I was going to append this as a comment to Moe’s rib-tickler from-and-about the flip in the Weekly World News endorsement. But after a little thought (and more than a little coffee), this one actually merits a diary entry of its own.

After the Soviet collapse (and the disappearance of its main “sponsor”), Pravda survived by devolving into a news source at the same level as good ol’ Weekly World News. The English-language version became a fun spot for an occasional “I need a chuckle” visit, for headlines such as “Humans Actually Evolved from Dolphins.”

But with the Russian invasion of Georgia this past August, things turned darker – and the old Pravda of scurrilous Russian agitprop suddenly returned with a vengeance. Suddenly, there were almost daily droppings of scatological screeds directed at President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Condoleeza Rice, and (of course) John McCain. And of course Pravda became a favorite venting space for all those 9/11 “truther” types. Much of this venom came from “contributors” with decidedly Anglo-Saxon surnames.

So it was a genuine shock this morning to see the presence of this piece torching Senator Obama. The author is the unidentified but definitely non-Russian “Mark McGrew” (whoever he is).

What’s interesting about this piece is not the content, but that it’s even there at all. Of late, I’ve noticed a tendency in the foreign media (particularly in Europe) toward what appears to be a decided hedging of their bets. They seem to be thinking that a McCain administration is indeed highly likely – and they don’t want to start out on the fecal roster.

Hmm….

(BTW, hey GC, if you go there, you’ll note on the same page that there’s another one of those Pravda “Eco-Totty” features. Enjoy! )