Obama would fit in Russia like ice cream in a steam room - refreshing, but unfit to last. He might survive the first few assassination attempts, and would make serious political decisions on media freedoms, on curbing Russia's military commitments abroad, then attempt to redirect military funding to boost the economy. He might even get far enough to launch a reform of the legal system. However, without significant parliamentary support, his reforms won't go anywhere and he will eventually get stuck (if he survives until the end of his term without impeachment).
Unlike Russia, the US has serious checks and balances between the executive, legislative and judicial branches, not to mention the media that covers them. Putin would not try to make abrupt changes right away, but rather extend his control to various three-letter agencies and the military. Putin may gain some traction with socially conservative republicans, but it's unclear what his signature initiatives might be and whether he will withstand pressure from the Democrats. Putin's law credentials are a lot weaker than Obama's, and his interests lie elsewhere, but US politics rely on law much more strongly than Russian politics. Therefore, Putin will won't accomplish anything by legislative means, as any serious initiatives will run against the established laws, doctrines and party platforms. He won't last beyond the first term, unless he starts a major war. But even that requires approval from the Congress, which unlike the Russian Duma and Federation Council, doesn't usually kowtow to the president.
Read other answers by Igor Markov on Quora:
- Is President Obama dangerously naive about superpower nuclear politics?
- What does Putin get from the US deal with Iran?
- Politics: Why does Putin dislike Obama?
from Quora http://ift.tt/2bFANWq
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