tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19791491.post4728739345200298869..comments2023-09-28T15:43:24.855+02:00Comments on Vilhelm Konnander's weblog: Putin: What a Man...Vilhelm Konnanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09167606906861836286noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19791491.post-50931291042425698112007-08-24T00:13:00.000+02:002007-08-24T00:13:00.000+02:00Yes, horrible! Politicians and bureaucrats should ...Yes, horrible! Politicians and bureaucrats should only be allowed to be outdoor if they wear a white shirt, tie and a suit. The mere thought of these men half naked is disgusting. The only skin they should be allowed to display is the face and their hands. Period!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19791491.post-56699586864149431802007-08-17T19:08:00.000+02:002007-08-17T19:08:00.000+02:00An exhibition would be hilarious. One should add p...An exhibition would be hilarious. One should add photos with Lukashenko in hockey gear and Yushenko in... No, not Yushenko, on second thougth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19791491.post-10549188373777991422007-08-17T13:19:00.000+02:002007-08-17T13:19:00.000+02:00Dear Megan,Imagining Putin as Russia's answer to A...Dear Megan,<BR/><BR/>Imagining Putin as Russia's answer to Arnold Schwarzenegger is hilarious. What I really have difficulties with is the cult of strength - a phenomenon frequent in authoritarian regimes. Of course, the world is preoccupied with physical attributes, but the case of Russia is something else in my eyes. The example of Clinton is quite illustrative. Although being in relatively good shape for his age, he gave the impression of being a flabby middle-aged man trying to keep on to his youth and fitness. You probably know the type, and there is not much wrong in this. As for Putin, he obviously wants to symbolise strength and youth. That is something else.<BR/><BR/>Yours,<BR/><BR/>VilhelmVilhelm Konnanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04506899921990227704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19791491.post-80950140614217694682007-08-17T08:25:00.000+02:002007-08-17T08:25:00.000+02:00While I don't especially enjoy looking at Putin wi...While I don't especially enjoy looking at Putin with or without a shirt on, I have to agree with anonymous that when fully-clothed his head looks quite small. So these manly poses provide a good counterpoint to his more statesmanly images for his supporting public, a large number of whom are dumb macho guys and the women who love them.<BR/><BR/>I don't suppose there's anything inherently bad in seeing a politician with his shirt off, even if it seems to be in bad taste. You may be right about this cult of the sportsman, but it's just a part of Russian culture. And not only Russian culture.<BR/><BR/>In the early days of his presidency, lots of pictures of Bill Clinton jogging were published, where we got to see him in short-shorts (yuck). He stopped jogging outside after awhile, though.<BR/><BR/>In closing, I have just two words: Arnold Schwarzenegger.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19791491.post-464266393749562012007-08-16T20:37:00.000+02:002007-08-16T20:37:00.000+02:00Dear Wally,I guess it is a hopeless cause to argue...Dear Wally,<BR/><BR/>I guess it is a hopeless cause to argue that I am a person not paying much attention to physical characteristics - given the subject of this piece. Still, I have not given much thought to Putin's potential disability. The comparison with FDR though is interesting. Is Putin's constant inclination to display himself as a strong and active personality a lame attempt cover up some sort physical deficiency? I would not know, and cannot really speculate on this. However, the theme of Russian leaders' health condition is far from new, and I have difficulties to remember who has not become the object for such speculation - with the possible exception of Gorbachev.<BR/><BR/>Yours,<BR/><BR/>VilhelmVilhelm Konnanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04506899921990227704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19791491.post-35489062100033892592007-08-16T11:59:00.000+02:002007-08-16T11:59:00.000+02:00Anonymous wrote:"Now I've gone round the office, a...Anonymous wrote:<BR/><BR/>"Now I've gone round the office, and we have concluded that Putin is sweeter without a jacket. The head and chin are simply too small when they stick out from under the shirt collar!"<BR/><BR/>Reply: Well, you do seem to have done a thorough survey. Should we then hope for more pictures like this? Perhaps, you should even organise an exhibition. I am sure that the Russian embassy in Stockholm and the Union of Russian Associations in Sweden would support it.<BR/><BR/>Yours,<BR/><BR/>VilhelmVilhelm Konnanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04506899921990227704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19791491.post-564483341485838372007-08-16T11:54:00.000+02:002007-08-16T11:54:00.000+02:00Dear Varske,Very old fashioned indeed. As with Mac...Dear Varske,<BR/><BR/>Very old fashioned indeed. As with Macmillan, one has to go back to the 1950s and 1960s to find similar pictures of Swedish politicians. So, should one therefore conclude that Russia is 40-50 years behind in development? Probably not, but I would think that the identity of Putin's generation has been forged by a cult of strength. Call this old-fashioned or not. It is still a reality in current Russia.<BR/><BR/>Yours,<BR/><BR/>VilhelmVilhelm Konnanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04506899921990227704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19791491.post-54214408139846920952007-08-16T07:36:00.000+02:002007-08-16T07:36:00.000+02:00Nu har jag hört mig för på kontoret, och vi har ko...Nu har jag hört mig för på kontoret, och vi har kommit fram till att Putin är sötare utan kavaj. Huvudet och hakan blir för små där de sticker ut ur skjortkragen!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19791491.post-91619576827425709672007-08-16T00:51:00.000+02:002007-08-16T00:51:00.000+02:00Are you sure it's not just very old fashioned PR? ...Are you sure it's not just very old fashioned PR? I'm sure I can remember photos of British Prime Ministers etc in the 50s and 60s being photographed swimming on holiday. Macmillan and RAB Butler were certainly more like walruses than pin-ups.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com