Meanwhile in Russia, Putin passes law against protests

[conservaphobe]

Protesting on the streets of Moscow — or any other part of Russia, for that matter — will now not only cost a pretty penny, but could land you behind bars, after Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a law into effect criminalizing repeated street protests.

The law was one of a few measures Putin signed that are expected to increase the Russian government’s ability to control public discourse and the free exchange of information.

There was never really any question that Putin would endorse the measures, which have been going through the lawmaking process for months. But he made the measures official on a day when he also convened the Russian Security Council to discuss threats to the territorial integrity of the country, and at a time when international scrutiny is focused on what role Russia may or may not have played in the Ukrainian crisis that led to the shooting down of a Malaysia Airlines jet.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/07/22/meanwhile-in-russia-putin-passes-law-against-protests/

[Jefferson23]

1. That idea is happening else where, too:

Outrage as France become first country in world to ban pro-Palestine demos

France's Socialist government provoked outrage today by becoming the first in the world to ban protests against Israeli action in Palestine.

In what is viewed as an outrageous attack on democracy, Socialist Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said mass demonstrations planned for the weekend should be halted.

Mr Cazeneuve said there was a ‘threat to public order’, while opponents said he was ‘criminalising’ popular support of the Palestinian people.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2697194/Outrage-France-country-world-ban-pro-Palestine-demos.html

[geek tragedy]

4. Well, those protests have consistently evolved into pogroms against

Jews and synagogues . . .

the alternative would be some serious street violence with police knocking heads around.

[Jefferson23]

8. They can't shut down all Palestinian protests and call themselves a democracy.

That is a different call.

[geek tragedy]

18. not familiar with French constitutional law, I know they do things diffferently

Last edited Tue Jul 22, 2014, 06:26 PM - Edit history (1)

But, those pogroms are out of hand, and quite frankly the alternative is to start cracking a lot of heads when they start going after Jews

That, or let the Jews in France arm themselves.

[Jefferson23]

49. They are disgusting, and the violence is off the charts. Allowing no protests is going to add to

more people erupting..this is not the kind of control measures they should be taking right now.

[randys1]

54. Teaparty is taking notes, this will endear them to PUTIN even more

[Jefferson23]

57. We were actually speaking about another topic, and I will stop..I don't want to derail this thread.

But yea, this is typical of Putin..no surprise.

[malaise]

65. Why not?

Ask the Occupy Movement right in the USA. How were they treated? What happened to their protests?

[Jefferson23]

67. When they do that they can call it a democracy, but it won't have much meaning.

Ours slips the definition enough, don't you think?

[malaise]

68. We know that

The truth is democracy is under threat everywhere.

I sure chose the right user name - malaise is the word for the state of play.

[Jefferson23]

69. Yes, it is and you certainly did pick the appropriate user name.

[RKP5637]

70. Yep, SOS! Total suppression and generation of propagandistic misinformation about OWS. We have

such tools to suppress people. I do think so many Americans are deluded about the freedom to protest and effect change. Hell, even the Pentagon is making a list of passive dissenters ... someone posted it several weeks ago, a study was apparently entertained or started ... to identify Americans that are upset with the system, but are not visible to TPTB ... basically the silent pissed off. ... those neither worshiping nor embracing the oligarchy will be identified and listed.

[malaise]

72. Not just Americans

Everywhere our rights are under siege -funny how we're so good at seeing what's wrong in other countries while they're stealing our rights.

[RKP5637]

75. It's incredible! The brainwashing and embracing of ignorance as a virtue astounds me. It is so

easy to see what is going on, but so many choose to remain ignorant.

[treestar]

89. There is not an actual law against the protesting itself

They could only be arrested for regulatory violations regarding time, place and manner. But their right to protest, and repeatedly, is sacrosanct. And if cops misbehave, in this country we can sue them/report them, report it to the media.

