Brookings Institution: Fiona Hill & Clifford Gabby: 'Vladimir Putin As Statist: Restoring The Greatness of Russia'

Source:Brookings Institution talking to author Fiona Hill.

"In their new book, Mr. Putin: Operative in the Kremlin, Fiona Hill and Clifford Gaddy take a closer look at Russian president Vladimir Putin's governing style through the lenses of several distinct identities. In this first of five video blog posts, Hill and Gaddy examine Putin as "statist", appointed to serve the Russian state and restore its greatness." 

From Brookings Institution

I don't believe Vladimir Putin the President of the Russian Federation is a Communist. But he does represent the new statism or reformed statism in Russia and is certainly not a Liberal-Democrat, orr even a Conservative. But someone who believes that the role of government is to preserve the state. And to look after the state the country as a whole, even if that means limiting individual freedom. And centralizing more power with the Federal Government in Russia and with the Kremlin itself. 

Vladimir Putin is Russia's version of a Nationalist in America, not completely authoritarian, not a Communist, not believing that all power in the country should be controlled by the Federal Government. But someone who values the state and order in the country over freedom and thats how he's governed there.

Criterion Collection: Primary (1960) The Democratic Race For President

Source:Criterion Collection- John and Jacqueline Kennedy, perhaps in 1960.

Source:The Daily Press

“Later this month, we’re releasing The Kennedy Films of Robert Drew & Associates, a collection of landmark achievements in documentary filmmaking. The first in the set is Primary, which documents the 1960 presidential primary in Wisconsin and was shot on a camera engineered specifically by Drew and his team to allow for sync-sound recording, a feature that made the entire genre of cinema verité possible.

In one of the most famous shots in all of documentary history, Albert Maysles’s camera follows JFK into Milwaukee’s American Serb Hall (host tonight to a post-primary party for Republican candidate Ted Cruz). The scene documents the palpably intense level of adulation that Kennedy had already managed to attract, and which would carry him later that year to the highest office in the country."

From Criterion Collection

How about this for a political promotion: Robert F. Kennedy goes from being a Congressional counsel and staffer in the Senate in the late 1950s, to not just running his brother’s presidential campaign in 1960 at the age for 34, but running the winning campaign that year as well.

Source:The Daily Press- John F. Kennedy's brother Robert, campaigning for him in 1960.

The 1960s elections especially the presidential election between Senator John Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon, were fascinating for several reasons. But it was a fascinating election season before Jack Kennedy and Dick Nixon won their party’s nomination for President. The Democratic primaries had two of the strongest leaders in the Democratic Party competing with each other for the Democratic nomination, in Senator Kennedy and Senator Hubert Humphrey.

The two Senators represented different factions of the Democratic Party and even different generations of the party. Even though they were both from the same generation officially. Hubert Humphrey represented the old guard, or what I call the Old-Left of the Democratic Party, the FDR coalition of Northern Progressives and Southern Conservatives who tended to work together on economic policy and foreign policy, but were different on civil rights obviously.

Senator Humphrey came out in favor of civil rights before it became popular to use as an example. And Senator Kennedy represented what I call the Reformed-Left, people who were called New Democrats in the 1980s, the true Liberal Democrats in the party. The JFK vs HHH Democratic primaries weren’t just about who would try to lead the Democratic Party in the next four years. But who would lead the country and which faction of the Democratic Party would lead the country in the next four years.

And I believe had Jack Kennedy not of been assassinated as President in 1963 and gotten reelected in 1964, the Vietnam War doesn’t happen at least as far as how the United States was involved in it. And that he would’ve realized how big of a mistake it would’ve been for America to try to win that war at least on our own. And what’s called the New-Left that came together in the 1960s because of the Vietnam War and the Great Society, against the war, but strongly in favor of the Great Society.

I don’t believe the New Left emerges that’s become Occupy Wall Street today. Because there wouldn’t of been a need for it and the old FDR/LBJ coalition would’ve stayed in place and the Democratic Party would look different today. Had Senator Humphrey defeated Senator Kennedy in 1960 and somehow gone on to defeat Vice President Nixon in the general election. The Democratic Party would look different today as well because again I don’t believe a President Humphrey would’ve gotten the United States as involved in the Vietnam War as it did.

And the New-Left or Occupy Wall Street isn’t in existence today, because again there wouldn’t of been a need for it. But the Reformed-Left or New Democratic Coalition doesn’t emerge either, or at least not as early as it did. Perhaps Senator Kennedy runs for President in 1968 and gets elected, but a lot of New Democrats of today that came from the Baby Boom Generation that looks up to Jack Kennedy and see him as our leader, I’m not a baby boomer I’m a Gen-Xer, but Jack Kennedy is a big political hero of mine. And I’m a New Democrat as well.

The JFK-HHH primaries was really about the sole or future of the Democratic Party and where we were going as a country. And what the Democratic Party was going to look like in the future. Which is why these primaries were so important and a big reason why people were so fascinated. Because JFK was new as a national leader and spoke differently and had different ideas and a different vision. As far as where he would take the country and Democratic Party. Against HHH who represented the old guard or Old-Left in the Democratic Party that were looking to expand the New Deal. 

Leathered Life: Lara- 'Powergirl in Black Leather'

Source:Leathered Life- Lara for Leathered Life. I just wish the video still played, or even still existed.

Source:The Daily Press 

"Power girl in black leather." 

