Davos: What Now For Mr. Putin

Look at those Boots-What Big Feet You Have, Mr. Putin

       The economic ministers of the world are gathering in Davos, Switzerland for discussions on the coming year and prospects for growth amidst globalization and national turmoil in  many nations.  More than a few Russians will be in attendance, hoping to bend a few ears to prevent certain names from being included on the US Treasury Dept.'s new list of individuals who will face sanctions come February of this year.
      This comes as a result of America's passage of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (aka Caatsa), signed into law by President Trump last August.   This is the law that requires the Treasury Dept. to issue a report that lists "senior foreign political figures and oligarchs in the Russian Federation," including individuals close to Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, leader of the largest country in the world today, their estimated net worth, and known sources of income.   This information will certainly cause a stir in the halls of the Kremlin where these rats congregate to sip tea from the golden samovar brewed by Mr. P.
      There are reports that Russian lawyers are as thick as thieves in the halls of Washington DC's lobbying firms and other influence peddlers, known and unknown.   "Please, Sir, " they say, "don't put my client's name on the list.  He's just a simple Russian and wouldn't hurt a flea."  My. my. And how are things in Crimea?  How about Ukraine?  How about the Russian athletes training for the Winter Olympics?  Oh, they've been banned as Russians, but they can compete as cossacks, steppe peoples, and yurt builders of sorts.   All this comes as earlier sanctions and a drop in the price of oil has stunted growth in Russya.  The economy of the largest country in the world has been slowing dramatically since 2010 , but Vladimir still enjoys enough support and will undoubtedly be reelected this year for another endless presidency.   He thinks that he'll convince the oligarchs that they should repatriate their business holdings(cash) to Russya to help the advance of GDP.  Right.  What are you smokin'?
      Can't wait to read the names in the report and see how much these folks are really worth.