[JI7]

50. that was because of violence against Jews, synagogues etc , it was a security issue

[Jefferson23]

52. I understand that, and it cannot be ignored, ending all Palestinian protests will lead to more

violence, I believe. I don't think this approach is going to result in calm.

[JI7]

56. maybe they need more military/guards and others out there

[Jefferson23]

58. They need security, absolutely...and I did not mean to change the subject here, from Putin.

Who is showing himself true to form...terrible for the Russians.

[MADem]

2. Ah, the sweet smell of Russian freedom! They really care about that "democracy" over

there! I'll bet their internet is every bit as "free!"

[Jefferson23]

16. The Russians living there that do care are struggling and they need our support.

Russia's freedom ranking is terrible.

[MADem]

19. Makes you wonder why anyone would live there and assist the leadership in

'catapulting the propaganda' -- to use the phrase of a disgraced asswipe!

The people are going to have to deal with some hurt in the form of sanctions, turn against their fearless leader, and tell the little shit to stop wrestling bears, put on his shirt, and take his face-lifted ass out of public life. Can they do it? THAT is the question...or is he the dictator he appears to be?

[Jefferson23]

22. There is much to consider for Russians who live there and there is not one answer. They're

up against a powerful leader to include the oligarchs support and the Orthodox Church.

Putin is a dictator, and one needs to consider Russian nationalism as well..and their
long history of oppression...complicated. I support the dissenters, they are up against
a great deal..more than is reported here.

[MADem]

26. Well, the Russian people don't have a choice--expats certainly do, though.

They'll flee when their monetary situation doesn't suit their lifestyles; when Russia is no longer helpful to them in terms of tax breaks. Those people could give a shit about human rights--they just care about their own bottom lines.

[Jefferson23]

30. Yep, pretty much, but as I say..it is a bad place to be when you're up against Putin.

Terrible government.

[RKP5637]

62. Exactly! "Putin is a dictator!" and he ratchets it up one more notch more each day, longing

for the good old days ... just his body language tells a lot.

[Max power]

3. Oh the irony

I can't in good conscience allow the U.S. government to destroy privacy, internet freedom and basic liberties for people around the world with this massive surveillance machine they're secretly building.
"And that's not something I'm willing to support, it's not something I'm willing to build and it's not something I'm willing to live under."
Edward Snowden

[snooper2]

14. SNOWY!

Is he cool enough to quote now?

[woo me with science]

23. +100000 Protest and dissent are being criminalized here, too, quietly and systematically,

and we ignore it at our peril. Orders of protection are being abused to imprison protesters. Dissent is being used to put people in categories of suspected "terrorist," where our Constitutional protections have been stripped. Journalism is being criminalized with abuse of the Espionage Act. And whistleblowing is being criminalized by attempts at laws to allow the government to decide who is and is not a journalist and entitled to those protections.

We have fascists in office, pretending to be Republicans and Democrats, and they are systematically dismantling our constitutional protections.

This country is in a dire, dire place.

[RufusTFirefly]

42. Yes. It is a mistake for us to grow smug and superior about our own steadily eroding freedoms. n/t

[RKP5637]

73. Definitely ... much as I was trying to say in my post #70. Often it reminds me of the Germans

ignoring the nazi movement and playing waltzes and the like, heads in the sand, as their country was taken over. So many Americans are so damn clueless. This is a very easy country to propagandize, and now the tools are well in place.

[treestar]

81. Exaggerated dramatic hyperbole

Sounds like the script for a movie trailer.

[Number23]

95. One that will be in the discount section at the video store within a week of its release, too

[Cali_Democrat]

29. WOW

[bigwillq]

47. Hello

Welcome to DU!

[Cha]

51. Fucking hyperbolic hypocrital martyr.. enjoy your freedoms in Russia, Eddie.. do you have more than

the Russian People?

thanks for the quote from ol Eddie, Max

[JI7]

59. Snowden is mostly seen as a joke now , especially with the recent things going on

and him trying to lecture about freedoms. at the same time he tries to make himself out to be some heroic martyr type with statements about how he could live with being in chains in gauntanamo.

