Three stories I found on the net about the election in Russia.

25/11/2007: Russia sees further detentions of opposition activists

http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/mhmhqlsnauid/

26/11/2007: Putin accuses US of trying to 'devalue' elections

http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/mhmhidaugbmh/

30/11/2007: Opposition groups cry foul ahead of Russian election

http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/mhmhidgbidkf/

election in Russia will be tomorrow, Dec. 2nd

Democracy, Russian style

Well, there is bickering in every Country when it comes to elections, but in Russia it always seems very extreme.

extreme

maybe you should check out

this one

Chavez’s bluster surges ahead of vote
Some observers link Venezuelan leader's tough talk with tight contest

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22049468/

I have seen it, and I was wondering whether to post it, but Russia is a bit closer to home in the moment.

And it is more about changing the Constitution than about elections.

it is the manipulation of the vote that changing the constitution

that would permit a life long leader role that is the concern

if one is in power for to long they get to the point of dominant control .

Unfortunately that is only too true.
That is the problem with those people who put on shoes that are far too big for them. They are always afraid to lose them.
The most powerful men are those who know when to stop.
Even Mr. Putin is stepping down next year, or so he says anyway.

I think thats almost true.

The most powerful men are the ones who follow the law and know when to stop.

Not just running away to another country with a bag full of goodies.

In Pakistan, Musharraf has "given up" his uniform and handed the running of the army to his best mate!

But the opposition govt people are still being detained, harassed and generally put down.

Even one of Pakistan national sporting heroes, Imran Khan, has been imprisoned. ... and he can walk on water according to most Pakistanis.

But the Russian situation is bizarre because they still practice a form of democratic communism.
"You lot are all equal, except Im more equal than you, so vote for me"

Putin is nothing more than a throw back to the old communist regime, its just he has a more socially acceptable bandwagon to be on, to court the west.

When the west runs out of gas and oil, we will have to start flattering the Russians, or they will turn off the gas.

Why do I feel like I should move to the moon and grow moon vegetables

As expected Putin won the election in Russia

http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/mhmhidsncwid/


while Chavez in Venezuela suffered defeat in his attempt to change the Constitution

http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/1203/venezuela.html

A bit of bad news followed by a good bit ...

Geez Andrea, you certainly know how to keep us on our toes