Memories...

Many may remember when C+ Augustus traveled to the remnants of the Soviet Union a couple years ago and had a variety of embarrassing photo ops with Vlad that we will keep dredging up for another fourteen months.

Well, the highlight of that trip was a campaign style rally in the newly established "Democratic" state of Georgia. It was like the President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili was taking staging orders from the White House advance team. Why just look at the image:

I am proud to stand beside a President [Saakashvili] who has shown such spirit, determination, and leadership in the cause of freedom...

While peaceful revolutions can bring down repressive regimes, the real changes and the real challenge is to build up free institutions in their place. This is difficult work, and you are undertaking it with dignity and determination. You have taken tough steps to reform your economy and to crack down on corruption. You are building a democratic society where the rights of minorities are respected, where a free press flourishes, a vigorous opposition is welcome, and unity is achieved through peace. In this new Georgia, the rule of law will prevail, and freedom will be the birthright of every citizen.

I'm just glad the ALWAYS prescient Washington Post Beltway Wise Men were there to document the enabling:

David Ignatius:

What will keep him from becoming another dictator, Saakashvili says, are the free media and free elections he helped create. Eventually, the public will tire of his policies and throw him out -- perhaps at the end of his first five-year term. When that happens, he says, "it will show that Georgia has become a normal country."

The Bush administration talks about democratic change. But it's the Saakashvilis, armed with their homegrown how-to manuals, who actually make it happen.

Meanwhile, in the real world:

The pro-Western government of Georgia, a former Soviet republic, declared a state of emergency Wednesday night after police violently dispersed throngs of protesters and shut down private TV stations. The president accused opposition leaders of acting in concert with Russian intelligence agents.

The crackdown began Wednesday morning when police in black masks and riot gear used tear gas, batons, rubber bullets and water cannons against demonstrators who had occupied the street in front of the Parliament building. It was the first real violence since large anti-government demonstrations began six days ago.

And then there is this entertaining nugget:

About 9 p.m., Imedi, a television station known for its opposition to the government, went off the air in the middle of a live broadcast. Before the screen went black, the anchor said police had entered the premises and had told employees to lie on the floor. He called on foreign governments to respond.

Imedi has been owned jointly by billionaire opposition supporter Badri Patarkatsishvili and Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Last week, the station announced that News Corp. was increasing its shares to a majority stake.

So Saakashvili may be becoming a repressive dictator, but the dude at least has taste.

Meanwhile, good ol' Chimperor Disgustus has had fuck-all to say about this. He probably thinks it will piss off Atlanta Brave fans.