Obama is creating a personality cult, much like the former Turkmen president

[buztah]

When I was in Turkmenistan, working on a lucrative oil deal (1997), I noticed pictures of the then leader on billboards all across Ashgabat. Poets wrote about him, statues were erected in his honour and kids sang his praises.

Obama already has been given the NP prize (for doing ZERO) and lil school chillins singing about his greatness. How long before all the liberals force a bill through that requires the worker to say a prayer to the great one before beginning work at the factory each morning?

[buztah]

[dmtrader]

Are you actually comparing Obama to "President for life" of Turmenistan Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov (known as "Turkmenbashi)?

Niyazov was criticized as the most totalitarian and repressive dictators since Stalin or Mao. His government was the best example of a "cult of personality" we have in modern times.

He wrote an autobiography/manifesto called the Ruhnama, and forced schoolchildren to learn and be tested on passages (he actually said that any child who read it three times would be admitted to heaven).

Niyazov co-opted Turmenistan's oil and gas reserves to build monuments to himself. The most famous of these was the "Neutrality Arch," which featured a gold statue of Niyazov that rotates to always face the sun (there is also a giant monument to the Ruhnama). He also named numerous schools, airports and government buildings after himself (and renamed the months of the year after the members of his family).

At one point, he shut all the hospitals, saying that the government will decide who receives treatment. He also cut or eliminated pensions of many of the elderly.

Turmenbashi (one of many titles he bestowed upon himself, which means ethnic leader of the Turkmen) enacted many civic projects that benefited no one but his own ego. This included a $15 million leisure center...for horses. The complex was equipped with a swimming pool, air conditioning, and a theater. He also requested an ice palace be built in the desert (this never came to pass).

Predictably, Turkmenistan's press and media was controlled by Niyazov during his lifetime. One particularly humorous result; TV anchors were not allowed to wear makeup on camera.

It is estimated that Niyazov siphoned off $2-3 billion from Turmenistan into German and Swiss bank accounts.

All this while Turkmenistan suffered an unemployment rate of 60%, and the per capita annual income was $1440.

Fortunately, Niyazov died in 2006. Current president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow has reversed many of his policies (yes, the months have been returned to their previous names, and the pensions have been restored). Hopefully better days are in store for the indigenous people of Turkmenistan.


I am no fan of many of our current US president's policies and think the fix was "in" when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. But in no way do I compare him to Turmenbashi, who was probably the worst despot of my lifetime.

[buztah]

DM, he is not as bad as Niyazov yet...

The patterns are forming though. Criticize him and you are a "racist!"

Question his policies and you are "anti-American!"

[dmtrader]

He is a long way from Niyazov or Romania's Nicolae Ceausescu.

But you and do agree that Obama has a sort of "cult of personality" brewing. And that is always dangerous.

Sometime, I would like to talk to you about your time in Turkmenistan. I am right now talking with some Dutch bankers about doing business in Central Asia, and I would like your opinions and recollections on life in Turkmenistan. It would be helpful to me.

[buztah]

DM, PM me. I can tell you what I know. The place is corrupt as PHUCK and you must bribe constantly or NOTHING will get done. It is the cost of doing business. The new prez is a total joke. Not as bad as the former but still a God aweful govt.

[Indecent]

DM, he is not as bad as Niyazov yet...

The patterns are forming though. Criticize him and you are a "racist!"

Question his policies and you are "anti-American!"

You couldn't question the previous administrations policies without being labeled anti-American or a troop basher. If the only additional problem is being called a "racist" for disagreeing, how is this any different than before? Black people were probably called racist for not liking GW...

It's not like Obama made the children sing or told them what to say. It was a song for black history month presented by their school, written by the school.... do you honestly think they wouldn't include something about the first black president? If this was something HE was making the schools do or something that he wrote, I would be as concerned as you are. But he's not, so I'm not.

[Indecent]

How long before all the liberals force a bill through that requires the worker to say a prayer to the great one before beginning work at the factory each morning?

Paranoid much? If you honestly think this will happen, please lay off the smack. Seriously, it's starting to affect your judgment.

Sincerely,
Everyone.

[Cappy]

That's funny, but actually I don't think Obama is looking for god's help through prayer from his people. Unlike Bush who felt that servicemen should pledge to pray for his prosperity. Obama is a godless, hippy, baby-killer liberal who actually is concerned with... wait for it... the real needs of actual people here in the US in reality.

How carelessly unamerican of him to think about the american people instead of considering first and foremost the feelings of a mythical creature conjured up by ancient societies to explain what is tantamount to antiquated ideas of morality.