Obama describes Putin as 'like a bored kid'

[Poll_Blind]

Obama describes Putin as 'like a bored kid':

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Friday denied he has poor relations with Vladimir Putin after canceling their Moscow talks, but said the Russian president can sometimes appear "like a bored kid in the back of the classroom."

U.S.-Russian relations plunged to one of their lowest points since the Cold War this week after Russia granted temporary asylum to fugitive former U.S. spy contractor Edward Snowden. Obama retaliated by abruptly canceling a Moscow summit with Putin planned for early next month.

At a White House news conference on Friday, Obama insisted that he does not have bad personal relations with Putin. The two men had a testy meeting in June in Northern Ireland and from the photos of them at the time, it looked as if they would both rather have been somewhere else.

"I know the press likes to focus on body language, and he's got that kind of slouch, looking like the bored kid in the back of the classroom. But the truth is that when we're in conversations together, oftentimes it's very productive," Obama said.

--snip--

I suppose there's always the other end of the spectrum, offering to wash Putin's car and walk his dog. Unexpectedly and uncharacteristically tactless. He's a wet cat over the Snowden thing and despite his "No Screaming Jets" and "No wheeling and dealing", he's giving every signal he can that he's a unhappy about not having the rest of the world play ball with Our Generous Empire.

And who can blame him, really? Shitting up relations with Russia keeps the big war machine wheel turning, doesn't it? I mean, could you fucking imagine a world where we didn't have someone lined up for the next righteous intervention?

PB

[99Forever]

1. Way to stay classy, Barack.

[millennialmax]

2. Careful. Your true colors are showing. eom

[City Lights]

7. Seems like something Junior would have said.

Disappointing that Obama said it.

[AZ Mike]

18. WTF?

That was an awesome analogy. A great dig to get under the skin of the former KGB officer. But, you are free to favor Putin.

[quinnox]

3. Obama is throwing a shit fit

Putin has looked like a diplomatic genius compared to the bungling the USA has done in this Snowden affair. It sounds like that has Obama pretty sore.

[ProSense]

6. "Putin has looked like a diplomatic genius"

Putin is a hero.

[Fumesucker]

11. Don't look for heroes, be a hero

[cherokeeprogressive]

16. Juxtapose this post with President Obama's OWN WORDS...

Obama: On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this, this can be solved but it's important for him to give me space.

Medvedev: Yeah, I understand. I understand your message about space. Space for you...

Obama: This is my last election…After my election I have more flexibility.

Medvedev: I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir.

[ProSense]

4. NYT editorial: Snowden's "fears do not qualify him for asylum"

NYT editorial: Snowden's "fears do not qualify him for asylum"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023437384

President Obama: Mr. Snowden has been charged with three felonies.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023436454

[Amonester]

5. Methinks poutine is not gonna like it at all...

Hello new nukes race?

[Xolodno]

8. Putin is the bored kid in back of the class shooting spit wads....

....and Obama is the kid in front getting hit...and complaining about it.

The two most powerful leaders in the world...acting like school children.

[Spider Jerusalem]

9. This sort of dismissive arrogance is not really very helpful in improving relations

but then the US has been acting like "how not to conduct foreign relations 101" over l'affaire Snowden anyway.

[mick063]

10. Mitt called Russia our "greatest threat"

President Obama is trying to make Mitt look prophetic.

Chalk up another right wing argument to amp up defense spending and all over the President, a law major, not recognizing the absence of a "favorable" extradition law. Looking for popular support, on the world stage, for an unpopular "program".

[JI7]

19. if Obama thought he was our great threat he wouldn't refer to him as a "bored kid"

[pscot]

12. It's personal

Snowden has caused the President a lot of grief. He's been put on the defensive, and doesn't like it. I bet Eddy's made the Kill List.

[digonswine]

13. Did you listen to the same presser I did?

He was nothing, if not diplomatic about Putin and Russia.
The positive was more than the negative-one cannot dispute that they are heading in a direction that we are not.
This sounds like the punditry of a two-bit news organization.
How is he shitting-up relations? What is your solution?

[geek tragedy]

14. More accurate than looking into his eyes

and saying you can see he has a good soul.

[Fumesucker]

15. You'd need an excavator to find that bar

[JaneyVee]

17. Obama is spot on in his assessment.

[madrchsod]

20. you can`t sic your dogs on this president mr putin...

because he`s got your number.