Vanity Loves Vlad
By Sean at 4 September, 2008, 3:42 pm
Vladimir Putin just keeps racking up the accolades. As everyone will remember, Time magazine caused a stir when it named VVP Person of the Year 2007. Now Vanity Fair has named him Numero Uno on its The New Establishment 2008 list. VF’s blurb on Vlad the Invader,
SPHERE OF INFLUENCE: After eight years as Russia’s president, Putin’s still at the height of his power. He saw his approval ratings top 80 percent, thanks to an economy revived through energy profits, which has made it easier for him to get away with his antipathy to free speech and other civil liberties—he controls the media and imprisons or exiles his enemies. And cashing in on Russia’s natural resources has enabled Putin to pay off the nation’s foreign debt, rebuild its military, restore its pride, and re-assert its place in world affairs. Faced with presidential-term limits, Putin, 56, sustained his formidable power by becoming prime minister and leader of the overwhelmingly dominant United Russia party. He also all but installed his longtime protégé and former campaign manager, Dmitri A. Medvedev, as Russia’s new president through a reportedly rigged March election. But by all accounts Putin was the commander in chief in its recent foray into Georgia.
ENEMIES: Georgia and former chess champion Garry Kasparov, who is the leader of the opposition coalition Other Russia and has had the nerve to challenge Putin’s iron rule.
RUMOR HAS IT: Putin has secretly stashed away more than $40 billion (from Russia’s oil-and-gas riches) in secret bank accounts in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
EVIDENCE OF POSSIBLE LACK OF MODESTY: Putin’s exhibitionistic tendency to go shirtless (and show off his buff, hairless physique to photographers) while fishing with Monaco’s Prince Albert II or hunting in the Siberian mountains.
SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED ABOUT: Putin has done little to rein in the country’s ruling kleptocracy. In a recent call to analysts, Rupert Murdoch said, “The more I read about investments in Russia, the less I like the feel of it. The more successful we’d be, the more vulnerable we’d be to have it stolen from us.”
And when you consider all the above, his pecs, and his hunting skills, what a mensch!
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I’m surprised you mentioned this BS, Sean.
Just to piss you off my dear ivanov.
I couldn’t help laughing at
“ENEMIES: Georgia and former chess champion Garry Kasparov, who is the leader of the opposition coalition Other Russia and has had the nerve to challenge Putin’s iron rule.”
Do you realize the size of that “opposition”? Kasparov may “lead” a few dozen of followers, if that. It’s really pathetic. Life is good in Russia whether you, guys, like it or not. No place for opposition.
I couldn’t help laughing at
“ENEMIES: Georgia and former chess champion Garry Kasparov, who is the leader of the opposition coalition Other Russia and has had the nerve to challenge Putin’s iron rule.”
Do you realize the size of that “opposition”? Kasparov may “lead” a few dozen of followers, if that. It’s really pathetic. Life is good in Russia whether you, guys, like it or not. No place for opposition.
EXACTLY, Dima. No place whatsoever. Not right now, when things flipping ROCK.
But theoretically speaking, if you and your prime minister were NOT infallible, in what circumstances COULD there be place for opposition in contemporary Russia? This is all, naturally, theoretical, so don’t hold back!
Cheers,
Carl
There’s that Zyuganov guy.
The main reason for lack of opposition is that times are good and so opposition is perceived as stupid.
“I am completely and totally against rising living standards! These rising living standards will not stand! We must all unite behind my antiprosperity platform!”
There is “opposition” based on ideas. And another one based on stupidity. Kasparov belongs to later type.
Callin Saakashvilli “enemy” is also funny. It’s not a poodel but his master IS the enemy. Was very interesting to hear Cheyney (f*ck – don’t remember his spelling) in Tiflis.
В том, что Путин является им в эротических снах, женщины не стесняются признаваться даже мужьям…
What about, for example, Mechel investors who might oppose how Putin went about dealing with the company? Is there a place for opposition to such behavior in the national political discussion? Or to the Surkovians, are those critics no different than Kasparov types who crawl around foreign embassies for handouts?
What would it take, what type of calamity, would prompt Russians to become disenchanted with the current government? Could an August 1998 scenario even do it these days, or could it be spun to the Kremlin’s advantage on the Channel One, Rossia and NTV?
God forbid something of that scale would happen (and it almost certainly won’t). I own property here, and I want the good times to keep rolling as much as everyone else here.
Russia RTS index hits lowest since Sept 2006
Reuters
2008-09-05 10:43:31
MOSCOW, Sept 5 (Reuters) – Russia’s benchmark RTS index fell on Friday below 1,500 points, its lowest level since September 2006.
At 0639 GMT it stood at 1,490.24 points.
В том, что Путин является им в эротических снах, женщины не стесняются признаваться даже мужьям…
That old womanizer Nemtsov, too:
Putin pipped to post in sexy vote ^Eds: TRIMS, EDITS thruout ^AP Photos ^By CATRINA STEWART and NATALIYA VASILYEVA= ^Associated Press Writers=
Associated Press
2008-09-05 12:56:58
MOSCOW (AP) _ He reportedly saved a TV crew from the jaws of a tiger. He flexed his muscles in front of the cameras in Siberia. He cuts a dash on the ski slopes.
Vladimir Putin’s macho image has made him plenty of fans among Russian women _ but according to one magazine, that doesn’t quite make him the nation’s sexiest politician.
Sex & the City magazine’s ranking of the nation’s 20 sexiest politicians gives the top slot to Boris Nemtsov, a former opposition leader widely seen as a spent political force. Prime Minister Putin came in second.
next time investors will invest in crooks with more caution, Carl. If they knew and do nothing “to correct” situation – they are punished for been crooks. If they didn’t know – they were punished for their stupidity. This is the basics.
