Vladimir Putin

Ed Schultz Sneers: Republicans Love Their 'New Hero' Putin
By Scott Whitlock | September 12, 2013 | 6:13 PM EDT

 Loud liberal Ed Schultz on Thursday sneered that Republicans, because of a hatred for Barack Obama, now idolize their "new hero" Vladimir Putin. The Ed Show anchor also repeatedly, but incorrectly, identified Putin as the former head of the KGB.

In a viewer mail section, Schultz read aloud, "Our next question is from Jay Stan. 'Do you think Putin is hinting for a leadership role in the Republican Party?'" [See video below. MP3 audio here.] Schultz mocked, "I tell you what, all of a sudden Putin is the new hero for the Republican Party. Have you noticed that?" He continued, "Have you noticed how many right-wing talk show hosts across the country all of a sudden are just embracing this former head of the KGB?" Schultz offered no examples of GOP love for Putin. In fact, in a later segment, he showed clips of Republicans slamming the Russian. 

Cal Thomas: We've Been Played, Mr. President
By Cal Thomas | September 12, 2013 | 5:46 PM EDT

"One does not sharpen the axes after the right time; after the time they are needed." -- Russian Proverb

The late Ukrainian violinist Mischa Elman is considered one of the greatest of all time, but he has nothing on Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has played the Obama administration better than any musician.

Krauthammer: Chance of Weapons Being Eliminated From Syria Less Than Cubs Winning World Series
By Noel Sheppard | September 10, 2013 | 11:04 AM EDT

Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer had some harsh words for the apparent peace proposal offered by Russian President Vladimir Putin involving Syria turning over its chemical weapons.

Appearing on Fox News's Special Report Monday, Krauthammer said, “The chances of these weapons being eliminated from Syria are less than of the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series this year, and they are now mathematically eliminated.”

CBS Laments Pope's 'Religious Street Protest' is Anti-Obama, Pro-Putin
By Matthew Balan | September 6, 2013 | 2:58 PM EDT

On Friday's CBS This Morning, Mark Phillips all but hinted that Pope Francis had "taken sides" with Russia's Vladimir Putin and against President Obama in the international debate over military strikes in Syria. Phillips proposed that the Pope's letter to Putin "must have been music to the Russian president's ears."

The journalist also turned to a "Vatican historian" who once publicly attacked Francis' predecessor, Benedict XVI, as a "dictator", and likened him to Islamists. He also labeled the Pope's upcoming prayer and fasting vigil for peace in Syria a "religious street protest." [audio available here; video below the jump]

Krauthammer on Attacking Syria: 'What's Russia Going to Do? Cancel Another Summit?'
By Noel Sheppard | August 28, 2013 | 10:08 AM EDT

With all eyes on Syria and what the Obama administration is going to do in response to alleged chemical weapons use by Bashar Assad, many are concerned with how Vladimir Putin will react if we attack.

On Fox News's O'Reilly Factor Tuesday, syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer marvelously asked, "What's Russia going to do? Cancel another summit?"

Live Blog: President Obama's August 9 Press Conference
By Ken Shepherd | August 9, 2013 | 3:09 PM EDT

President Obama is taking questions from the news media. In the comments section, tell us what you would ask if you were a White House reporter.

I'll be covering the questions journalists ask of the president below the page break. As always, I'm doing this on the fly, so transcriptions of questions may be imperfect:

NBC's Chuck Todd Plays Obama on Leno Falsely Claiming Putin Ran the KGB -- With No Correction
By Tim Graham | August 7, 2013 | 10:45 PM EDT

NBC White House reporter Chuck Todd hotly dismissed on Twitter the planned NBC docudrama on Hillary Clinton: “NBC News has nothing to do w/Clinton mini series on NBC entertainment. So save your complaints.” Todd also tweeted: “Can already imagine how either Clinton lovers or haters will assume some sort of NBC News involvement. Trust me, we have day jobs.”

But there was Todd on the day-job on Wednesday’s Nightly News, playing three clips of Obama on ...NBC Entertainment’s Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Without any correction, Todd aired a clip of Obama falsely claiming Putin “headed up the KGB,” which was buried with the Soviet Union in 1991. (Leno and the morning shows didn’t challenge Obama on his error, either.) Todd promoted Obama as “buttoned-down, measured” while Putin was “famously flamboyant” in photo-ops: 

ABC, CBS and NBC Overlook Obama's Gaffe-tastic Performance on Leno
By Geoffrey Dickens | August 7, 2013 | 5:33 PM EDT

Barack Obama delivered one gaffe after another in his August 6 interview with Jay Leno, but the networks that usually mock every mistake or slip of the tongue made by Republicans ignored the President's verbal mishaps.

ABC's Good Morning America, CBS's This Morning and NBC's Today show, on Wednesday morning, all bypassed the chance to criticize Obama for: downplaying the threat of terrorism; falsely claiming Vladimir Putin once ran the KGB; placing the Atlantic coast cities of Savannah, Charleston and Jacksonville on the Gulf of Mexico; confusing the Winter Olympics with the Summer Olympics. (video after the jump)

Peggy Noonan: U.S. Government 'Feeling Resentful' and 'Dissed' By Putin
By Noel Sheppard | August 4, 2013 | 5:25 PM EDT

"I think those in the American government, looking at Vladimir Putin and what he's done, are feeling resentful and they're feeling dissed. They're wondering why he's treating America so roughly."

So said Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan on CBS's Face the Nation Sunday.

I Like Barack: Obama Reminds Historian Brinkley of Eisenhower
By Mark Finkelstein | July 5, 2013 | 8:18 AM EDT

This Fourth of July weekend is turning into an unforseen laff-fest.  Yesterday we had NBC featuring a photo of President Obama making what he might have thought was an assertive hand gesture while discussing the situation in Egypt with his aides.

Today treats us to historian Douglas Brinkley, on Morning Joe, claiming that when it comes to foreign policy, President Obama reminds him of, yes, Supreme-Allied-Commander-turned-President Dwight D. Eisenhower.  View the chuckle-worthy video after the jump.

Krauthammer: Russia and China 'Care Nothing For What Obama Says'
By Noel Sheppard | June 24, 2013 | 7:03 PM EDT

Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer had some harsh words for President Obama Monday in the wake of Russia and China's handling of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden.

Appearing on Fox News's Special Report, Krauthammer said, "If there's no element of respect or fear - and you saw it in the summit with the head of the United States and head of Russia and China within the last two weeks - they care nothing for what Obama says, and they know that when he makes a threat, it carries no weight behind it."

Larry King Joins Russian TV Network to Host 'Mold-Breaking' Political Program
By Randy Hall | May 30, 2013 | 2:32 AM EDT

After 56 years in broadcasting and more than 50,000 interviews across the U.S., anyone else would be considered a prime candidate for retirement, but that doesn't apply to Larry King, who will launch a “mold-breaking political talk show” in June for the Russia Today online TV network.

Perhaps failed CNN-FOX-MSNBC-Current anchor Keith Olbermann should pay attention. If no one in America will hire you, take your act international.