of Mother Russia. Scary.

I like the Madam Secretary plot better, where the Putin figure dies, his hottie wife turns out to be the power behind the throne and she takes over by riling the people up against the US. At least on TV, the leader of Russia looks good in a miniskirt.

'Autarchy' means that Russia is headed back towards Soviet-style poverty. It's hardly a redoubt as an economic position. To me that means the sanctions against Russia are working and I only hope that Obama holds the course.

'Madam Secretary' is a mixed bag of a show. It has some of the fantasy elements of "The West Wing" but with a far better eye to detail.

I've only seen one episode and it was the one where Tea Leoni temporarily becomes President. I was curious if they'd get the Constitutional line of succession correct and they surprised me by doing exactly that!

They also nailed it on the Presidential pardon.

The show is a blatant puff piece for Hillary Clinton but at least they got some of the details right and I'll credit them for this. 'The West Wing' was notorious for making gaffes that sometimes reduced the show to a liberal-left fantasy and not the political drama it could have been.

I suspect Putin will be trying to organize more concerts like this in the coming months:

I suspect Putin will be trying to organize more concerts like this in the coming months:



It wasn't that long ago that singing that tune in mother Russia would be you shot.

Putin probably has ideas of wearing that crown himself.

One has to wonder if Putin hasn't, or isn't, contemplating establishing a window dressing 'constitutional monarchy' in Russia....with him as PM no doubt. There are a number of Romanovs still kicking around, with Maria Vladimirovna, Grand Duchess of Russia being only 61 and her son, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia being only 34.