Truthdig - Ear to the Ground - Putin Sticks Around

			December 1, 2008 Log in / Register
			Text Size

Afghanistan in Crisis

Report: WMD Terror Attack Likely

Confronting the Terrorist Within

Bush’s 11th-Hour Bid for Secrecy

They’re Here, They’re Queer, and They’re … Well-Organized

Confronting the Terrorist Within
By Chris Hedges

Bush’s 11th-Hour Bid for Secrecy
By Stanley Kutler

Afghanistan in Crisis
By Robert Fisk

Our Dear Leader
By David Sirota

No Kidding: U.S. Economy in Recession

Bush Admits He Was ‘Unprepared for War’

India Demands ‘Strong Action’ From Pakistan

Obama Introduces National Security Team

New Hope in the Fight Against AIDS

Report: WMD Terror Attack Likely

Obama and Clinton Sing Each Other’s Praises

They’re Here, They’re Queer, and They’re … Well-Organized

Dick Cheney the Muse

Bush Pardons a Loyal Turkey

Tough Times Could Lead to Sex Boom

Bollywood Reacts to Mumbai Siege

Richard Ellis on ‘Diagnosis: Mercury’
By Richard Ellis

Hollywood’s Closet Still Closed for Business
By Larry Gross

Financial Meltdown 101

Dig led by aa_noauthor

Vetting Sarah Palin

Dig led by aa_noauthor

The Omnivore’s Dilemma : A Natural History of Four Meals

By Michael Pollan
$17.79

Charm Offensive: How China’s Soft Power Is Transforming the World

By Joshua Kurlantzick
$11.56

Women’s T-Shirt

$17

Putin Sticks Around

Flickr / openDemocracy

A day after giving up Russia’s presidency (as required by that pesky constitution), Vladimir Putin assumed the role of prime minister. Anyone want to bet that doesn’t suddenly become the most powerful job in Russia?

AP via the International Herald Tribune:

Loyal lawmakers were set to confirm Vladimir Putin as prime minister Thursday, capping a carefully engineered recast of Russia’s leadership a day after he handed the presidency to his protege Dmitry Medvedev.

Putin’s unprecedented move from the Kremlin to the No. 2 post will keep him politically prominent for the foreseeable future and could serve as a springboard back to the presidency. It has Russians wondering who will really hold the country’s reins.

The switch comes after months of political maneuvering by the popular Putin to maintain a role in ruling Russia after stepping down. Barred by term limits from running in the March presidential vote, he anointed Medvedev as his favored successor in December and pledged to serve as his prime minister.

Read more