Your Favorite Russian Leader?

[Calenhardon]

True, but War Communism should've ended months earlier. It was a temporary shock-therapy solution. Lenin overextended it.

In terms of peace, I would've just withdrawn my armies a bit back, and created a new trench system. WWI was trench warfare, where the offensives and counteroffensives were brutal. Setting up defensive positions and constantly retreating, even in 1917, would've cost Germany a lot of lives, and they still had France and GB to deal with.

While, I agree about the dose of realism, we both know that there was more to it than that. Lenin didn't want any countries to have borders, that's part of why he agreed to Brest-Litovsk, thinking that USSR will get all of it back, so I wouldn't say that Lenin's vision was realistic.

Well, 30 years later...

[/quote]Eh, not really. Europe may become a loose Confederation based on the Swiss Model, where the Central Government doesn't have the right to coin money, but it's not going to become a borderless, single country. That said, I support a one month trial agreement between Russia and the Schengen Zone. Let it run for a year, and see if we can upgrade it to two months, and then finally have Russia become a Schengen Partner within five years.[/quote]

I think he was referring to you saying Lenin was unrealistic to think the USSR would get all the land back, when it did get it back in Molotov-Ribbentrop.

[4years]

Favorite Russian leader?

1. Lenin, obviously
2. Does Trotsky count?
insert vastly huge gap in my esteem here
3. Khrushchev, grudgingly
insert marginally smaller gap in my esteem here
4. Gorbachev
5. Peter the Great
6. Catherine the Great
anyone below this point so incredibly sucks that primitive barbarians rate higher than them
Negative Five Billion: Stalin
Negative Five Billion and One: Nicolas II

[The Gregorach]

Vladimir Putin.

[Draakenia]

1. Putin (the man for every situation / activity in life... there's nothing he can't do )
2. Lenin (for bringing the Revolution, even when his ideals where corrupted after his early death by Stalin)
3. Gorbachev (for ending the cold war)

[OMGeverynameistaken]

Favorite Russian leader?

1. Lenin, obviously
2. Does Trotsky count?
insert vastly huge gap in my esteem here
3. Khrushchev, grudgingly
insert marginally smaller gap in my esteem here
4. Gorbachev
5. Peter the Great
6. Catherine the Great
anyone below this point so incredibly sucks that primitive barbarians rate higher than them
Negative Five Billion: Stalin
Negative Five Billion and One: Nicolas II

I'm not sure why you would rate a well meaning but incompetent ruler below a self-destructive madman who personally ordered tens of thousands to their deaths and is responsible for millions more.

[Cosara]

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.

[Hathradic States]

Putin, because he has the best rhymes.

Napkir nailed this one.

[Lazssia]

Lenin. Trotsky would be my second if Stalin hadn't been such a penis.

[Shofercia]

Eh, not really. Europe may become a loose Confederation based on the Swiss Model, where the Central Government doesn't have the right to coin money, but it's not going to become a borderless, single country. That said, I support a one month trial agreement between Russia and the Schengen Zone. Let it run for a year, and see if we can upgrade it to two months, and then finally have Russia become a Schengen Partner within five years.

I think he was referring to you saying Lenin was unrealistic to think the USSR would get all the land back, when it did get it back in Molotov-Ribbentrop.

That land was lost within a few years of signing the M-R Pact, and only retaken, (from the 1917 landmap,) as a result of Nazis attacking the USSR. I doubt that Lenin had the foresight to predict Nazis attacking the USSR and being creamed by the Red Army. Well, the latter wasn't hard to forsee, but I doubt that Lenin foresaw the former.

Edits: wow, I'm not very good at fixing quote tags

[Wamitoria]

Dunno... not getting owned by a rebellion is the mark of a great politician, though.


Yup but Russia needed peace immediately. Brest-Litovsk was the better one could get realistically in a reasonably short time.


Also a healthy dose of realism is needed. As usual, the problem is striking a working balance.

