Gorbachev, maybe. Kruschev was the scariest, followed closely by Brezhnev. Yeltsin was scary because he was drunk at the wheel.
The world needs more leaders like Konstantin Chernenko (or John Paul I). Gone before they can do anything too dangerous.
While the dungeon is open, BUMP... So I can bask in the magnificence of my glorious analytical qualities. I totally figured that guy out while world leaders were looking into his eyes and seeing his trustworthy soul.
Well, there's one big difference: at the end of the soviet union Gorby was going around with his hand out-they were totally bankrupt and couldn't hide it anymore; today Russia, oil and gas rich, is 4th out of 163 countries in balance-of-payments: guess whose in 163rd place? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_current_account_balance
I think Russia and China finally decided, "Hey communism ain't happening, so let's embrace a controlled version of capitalism, but without all the freedoms. We want the money, but not a culture that produces internet videos of two girls and a cup, Flavor Flav, tacky tatooes, mall shootings, lazy-@$$ worthless MySpace-addicted teenagers, Britney Spears, etc. etc." That's why China halted that student-led protest with the tanks years ago...nipped that in the bud. American economy, yes; American culture, no. But yes, Putin is scary. What scares me even more is how he is almost universally loved by all the Russians I've met down here. He's their Ronald Reagan. BTW, the Russians I know enjoy our culture, but make no mistake about it, they have little inherent respect for Americans their own age. They think the future of America - in the hands of these rising teenagers and early twenty types - is doomed.
When are we going to abandon the trite and meaningless 'distinctions' we continue to make about the 'systems' of government? Until we do, we are going to have the Four Horsemen of the Apocalpyse breathing down our necks. It's always been about power, plain and simple. Don't trust those Russkies or the Chinese...when the time comes, after the balloon goes up, I'm prepared to ride the Big Bomb in just like Slim Pickens. Yahoooooooo..... Meanwhile, let's all enjoy some PIE and stop this fruitless fag bickering. It only incites weak minded and/or truly evil people and sex prevertions. Transporter Oh that ain't workin, that's the way you do it...
