Posted on 09/23/2009 8:08:50 PM PDT by GOPGuide
It's the Obama administration that has pressed the "reset button" on relations with Russia, scrapped plans for a missile-defense system in Eastern Europe, and toned down the rhetoric on NATO expansion. But it seems Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin still pines for Obama's predecessor. At his annual meeting with academics, think-tankers, and journalists, Putin barely mentioned Obama but "repeatedly expressed fondness for his friend 'George,' " says Cliff Kupchan, a Russia analyst at the Eurasia Group consultancy. "He clearly has a personal softness for George Bush," says Kupchan, who attended the meeting.
Why the nostalgia? After all, Bush put in place the very policies Obama is now trying to unwind, and many analysts say U.S. relations with Russia reached a post-Cold War low during his administration. One reason may be that both men respected raw power, not mealy-mouthed diplomacy. As a leader who thinks in terms of zero-sum games and projected strength, Putin could recognize and appreciate a similar tendency in his American counterpart. To Putin, it seems, the man matters as much as the message.
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.newsweek.com ...
What Putin really misses are the baby back ribs, chili, cole slaw and Shiner beer.
;)
President George W. Bush and Russia's President Vladimir Putin take a sunset walk on a pier along the Black Sea during a visit by President and Mrs. Bush Saturday, April 5, 2008, to President Putin's summer retreat, Bocharov Ruchey, in Sochi, Russia. White House photo by Eric Draper
Strong leaders have little use for sniveling weaklings.
Does Rahm know he stole it, from one of his boa's?
And I thought it was one of those fake Jedi light sword things.
Well said.
Contrast with Bambi bowling - throwing a pitch - cycling...
YOu think that Sarah Palin might take Pooty moose hunting?
Not a pussy.
Putin was saying, “If you were really a dictator, like everyone says, you wouldn’t let the end of your formal term put an end to your control of the country. Works for me.”
I miss President Bush too. Sure, he made mistakes, but, he was a man of character and conviction. He had an inner strength very much missing from the empty suit now occupying the WH. Dictators do NOT respect weakness and BO has a lot to learn. Even though he thinks he knows it all.
America is in big trouble! pray!
Ole Pootie Poot...LOL
Putin liked playing mind games with W., and recognized his strength. Obama is too much of a pushover for Putin to do this with. Even though on a professional and KGB level Putin is happy to see Obama where he is, personally Putin misses the mindgame.
It’s called respect. Obama commands none.
Oooooooh Michelle, them two guys are bad. Meooow!
I once watched a snotty Brit at the BBC try to goad Putin into criticizing Bush.
Putin corrected him, said Bush was an honorable man. Of course, Putin didn’t go along with him in a lot of things, but they understood each other.
Obama, on the other hand, is a weak character, similar to Jimmy Carter.
Pooty poot respected Bush. He wouldn’t wipe his communist ass shoes on obummer. Pooty knows a punk when he sees one.
Bush stood on principal...and even if was principals we didn’t like, so did Putin.
Zero? Hell, he’ll sell anyone out. Also, I’ve read where Putin was very pissed about the whole Bosnia thing...and to be fair, the ‘victims’ had been periodically doing their own cleansing since before WWII. Dividing up the land a la Clinton, Biden, Lefty, ‘set back stability’ in the region ‘300 years’, IIRC.
Just wait ‘til the Bamster is done in Afghanistan.
Did you read Palins FB this evening? She was diplomatically begging for China and India to pitch in and help, since the messiah is determined to have our troops lose what advantage they gained with high troop casualty, IMO.
I detest this administration with all my heart. In their effort to play games and consolidate power, they are needlessly increasing hardship around the globe, IMO.
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