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# Open Thread Mondays: Putting It To Putin
- URL: https://bklyner.com/open-thread-mondays-putting-it-to-putin-sheepshead-bay/
- Published: 2012-03-05T21:34:02.000Z
- Updated: 2012-03-05T21:34:02.000Z
- Author: Ned Berke
- Tags: #API-Imported

The [sometimes-ally of the United States](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign%5Fpolicy%5Fof%5FVladimir%5FPutin?ref=bklyner.com#Relations%5Fwith%5Fthe%5FUnited%5FStates), Vladimir V. Putin, was kinda-sorta-maybe elected to be president of Russia yesterday, winning 63.75 percent of the vote.

And, today, [thousands took to the streets to denounce the victory](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/world/asia/moscow-protesters-denounce-putin-victory.html?hp&ref=bklyner.com), and international observers slammed the election, saying Putin faced no real competition while receiving a bevy of government funds for his campaign.

Putin is sometimes hailed and sometimes hated, having kept a solid grasp over Russia’s affairs – as president, then prime minister, and now president again – for a dozen years. His relations with America are frequently described as “prickly,” and some observers say he has done much to benefit Russia, but has also exercised a level of government reach comparable to the Soviet era.

Considering the large amount of Russian-Americans among our readers, what do you think of Putin’s win yesterday? Is this a step forward or backwards for Russia, and what does it mean for America?