Bloodless Coup

Ooh, even better, look at the last photo here. Fly open, whatever. What interests me is this: check out the look on Putin's face. Yow.

the word statesman most assuredly doesn't come to mind, though i have to second one aspect of the first comment on the republic post: bush has been readily observable being inappropriately familiar with tons of people without any clear gender bias. honestly, i think he's just an oaf; he really doesn't know any better, and it's all still the lockerroom to him.

for example, although i still haven't seen the video of his conversation with blair, i find it sort of stunning that in the middle of the conversation he evidently took a bite of bread and continued talking. i mean, that's inappropriate no matter who you are or in what situation, let alone a situation with cameras and mics and such.

i agree that there's a power dynamic thing there, but it's not plainly gender-driven -- the man just thinks he's god's gift to the world, or rather that the world is god's gift to him, and he just can't suppress his glee at the fact.

The lockerroom thing is certainly part of it. He's long exhibited tendencies in public which make you wonder if he filled some sort of Butthead meets well-born party boy back in his DKE days. But some of it is no doubt affected too - as it was with Khrushchev and LBJ.

That said, it's appallingly rude (c'mon, say it with me, "honor and dignity?"), and makes you wonder if maybe it's a good thing that he doesn't travel much - especially in the Middle East or amidst other cultures in which propriety is taken more seriously than it is by the occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. (the antiquated suit and tie rule there notwithstanding).

I'm telling you, look at Putin's face. That says it all.