And then this happened

[Gr.Viper]

http://www.guardian....dangered-cranes

Vladimir Putin to pilot hang-glider at head of endangered Siberian crane migration.

 

Russian president Vladimir Putin will have to wear white overalls and a special 'beak' to be recognised by the cranes.

 

[Gunrunner]

Many are the times I think he is not a head of state but the participant in "President of Russia: The Reality Show".

 

He has to be the world leader offering the most surreal stunts.

[+whiteknight06604]

looks like there is nothing that Putin can't do. I bet a showdown between all his alledged acomplishments and those of Chuck Norris there would be a battle that tore worlds asunder..... ;)

[+CrazyhorseB34]

Putin 2012.

[JediMaster]

looks like there is nothing that Putin can't do.

 

Sure there is. He can't participate in a fair election.

 

BOOYA!!!!!

[MigBuster]

Just got to laugh really - surprised hes not in the Expendables

[Lexx_Luthor]

Putin = Chuck Norris

 

lol I was just thinking the same thing.

[+daddyairplanes]

Just got to laugh really - surprised hes not in the Expendables

well i'm sure hollywood will come out with a part III.......

[+Gepard]

Could you imagine that Obama or Romney or an european state leader could do such stunts like Putin? Perhaps the former italian boss Berlusconi? But no he prefered bunga-bunga parties. Or the gay german foreign minister Westerwelle? If he would do it, i would hope he would hit one of this cranes. Or perhaps the german cancellor Angela Merkel? Hey, she would need a kite with much more lift, but why not? :no: :no:

 

There are 100 good points to be against Putin. He is no democrat, he is an autocrat, his election was not fair ..... and so on. But he is still an impressive person.

Edited September 6, 2012 by Gepard

[JediMaster]

US presidents do their stunts before they're elected. Or rather, they do it before they FAIL to be elected, as I can recall plenty of candidates that did them but none that became president.

 

Dukakis' head sticking out of the tank, Kerry in the clean room bunny suit at KSC...

[+Brain32]

He is no democrat, he is an autocrat, his election was not fair ..... and so on.

I wouldn't even agree on this

[Capitaine Vengeur]

Hey, even 86-year-old Queen Elizabeth recently made a public parachute jump for the Opening of the Olympic Games... Oh, er, wait... It was a drag stunt, wasn't it?

[UK_Widowmaker]

US presidents do their stunts before they're elected. Or rather, they do it before they FAIL to be elected, as I can recall plenty of candidates that did them but none that became president.

 

Dukakis' head sticking out of the tank, Kerry in the clean room bunny suit at KSC...

 

I dunno.... Regan got elected...and he was a piss-poor actor on a Horse

[JediMaster]

That wasn't a stunt, that was a career.

[+streakeagle]

Whether Putin has been legitimately elected or not, I think he is one of the most capable leaders Russia has had since Peter the Great.

But the very thing that molded him into such a strong person also limits his ability to lead his nation into prosperity: his Cold War/KGB experience.

It may never happen, but I would like to see Russia and its people do as well as the USA without needing a war to get there.

Those people have been oppressed for centuries and despite shaking off the Czar and most of the Soviet chains, continue to suffer despite having abundant resources and a large and fairly well educated population.

At least they have Vodka :)

[macelena]

I just watched independence day, when Bill Pullman gets into an F-18 for the final battle, all i could think of was "wow, that´s some Putin style stuff right here", well, they did a russian version of Arnie´s Commando, so i wouldn´t be surprised if he starred the russian adaptation. My bet on the title is "May Day"

[JediMaster]

I don't think anyone will argue against his effectiveness in the past. However, the public perception of him today is not what it was 10 years ago. I don't know how effective he will continue to be.

[Gr.Viper]

You have a very special perception of him out there, I take it. I can see, how benefcial it would be for the foreign media to present him as a strong leader and a threat... The man can't take a dive for ancient pottery without it being staged, ffs. The inauguration motorcade was driving escorted, armoured, thorugh the streets full of police replacing pedestrians. Now he's clutching at the church to provide supportive loonies.

 

At least they have Vodka :)

Yes, state tax on strong alcohol is quite an incentive to provide people with vodka.

[Gunrunner]

From where I stand he looks utterly sad and pathetic, a desperate man clutching at straw, ready to do anything, even the most ridiculous stunt to conserve enough power base to fight the rise of russian civil society.

His opposition to oligarchy might have been beneficial, but accompanied by a will to keep Russia from fully entering the post-Soviet era, it's actually starting to hurt Russia, IMHO.

[+Brain32]

Well considering what the so-called post-Soviet era brought to Russians he might not be on a bad road with that.

Looking at pure economic facts, since his first year in power GDP started growing, unemployment started falling, population below poverty line more than halved, they produce more electricity, more gas, exports are rising...all very good indicators.

 

After the Yeltsin debacle during the 90's where transition brutally devastated not just Russia but whole Eastern Europe, I don't think Russians have it bad with Putin, I mean it could always be better but...

[JediMaster]

That has to be taken in context, though. Energy production was dirt cheap in the 90s. Oil and natural gas were at rock bottom prices.

Shortly after 9/11 the prices began to rise, hitting record prices by mid-decade. As a net exporter, Russia made a killing selling that stuff. He had little control over that.

 

Now how much oil and gas have directly contributed to the Russian economy is not a question I can answer, but I'm sure it's more than "just a bit".

[Jug]

Just come to light that all of that was staged. Looks like he could do well in American politics too.

[+Brain32]

Just come to light that all of that was staged. Looks like he could do well in American politics too.

I was following the Republican campaign this year(mostly got interested because of Ron Paul) and nothing can touch that amount of show-time, and don't think this is a jab at it or an insult, I mean strictly and honestly in a positive sense, elections here are basically boring as hell but this was freakin' epic, the ads, media gaffs, candidate gaffs, spins, debates, studio graphics, drama, basically it rocked in many ways...

I got so much into it I remember waking up one day and rushing to check who won New Hampshire...and I live freakin 9000 miles away from NH lol

 

Truth be told(before you think I lost it completely) I did watch and follow just smaller excerpts while you guys probably get fed up with it being bombarded every day, all day but I can tell you, it really is a TV spectacle when you see something like that for the first time...

[Jug]

I think the guy is just doing what he feels is best for his country. Sometimes that is in diametric opposition to what other nation's feel is best for their country, but he is only opposed to one area that I feel is out of line and that has to do with Russian supply of weapons to bad guys who use them on their own people.