True, but War Communism should've ended months earlier. It was a temporary shock-therapy solution. Lenin overextended it.

In terms of peace, I would've just withdrawn my armies a bit back, and created a new trench system. WWI was trench warfare, where the offensives and counteroffensives were brutal. Setting up defensive positions and constantly retreating, even in 1917, would've cost Germany a lot of lives, and they still had France and GB to deal with.

While, I agree about the dose of realism, we both know that there was more to it than that. Lenin didn't want any countries to have borders, that's part of why he agreed to Brest-Litovsk, thinking that USSR will get all of it back, so I wouldn't say that Lenin's vision was realistic.

In all fairness, nobody expected Poland to take a level in badass within 2 years of it becoming independent.

Oh, and probably Putin. Even though he pisses me off quite a bit, I do believe he has Russia's best interests at heart, and the same cannot be said for about half of all of Russia's historical leaders.

[Romberg]

And I think for the ERB,

1. Lenin
2. Rasputin
3. Putin
4. Stalin
5. Gorbachev

Also, related:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWTFG3J1CP8

[Leonische]

Would I be sounded like total dork if I say Premier Cherdenko? Who the heck could beat volcanic military base?

[OMGeverynameistaken]

In all fairness, nobody expected Poland to take a level in badass within 2 years of it becoming independent.

The Poles becoming awesome at fighting within 2 years of independence is one of those historical things that happens a lot, but nobody ever learned from.

Although, really, the Poles were pretty much always good at fighting. One of the reasons Russia tended to be more oppressive than usual in Poland was that Poland tended to have a major rebellion at least every decade. More peaceful subjects, like Finland, were better treated.

[Corv Industrial]

Leonid Brezhnev ya silly billy's.

[Kartvelistan]

Lenin.

Reason 1. He started the USSR and led a fantastic revolution that had plenty of potential.

Reason 2. He won Epic Rap Battles of History, hands down.

Stalin was a horrible leader, but he was hot as fuck at 23, and he did some good revolutionary action in Georgia during the time of pre-Russian Revolution, but that's Georgia and not Russia.

[Uelvan]

It's a toss up between Ivan Grozny and Peter the Great. I'm not necessarily judging by best per-say, but the life and times of both of these leaders is great. I would have loved to have served in the Boy Army of Peter.

[Sodankyla]

Mine would be Lenin and Gorbachev.

Putin is a really authoritarian leader and a rightist. But I'll admit, he's one handsome guy.


Just saying

[Kengburg]

Putin: He is just so badass I cannot hate him, no matter how many orphans he denies homes in America.
Gorbachev: The only Soviet Leader who did much good for Russia.

[Arglorand]

Viktor Chernov.

I hate Stalin with a passion, detest all the Tsars, and strongly dislike Putin and Lenin.

[Kvatchdom]

Vladimir Putin for being a badass.

[Kvatchdom]

Lenin.

Reason 1. He started the USSR and led a fantastic revolution that had plenty of potential.

Reason 2. He won Epic Rap Battles of History, hands down.

Stalin was a horrible leader, but he was hot as fuck at 23, and he did some good revolutionary action in Georgia during the time of pre-Russian Revolution, but that's Georgia and not Russia.

Gorbachev won the rap battle as soon as he entered the room

[Arglorand]

Lenin.

Reason 1. He started the USSR and led a fantastic revolution that had plenty of potential.

Reason 2. He won Epic Rap Battles of History, hands down.

Stalin was a horrible leader, but he was hot as fuck at 23, and he did some good revolutionary action in Georgia during the time of pre-Russian Revolution, but that's Georgia and not Russia.

Gorbachev won the rap battle as soon as he entered the room

"You need a shower!"

[Kvatchdom]

Gorbachev won the rap battle as soon as he entered the room

"You need a shower!"

"You two need yoga!"

[Arglorand]

"You need a shower!"

"You two need yoga!"

"And all three of you need to learn how to handle real power!"

[Grocery Store Music]

Trotsky. Even though he was never THE leader, he was head of some offices.