First of all, in Russia, don't try to paint Putin as anything other than manly, metaphorically, or literally. Here we see the painting that Russian law enforcement raided.
A visitor takes a picture of the artwork entitled "Travesty" by Konstantin Altunin at an exhibition at the Muzei Vlasti (Museum of Authorities) in St. Petersburg August 15, 2013. Overnight on August 26 several art installations, including the "Travesty" that depicts figures resembling Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, were confiscated by the police from Muzei Vlasti and shall be checked for extremist propaganda. The museum, which opened on August 15, was closed after the police visit, local media reported. Picture taken August 15, 2013.
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Sometimes must look at what is happening in its territory, to judge that what happens elsewhere.
I personally do not particularly like poutine, journalists are not free from it, but when I see presstitute in the U.S. and Europe, I find that dictatorship level, poutine has a long way to go.
the power that big corporations and industry have over govt and peoples' lives are direct extensions of the choices that people make with their spending money and so forth... and we merely ask politicians to be the 'bad guys' in that exchange to avoid examining our own choices and lifestyles more closely.
putin is at least somewhat different. he directly and transparently prevents other parties and politicians from taking a turn at the wheel. actually, it's kind of nice that it's all out in the open, but let's just call a spade a spade, shall we?
obama and the european leadership do not commonly have dictatorial control over the election process AFAIK.