Putin Arrives at Bush's Texas Ranch

Reuters ^ | Nov. 14

[Dubya_gal]

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites) to his Texas ranch on Wednesday in a light rain that he described as a good omen for the visit.

``The president brought rain for which we are always grateful in the state of Texas,'' Bush shouted to reporters from behind the wheel of his white Ford pickup truck with Putin at his side.

Putin and his wife, Lyudmila, arrived at the ranch aboard a presidential Marine One helicopter. Bush and his wife, Laura, greeted them at the helicopter then all four climbed into the pickup, which had two rows of seats.

``I still know how to drive,'' said Bush, who is more accustomed to being driven around in a limousine.

He planned to show Putin some sights on his ranch.

``We're going to take a tour. I want to show him some of my favorite spots on the ranch,'' Bush said.

[Dubya_gal]

Russian President Vladimir Putin waves to the crowd after he and his wife Ludmila arrived in Waco, Texas, for a vist with President Bush at his ranch in Crawford, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2001. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

[Dubya_gal]

U.S. President George W. Bush rides with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the front of his pickup truck as he welcomes Putin to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, November 14, 2001. Bush plans to treat Putin to Western-style entertainment and tour of his beloved ranch, as well as follow up on their talks in Washington on Tuesday on a new strategic relationship.

[Lent]

BTTTTTTTTTT. Good to see.

[Dubya_gal]

Ping!

[Martin Tell]

Since you are a woman (I assume), I must ask your opinion as to whether Putin is (ahem) a "stud." I am not qualified to judge, but this pic makes him seem athletic. Could it be due to KGB training? I wonder if W will jog him around the ranch, have weight lifting, baseball pitching contests, etc.

[PoisedWoman]

Wow! Look at Putin's palm. If I'm not mistaken, it's the hand of a man who is much stronger than he is intelligent, a practical fellow, really tough, more inclined to physical than mental action. The big X under his wedding ring signifies what? Maybe a doublecrosser when it comes to partnerships?

I'm no palmist, but we have recently had threads on the Clintons' palms. Putin's looks bad to me. However, his face in this photo seems so open and boyish.

[Dubya_gal]

Well if you must know, when I saw him on TV getting off the plane wearing this shirt I said "&%$* he looks good in that shirt!!" And so I went to find this picture and was not disappointed. Ha ha. I could take or leave his face, but he sure is built nicely. :) On the Barbara Walters interview, they showed film of him competing in a Judo match (he is a blackbelt). He looked rather "studly" to me as he was thowing his opponent to the ground.

[Hipixs]

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush greet President Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila Putin as they arrive at the Bush Ranch in Crawford, Texas, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2001. Lyudmila handed Mrs. Bush a flower as they arrived. Photo by Doug Mills (AP)

[cschroe]

I hope Dubya sends him home with a real belt buckle! His dress was appropriate, but lacked a properly sized buckle! And what the hell was on his wifes shirt?

[Martin Tell]

Lyudmila looks a little dumpy, but maybe by Russian standards she's a fox. Anybody remember Mrs. Brezchnev (sp?)?

[listenhillary]

I'm not a palmist either but it looks like the "mystic cross" One of great spirituality.

Just kidding!

I'm not a palmist, but people tell me that I'm tele-pathetic.

I have to giggle a little every time I hear the words Bush and Putin together in any order.

How's that for an incoherent ramble?

[riri]

Bush and his wife, Laura, greeted them at the helicopter then all four climbed into the pickup

This is priceless. You´ve got to love it! The President of Russia driving around Texas in a pick em up..I wonder if he got on W´s CB..Wonder what his handle was? hmmm..."Breaker one nine, Breaker one nine Big Red here"

[PoisedWoman]

whether Putin is (ahem) a "stud." I am not qualified to judge,

I am and he is. In fact, I'd go so far as to call him a Stud Muffin. If he ever broke down and smiled, the fellahs at Rolling Stone would plaster him all over the cover. I doubt that the'd have to help him with an airbrush job, as they helped Algore, who, BTW, is a stiff stuffed shirt, anything but studly.

[dirtboy]

Compare the fit, trim Bush and Putin to their predecessors:

[Floratina]

Ol' Vlad is kinda cute.

[maranatha]

Yeah, I agree. Also, about the belt buckle not being big enough (Texan) it is just like the belt W wears with suits. Love W driving him in his pickup, however, the reporter said it was a Ford. Oh, my. Should be a Chevy.

Look up Putin biography on Google, you will find his life very interesting and note that while working for KGB in Berlin he joined the Orthodox church which was illegal at the time.

[uncbob]

Love W driving him in his pickup, however, the reporter said it was a Ford. Oh, my. Should be a Chevy.

Well I have a 93 Ford with 101000 on it( outside of brakes tires battery etc only repair was a new radiator at 100,000) but am looking at the new Ram Quad Cab 4x4 1500 ( too bad that 5.9 liter is such a gas hog but the difference in price from a new Ford Crew Cab will pay for the extra gas for about 7 years) Ram has new brakes' suspension etc etc and SURE do look like a TRUCK
Chevy looks like an overgrown car

[maranatha]

You know, I thought of that later. I've seen some really good looking NEW trucks that are not Chevy here in West Texas. I'm going with the past, I guess. We have an '89 Silverado with 250,000. We were told today the front end would need to be rebuilt soon.

[maranatha]

whether Putin is (ahem) a "stud." I am not qualified to judge,

I am and he is

I like your style.