Yes it could. But the guys in Kremlin know this and trying to avoid
Wow! The whole post – just to please me
Thanks a lot!
PS. Я польщен, but I don’t feel comfortable by such attention to me. Could you pay tribute to other guys as well?
“next time investors will invest in crooks with more caution, Carl. If they knew and do nothing “to correct” situation – they are punished for been crooks. If they didn’t know – they were punished for their stupidity. This is the basics.”
What about investors who didn’t have shares in Mechel but who were nonetheless hurt by the negative effects on Russian markets? Are they justified in criticizing Putin’s decision not to let the appropriate law enforcement agencies investigate the company before making such high-profile accusations?
Let me guess what you’re gonna’ say: Putin good, fire…baaaaaad….
You missed, Carl.
I’m gonna say – I don’t give a shit about such “investors”.
“В том, что Путин является им в эротических снах, женщины не стесняются признаваться даже мужьям…”
I used to know a woman who had erotic dreams about Leonid Ilyich.
“What would it take, what type of calamity, would prompt Russians to become disenchanted with the current government?”
There hasn’t been a calamity and it is unlikely that one will occur, so, I think this is like wondering what will happen if there is a large meteor impact.
Carl, answer some questions.
1. Why do these investors invest? Are they doing it for humanitarian purposes?
2. Why do these investors invest in Russia rather then in the places where the law rules (like Britain)?
So no one forced them to invest. If they miscalculated the risks – this is their problem. And one more – if someone loosing someone else gaining. This is capitalism.
““В том, что Путин является им в эротических снах, женщины не стесняются признаваться даже мужьям…”
I used to know a woman who had erotic dreams about Leonid Ilyich.”
What’s much more amazing is that she had the guts to admit that to you.
Palin to Putin: Valdipoopkins, now you stop being such a grump about those missiles and maybe I’ll let you go moose hunting with me.
Putin: (drool…slobber….pant)….you…will?
”I used to know a woman who had erotic dreams about Leonid Ilyich.”
I’m not suprised. Power and position is totally sexy. A lot of people though Maggie Thatcher was hot. One of the sexiest things I ever saw was a pic years ago of Russian women fighter pilots (modern day), uniformed up and standing beside a MiG-29, which in itself is a nice looking piece of gear. And a lot of the Russian women cops are cute in their fur hats.
Away from sexiness, the coolest Russian politician isnt Putin at all -it has to be Sergei Ivanov. His accent, manner, everything just says ”I’m cool”. You could imagine Ivanov walking into an Irish pub any friday night and drinking pints with the lads and even ending up singing. The man is a legend. Sergei Shoigu isnt far behind either.
Hi boys.
I don’t really know how much influence Putin has (it can’t possibly be as much as everyone asserts, can it?) but he’s hot, yes. It’s not the money. Abramovich strikes me as seriously dorky. It’s not the position. I’ve known way too many politicians to be that impressed by them. It’s not the looks. He’s old and balding; Surkov’s a hundred times more attractive. It’s not the machismo. When Cheney hunts it strikes me as scary/pathetic. I think it’s just all of those things combined with the fact that he seems to take his position seriously and has a sense of humour. Even if you hate him, you have to admit, he seems to be able to get difficult things done and enjoy himself at the same time, which is remarkable in itself, let alone on the scale on which he operates. He’s fabulous in the true sense of the word.
Btw, I think the abbreviation is pecs.
Btw, I think the abbreviation is pecs.
Oops. Thanks.
HahHahHah
and
I’m with poemless on Putin. In fact, I feel about him much like Jason does about guns… it’s not about frustration (that I’ll never have him) it’s that he makes life at least somewhat fulfilling, even if it is all false consciousness or what not.
I won’t even touch his God thing, but his firearms are the most fun gadgets devised by man. Those who don’t like him think it’s all about the violence but are missing the big picture. It’s about the wonder of physics and global politics, and the mental discipline it takes to make an impact on a target some distance away. The fact that he is also good at dealing with bad people is just gravy.
Pfff, Putin only tranquilized the tiger. Palin would of killed it with her bare hands, skinned it, and made clothes for all her kids with its hide.
You know, I never really thought about this before, but if Putin was a Russian chick, I would be hopelessly infatuated with her. I am pretty sure girl-Putin could get away with a lot more as well, as far as being belligerent towards the rest of the world. It’s a genetically ingrained weakness I think all men have for strong, aggressive women. Well, maybe not Ivanov, but then he is a secret FSB super cop.
<iWell, maybe not Ivanov, but then he is a secret FSB super cop.
I recall he is also supposedly an engineer and radiological health expert.
No, Jason. She would have shot it from an airplane, and then skinned it and made clothes for all her kids with its hide.
http://www.slate.com/id/2199140/
He’s the damn Batman.
What if ‘ivanov’ lacks the Y chromosome?
Btw, I watched the clip and it’s absolutely not evident that Putin was the one to get the tiger. There were like 10 people with guns in that forest (not counting the guys on the grassy knolls).
He wasn’t.
Before he was famous
I have a better picture somewhere on my computer. Putin was squeezed by shoulders of the crowd following Sobchak.
But so what? He is still in power and now only this Alaskan bitch could challenge him
You are not very smart for a supercop, ivanov. Or are you color blind?
I didn’t expect you paid so much attention to уставной малиновый пиджак (for that time).
Try again.
if you tell me the color of his socks – this would help me a lot!
You’re looking in the wrong place.