tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post2807973005447256352..comments2023-09-17T10:57:35.535+03:00Comments on Ukrainiana: Yushchenko: Govt Piled Up Debt "Like a Bitch Piles Up Lice"Tarashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18139892487573795049noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post-52144214566214678992008-11-11T03:27:00.000+02:002008-11-11T03:27:00.000+02:00Taras, I'll put it to you this way, and this is so...Taras, I'll put it to you this way, and this is something that does not seem to be sinking into the heads of Ukrainians -<BR/><BR/>When Yushchenko got elected, with a majority of the people behind him, he could have done anything he wanted to do, as long as he had stuck to the Orange Coalition points.<BR/><BR/>There are only a few oligarchs.<BR/><BR/>There are many, many people.<BR/><BR/>Lutsenko has already said it, but he was relying on Shakespeare - "the worst and most secure prison of all is one's own mind."<BR/><BR/>When will people realize that the body politic, the voters, the mass of voters, is far more powerful than just a few oligarchs?<BR/><BR/>Corruption is killing the country, people have no trust in government at all, and from top to bottom, it's out in the open, and has been for a while - noone abides by the law, no one pays taxes, there is a huge shadow economy, people are demoralized because they don't know how to organize themselves (Lutsenko did it for a while with GREAT success), and worst of all, they don't know how to think.<BR/><BR/>Oh, sure, they know how to kvetch, and moan and groan, and criticize, and be sarcastic, and snipe and gripe.<BR/><BR/>But to take any positive steps, to take positive attitudes, to build, as Tymoshenko put it, the "best government in the world," to figure out that it's not that difficult to get around big fat thug oligarchs like Pinchuk and Zviahilsky and Hayduk and Kolomoisky and Firtash and the rest?<BR/><BR/>Well - they throw up their hands and give you blank stares.<BR/><BR/>And why should people abide by the law in Ukraine when all the fat thug oligarchs so blatantly parade their ill-gotten gains in front of everyone's noses?<BR/><BR/>Much easier to pick the pockets of tourists on the Kyiv Metro. Much easier to pay the bribe to the automobile police than to fight it. Much easier to pay bribes to all the assorted government "inspectors" whose wives need new cars, since noone pays taxes anyway.<BR/><BR/>Much easier to sit back and wait for someone to spoon-feed democracy and reform into the people's mouths.<BR/><BR/>Well, if you throw the oligarchs out, then you've got a great start.<BR/><BR/>Yushchenko blew it.<BR/><BR/>Tymoshenko and Lutsenko seem to be the only ones who still have a concept of democracy.<BR/><BR/>Any others, Taras?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post-46732264208924053782008-11-10T20:02:00.000+02:002008-11-10T20:02:00.000+02:00What? Tym doesn't have any oligarch friends? Aren'...What? Tym doesn't have any oligarch friends? Aren't they're any in BYUT or in her administration? And where's her, sorry, her family's money from?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post-29374734034798125582008-11-09T16:54:00.000+02:002008-11-09T16:54:00.000+02:00The thing is, Yushchenko lied - about the governme...The thing is, Yushchenko lied - about the government piling on debt.<BR/><BR/>Ukraine's debt is not out of line with that of other countries.<BR/><BR/>Now, Taras, the "glaring disconnect" between Tymoshenko's declared income and her wardrobe and other possessions, as you know, is not limited to Tymoshenko - all of the thugs in parliament do the same thing.<BR/><BR/>Akhmetov pretended to publicly declare his income.<BR/><BR/>NONE of the goddamn thugs in the Ukrainian parliament have publicly opened up their true tax returns, even though Ukrainian Pravda has speculated long and loud about the assorted crooks that call themselves deputies.<BR/><BR/>Now we're getting somewhere: which fat oligarch pig is part of which "political force." Ukrainian Pravda has also covered that in detail.<BR/><BR/>The issue of abolishing blanket immunity is nothing new. It's been repeated often during Ukrainian elections.<BR/><BR/>The thing that is astounding to me, absolutely baffling, is this - in the fact of all of this public information, why can't Ukrainians figure out what to do about it?<BR/><BR/>The foxes are guarding the henhouse.<BR/><BR/>It's time to remove the foxes.<BR/><BR/>The oligarchs are going to have to be blown OUT of government by a thing called the vote.<BR/><BR/>The oligarchs are not going to leave unless they are blown out of government.<BR/><BR/>Tymoshenko is a slim hope for that. Sadly, Yushchenko, clearly, doesn't care, and has blown it severely.<BR/><BR/>The dynamite is something called the vote - which was hard-won in the Orange Revolution.