Where the U.S. saw rosy democratic futures, ex-Soviet lands now see gloom

[Geee]

Investors Business Daily:

Yet another hectic day planned for the Obama-Biden administration. Joe and Jill have already left town for the holidays.

 

After three whole days of D.C. meetings, the VP will rest comfortably in Delaware today where, according to his opaque official schedule, Biden will "participate in meetings with senior advisers via teleconference." In other words, he'll be playing Pac-Man.

 

Remember now, Biden is aging rapidly. He's planning a presidential run for 2016, but he just turned 71. That's the same advanced age of John McCain in 2008 when Biden said the Republican was way too old to become president.

 

In contrast, Hillary "What Difference at This Point Does It Make?" Clinton is a mere child of 66.

 

Obama's transparent schedule today says "the president will attend meetings at the White House." In other words, he'll be cleaning his clubs. That's because tomorrow friends, staff and the entire extended Obama family (but not Uncle Omar) will make the nine-hour flight to Hawaii in Air Force One (at $182,000 per flight hour).

 

There, they'll have another 17-day break to recover from signing several bills.

[Geee]

Strapped Ukraine Accepts Putin's Bear Hug, Disses Europe, And Dooms Its Own Economy

 

Geopolitics: Russia's Vladimir Putin bought himself a country this week, handing out a $15 billion bailout with cheap gas on the side to Ukraine to keep it out of a trade pact with the European Union. No, it won't work.

There was no doubt cash-strapped Ukraine was going to get the $15 billion it needed to make it through the winter. With foreign reserves below $19 billion, it needed cash from somewhere, or it would become the next Greece.

The International Monetary Fund and the European Union had been working on a bailout package for the cash-strapped state, and had it nearly ready this month.

But somehow Russia leaped up and snapped the country away, handing Ukraine a $15 billion bailout of its own in a surprise announcement this week. The oily grins in the news photos of Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych and Russia's President Vladimir Putin told the story.

Yanukovych's taking of the Russian offer over the European Union/IMF's was a big case of grabbing a short-term benefit at the cost of Ukraine's long-term future.

 

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/121913-683679-ukraine-takes-15-billion-from-russia-turns-its-back-on-europe.htm

[Geee]

Sigh.

[nickydog]

Sigh.

 

 

Yes.