Is Putin really crazy, like #45 crazy, or is it mental deterioration?

[Anonymous]

I don't get it. His people don't want what he's doing. His oligarchs can't possibly think this is a good idea. Why is he doing this-is he just an aging man trying to recreate the glory days of the past before it's all too late for him?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get it. His people don't want what he's doing. His oligarchs can't possibly think this is a good idea. Why is he doing this-is he just an aging man trying to recreate the glory days of the past before it's all too late for him?

Russian oligarchs just saw the equivalent of a quarter trillion dollars of their wealth just go up in smoke as Russia's stock market collapsed, even with emergency trading bans put in place. If I were a Russian oligarch I would be furious with him and definitely wondering if there was something wrong with him. I'd be looking to remove him.

[jsteele]

If you have seen photos or video of Putin's latest meetings, he doesn't get close to anyone. He sits miles away from people in meetings. There have been a lot of stories about his fear of covid. My theory is that he has spent two years in near total isolation and it has affected his mental health. He is also probably not in touch with valid information because his only outlets are a few trusted "yes men" who only tell him what he wants to hear.

[Anonymous]

I'll take crazy for $200.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get it. His people don't want what he's doing. His oligarchs can't possibly think this is a good idea. Why is he doing this-is he just an aging man trying to recreate the glory days of the past before it's all too late for him?

Russian oligarchs just saw the equivalent of a quarter trillion dollars of their wealth just go up in smoke as Russia's stock market collapsed, even with emergency trading bans put in place. If I were a Russian oligarch I would be furious with him and definitely wondering if there was something wrong with him. I'd be looking to remove him.

Wait, you think the oligarchs control Putin?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get it. His people don't want what he's doing. His oligarchs can't possibly think this is a good idea. Why is he doing this-is he just an aging man trying to recreate the glory days of the past before it's all too late for him?

Russian oligarchs just saw the equivalent of a quarter trillion dollars of their wealth just go up in smoke as Russia's stock market collapsed, even with emergency trading bans put in place. If I were a Russian oligarch I would be furious with him and definitely wondering if there was something wrong with him. I'd be looking to remove him.

Wait, you think the oligarchs control Putin?

NP here: there is a tacit agreement and balance between Putin, the oligarchs/mafia, and the military generals. Putin is supposed to protect the oligarch's wealth and access to the West. What happens when he doesn't live up to his side of the bargain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get it. His people don't want what he's doing. His oligarchs can't possibly think this is a good idea. Why is he doing this-is he just an aging man trying to recreate the glory days of the past before it's all too late for him?

Russian oligarchs just saw the equivalent of a quarter trillion dollars of their wealth just go up in smoke as Russia's stock market collapsed, even with emergency trading bans put in place. If I were a Russian oligarch I would be furious with him and definitely wondering if there was something wrong with him. I'd be looking to remove him.

Wait, you think the oligarchs control Putin?

NP here: there is a tacit agreement and balance between Putin, the oligarchs/mafia, and the military generals. Putin is supposed to protect the oligarch's wealth and access to the West. What happens when he doesn't live up to his side of the bargain?

Many of the oligarchs are former Russian mob. Putin would do well to beef up his security detail to not have his "friends" whack him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get it. His people don't want what he's doing. His oligarchs can't possibly think this is a good idea. Why is he doing this-is he just an aging man trying to recreate the glory days of the past before it's all too late for him?

Russian oligarchs just saw the equivalent of a quarter trillion dollars of their wealth just go up in smoke as Russia's stock market collapsed, even with emergency trading bans put in place. If I were a Russian oligarch I would be furious with him and definitely wondering if there was something wrong with him. I'd be looking to remove him.

Wait, you think the oligarchs control Putin?

NP. They don't control him, but as a group they are essential to his ability to continue to hold power.

[Anonymous]

His actions remind me of the Battle of the Bulge and Hitler. It caught the Allies by surprise not because it couldn't happen but because it was a losing proposition in the end. It wasn't logical. It just doesn't make sense. The only difference here is that Putin has nukes.

[Anonymous]

I think it's paranoia about being whacked that has driven Putin crazy. I don't remember where I read this, it was a while ago, but it was an article about how Putin lives in a cage of his own making. He couldn't step down without being assassinated, and he had (literally) poisoned so many people on his way to the top that now he is paranoid about being poisoned himself.

So if you live isolated in fear of betrayal, constantly suspecting that your own countrymen are out to get you, and that isolation & paranoia continues for years, I think it would mess you up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get it. His people don't want what he's doing. His oligarchs can't possibly think this is a good idea. Why is he doing this-is he just an aging man trying to recreate the glory days of the past before it's all too late for him?

Russian oligarchs just saw the equivalent of a quarter trillion dollars of their wealth just go up in smoke as Russia's stock market collapsed, even with emergency trading bans put in place. If I were a Russian oligarch I would be furious with him and definitely wondering if there was something wrong with him. I'd be looking to remove him.

Wait, you think the oligarchs control Putin?

NP. They don't control him, but as a group they are essential to his ability to continue to hold power.

Except they just lost a ton of their money and so influence, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's paranoia about being whacked that has driven Putin crazy. I don't remember where I read this, it was a while ago, but it was an article about how Putin lives in a cage of his own making. He couldn't step down without being assassinated, and he had (literally) poisoned so many people on his way to the top that now he is paranoid about being poisoned himself.

So if you live isolated in fear of betrayal, constantly suspecting that your own countrymen are out to get you, and that isolation & paranoia continues for years, I think it would mess you up.

He's a little like a mob boss or a shark in that can't stop swimming or he'll die. He can't retire. He's stuck. He doesn't really want the job. But he can't let go of power and go quietly into the night. Maybe this is swan song. I really hope I'm wrong.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:If you have seen photos or video of Putin's latest meetings, he doesn't get close to anyone. He sits miles away from people in meetings. There have been a lot of stories about his fear of covid. My theory is that he has spent two years in near total isolation and it has affected his mental health. He is also probably not in touch with valid information because his only outlets are a few trusted "yes men" who only tell him what he wants to hear.

+1 And anyone who wanted to see him had to quarantine for two weeks prior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get it. His people don't want what he's doing. His oligarchs can't possibly think this is a good idea. Why is he doing this-is he just an aging man trying to recreate the glory days of the past before it's all too late for him?

Russian oligarchs just saw the equivalent of a quarter trillion dollars of their wealth just go up in smoke as Russia's stock market collapsed, even with emergency trading bans put in place. If I were a Russian oligarch I would be furious with him and definitely wondering if there was something wrong with him. I'd be looking to remove him.

Wait, you think the oligarchs control Putin?

NP here: there is a tacit agreement and balance between Putin, the oligarchs/mafia, and the military generals. Putin is supposed to protect the oligarch's wealth and access to the West. What happens when he doesn't live up to his side of the bargain?

Soldiers or police or Wagner mercenaries visits the Oligarchs and they are never heard from again. Putin is past the point where he has to care about them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's paranoia about being whacked that has driven Putin crazy. I don't remember where I read this, it was a while ago, but it was an article about how Putin lives in a cage of his own making. He couldn't step down without being assassinated, and he had (literally) poisoned so many people on his way to the top that now he is paranoid about being poisoned himself.

So if you live isolated in fear of betrayal, constantly suspecting that your own countrymen are out to get you, and that isolation & paranoia continues for years, I think it would mess you up.

This is the trap that every autocrat creates for himself.