[djean111]

5. We just militarize our police to act against protesters.

And pepper spray them. And beat them up. And arrest them. Not quite Putin levels, though.

[LuvNewcastle]

43. We're getting there. It's just a matter of time.

USA! USA! USA!

[RKP5637]

77. Give it a few more years, a hardliner win R in 2016. This country could surpass Russia with

little effort.

[OKNancy]

6. They are regressing. Sounds like something out of the 1950s

Pretty soon there will be secret spies turning in their neighbors.

[RKP5637]

79. It is, it is exactly reminiscent of the 1950's. It is very unnerving. Turning in

neighbors, we already have that now with fusion centers and their paid neighborly spies.

[treestar]

82. Yes, I'm disappointed for them

To throw off the Soviet Union and its totalitarian policies was a miracle. I grew up under the Cold War and never thought I'd see that. Yet in 1991, it happened.

[TwilightGardener]

7. Putin's doing this now while he's popular, because he's afraid

of a Ukraine situation happening in Russia someday if/when he's not.

[lpbk2713]

9. Comrade Putin is regressing back to the bad old days.

His KGB roots are showing.

[Rex]

10. No wonder the GOP loves him!

They fell from the same fascist tree as Putin.

[RKP5637]

80. Yep, that is the bottom line! And they have their footmen with the

clueless lower echelons of the Tea Party.

[Rex]

97. I agree, the worst of the worst are the Tea Party Trolls.

Scum of the earth.

[OKNancy]

11. I just love the false equivalency that pops up in threads like this

as you pound away on your computer, free to say anything you want.
( I won't even go into LGBT rights )

[greatauntoftriplets]

12. Noticed that myself.

[Cha]

55. Speaking of LGBT Rights.. Pat Buchanan loves him some Putin..

Is Vladimir Putin a paleoconservative?

In the culture war for mankind’s future, is he one of us?

While such a question may be blasphemous in Western circles, consider the content of the Russian president’s state of the nation address.

With America clearly in mind, Putin declared, “In many countries today, moral and ethical norms are being reconsidered.”

“They’re now requiring not only the proper acknowledgment of freedom of conscience, political views and private life, but also the mandatory acknowledgment of the equality of good and evil.”

Translation: While privacy and freedom of thought, religion and speech are cherished rights, to equate traditional marriage and same-sex marriage is to equate good with evil.

No moral confusion here, this is moral clarity, agree or disagree.

President Reagan once called the old Soviet Empire “the focus of evil in the modern world.” President Putin is implying that Barack Obama’s America may deserve the title in the 21st century.

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/07/22/a-few-thoughts-on-putins-strategic-genius/

[treestar]

83. +1

It is ridiculous.

[joshcryer]

13. Welcome to right wing populism.

Better known as fascism.

The Putinists aren't saying a damn word about this.

[William769]

15. Just think what will happen if you are LGBT and protesting.

Looks like he really does want the soviet union style back. Communism sucked then and it will suck just as much today.

I can't wait to see how his fans spin this!

[Rex]

20. His fans seem to be disappearing like water in a scorching desert.

How anyone can defend that MONSTER, is beyond me. Better not see it on DU.

[William769]

21. ...

[MADem]

24. Of course he wants the bad old days back -- this was obvious to all with his stupid

gay bashing ahead of his stupid gay-hating FAIL of an Olympics. I can't believe anyone on DU supports this asshole based on THAT issue alone. Anyone who can mitigate human rights in a "convenient" fashion like that is not a Democrat. OR a progressive.

But hey, whatever. By their words we know them.

[William769]

25. They never admit it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5273625 I guess they think we are just to stupid to see what's going on.

[MADem]

28. Bill, all you can do is consider the source! nt

[RKP5637]

86. Anyone can join DU, we never know who the F we are dealing with. n/t

[MADem]

91. Ain't that the truth! nt

[RKP5637]

92. I read some of the posts sometimes and wonder WTF! n/t

[RKP5637]

84. It's the SOS with Putin leading the charge, right back to the good old Stalin days. And

repression of moderate Russians wanting no part of the Putin regime.

