Putin talks of possible return to presidency

Putin is popular in Russia. Plus he's got great abs.

Wow! What a surprise! Nobody could've predicted that!

That's great! Putin is the man!

Yea, Putin President for life.

It's a wonder Medvedev hasn't bumped him off, sucessfully...

Just a title but looks like he has been calling the shots anyway

Once a dictator always a dictator, and that is what Putin is.

'If the situation demands it, I will come to you' - where are you then, I am getting hungry. Waiting now for 9 years to have lunch with you. Anyway, Putin is the Greatest...a man I respect in all kind of aspects. I truly wish him all the best and to be President again. I might even watch the news again.

knackers: No kidding. Anyone who's surprised by this was just born yesterday.

Yelnats: "Once a dictator always a dictator, and that is what Putin is."

Compared to whom? He's shown he's capable of doing some pretty awful things, but then so have a lot of leaders of so-called democratic nations.

Wow. Come back as Russian president? Gee, you don't say.

As if anyone in the world is surprised by this announcement.

If you had to put together a ranking of "world leaders who are a pain to deal with," Putin would not be near the top. He seems pragmatic and reasonable. All the rest is spin or opinion. Certainly Russia and the West could do worse for Russian leadership. It is true that this "President for life" stuff is pretty transparent, but what would Russia be like today without some continuity?

I know he is no angel, but I can't be convinced that he is the worst devil imaginable either. All the good intentions of Medvedev and crew would likely be ripped apart in a couple of years if there were not some muscle somewhere to keep all the mafia and military on a leash.

Come on, like Russia before Putin was all that great?

you go girl

Medvedev should just step down now, he's been keeping that seat warm for a while.

smithinjapan: Compared to whom? He's shown he's capable of doing some pretty awful things, but then so have a lot of leaders of so-called democratic nations.

Why the need to compare him? Why not just criticize the man as he is. The story is about him, after all.