Bare-chested Vladimir Putin strikes a macho pose (Gay Icon?)

Timesonline ^ | 4 Aug 09 | Tony Halpi

[SkyPilot]

Vladimir Putin has buffed up his action-man image and raised the pin-up stakes among world leaders with another set of bare-chested holiday pictures.

Photographs were published today showing the Russian Prime Minister stripped to the waist and riding a horse imperiously through rugged terrain during a brief holiday in the Siberian region of Tuva. Wearing only green fatigues, his eyes hidden behind reflective sunglasses, Mr Putin also showed his gentler side as he fed the horse from his hand after the ride.

Mr Putin, who will be 57 in October, showed off a set of rippling arm muscles as he demonstrated his butterfly swimming technique in another picture, his face a study in concentration as he cut through the refreshingly brisk waters of a local lake.

The photos will inevitably trigger the sound of mass swooning by women all over Russia — as well as unfavourable comparisons of their husbands to Mr Putin’s manly physique. They will also confirm the Russian Prime Minister’s status as a gay icon.

[TomOnTheRun]

Wasn’t there some event last year where Putin saved reporters from a siberian tiger and posed shirtless over it for them? Bravado.

[Slings and Arrows]

Maybe we'll see a headline about how he died in Thailand of auto-erotic asphyxiation some day.

WIN!

[Nathan Zachary]

'Putin’s actually riding and hunting in the Great Outdoors. A Teddy Roosevelt persona for modern Russia.'

But what's he hunting? Is he tracking a Chechen they released in his back quarter, playing "manhunter"?

[Tijeras_Slim]

“Let’s Learn Judo With Vladimir Putin.”

Big deal, it's 14,589th on Amazon, way behind "Let's Learn Macrame with Tijeras_Slim"...

[a fool in paradise]

Why did the Chechen cross the road? < /sarc >

[1035rep]

“A Christian Russian leader lectures a Muslim president of the U.S. on fiscal restraint.”

It boggles the mind, doesn’t it?

These are crazy times.

[a fool in paradise]

Barack Obama ordered Bud Light at his beer summit. I wouldn’t drink it either.

[swarthyguy]

A blatant effort to show his regularguyness.

Somehow the image of Putin with that quintessential American invention, a “light” beer doesn’t quite coaslesce.

[BossLady]

I didn’t say it was a big deal. I thought it was funny....

[Gypssy]

Probably not popular to say but I have always found Vlad very sexy to look at.

[colorado tanker]

He shaves or waxes his body hair. Too gay, man.

[Vendome]

lol!

[WashingtonSource]

I’ll give him this. For someone his age he doesn’t seem to have an ounce of extra fat.

[WashingtonSource]

David Brock looks like he is totally stoned in that picture. I’ve seen deer in headlights with more focused eyes.

[1035rep]

“Let’s Learn Judo With Vladimir Putin.”

or

Let's Learn to Hang Curtains With Barry Obama.

.

[Mr Rogers]

1 - If that is rugged terrain, then I have a backyard full of rugged terrain.

2 - Only a faggot rides a horse, wearing no shirt but sunglasses. If you spend enough time ON horses, you will spend some time OFF them - a shirt helps.

3 - I've got a mare that I'd bet would kick his butt. She doesn't believe in photo ops...we have to sneak the camera out for pictures.

[flash2368]

Very well could be a cross. He is Russian Orthodox and even had a Church built on his place in south Russia.

[surely_you_jest]

Someone needs to post that pic of Zero throwing out a baseball like the girl that (s)he is.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Hey Mon, what’s up with the dreadlocks?

[TheOldLady]

I always knew he was a short little thing, but I didn't realize that it was because his legs are stunted. He seems to have a normal torso, though.