Can trenches and mass execution of LGBT be far off. Putin is playing right out of the dictator playbook. Find a group and target them as the enemy, rally the populace around the hapless identified group, they all use this technique, to coalesce the masses around a target as they tighten the noose around the masses.

It is sickening to see this playing out. Naive me, I had thought in the 21st century we were hopefully getting away from this shit, but it seems we are doomed to repeat the past.

What is even more concerning, is today we seem to have many in the US that love this kind of shit. It is a very stupid and ignorant individual that can not grasp similar could well happen in this country, and many are working to enable this crap. I'm always amazed at the number of control and power freaks in the US.

[Skidmore]

17. Because Putin.....and freedom...and

human rights....and...and...all that.

[SummerSnow]

27. Seems like Putin is longing for the old Russia

[Jamaal510]

31. Any word from the Snowman on this yet? nt

[greatauntoftriplets]

32. No.

Maybe he's busy packing.

[Blue_Tires]

48. I tweeted it to greenwald...

if I get a response, I'll post it...

[Cha]

60. Dunno know..but there's this quote of Eddie's ragging on the USA as he hides behind his benefactor's

fascist shield.

"I can't in good conscience allow the U.S. government to destroy privacy, internet freedom and basic liberties for people around the world with this massive surveillance machine they're secretly building.
"And that's not something I'm willing to support, it's not something I'm willing to build and it's not something I'm willing to live under."
Edward Snowden

Max power http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5276801

[treestar]

88. But he can live in a place where repeated protest is not allowed

and where gay people are discriminated against. Odd bird, that Eddie.

[Cha]

94. Yes, Eddie can live where Gay People and journalists who disagree with putin are treated harshly and

he better not say anything about it or maybe just maybe ol Eddie will have it as bad as the Russians.

[treestar]

98. At least the Russian government is transparent

[Cha]

99. Yeah

Charles Hawley @charles_hawley
Follow
Wow, sharp words from German Foreign Ministry spokesperson: "#Russia has promised a lot and delivered nothing. We've had enough." #MH17
3:11 AM - 23 Jul 2014 226 Retweets 92 favorites

TOD

[freshwest]

96. He's never criticized Putin, period. He has nothing to protest, does he?

[herding cats]

33. These new laws apply to all the people involved in unsanctioned political protests

Not just the leaders of these protests. This is a very important change made since the earlier drafts of this law. Add to this the law from April making it a minimum of four years in jail for causing large disruptions to public order.

It's not a good time in history for Russian citizens to dissent from the official government views.

[Swede Atlanta]

34. We will see similar laws here....

As the people begin to wake up and realize they have been hoodwinked there will be more protests and as those protests are perceived by the 1% as a threat to their hegemony, their slaves in the state legislatures, governor's mansions, Congress and the Presidency will cow-tow to them.

We will see severe restrictions, despite the 1st Amendment right to peaceably assemble....

First Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

We will see as during the Bush (and continuing in the Obama era) years limits on the ability for free expression with "zones" that have nothing to do with security and everything to do with quashing public expression. The same will happen on the ability to assemble.

I expect a federal law that prohibits more than 5 people to assemble together. The rich will eventually understand their very lives are at risk. But they have placed those lives at risk by engaging in class warfare.

[Tarheel_Dem]

37. Wow! You got a lotta conspiracies going there. The o.p. has actually happened. See the difference?

[Cha]

63. We're discussing something that has actually happened in Russia. Are you trying to distract

from Putin's crackdown with your crystal ball?

[geardaddy]

35. In rest of world, we protest government!

In Putin's Russia, government protests you!

[Tarheel_Dem]

36. This can't be. Edward Snowjob says he's a champion of civil and human rights. n/t

[Jack Rabbit]

38. Putin is a fascist insect

Specifically, he's a cagey bee.