<BR/><BR/>Now that Ukrainians have a free vote - the stupid bastards don't know how to use it. The keep voting for the same thing over and over again.<BR/><BR/>Einstein's definition of insanity was - doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results.<BR/><BR/>Why can't Ukrainians do what is done in other countries -<BR/><BR/>1) recognize and identify problem<BR/><BR/>2) come up with solution<BR/><BR/>3) implement solution<BR/><BR/>Instead of talk, talk, talk, talk, instead of acting like drama queens?<BR/><BR/>Are Ukrainians really that apathetic, or brain-dead?<BR/><BR/>To put it in the words of Dr. Phil about what is going on currently in Ukraine, and for the past 17 years --<BR/><BR/>"How's that workin' for ya'"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post-25809026669305271272008-11-07T15:03:00.000+02:002008-11-07T15:03:00.000+02:00"Tym does compromise" - yes absolutely. I agree. S..."Tym does compromise" - yes absolutely. I agree. She only puts out this image of no compromise against corruption and people buy it and still are. <BR/><BR/>As for Luts he's just a wheeler and dealer of the worst sort. When Yush was top dog he followed him, even announcing he knew what poison was used when of course he hadn't a clue. Then when Tym looked like coming out on top he switched sides. And now it looks like he's falling through the crack. His only chance is to hitch a lift with Yulia. He's been interior minister and what good has he done there?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post-12707652960251292582008-11-07T13:38:00.000+02:002008-11-07T13:38:00.000+02:00Anonymous, Of course, Tymoshenko does compromise, ...<B>Anonymous,</B> <BR/><BR/>Of course, Tymoshenko <I>does</I> compromise, and it shows. First of all, it’s the glaring disconnect between her <A HREF="http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2005/8/15/32442.htm" REL="nofollow">luxury wardrobe</A> and her <A HREF="http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2007/10/5/65002.htm" REL="nofollow">$31K annual earnings statements</A>. Then it’s her <A HREF="http://www.oligarh.net/?/themeofday/22721/" REL="nofollow">team</A>, which makes her looks just as two-faced. <BR/><BR/>Sooner or later, too much compromise will kill her popularity. <BR/><BR/><BR/><B>Elmer,</B> <BR/><BR/>In relative terms, Tymoshenko, Lutsenko, and Yatsenyuk stand out as “cleaner” than the rest. But that’s in relative terms only. The truth is, they all run their own old-boy networks:<BR/> <BR/>Tymoshenko: Haiduk, Hubsky<BR/>Lutsenko: Zhvania, <A HREF="http://www.nr2.ru/kiev/expertise/163430.html" REL="nofollow">Babakov</A><BR/>Yatsenyuk: <A HREF="http://www.from-ua.com/eco/eco1/449fbe7cc60e3/" REL="nofollow">Pinchuk</A>, <A HREF="http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2008/9/10/81029.htm" REL="nofollow">Akhmetov</A><BR/><BR/>In the 2007 campaign, Lutsenko and Yatsenyuk promised to lift parliamentary immunity and ensure “one law for all.” Tymoshenko promised that “she did it back then, she’ll do it again.”<BR/><BR/>So what did they do? Not much. <BR/><BR/><BR/><B>Leopolis,</B><BR/><BR/>Unless something more impressive comes out, it's definitely the quote of the year!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the alternative translation! It goes to show that translating Yushchenko’s "French" is an art, not a science:)Tarashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18139892487573795049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post-16638073547546271762008-11-06T16:23:00.000+02:002008-11-06T16:23:00.000+02:00You piled on debt like a "bitch piles on fleas." L...You piled on debt like a "bitch piles on fleas." Love it. This is the line of the year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post-76764223670289540912008-11-06T16:05:00.000+02:002008-11-06T16:05:00.000+02:00As far as the last comment is concerned -- huh?Wha...As far as the last comment is concerned -- huh?<BR/><BR/>What are the "political elite" fighting about in Ukraine? Except for Tymoshenko and Lutsenko, and Yatseniuk, and some others, they are fighting to keep the right to use and abuse government for their own personal benefit.<BR/><BR/>Yushchenko is simply fighting to keep Yulia out of power.<BR/><BR/>He has very obviously thrown in his lot with Akhmetov, and other oligarchs from the Party of Regions, in a bid to remain president.<BR/><BR/>Where is the public good in all of this?<BR/><BR/>As far as compromise is concerned - I wonder how much "compromise" a criminal who is not in the Ukrainian parliament gets.<BR/><BR/>In other words, members of the Ukrainian parliament have absolute immunity.<BR/><BR/>There is one law for them - and another for everyone else.<BR/><BR/>The "political elite" in Ukraine have been robbing the country blind now for at least 14 years.