In Soviet Russia, Kitchen Goes to You

Bold move . Or maybe it just seems bold by my American standards. I haven't been over there in a long time, but I think this kind of an attitude toward women is still commonplace in Ukraine. Still, it's amazing to think that if a politician said something like this in the U.S., he'd get slaughtered.

Yanukovych to Tymoshenko: "Go Back to the Kitchen"
Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovych on Wednesday told his rival for the country’s top spot, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, to take responsibility for herself or “go back to the kitchen.”

The leader of Ukraine’s Regions Party, Yanukovych addressed supporters in the Kharkiv region Wednesday and proclaimed that he is unafraid to criticize Tymoshenko.

“I’m told that it is useless and wrong to argue with a woman,” he said. “I don’t agree with this. First and foremost, I think that if she is prime minister, she has to be held responsible for everything she says. And if she is a woman, she has to go back to the kitchen.”

Read the full story here.

Round One - The Winner Is ...

No surprises here. I'm curious to see whether the runoff election will go just as smoothly as the first round. Anyone want to take bets if there will be fraud allegations or other mishaps?

Yanukovych, Tymoshenko Advance to Ukrainian Presidential Runoff
Opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych appeared to be the winner of the first round of the Ukrainian presidential election Sunday, with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko coming in second.

Exit polling showed that Yanukovych, who is a former prime minister and the current leader of the Party of Regions in the Ukrainian parliament, received approximately 35 percent of the vote. Polls showed Tymoshenko capturing about 25 percent of the vote.

Yanukovych and Tymoshenko will face each other in a runoff election, which is scheduled for Feb. 7. Read the full story here ...

Ukraine Gets to Ready to Rock the Vote ... Well, Sort of ...

An interesting and educational look at the Ukrainian presidential election - though a little dumbed down. From what I've heard, nobody in Ukraine is particularly excited about this election - more of the same no matter who wins. But it's still a momentous occasion. I'm inclined to think neither Tymoshenko or Yanukovych will do much to improve the country's situation. If I had a voice, my support would go to Yatsenyuk - the only man who doesn't seem to have hidden motives. But I don't have a voice. All I can do is sit back and watch it all go down.

The Ukrainian Presidential Election of 2010
It's election season in Ukraine. On Jan. 17, voters in the country will take to the polls to have their say about who should guide the country through the economic crisis and represent the country's interests to both the west and Russia. Here is an overview of the election and some of the candidates.

Background and the Orange Revolution

Current President Viktor Yushchenko rose to power in the wake of a tumultuous election in 2004. Considered to be the main opposition candidate in that election, Yushchenko competed against the government-supported and Russian-favored candidate Viktor Yanukovych.

Read the full story here ...

Happy Birthday ... You Hot, Hot Thing!

I like how this story makes reference to Yulia and Vlad being BFF's. I bet she has him right under her finger.

Putin to Tymoshenko: Happy Birthday
In a sign that the two leaders are closer than ever before to being official BFF’s (Best Friends Forever), Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin this week wished a “Happy Birthday” to his hot Ukrainian counterpart, Yulia Tymoshenko.

The Ukrainian lady turned 49 years-old on Nov. 27. Putin accordingly wished her a “Happy Birthday” via a telegram and a phone call while he was on a working visit to Paris. Read the full story here ...

Ukraine Scales Back its Swine Flu Hysteria

More swine flu nonsense out of Ukraine. I'm tempted to say that government leaders shouldn't play politics with serious issues, but isn't that what they do best?

Swine Flu May Delay Ukraine Election, Yulia Says No
Amid conflicting reports of the seriousness of swine flu in Ukraine, government officials suggested this week that it may be necessary to delay the country’s January presidential election as a result of the outbreak.

An aide to Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko suggested delaying the vote from January until May in order to give the government time to bring the supposed epidemic under control. Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, however, was quick to respond that delaying the election is unnecessary. Both Yushchenko and Tymoshenko are candidates in the presidential election. Read the full story here ...