Vladimir Putin plans to return to the Russian presidency in March 2012, but his extravagant vanity has radically damaged the strongman image that he spent the last 12 years building. Indeed, Russians heckle Putin not because he has turned Russia into an industrial banana republic, but because he no longer inhabits his role convincingly.
MOSCOW – When a tsar is treated with mockery, rather than regarded with awe, it is time for him to consider retirement, or to prepare for a palace coup. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who intends to stage a glorious return to the Kremlin as President in the election scheduled for March next year, should reflect on that choice.
This year began with a vigorous (by Russian standards) Internet petition urging Putin to take the first option. Then the whole country laughed when, during his customary visit to a patriotic summer camp run by Nashi (a pro-Putin youth movement), he demonstrated his physical prowess by scaling a rock-climbing wall, only to find that he couldn’t climb down.
Now Russians wonder what has happened to their leader’s face. His new smooth-faced appearance has sparked rumors of Botox, or even plastic surgery. Vampire jokes abound.
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When a bank fails in the United States, questions about who is to blame are often directed at many different regulatory agencies, because the system is complex and hard for outsiders to understand. In the wake of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, the case for an overhaul could not be stronger.
laments that the post-2008 Dodd-Frank reforms left in place a framework riddled with structural shortcomings.
The failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank are significant market events. But, given an overheated labor market and 1970s-like inflation, if the Fed cannot see the whites of the eyes of a systemic banking crisis, then it must move aggressively on the inflation front.
urges the US central bank to continue raising interest rates, despite signs of financial-sector fragility.
MOSCOW – When a tsar is treated with mockery, rather than regarded with awe, it is time for him to consider retirement, or to prepare for a palace coup. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who intends to stage a glorious return to the Kremlin as President in the election scheduled for March next year, should reflect on that choice.
This year began with a vigorous (by Russian standards) Internet petition urging Putin to take the first option. Then the whole country laughed when, during his customary visit to a patriotic summer camp run by Nashi (a pro-Putin youth movement), he demonstrated his physical prowess by scaling a rock-climbing wall, only to find that he couldn’t climb down.
Now Russians wonder what has happened to their leader’s face. His new smooth-faced appearance has sparked rumors of Botox, or even plastic surgery. Vampire jokes abound.
To continue reading, register now.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to everything PS has to offer.
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