<BR/><BR/>Yushchenko intervened on behalf of corrupt thugs like Firtash and his RosUkrEnergo, and Akhmetov and his Vanco Prykerchenska scam.<BR/><BR/>Tymoshenko and others are trying to get rid of that kind of corruption, that kind of abuse and misuse of government.<BR/><BR/>So what kind of "compromise" does the last commenter propose? About what? And with whom?<BR/><BR/>A bit of logic and specificity based on facts would be very nice if one is going to post comments, rather than vapid accusations about "fantasy."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post-29583763382701059272008-11-04T16:41:00.000+02:002008-11-04T16:41:00.000+02:00As it happens Yush is right. Tym doesn't compromis...As it happens Yush is right. Tym doesn't compromise. That's her appeal as if she single handedly she's going to sort everything out, put all the criminals in jail and make Ukraine a European country. But that's only in fantasy, in realiy she just destroys any possibility of even gradual reform.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post-51956633303062920872008-11-04T16:05:00.000+02:002008-11-04T16:05:00.000+02:00Good to see you again, John!On the face of it, it ...<B>Good to see you again, John!</B><BR/><BR/>On the face of it, it may seem like straight talk. On closer observation, however, most of it can be dismissed as empty talk. These guys always talk the talk, but rarely walk the walk. <BR/><BR/>They do employ clichés and buzzwords extensively. The most popular one is <I>stabilnist</I>, which denotes stability, but connotes the status quo.<BR/><BR/>I agree that straight talk involves voicing unpleasant concerns. In times of crisis, the last thing we need is hot air, weasel words, and blinders. But sexist and offensive language can be just as counter-productive.<BR/><BR/><BR/><B>Gracias, Gabriela!</B><BR/><BR/>It’s amazing how similar some of the scenes in Lima and Kyiv look:)<BR/><BR/>Saludos desde Kyiv!<BR/><BR/><BR/><B>Touché, Vitaliy!</B> <BR/><BR/>I, too, believe it’s an allegorical, gender-specific simile. Even if we separate style from substance, it’s clear that the President has gone way too far in his breach of etiquette.<BR/><BR/>In fact, it’s probably not the first time the President throws around such fancy vocabulary.<BR/>Here’s a <A HREF="http://video.oboz.ua/movie.php?dmE9NCZpZD00NTE5JnZ0PTA" REL="nofollow">recording</A> of what appears to be a private conversation between Yushchenko and Tymoshenko leaked on the Internet:<BR/><BR/><B>Yushchenko:</B> ...vam treba konflikt, vam treba tse blyadske* prezydenstvo! (...you need conflict, you need this fucking presidency!) <BR/><BR/>*<I>Blyadske</I> literally means whore-like.Tarashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18139892487573795049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post-9455824937089458902008-11-04T07:38:00.000+02:002008-11-04T07:38:00.000+02:00No doubt the expression was used with a double mea...No doubt the expression was used with a double meaning: 1. to describe the government under PM Tymoshenko and 2. to imply that Tymoshenko was none other than the dog full of lice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post-88263700112053280802008-11-04T03:25:00.000+02:002008-11-04T03:25:00.000+02:00OFF TOPICTaras: thanks a lot for the picture you s...OFF TOPIC<BR/>Taras: thanks a lot for the picture you <A HREF="http://seisdeenero.blogspot.com/2008/10/zapatitos.html?showComment=1225720200000#c8397832992645631017" REL="nofollow">sent me</A>. I've added a link to it in that post as <A HREF="http://seisdeenero.blogspot.com/2008/10/zapatitos.html" REL="nofollow">an update</A>.<BR/>¡Saludos!Gabrielahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03280432296207747625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post-78752186766938720002008-11-03T19:03:00.000+02:002008-11-03T19:03:00.000+02:00I'm grateful, Taras, for the translation. With the...I'm grateful, Taras, for the translation. With the US presidential election less than a day away, it is easy to look to contrasting political cultures - even those in so-called fledgling democracies such as Ukraine - with envy. While this may have been a made-for-TV moment, the lively conversation and engagement compare favorably with the repetition of clichés ("bolster the middle class," "keep our borders secure," "support our troops," "Joe the Plumber") that characterized the three televised Obama-McCain "debates." From a neutral vantage point, the participants in Ukraine spoke as if something was at stake.<BR/><BR/>If either US candidate had referred to America's debt addiction in such colloquial terms, his political handlers would have committed hara-kiri. We have lost our appetite for straight talk, or at least the presidential aspirants assume that we have.The Global Gamehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03220608481757780209noreply@blogger.com