Russia's Patriotic Opposition is Starting to Get Organized

Ready for some good news?

I’m about to provide you with some good news, but before I do, let me soften the blow for the veteran pessimists that this blog has accumulated in recent months. Let me start out by stating that I do not think that Russia’s patriots have much of a chance of succeeding politically. There is also a lot of background info that needs to be understood and accepted as a possibility at least before any of what I am about to say makes sense.

For example, President Putin enjoys somewhere around 80% popular support in Russia as of this moment. This should not be surprising because every time that he has behaved like a Russian nationalist, he has received a spike in approval ratings. Chechnya, Crimea, Syria and the SMO have all been huge approval boosters. The only thing that Putin has to fear in terms of loss of public support, is bad news from the front.

If you believe, like I do, that this bad news is right around the corner in the form of a Ukrainian counter-attack or backroom negotiations, primarily, then you understand that his approval rating is about to take a hit. Nothing too serious though. First of all, it takes a long time before the peasants ever really learn the truth of anything. This lag-period allows the powers that be to get away with anything and everything. Furthermore, Putin’s base is largely comprised of older, TV-watching voters and his administration *generally retains control of the state media. Also, he is the incumbent, and people like incumbents because they like the trappings of office - the double-headed eagle, the flags, the honor guards, and so on.

Point being: I don’t see Putin dipping down below 60% approval any time soon.

Which is a good thing! You will never see me criticizing a popular figure occupying a powerful office on this blog. It would be antithetical to everything that I believe in and argue for! Remember: the Tsar is always good, it is his minsters who mislead him!

Now, I figure I ought to tell you if you haven’t figured it out yet, but everything that I say in the lead-up to a paywall article is just slop that I feel comfortable showing to the unwashed and uncouth masses. The real gems of truth are contained further below in the article, hidden behind the paywall. I will not waste my serious analyses on non-patrons. Only paywall optimates are worthy of them. You do not deserve them. In fact, I spit on you - all of you! Either get behind the paywall or begone!

*tfu*