Rearing His Head In An Airspace Near You

Former Russian President Vladimir Putin really just wants his old job back in an official capacity these days.  I guess everyone's just tired of pretending that he's not in charge when he is.

Vladimir Putin declared on Saturday that he planned to reclaim the Russian presidency in an election next March that could open the way for the former KGB spy to rule until 2024.


The announcement, greeted by a standing ovation at a congress of the prime minister's ruling United Russia party, ended months of speculation over whether he or President Dmitry Medvedev would run.

The two have ruled in a power 'tandem' since Putin was forced by the constitution to yield the presidency in 2008 after serving a maximum two consecutive terms, and Putin said they had agreed several years ago how to divide power between them.

It was Medvedev who proposed his mentor return as president before thousands of party members in a Moscow sports stadium.

"It is a great honor for me," Putin told the audience. "Thank you, I hope for your support."

Of course.  You know, at least the Russians are honest about their cronyism.  We just send our dictators for life into Congress and back when they're not being Veep and pulling the strings.