Condi said this without any apparent irony, as Atrios notes:

[swag]

Rice Worried by Putin's Broad Powers

"In any country, if you don't have countervailing institutions, the power of any one president is problematic for democratic development," Rice told reporters after meeting with human-rights activists.

"I think there is too much concentration of power in the Kremlin. I have told the Russians that. Everybody has doubts about the full independence of the judiciary. There are clearly questions about the independence of the electronic media and there are, I think, questions about the strength of the Duma," said Rice, referring to the Russian parliament.

via Eschaton

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. First, she is not very bright, all PR to the contrary.

(Another reason why Neocons love her. Bright people scare them)

Second, she has the deer in the headlights disease, a longstanding, chronic condition. Throw something new at her and she freezes up mentally.
Third, her reality is a make-believe one. Many have commented that if facts interfere with her special "understanding", she ignores those facts.
Lastly, her other failure of vision is based on her mental tunnel vision. she can only see a few things at a time, although she has the capacity to concentrate on those few details. That also promotes the idea that she is brighter than she actually is. That kind of concentration can be an asset for some people, in others it means they have too little imagination or grasp of situations so they over compensate.

[Richard Steele]

7. I think you've summed it up well there. nm

[malaise]

9. Bingo

I'm sure some of those Russians were giggling -Condi is one more delusional wingnut.

[jgraz]

Lesson for any stupid but ambitious black person: become a Republican.

They'll do anything to keep you in the spotlight. Supreme Court Justice? Sure! Secretary of State? No Problem!

[malaise]

17. Well which smart black person would join that party?

Not one person in four generations of our family ever contemplated joining the Rethugs. Indeed my New York great aunt and all her descendants are card carrying Dems.

Whoever dares will have to deal with the rest of the family :D

[Buzz Clik]

2. It's time for her to go.

And all the rest.

Unless we'd like more of the same for another 8 years, we'd better find a way to get it together.

[Danieljay]

3. Pot. Meet Kettle. Kettle. Pot.

Astounding.

[dkofos]

4. She really is that stupid!!

[baldguy]

5. Conservatives have no sense of irony.

They think its some sort of mental defect.

[Spazito]

6. Geez, I knew she was inadequate for the job but....WOW!

The Russians must be picking their chins off the table and, after that, trying not to laugh too loudly while she is still present.

[stevedeshazer]

8. I suppose she made this quote in her "fluent" Russian?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/4/20/11211/3846

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

10. Good LAWD!!! Her head is so far up,....uh, UGH!!!

:banghead:

[kineneb]

11. and Russians laugh hysterically behind her back

gad, what a dimbulb! Look in the mirror when you say that, Condi.

[eppur_se_muova]

20. They would have to be exceptionally gracious hosts, not to laugh in her face ...

...either that, or they truly don't care what she says.

[debbierlus]

12. The rules only apply to OTHER leaders in other nations

You see, they presume they are the not only the unquestioned authority for the US, but for the entire globe.

Condi is nuts.

[yardwork]

13. But I thought the chimp said Putin had a "beautiful soul"

or something like that. Maybe Condi didn't get the memo.

[WillyT]

14. I Swear...

When my eyes first looked at your subject line, my brain read "Gandhi"!!!

I was TOTALLY confused there for a moment, LOL!!!

:crazy::banghead::silly:

[The Backlash Cometh]

15. Her training has always been centered around Russia.

I think we're all suffering because the cold war specialists couldn't adapt to the new peace.

[UpInArms]

16. Kindasleezy is busy picking the splinters from others - all the

while ignoring the beam in her own eye.

:shrug:

what does anyone expect from such a very dim bulb?

[BornagainDUer]

18. Shit, most Americans would nod their shitheads and not even

see the irony. Then go back to their Prime Time bullshit!

[me b zola]

19. This statement is typical

This statement is typical of all of the neocons statements regarding freedom & democracy--in other nations. Here's one by * that sticks in my craw, "A free nation is a peaceful nation" (quoting from memory). Then of course is the neocon/republican statements acknowledging the benefits of secular progressive societies--as long as they are in the ME.

[robinlynne]

21. no she didn't......... (laughing)