Look here for what it is worth is Medvedev, his young successor, talking at a meeting about certain things, and I feel this expression of Medvedev here shows that Putin knew how to pick the best guys to give continuity of governance. Sign of good leadership is seen in how to pick and train equally suitable successors.
http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/30353
Putin has (if astrologers have the correct birth data) Mars in Sagittarius, which is often seen in athletic outdoorsy type of guys who love FREEDOM. He is a martial arts champion, not sure he plays chess, but he was trained by a Shaolin master.
This type of martial arts comes with a highly balanced mindset only, and in a way I think Putin is cool and I hear that most young women in Russia can only dream of having a guy like that in their lives..
Here he is at a Temple ceremony some place in China:
I liked a lot his appearance at a rock concert with Paul McCartney in Moscow when he sat among the crowds, you could feel this guy draws maximum respect.
He also is known for very witty remarks and a stinging sense of humor. After the attack into Iraq was ending its first phase he asked of UK Tony Blair at a G8 meeting: "Have you found your weapons of mass destructions yet?"
