hidden/denied.

The virus doesn't listen to these dictators.

who will win, Trump or Puttie?

Brazil had over 15k new cases yesterday.

Sid

PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!!

Falling from great heights appears to be a symptom of covid in Russia

Their policies have brought our world to the brink, and they and too many others, still think they deserve to be in charge.

refusals to take federal/central government action to contain and stop pandemic from sweeping their nations.

Both nations developed containment procedures long ago, and implemented them during previous outbreaks. And both deliberately mostly refused to this time.

It may not make sense to us, but there have to be some reason behind these decisions, though they don't have to be adequately informed, insightful, ethical or competent.

Or joint. Yes, Putin is determined to destroy the U.S. and has formed a symbiotic relationship with the Republicans, especially over Trump, but how could weakening his own nation further Putin's goals? His grip on power is strong.

Of course their goals could both be highly immoral and lethal.

Although it seems reasonable to suspect Putin might have influenced the Trump/Republican unleashing of pandemic here, absent further information that turns on the light bulb, it seems the biggest similarity might just come down to the usual disastrous unfitness of hard, ruthless conservatives for governing nations.

And of course, civil disruption has long enabled ruthless power grabs and destruction. Pandemic disease might accomplish what could otherwise take years to foment. For America and many other nations Russia and other rogue nations are trying to bring down.

But what about Russia itself? Could their oligarchy also see Russia as overweighted with retired voters who are living too long and need and expect medical care? Absent even the information needed to come up with questions, it's the one obvious possibility that comes to mind. The first thing we learned about this coronavirus in the beginning was that it killed the elderly and chronically ill and mostly left children and working age adults alone. At least so it was thought when they needed to take action.

Countries that could have had a better response were all run by rightwingers. Rightwingers of varying degree, but all in the same ballpark. Add Turkey and Brasil to the list, probably the UK.

Dictators or dictatorial wannabes. The common denominator.

in the unfitness of hard-core conservatives to govern without embracing massive corruption and creating other disasters through intrinsic incompetence.

As you indicate, there's been so much to observe. They both won't and can't do it.

burdensome old folks, and others, needing support.

However, me thinks that Putin does not have control over THIS particular freight train. And it is now out of control. This is ONE trainwreck we can watch unfold from afar.

The one silver lining is that he may go down. The russian people have presented a courage and bravery that Americans have yet to muster. And they are facing much more than we are.

It would be great if the one good to come out of this is the fall of the turd and his poot. (although the power dynamics are reversed, pootie is controlling his turd...)

his fellow oligarchs who keep him in power to make money, not lose it.

Agree that certainly the pandemic is out of Putin's control -- and the Republicans'! That they didn't know just what they were unleashing and aren't in control now, but are determined to ride this raging tiger to the end without falling off, is my premise.

From what I've read, the majority of the Russian people largely admire their authoritarian strongman, even as they watch him and others sack their country, and want him to restore Russia's "greatness" via control over the former SovUnion nations. Add that support to Putin's/RW's strong control, and voters are not going to be kicking him out any time soon.

I'm remembering also that Russia's history and culture of governance are very strongly conservative and authoritarian, and the deep-seated belief in Russia's greatness and that they must control surrounding nations for their own sake is centuries old. Our own notions of cultural superiority and manifest destiny are very short-lived and weak compared to theirs. They want.

Basically, if someone else has other comorbidities, like a heart condition or COPD, then that is assigned even if there is positive Covid-19 test and even if they have been treated in hospital for it.

that means their numbers are about like ours.

Sad days.

And this was always a serious problem for Russia but they tried to cover it up.