Photo Of The Day: Obama Meets Putin

CNBC’s Eamon Javers captured this photo of President Obama and Russian President Putin when they met upon Obama’s arrival in St. Petersburg, Russia for the G-20 Summit:

obama-putin-g20

Something tells me these two won’t be making a buddy movie together.

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Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. edmondo says:

    If Obama negotiates with Putin the way he negotiates with the GOP in Congress, we should all be speaking Russian by the end of the month.

  2. Paul L. says:

    Caption:
    “Did Medvedev transmit that now the election is over, I have more flexibility now to you?”
    Let’s talk about the US dismantling the warmonger missile defence program

  3. C. Clavin says:

    Crazy interesting to see Edmondo and Paul L. supporting Putin. You guys really have a bad case of ODS. The enemy of your enemy is your friend I guess. Have you applied for citizenship yet? I hear it’s nice in Moscow this time of year.

  4. @C. Clavin:

    A lot of the commentary I’ve seen in recent days from people on the right is more supportive of the former KGB Colonel than the President of the United States.

    Pretty pathetic if you ask me.

  5. anjin-san says:

    A lot of the commentary I’ve seen in recent days from people on the right is more supportive of the former KGB Colonel than the President of the United States.

    It seems Fox News and the party line trumps loyalty to America.

  6. John Peabody says:

    That’s a weird-looking photo. Perhaps taken from a great distance? The President’s head seems a bit…off.

  7. Donald Sensing says:

    Clock meets cleaner.

  8. Gold Star for Robot Boy says:

    @Doug Mataconis:
    Even before this Syria stuff, more than a few right-wingers were cozying up to Putin for Russia’s anti-gay stance. Rod Dreher, who considers himself a Christian, was vocal in his praise – and, wow, did his readers let him have it.

  9. Paul L. says:

    @C. Clavin:
    @Doug Mataconis:
    @anjin-san:
    @<a href="#comment-1794839″ rel=”nofollow”>Gold Star for Robot Boy:
    I ‘m not supporting Putin. Just showing Obama was ready to engage with Vladimir with progressive “smart diplomacy” before dear leader’s administration was embarrassed by Russia’s response to the Snowdon leaks and his Red Line on Syria.

  10. anjin-san says:

    @ Paul L

    dear leader’s

    Sorry pal, but your true colors are shining through, and red, white, and blue don’t appear to be part of your palette.

  11. edmondo says:

    @C. Clavin:

    If Obama negotiates with Putin the way he negotiates with the GOP in Congress, we should all be speaking Russian by the end of the month. If Obama negotiates with Putin the way he negotiates with the GOP in Congress, we should all be speaking Russian by the end of the month.

    Cliffy, as usual, you miss the point. This is more a comment on Obama’s negotiating skills that any love of Putin (or the GOP, for that matter).

  12. Paul L. says:
  13. anjin-san says:

    @ Paul L.

    Dissent is no longer the highest form of patriotism?

    Dissent includes saying things like “Obama’s policy is BS” “The president is a crappy leader”

    What you are doing goes a bit beyond that.

    Are you are questioning my patriotism?

    Well, I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you are just the flip side of the “Hitler McChimpy” morons we use to see trashing Bush from the left a few years back.

  14. anjin-san says:

    @ Paul L.

    Of cours maybe you really do think calling the President “deal leader”, a handle Kim Jong-il used to be known by, is clever. That just makes you kind of pathetic.

  15. Jeremy R says:

    @Doug Mataconis:

    A lot of the commentary I’ve seen in recent days from people on the right is more supportive of the former KGB Colonel than the President of the United States.

    Pretty pathetic if you ask me.

    Not just on the Right. I’ve seen a number of so-called civil libertarians on the left favorably posting statements from Putin on Syria and Snowden, frequently in the form of, “How screwed up is the US when Putin is the voice of reason” or “who I trust more than our own government.” Kind of like when all those human rights groups were allowed into that FSB organized Snowden event and played their part bolstering Putin. A lot of civil rights & civil liberties advocates have demonstrated an odd sort of tunnel vision when it comes to making their case against a Syrian intervention and joining Snowden and Greenwald’s anti-western-intelligence crusade, often at the expense of their primary missions / advocacy.

  16. Gold Star for Robot Boy says:

    @Paul L.:

    Dissent is no longer the highest form of patriotism?

    Who do you think you’re kidding? Ten years ago, you were on the side of those who thought a moment’s pause about rushing into Iraq was OMG YOU”RE DANCING ON THE GRAVES OF TEH BRAVE FIREFIGHTERS OF 9/11!!

    Seriously, after all the shit the right wing threw at their fellow Americans, you’re going to play the dissent =patriotism card? Really? That’s shameless. Utterly shameless.

  17. rodney dill says:

    @John Peabody: It almost makes it look photoshopped,
    The one here is better, just before the shake.
    https://twitter.com/SladeHV/status/375613439785181185/photo/1

  18. OzarkHillbilly says:

    I have an alternative caption: “Vlad, I have seen into your soul, and I have seen the Impaler.”

    (for the more dense, google “Vlad the Impaler”)

  19. Neil Hudelson says:

    Indeed, it does look…not quite right. How did his hair get 10 shades darker? (Not saying it’s fake, just interesting how photographs don’t capture an image as accurately as you would think).

  20. JWH says:

    Something tells me these two won’t be making a buddy movie together.

    I beg to differ.

    He’s a man with a secret past who is often photographed without his shirt. He’s a professorial, high-minded Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Together, they fight crime!!

  21. rodney dill says:

    @JWH: Felix and Oscar.

  22. Just 'nutha' ig'rant cracker says:

    @Doug Mataconis: And yet, you are the guy who started this snark fest! Nice going!

  23. JWH says:

    Maybe we could have a sitcom where Obama and Putin are roommates. Joe Biden can play the wacky neighbor. And Hillary Clinton would be their landlady.

  24. C. Clavin says:

    Given Republican efforts to sabotage our country…Paul L and Edmondo’s comments don’t suprise me…it’s the logical progression from the Party’s tactics. Hard to love the country you are actively trying to bring down.

  25. al-Ameda says:

    @Paul L.:

    … before dear leader’s administration was embarrassed by Russia’s response to the Snowdon leaks and his Red Line on Syria.

    I take it you’re of the opinion that the president should have ordered an airstrike of Syrian chemical weapons facilities and informed Congress after the fact? That certainly would have avoided any so-called embarrassment owing to his ‘red line’ comments.