Russia's Own Limbaugh Ready to Pounce on Obama

There are blowhards the world over.

In his prime-time slot on state-controlled Channel One, Mr. Leontyev, equal parts Rush Limbaugh and Oliver Stone, has derided the United States as “a great power with a broken back,” “a country where armed psychopaths regularly roam educational establishments” and “a parasite that owes the world $53 trillion.”

Now, though, there is a sense of uncertainty here about what lies next in the Russian-American relationship. In sync with the Kremlin, Russian news media have reflected this state of suspended animation, muting their criticism of Washington and especially of President Obama. That is not good news for Mr. Leontyev.
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“There is a pause, I would say,” said Vladimir Solovyov, a prominent talk-show host. “A lot of people are not willing to blow this big horn. I think for guys like Leontyev that have made it their profession — anti-Americanism is sort of their profession — I think they are just waiting.”

“It’s extremely tough for us to change 180 degrees, because for the last couple of years we have been very tough on American policy, especially when it comes to Georgia, Iraq, Iran,” Mr. Solovyov said. “It’s sort of like, ‘O.K., so, we’ll see.’ ” Read the whole thing at NYT.