From Leathered Life

I wish Leathered Life, was as active now, as it was 4-5 years ago. Because if you love seeing sexy and I mean beautiful well-built women in tight leather jeans and boots as well, Leathered Life was probably the best place find images of women like that. Not that they had a lot of competition, but their models are curvy with tight curves. And you consistently see them in Miss Sixty black leather jeans, with boots and t-shirts. Lena, one of their models there, is a beautiful baby-faced adorable brunette, with big curves and a very tight body. Looks great in those Miss Sixty jeans.

Unlike with denim jeans of course there are not a lot of leather jean brands. Levis, makes leather jeans and so does Wrangler and maybe a few others. But Miss Sixty, specializes in leather jeans and they also make denim jeans. They're great with the skin-tight, or skinny jeans, both leather and denim. And they make them for women and men. What you see with Lara in this video, is a wide-range of Miss Sixty. The leather jeans, leather coat and leather boots. She's one of their better models at Leathered Life.

Leather jeans, especially for women, are pretty common in Europe and I believe in Latin America as well. But they haven't caught on very well in America except for the late 1970s and early 1980s and then came back in the late 1990s and early 2000s. They tend to be seen as very Rock and Roll, or biker and unless you come from that culture, women don't tend to be very comfortable wearing them. Unlike skinny denim jeans, where they wear those jeans everywhere even to work now. To show off their legs and butts. Which is too bad, because if anything leather jeans are a better way for women to show off their bodies.

Associated Press: 'Economy Adds Jobs But Jobless Rate Ticks Higher'

Source:Associated Press- Joanie Ruge is always a sight for sore eyes.

"The year began with a slight jump in the unemployment rate, but job growth shows strength." 

From the Associated Press

Leathered Life: Chrissie in Leather Jeans

Source:Leathered Life- model Chrissie.

Source:The Daily Press

“The leathered side of life. it offers to you large archives of real life girls in leather pants and pictures of leather models, leather videos and much more… all for free. so take a look and enjoy it! :)” 

From Leathered Life

“Chrissie in her Leather Pants”

Source:Leathered Life- model Chrissie

From Leathered Life

“Leathered Life Oldies – Chrissie in Leather Pants” 

Source:Leathered Life- Chrissie, from Leathered Life, in tight leather jeans. 

From Leathered Life

Very cute leather model. A little petite for men as a tall man over two-hundred pounds, I prefer taller athletic women over little cuties. But she has a great outfit here with the black leather jacket, the leather jeans and black leather boots. Looks like a biker chick, or perhaps a rocker chick. I just wish this combination was more common in America outside of rocker and biker culture than it is.

Not many Americans have the confidence to even pull off leather pants, let alone leather jeans, with a leather jacket and boots to go with it. The worry about coming off as too sexy, or perhaps even worst and not having the right body and looking real bad in the. Perhaps they don't have strong legs and a good butt and the pants look baggy. Or the pants are too small and they don't fill very well in them.

But outside of rocker and biker culture and the occasional sexy celebrity, who does have a lot of confidence in their appearance, you won't see women and men, go out in public in skin-tight leather jeans, that they fit perfectly in and look great in them. Alisha Keys and perhaps a few other come to mind and that's about it.

Raquel Welch: Ready to Groove

Source:The Pin Up Channel- Raquel Welch grooving.

Source:The Daily Press

"Raquel Welch I'm Ready to Groove."

From The Pin Up Channel 

“A great issue of Twen, published in January 1968. It features Raquel Welch on the cover, an interview with Heinz Edelmann about his artwork for The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine movie, plus some fantastic fashion editorials and lots of other gorgeous 1960s art and illustrations throughout, including a double page illustration of ‘Ringo in Wonderland’ which measures 21″ x 13¼”. This issue seems to be quite scarce at the moment, but occasionally a copy turns up for sale on Ebay, however, incase you haven’t managed to find one yet, this is a brief glimpse of the aforementioned contents.” 

Source:Twen- Raquel Welch Bikini Edition.

From Sweet Jane's Pop Boutique

Raquel Welch the sexy performer with a great voice. The cutest, hottest, sexiest thing on stage. She was built and created for the 1960s when you had all of these sexy funny musical comedies come out, including the hippie movies as well. Raquel came out at the perfect time for her as far as what was going on in Hollywood and what she brought as far as talent. Hot baby-faced adorable woman, with a great body, great voice, who moves very well, who can also act and is a hell of a satirist.

Physically Raquel is one of the top Hollywood Goddess's of all-time, but she's one of the top Hollywood goddess's of all-time as an entertainer as well. She's in the same class as Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren, as far as women who look incredible, but who are also great performers as well.

I don't know much about the movie A Swingin Summer. But the fact that Raquel is in and did this number is the only reason I need to see it. The movie might be trash and one of the worst things ever made. But she's in it and she's great. Or the movie could be very good and very funny Myra Breckinridge, with Raquel in, but with Raquel in it the movie is that much better. She brings guys to movies just to see her.

That is the sign of a Hollywood star. People thinking they might be taking a risk seeing this movie, but since Raquel is in that is a risk worth taking. Because again she's in it I'm going to keep an eye out for this movie so I can see it and get a copy of it if I like it. I did the same thing with Myra Breckinridge which is now one of my favorite satires of all-time.

Associated Press: 'Bill Gates On Poverty & The U.S.'

Source:Associated Press- billionaire businessman/activist Bill Gates.

"Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates talks with The Associated Press about progress on foreign aid and issues he believes are important for President Barack Obama's second term." 

From the Associated Press