Only problem: the Russian label meant “Overcharge” instead of “reset”. This was pointed out happily by the Russki.

This, incidentally, is exactly what Mikoyan or Molotov would have done in the bad old Cold War days – tried to embarrass us — although in those days they would be smacked back by Nixon or Dulles, true Cold Warriors. Hillary just cackled. Still, you know that someone on the Russia Desk at State is packing his/her bags for an extended tour in Berzerkistan.

But really. This week has been a disaster in the simplest kind of high level relations among leaders. This is not hard! We have a long history with Britain and Russia — this is Diplomacy 101, but Obama and his team of geniuses seem to be flummoxed.

Might have been better to give the reset button to Gordo and the DVDs to the Russki.

Seriously– how long before Obama sends out the call to James Baker? I’m not a fan, I hasten to say, but let’s be honest: Baker could do both Hillary’s job AND Timmy “Home Alone” Geithner’s job, and do them better than they’re being done now.

Only problem: the Russian label meant “Overcharge” instead of “reset”. This was pointed out happily by the Russki.

This, incidentally, is exactly what Mikoyan or Molotov would have done in the bad old Cold War days – tried to embarrass us — although in those days they would be smacked back by Nixon or Dulles, true Cold Warriors. Hillary just cackled. Still, you know that someone on the Russia Desk at State is packing his/her bags for an extended tour in Berzerkistan.

But really. This week has been a disaster in the simplest kind of high level relations among leaders. This is not hard! We have a long history with Britain and Russia — this is Diplomacy 101, but Obama and his team of geniuses seem to be flummoxed.

Might have been better to give the reset button to Gordo and the DVDs to the Russki.

Seriously– how long before Obama sends out the call to James Baker? I’m not a fan, I hasten to say, but let’s be honest: Baker could do both Hillary’s job AND Timmy “Home Alone” Geithner’s job, and do them better than they’re being done now.

In any case, congrats, now that you know about Nashi you’ve got enough material for Russia posts for a year. In return for my valuable contribution just make sure that Russians — either in Russia or in the satellite states — are not all painted with the broad “insane fascist” brush. Nashi is a huge movement, but not a catch-all for the totality of Russian (especially not the youth) in the world by any means.

Well, at least they’re not going after the Jews. Yet.

I’ll note that the desire for stability and supermarkets is probably the most prevalent popular theory of governance among citizens of the worlds’ nations. I mean, the world being what it is, it’s not a terrible thing to strive for in many regions. As a stepping stone if nothing else, it’s a natural thing to want if you have neither stability nor supermarkets.

That said, Russia is gigantic and has nuclear weapons. And the idea that any number of them are striving for dictatorship as a popular movement isn’t helpful for anyone along any time frame. That game has been played before. As for Russians not caring, just from my experience it’s really more about fear than numbers when it comes to some of the more personal effects of a decimated democratic structure.

I assume you’ve seen this: Nashi/????. Shiver.

What worries me about Putin is that I think that he’s worked out that the Russians want both stability and supermarkets – and if they get them both, they’re not going to worry overmuch about how many journalists come down with sudden cases of polonium poisoning.

Mikhail Morozov is a Russian patriot, good Christian and successful businessman. He owns Durakovo – the “Village of Fools” – 100 km southwest of Moscow. People come here from all over Russia to learn how to live and become ‘true’ Russians. When they join the Village of Fools, the new residents abandon all their former rights and agree to obey Mikhail Morozov’s strict rules. “What we have here is a society that respects the vertical of power, this is what our country needs most of all, “ says Morozov quoting his idol President Putin. The whole spectrum of power – political, spiritual and administrative – is represented in the village and people gather for semi-private meetings with Morozov. They discuss the future of Russia, their ambitions and their goals. For God, Tsar and the Fatherland shows what drives Russian patriotism today and why these citizens are against democracy.

Dunno if it’s a good depiction of Russians in general or just a glimpse of a tiny cult filmed for sensationalist purposes.

Either way it’s scary. And a good thing to watch.