Bond for President

Somerville, Mass - I am not normally a fan of action-adventure films, but I have to admit that I have a thing for the new James Bond, played by Daniel Craig. It's not just his constant cool under pressure or his killer bod, it's also his uncanny resemblance to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
James Bond and Vladimir Putin have more in common than steely blue eyes and well-defined pecs. They also share an unwaivering commitment to duty, putting their lives on the line for their countries. And of course, they are both trained killers. (Before Putin was president, he rose through the ranks of the KGB. He is famous for having a black belt in judo, amongst other deadly skills, no doubt.)
This comparison has made me realize something about why Putin is so popular in Russia... wouldn't you want James Bond to be your president?
There was recently a story in the news about Putin's visit to a nature preserve where scientists are tracking and studying Siberian tigers. When one of the tigers suddenly broke free from its restraint, Putin sprang to action and shot it with a tranquilizer gun before it could attack or harm anyone. Everyone at the park was impressed with his shooting skills and grateful for his quick-wittedness. Sure, it's not often that Putin has to call on his skills... but he's still got it!

The new Bond film Quantum of Solace is of interest for another reason. Alongside Daniel Craig, the film stars supermodel Olga Kurylenko. Apparently, communists in Russia are aghast at the "moral and intellectual betrayal" by this Ukrainian beauty.
"In the name of all communists we appeal to you, Olga Kurylenko, wanton daughter of unclean Ukraine and deserter of the Slavic world. The Soviet Union educated you, cared for you, and brought you up for free, but no one suspected that you would commit this act of intellectual and moral betrayal," read the statement by the St Petersburg communist party.
The statement goes on to reprimand Kurylenko for playing alongside James Bond, a "killer of hundreds of Soviet people and their allies." Sometimes I wonder if the communists are resigned to making people laugh, since they are otherwise irrelevent in international politics. I swear, you can't make this stuff up!
"Your peers are engaged in struggles against NATO and you lounge around on the Cote d'Azur. How could you desert your homeland in its moment of need?"
I say, who can blame her? Olga probably feels that teaming up with James Bond is the next best thing to teaming up with Putin himself...