Dmitri Medvedev, Music Lover
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James Joyner | Wednesday, May 7, 2008 |
Today’s Christian Science Monitor features two profiles of incoming Russian president Dmitri Medvedev. For whatever reason, both emphasize his love of rock and roll.
Fred Weir weighs in with “In Putin’s shadow, Russia inaugurates Medvedev: The new president, a savvy lawyer who likes Led Zeppelin, faces rising corruption and decaying national infrastructure.”
Not to be outdone, Christa Case Bryan gives us, “Meet Dmitri Medvedev: Russia’s new president loves Deep Purple, shuns alcohol.” No word if this is because, as with most Deep Purple fans, he prefers alternative means of mood altering.
In any event, Bryan’s profile is by far the more touchy-feely.
Active: Swims for an hour every morning and evening, sleeping only from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Teetotaler: Favors lighter fare – sushi is his current favorite – and shuns alcohol, but not ice cream and candy.
Finicky: Won’t let anyone else feed the fish in his office fish tank.
Precocious: Modern Russia’s youngest head of state. Met wife Svetlana at age 7.
Discriminating: Disdains going to the movies, preferring instead to view “serious” European and Russian films at home – but confesses to an occasional Hollywood flick.
Dapper: Fellow students remember him in a suit with a briefcase at his side. [He's the Russian Alex P. Keaton? - ed.]
Rocker: A fan of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple – bands that were all cool but blacklisted when he was a teen in the ’70s.
Edgy: Decided at age 23 to be baptized into the Russian Orthodox Church, when the Soviet government frowned upon it. [This qualifies as edgy? -ed]
Intellectual: Born to two professors, he likes Dostoyevsky, Chekhov, and chess.
No word on his stance on moonlit walks along the beach.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
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[This qualifies as edgy? -ed]
Darned right. Remember, Religion didn't mesh with Marx.
Didn't the MSM croon about Putin liking Jazz (or was that Andropov).
I also understand that when he speaks you can barely see Putin's lips move.
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