Russian president Vladimir Putin made headlines around the world yesterday after he stripped off his shirt for photographers while on holiday in the Siberian mountains. Is this a new trend for world leaders? Perhaps 54-year-old Putin was trying to show he is just as macho as French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who recently posed topless for the paparazzi while vacationing in the U.S. But Kremlin watchers are abuzz trying to guess just what sort of political message the pictures, which have been prominently displayed on the Kremlin website, might send. There has been speculation that the images of a vigorous healthy president are meant to appeal to voters, to enhance Putin's image in case he decides not to relinquish power at the end of his current term, as he is constitutionally required to do. Reportedly, Russian gay chat rooms and blogs have said that the pictures represent a plea for greater tolerance of homosexuality in Russia (say what?).
You have to admit he doesn't look that bad topless. While this must be driving W crazy, I am only grateful that I've never seen a photo of Bush or Cheney without their shirts on. And hopefully never will.
3 comments:
I can't imagine there were no mosquitos in Siberia when that photo was taken. Does his manly musk ward off even insects? Is an absence of insects a metaphor for the ineptitude of the opposition parties? It is a very strange photo what with the river and the combat boots. I can't imagine what was going through the minds of his handlers.
Even though I was rendered speechless at first glimpse of these photos, I found it impossible not to link to them. Apparently he was on a fishing trip with Prince Albert II of Monaco. The river, the boots, the lack of insects--it all evokes some bizarro-world version of Brokeback Mountain.
I took a look at some of the others. They look like outtakes from a bowflex ad campaign.In some he is clearly flexing his, um, political muscle.
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