I'm sure many of you are aware of Kasparov's gambit to depose Putin's Kremlin in the upcoming election. Also of the recent beating and arrest of Kasparov at a peaceful protest.
In a recent CNN piece Kasparov makes some statements that seem to mirror recent American Politics:
"I think Putin is a KGB officer, and he is an expert on judo, and he relies only on brute force," Kasparov says. "He is used to playing with an overwhelming advantage and now he's still ahead, but his position is getting worse while we are gaining the momentum."
Putin has been fortunate, he says, to have such high oil prices supporting his regime. Fortunate, not clever.
"He is a lucky president, or a lucky dictator, but that tells us nothing about his ability to play on a level playing field. He was never a part of a public debate, his regime does not know how to deal with a public protest. They don't understand the nature of compromise," he said.
The "nature of compromise". What eloquent wording. Over the last seven years we've endured the Bush regime's persistent destruction of political compromise. Veto after veto stand in stark mockery of promised political compromise. Torture and illegal wiretapping find our Constitution hanging limp; a soggy, soiled tissue strung over the lip of the Commander and Chief's garbage can.
Of course we hoped things would change with a majority in both the House and Senate. And we were led to believe they would. But time after time the Democrats have thrown paper at King George II's Executive Fortress of Solitude, and time after time they have been shot down. If they had some steel balls backing their legislation, we might see change. But as yet, all I've seen hanging between our congressmen and womens' legs are inconsequential grapes, swiftly crushed under political pressure and fermented into whine.
I, for one, am tired of the excuses. More from Kasparov:
Kasparov sees the wide wealth gap as the major political problem facing his nation.
"People ask me this question time and again: 'Why, Mr. Kasparov, tell us, there's so much money in the country, but nothing in our pockets?'" Kasparov said.
"I think people are slowly beginning to understand there is a connection -- a mystical connection for Russians -- between high living standards and political freedom."
Certainly, we have not yet begun to see widespread political imprisonment or aggressive assaults on Free Speech. But it lingers on the horizon, an ominous fixture of our political landscape. And I suppose it can't be ignored that some would have us believe we have become quixotic, attacking things which pose no threat.
How do we respond? Presented candidates insulated from the struggles of middle America, how can we make our voices heard?
I'm an Edwards supporter, but I remain uncertain of his commitment to his stated goals. When it seems even Democrats will betray our basic freedoms, how can we trust any of the candidates will do all that is necessary to manufacture change?
We, the American People, find ourselves in a political cage with only the ability to choose between different breeds of cat to liberate us. We need to remain vigilant in our watch over our elected officials. We need to make sure that they respond to our needs, the needs of the American People, and not to the whims of their cohorts in grand theft country.
"When governments fear the people there is liberty. When the people fear the government there is tyranny."
-Thomas Jefferson
In a nation of 300 million, truly the pen is mightier than the sword. This struggle to return government to the people from the hands of isolated top one percenters will be won in the Blogs!
I am new to the Daily Kos. Blog virgin, deflowered only a month ago. In this short time, I have already come to realize the Netroots Nation is the greatest and best hope for restoring America to the Great Country it is supposed to be. To make us once again the nation the world looks to for innovation, progressivism, and economic growth.
Onward mighty Kossacks!