He's just the sort of barbarian who craves discipline.

I never thought about it that way. He really is trying too hard. But then again he was KGB.

I want a dating sim where I can dress him and other world leaders up in frilly maid outfits and take them out to dinner. He'd be the most tsundere character of them all.

I personally don't think he's "trying" to be macho. I think he's just psychotic ex-KGB with too much time, money and energy on his hands. I can't come up with any US presidents in the last 80 years or more that had half the balls this guy does. Taft was cool. Lincoln was a badass. But we've lost our edge.

But I do think you're right, he probably does wear skirts and snuggle with a menagerie of kittens and bunnies at night.

If by 'losing our edge' you mean we no longer accept politicians projecting an ultra-masochismic, misogynistic, homophobic persona to win support, then I disagree. Putin's just turned our bullshit up louder.

But at least we both agree on the menagerie of pink snugglekittens and cuddlebunnies he keeps stocked in his bedroom at all times.

It would adorable if he wasn't a former assassin.

President Bush's "Mission Accomplished" carrier-landing was a lot cooler than riding a motorcycle, and every time he was caught on camera wearing a bomber jacket or dressed like a cowboy was also deliberate posturing meant to appeal to action movie Americans who want a leader AND a show. Obama's trying to project an image of being a responsible statesman, but will never be able to appeal to the Republican base, which consists mostly of 1) the kind of people who use words like "breeding" and 2) the kind of people who use words like "towel-head."