Eric Zuesse ■ "Despite the seemingly strong empirical support in previous studies for theories of majoritarian democracy, our analyses suggest that majorities of the American public actually have little influence over the policies our government adopts. Americans do enjoy many features central to democratic governance, such as regular elections, freedom of speech and association, and a widespread (if still contested) franchise. But, ..." and then they go on to say, it's not true, and that, "America's claims to being a democratic society are seriously threatened" by the findings in this, the first-ever comprehensive scientific study of the subject, which shows that there is instead "the nearly total failure of 'median voter' and other Majoritarian Electoral Democracy theories [of America]. When the preferences of economic elites and the stands of organized interest groups are controlled for, the preferences of the average American appear to have only a minuscule, near-zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy." To put it short: The United States is no democracy, but actually an oligarchy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin urged his American counterpart on Monday to use the White House’s influence on the Ukrainian government to prevent further “bloodshed” from occurring in the country. ● United States President Barack Obama placed a phone call to Mr. Putin on Monday afternoon (EST) to discuss the ongoing and increasingly tense situation in eastern Ukraine amid growing concerns surrounding the country’s future stability following the recent ousting of Pres. Viktor Yanukovych earlier this year, and the turmoil that has gripped the region ever since. ● According to a statement released after the phone conversation by the Kremlin, Putin dismissed recent reports that peg Russia as being responsible for heated protests that have erupted in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian activists have successfully managed to seize a number of local government buildings and police stations. "In response to the president of the United States' expressed concern about Russia's supposed meddling in southeastern Ukraine, the president of Russia noted that such speculations are based on inaccurate information," the press statement read. Putin stressed that protests in several south-east regions of Ukraine are a result of “the Kiev authorities’ unwillingness and inability to take into account the interests of the Russian and Russian-speaking population,” read a Kremlin press service statement.

The Telegraph: Kiev putschists launches "anti-terrorist operation" in the east
Putschist Ukranian "President" Turchynov announces start of "anti-terror operation" in eastern Ukraine
PressTV: Charges of Russia role in Ukraine baseless: Putin
VoR: Russia to take measures if NATO's force configuration changes - Russian envoy
Reuters: Ukraine launches 'gradual' operation, action limited
VoR: Kiev launches military operation in northern Donetsk region
The Saker: The Next 24 Hours Are Crucial For Ukraine

Just a few weeks ago, someone (allegedly Russia) leaked a recorded phone conversation of Victoria Nuland commenting "fuck the EU" and how she (the US) wanted the political stage set in Ukraine. A lot has happened since then but as multiple pro-Russian sources have now 'confirmed', the new puppetmaster appears to be in town (or was). As Interfax reported, citing sources inside the Ukrainian parliament, none other that CIA Director John Brennan landed in Ukraine on Saturday under an assumed name and held a "series of secret meetings" with the country's "power bloc" Interfax reported. As Interfax reports, citing sources...Brennan landed in Ukraine on Saturday under an assumed name and held a "series of secret meetings" with the country's "power bloc" Interfax reported, citing an unidentified official in the Ukrainian parliament.

GMA News/The Truthseeker: White House confirms, downplays CIA chief visit to Kiev
RT.com: White House confirms CIA director visited Ukraine over weekend
Mike Head: CIA director in Ukraine as Washington steps up threats against Russia
Paul Craig Roberts: Washington Drives The World To War
FTM: 35 Countries Where The U.S. Has Supported Fascists, Drug Lords and Terrorists

Russia has to stop gas subsidies to Ukraine as it cannot keep supporting the bankrupt anti-Russian regime in Kiev, energy asset manager Eric Kraus told RT, adding that it will be the EU's problem if Ukraine eventually starts stealing their transit gas.

RT: Ukraine says it wants heavily discounted gas from Russia. Does it have grounds to ask for that?
Eric Kraus: I think it is fairly absurd considering that you have a strongly anti-Russian regime which has been brought into place by the Europeans and by the Americans in Kiev. You can't really ask the Russians to fund this regime, can you?

RT: On the other hand, Russia has doubled prices in the span of just a few months, perhaps some calling that too harsh?
EK: It is harsh, but basically what they did is not double prices. What they did is they removed subsidies. Russia has been very heavily subsidizing Ukraine, since Ukraine became independent, because they needed a friendly, at least a neutral state at their border. Now if Ukraine wants to align itself with NATO and basically anti-Russian countries, then they are going to have to pay their own way.

According to Obama, the Kerry, Samantha Power, Jen Psaki and the rest of the US 1%ers, most members of the UN Security Council and according to the EU clowns at the OSCE or PACE, what you are seeing in this video is: "Russian agents creating chaos were there was none and spreading hatred".

According to the freaks of the neo-Nazi regime in Kiev, what you see are terrorists. According to me, what you see is simple civilians willing to stand up in front of a tank with their car and their bodies to stop it. What I hear them say is "who the hell do you plan to shoot at? Stop the engine! Stop the engine! What are you pulling your assault rifle out for? Do you think that if we jump on your tank it will protect you?". Judging by the copious amount of cursing the civilians are really very mad because they are suspecting that this tank is headed for the city of Slaviansk. I would add that the poor tank crew is clearly frightened and ashamed and the tank commander does the only right thing: he climbs out of the tank, begs to crowd not to touch it (he is personally responsible for it) and tries to convince the crowd that they did not plan to shoot anybody. The tank commander looks like a nice young guy placed in an impossible situation, and I hope that the civilians will understand that. They are angry because initially the tank crew tried to avoid them. The good news is that I clearly hear a voice saying "stop screaming! stop screaming!" to try to cool down the angry crowd. And no, I don't see any Spetsnaz GRU in disguise or any sign of Russians at all. Decide for yourself what you see.

PS: One more thing. The tank sounds like it has some transmission problem (though not being an armor person I am not sure). It sure is an old tank. But what is absolutely certain, is that basic military tactic categorically forbids sending a lone tank cruising around the countryside. If these civilians had been military, even without anti-tank weapons, they could have easily set this tank on fire. In other words, what I see here is not anything remotely looking like a military assault on the city of Slaviansk, but complete total chaos.