[OKNancy]

39. For all who say it's the same here.

This is in TULSA OKLAHOMA!! Got it OKLAHOMA.





and

[herding cats]

45. +1

This is not going to happen in Russia under Putin. Ever.

[OKNancy]

46. of course it isn't. It IS happening in the reddest of the red state in the US

And we have had one for years. No harassment, nothing but a great time.
Heck here in Tulsa we even have a neighborhood dubbed the gayborhood.

[herding cats]

61. I hate to tell you this, but you must be mistaken.

Red states are filled with nothing but troglodytes and Russia is presided over by an enlightened Progressive. Your photos are obviously propaganda intended to confuse the poor, simpleminded American public.

On a serious note, let's hear it for Tulsa and Oklahoma's Gay Pride parades in general!

[Cha]

66. those who would say it's "the same here" don't know wth they're talking about or just lying.

[questionseverything]

71. i think we expect russia to be bad

we expect better here

last week cops in detroit used sound cannons on citizens for the second time to break up peaceful protests

[treestar]

85. So true! We can protest or march or say anything we want

For that matter, Sarah Palin can say anything she damn well wants - and the things right wingers say about the POTUS! Come on! They aren't going to go to jail for any of that.

[joshcryer]

87. I think it's kind of obvious.

Those who say "it's the same here" or "it's becoming like that here" probably have never actually protested.

[ColesCountyDem]

40. There seems to be a recent, deafening silence from the Putin fan club on DU.

Has anyone else noticed that?

[LordGlenconner]

41. But we did bad things too!1!!1

[LuvNewcastle]

44. Fascist is as fascist does.

[RKP5637]

64. Makes Palin proud, her hero! n/t

[The Traveler]

53. Isn't it amazing how oligarchies behave so similarly?

I regard Putin as an example of the sort of thing we ourselves are heading for.

Remember that study published a few weeks ago that argued (with considerable strength, I feel) that the American political system was now functioning as an oligarchy? The study compared policy preferences of the 1% vs the vast majority of the rest of us and the actual legislative output. Funny how the 1% seem to win most of those arguments ...

There are other indications of our descent into oligarchical rule.

Consider and contrast the treatment of the Occupy movement (brutally suppressed) vs. the kid gloves with which our government has handled the Cliven Bundy crowd. Makes ya go hmmmm ... doesn't it? Of course, the Occupiers weren't armed with AR-15s and did not place their wives and children between their firing positions and Federal law enforcement personnel ... still, Bundy walks around free and uncharged.

And he walks free while progressive journalist Barrett Brown languishes in prison for posting a link and (stupidly) venting his spleen. And let's not even consider the Swartz case, lest my blood pressure spike. I can offer a rather lengthly list of other examples.

One may infer from this that the welfare millionaire Bundy is not considered a credible threat to certain political interests, but that Occupy, Swartz and Brown were.

I note that earlier this week, LRAD (a military grade crowd dispersal system that uses intense sound) was deployed to disperse protesters in Detroit. Can't have folk interfering with the process of shutting off water supplies to people too poor to pay the bill. Golf courses need water. People don't.

Putin and the government he supervises is a much more developed oligarchy than the US ... but I think the reason why right wingers like Rudy Ghouliani sometimes sing his praises is because they not-so-secretly wish to exercise the same sort of power, for the same purposes, as Putin and his crowd. Would the Rethugs outlaw protests if they could? You betcha ... but they would make sure loopholes are established for Christian extremists.

So pile on Putin by all means. I have no regard for him. But don't ignore the drift towards oligarchy we have allowed in our own nation. We can't do much about Putin. We can do something about opposing and attenuating oligarchical power in our own nation.

Trav

[questionseverything]

74. plus 1

eom

[RKP5637]

90. Thank you, a very intelligent and insightful post! n/t

[hrmjustin]

78. Putin is evil! Putin does not care about freedom.

[Zorra]

93. Slimy fascist putz.nt