31.   Not much unites Russian politicians these days.

32.   Nor will they ever, if some Russian politicians have their way.

33.   Popular reaction has been so widespread that some moderate Russian politicians express concern that NATO is inadvertently helping Communist and nationalist parties in Russia gain support.

34.   Rather, Russians have little choice but to like Putin because for now, at least, no other Russian politician has the stature to challenge him.

35.   Russian politicians fear surrendering oil to foreigners.

36.   Russian politicians from the Kremlin on down appeared to have been taken by surprise.

37.   Russian politicians themselves confess confusion over what the Kremlin is doing.

38.   Russian politicians all pander to their nationalist fringe by publicly waggling their fingers at our fireworks.

39.   Russian politicians and businessmen seemed uncertain Tuesday night how far the crackdown on tax evasion will go.

40.   Russian politicians of all stripes have taken note, and even those known for pro-Western positions in the past have come out against NATO expansion.