To be exact, Putin did answers "some 40
questions about Iran, Ukraine, Chechnya, racism and the Russian standard of living," as the Moscow Times reported. The full interview is available to view on the BBC website. The strange questions put to Putin were funny rather than worrying. They were probably intended as a prank to put Putin in an embarassing position, which is hardly such a bad thing.

So, let's get this straight: When Americans do things like this, they are hillbilly morons. When Russians do them, they are clever comedians, adding much-needed levity. If Americans reelect George Bush despite Iraq, they are crazed, irresponsible fools. But if Russians reelect Vlad Putin despite Chechnya, they are wise responsible citizens.

Surely you jest.

Russia is teetering on the verge of extinction and all Russians can think about is magical octopi. That is Russia in a nutshell, always has been, always will be.

Reith: Russians get one of the first opportunties they've had in a thousand years of history to question their ruler directly, their top choices for questions are about warrior robots and the president's sex practices, and you find that "funny." With friends like you, Russia doesn't need any enemies.

LR:

Not a single one of the views you charge me with are ones I have either put forward in my original remark or hold myself, so I am uncertain as to why you raise them. The questions that topped the poll, as I actually said, did so because people found them funny and, probably, potentially embarassing to Putin. Furthermore, many people did in fact ask about Chechnya and racism, as you demanded.

Gomavsgo,

Almost every single thing you say in your short remark is wrong. This was not the first opportunity people have had to call in and ask Putin questions. If you had only bothered to read one of the helpfully provided links above, you would have found that "it's the third time Putin has taken part in a live Webcast since he was elected in 2000." He has also performed a similar exercise on live television a few times. As I have seen some of those broadcasts, as you clearly have not, I can tell you that even on those occassions people have asked him about Chechnya, the cost of living, wages, salaries and foreign policy, among other things.
That said, it is funny that he was asked about robots and sex-crazed bears. It is a highly peculiar opinion that you appear to espouse that being "funny" is such a terrible thing. I would conclude on that basis that people like you don't even have friends in the first place.

What is so bad in funny questions? Internet community are mostly teenagers and young people, teenagers often make fun. So, why couldn't they make fun with their president?

"So, why couldn't they make fun with their president?"

Because LR is living in a totalitarian society. When you make fun the president Bush, you support Bib Laden!!! Just like under communism... The party is always right.

If you check blog history, you would notice that LR idealizes Rush Limbaugh. A fat idiot who does drugs and who was a sex tourist in the Dominican Republic.

I bet she watches O'reilly factor all the time:-)

REITH: You've been challenged by a commenter here

http://russophobe.blogspot.com/2006/07/neo-soviet-union-once-again-silences.html

Are you going to answer the challenge?

Karmen, it's rather sad that you would ask that question, especially since you clearly failed to read what I wrote first.

It's said for two reasons: (a) Russian is not America, Russia has a long history of dictatorship and therefore can't afford to joke about chances like this; (b)Russians attacked America for being interested in Bill Clinton's personal life, as LR says, but now they act just like that themselves. That's hypocrisy, another serious problem in Russia.

Reith, it's shameful the way you mischaracterize what I wrote. I didn't say it was THE first I said it was ONE OF THE first.

I don't care to exchange views with someone who writes in such gross bad faith.

I'll just say that if you think Russia democracy has sufficiently developed to the point it can afford to joke about the topic, you are a very silly, uninformed person.

REITH: We agree that you have grossly perverted the statement of GOMAVSGO and demand that you apologize. Your lies about La Russophobe are one thing, about commenters/readers another, and will not be tolerated.

WARNING TO COMMENTERS: Your ability to write on this blog is a privilege, not a right, and it can be restricted at any time. If you want to go on expressing your views, you will do so with the proper respect to the owners of this blog and your fellow commenters or you will lose your right to comment freely.

Some ANONYMOUS idiot has implied that there is no such thing as anyone who agrees with La Russophobe, and therefore all comments supporting this blog are from the same person. Outrageous claims of this kind will not be tolerated; La Russophobe could just as well say that all criticism of her comes from the same person, but she is not insane.

Pornographic sexual references and profanity will also be deleted from the blog.

Watch your step. You have been warned. We are happy to have comments but it is not our goal to have them and this blog can get along just fine without them.

Little children who abuse their freedom lose it.