Putin Stepping Down?

[NobleHunter]

Because it seems to be that kind of day.

https://nypost.com/2020/11/05/vladimir-putin-planning-to-step-down-next-year-report/

Please don't ask what the other thing is.

If he is stepping down (seems to be just a rumor right now?) I hope the transition is interesting in the most boring way possible.

[TheDrake]

Think I'll wait and see if somebody other than the NY Post reports this.

[NobleHunter]

Yes, I know, but it's been a long day.

[Grant]

What is this, Christmas? 

2020 is looking up.  Now I just have to win the lottery and I'll take back everything I said. 

[NobleHunter]

Apparently the Kremlin is denying this. So probably not?

[TheDrake]

Either way he or his inner circle is going to anoint someone who will continue the status quo. They're not suddenly going to be led by a Gorbachev or Yeltsin. They'll probably install Putin's chief poisoner.

[Grant]

Either way he or his inner circle is going to anoint someone who will continue the status quo. They're not suddenly going to be led by a Gorbachev or Yeltsin. They'll probably install Putin's chief poisoner.

Eh.  Two other possibilities:

1.  People like Pooter don't keep subordinates around that have the same, let's call them "talents", that Pooter does.  Keeping people like that close is inviting assassination. 

2.  Pooter had a unique level of skill in, let's call them "talents".  Nobody could outplot and outmanuever all of the free world like Pooter.  Littlefinger was a punk compared to Pooter.  He was one in a billion.  Can't find a replacement with that level of "talent". 

[TheDrake]

Either way he or his inner circle is going to anoint someone who will continue the status quo. They're not suddenly going to be led by a Gorbachev or Yeltsin. They'll probably install Putin's chief poisoner.

Eh.  Two other possibilities:

1.  People like Pooter don't keep subordinates around that have the same, let's call them "talents", that Pooter does.  Keeping people like that close is inviting assassination. 

2.  Pooter had a unique level of skill in, let's call them "talents".  Nobody could outplot and outmanuever all of the free world like Pooter.  Littlefinger was a punk compared to Pooter.  He was one in a billion.  Can't find a replacement with that level of "talent".

That's fair, his replacement will be more like Putin's Mini-Me than his Twin.

[Grant]

That's fair, his replacement will be more like Putin's Mini-Me than his Twin.

I'm thinking Khrushchev and Malenkov taking over after Stalin.  Good villains are so hard to develop.  I've never really seen an alpha level threat to world peace/freedom/stability with a good succession plan, except for North Korea.  Maybe Iran. 

Edited to include Stalin taking over from Lenin.  That was a successful succession. 

[TheDrake]

Hope you're right, I just don't see somebody like Khrushchev coming in and dismantling the Putin apparatus. It would certainly help if Putin stroked out like Stalin. But Putin has been actively working on a succession plan.

[TheDeamon]

Edited to include Stalin taking over from Lenin.  That was a successful succession.

IIRC, Lenin didn't want Stalin to take over after him?

Although I don't think Lenin had an "anointed successor," either that or Stalin killed him and anyone who knew who it was supposed to be.

[yossarian22c]

Edited to include Stalin taking over from Lenin.  That was a successful succession.

IIRC, Lenin didn't want Stalin to take over after him?

Although I don't think Lenin had an "anointed successor," either that or Stalin killed him and anyone who knew who it was supposed to be.

Trotsky was the other guy in play. He fled to Mexico City when Stalin won the power struggle but Stalin had him killed anyway.

[TheDeamon]

From my understanding of the matter with Trotsky, he simply wasn't going to happen in Russia for a number of reasons, even without Stalin being around.