Putin may be Russia's next P.M.

Vladimir has a problem. (Actually he's got a bunch of problems)

Since the breakup of the old Soviet Union there has been "heep-big" trouble around Russia.

Trouble with some of the breakaway States and Regions seeking greater autonomy. Trouble with a dramatic rise in crime and criminal organizations as more money flows into Russia. Trouble with terrorists who want independence for this and that. Trouble with the Generals of the Armed Forces. Trouble with the social safety net and poverty amongs the lower class while at the same time a middle class always clamering for more and better products. Trouble with Muslim Fundamentalists. (Yes, were are not the only one's) And if they have a "River City" I bet they have trouble there too!

(As a matter of fact, all the people bitchin about the problems in the States should try living in Russia for a while. That will shut them up!)

Whatever you may say about him, Putin has done a job that not many others could have pulled off.

He has his flaws but on the whole you have to give this guy an "A" for effort.

Time may be catching up to Mr. Putin since he is by law not allowed to seek another term as President and Russia needs a strong leader at the helm. So, he came up with a plan.............

Vladimir Putin on Monday raised the "realistic" possibility of becoming the next Prime Minister by agreeing to lead his dominant political party in December's parliamentary election.

Leading members of the United Russia party applaud President Vladimir Putin during a congress of the party in Moscow on Monday. Putin said he would lead the dominant United Russia party's ticket in December parliamentary elections.

"As far as heading the government is concerned, this is a quite realistic suggestion, but it is still too early to think about it," Putin told his party's congress, which prompted an ecstatic cheer from his supporters.

The Russian leader set two conditions on becoming prime minister — a win by United Russia in the Dec. 2 election and the election of what Putin described as a "decent, competent, modern person" as President.

This statement needs to be examined further. You remember when George Bush said he looked into Putin's eyes and saw a decent and sincere man there?

I don't think Mr. Bush was that far off the mark and Putin's statement that they needed a "decent, competent person" was not sheer political drivel, but rather a sincere desire to get the right people running Russia.

For all his flaws Vladimir Putin has more postitive than negative qualities and it would be a shame to have him disapear from the Russina Political scene. So, something might be in the works....... orchestrated by Putin himself.

In September, Putin dissolved the government and nominated Victor Zubkov — a little-known economist who has headed the country's financial monitoring service since 2001 — as a candidate for the prime minister.

Zubkov's nomination was approved in parliament the next day.

But as speculation ran rampant in recent months over who would replace him, Putin has given indications he would remain in politics in some capacity with a role in the government. (Prime Minister)

He also has not ruled out another presidential run in 2012.

His decision also likely ensures that United Russia retains a two-thirds majority in the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, enough to change the constitution.

The end result of all this is that we might just see Russia with a strong Prime Minister and a weakened President in the near future.

Allan W Janssen is the author of The Plain Truth About God at www.God-101.com and the blog "Perspective" at http://God-101.blogspot.com