PUTIN IS STALIN IN THE BODY

   Zyuganov lost, but with him was defeated and Sobchak. Quite unexpectedly it turned out that the mayor of the large city managed to merge to the Deputy. Yes, and part of the Kremlin elite did not support Sobchak, and even then opened a criminal case against him. Putin here was lucky twice: his contacts with Communists remained without consequences. And then Chubais took him to Moscow. Yes perishing - unbelievable luck! Your patron loses, you flirt with the losing Communists all of a sudden. And you are taken to Moscow with a promotion.
   It may have played a role that Putin most of all were silent, and was the least active in the company Sobchak. In any case, he was considered her boyfriend. And able to speak their own language. Chubais became a new patron-and the figure must be said extremely influential and has connections in the West.
   Putin himself met with representatives of the West, and inspired them to think that he was their man. He headed the international Department in the office of the President. Too high post. And again showed its reliability. Oligarchs thought that they would continue to allow stealing, representatives of the West considered it their own. And recommended for the post of Director of the FSB with great personal power and influence.
   Cunning of course a lot can be achieved. Here is soon and Ivan Rybkin lost power. But it seemed to be softer than wax, and chameleon is still the same. And all somehow managed to Putin. Lost posts and influence Chubais, but Berezovsky became the main patron, and Dyachenko too. And how it all turned out great. Even the coming to power of Primakov didn't hurt Putin. He became Secretary of the security Council and head of the FSB. Then Primakov unexpectedly fell, his place was taken by Stepashin. And you and I think to myself, why not you? The posts are almost parallel. Stepashin, in General, loyal to the regime, but from the very beginning was a compromise figure.
   The oligarchs were looking for a man who could be both controlled and able to suppress the dangerous opposition. But there was also a need for a person who would have a chance in the presidential election.
   That Berezovsky, Abramovich, Voloshin, Yeltsin's daughter Dyachenko gathered the small Council and invited Putin. Berezovsky then said, well, pull the elections? After all, there is no experience of public policy.
   Vladimir answered with a smile and quite logically: if Yeltsin with a series of failures managed to untwist with four percent, why propaganda can not do with almost sinless and not involved in scandals security officer hero. But if you have something to say he can! And the war in Dagestan began, and if the military is not to knit the victory will be.
   It should be noted that the choice especially was not from anyone. Stepashin has taken off and he was offended. Although Stepashin objectively no worse than Putin. Have him even external data better: higher growth, "feels better" face. And Stepashin that it is important already was elected in the Supreme Council on the single-mandate district, being then still little-known. So, the ability to public policy. And Putin if they.
   But Stepashin had already flown, and the elite did not know who to cling to. Well, not Nemtsov to stick. The most obvious way to make Luzhkov's successor. In fact, everything is there: the popularity and achievements, and relationships with the elite and oligarchs. The main success of the mayor of Moscow made his chances of winning real.
   But Berezovsky in conflict with Luzhkov. And to bet on a little-known figure is hopeless. The Swan seemed risky, both in terms of chances of winning and in terms of behavior after the election success. Suddenly starts their break.
   Putin also taught them all his poddakivaniem that they seriously began to consider him weak-willed and manageable. They thought there would be a puppet on the throne. And the throne somehow stretch. Especially if Primakov's election to disable, and Zyuganov and Yeltsin did it. Putin's fate hung in the balance. Tatyana Dyachenko offered to still choose Luzhkov, which is exactly what the oligarchs are not the enemy. And that Putin is still from the authorities, you never know what.
   Decided, here strangely enough the representative of the state Department of the USA. That's really a simpleton. All Russian Ministers and politicians have already spoken very negatively about the bombing of Yugoslavia. In Addition To Putin. And the head of the state Department apparently thought that since Putin did not talk about Yugoslavia, he is the most Pro-Western politician in Yeltsin's environment. Yes indeed silence is Golden. And the scales tipped. A miracle happened - and you have already been proposed by the Prime Minister and declared an official successor. There are only a formality: the approval of the Duma. There could be problems, but not fatal. It is unlikely that the Communists will go to the dissolution of Parliament, having lost their homes. Yes, losing the benefits during the elections.
   The approval passed without sensations, and only 231 of the mandate, almost collapsed. And there was a risk that the elite will reconsider.
   After that, and got you real power... But there were a lot of fighting. But and himself believed, did not expect this. Never thought, never dreamed of the throne. Yes, fortune, of course, is changeable, but somehow loved him.
   The war in Dagestan caused concern. How will the locals, exhausted by the former, inept rule of Yeltsin. Will the Communists try to take advantage of the turmoil and raise the people against the regime? Don't pounce all at once on a successor.
   But the Communists were afraid to speak, the Dagestanis did not support the Wahhabis, in Chechnya there was a split with the militants. And again a rare success: the explosion in Moscow and Volgodonsk made the war in the Caucasus and his personally so popular...
   Chaotic racing thoughts, and revolutions suddenly interrupted, the mind turned off.
   Then Putin came to himself. I felt that everything was calm. I felt a body that was watered on the couch. Barely opened his eyes, slashed with light. Putin closed and tried to gather. It seems to be nothing hurts. Only the feeling that if the body is not yours, although not too big. Yes, the President of Russia is not young: sixty-six years, and not as good, fresh and cheerful as in his youth. Affects both age and excessive load management.
   And the body in which he was also elderly, medium-sized, however, more plump. Putin cautiously raised his hand and held his face...