Wonkette

Republican insiders say Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is starting to look like an excellent candidate for the GOP in 2008. But it’s not just because he’s a big-spending fascist. Turns out Putin is also a fan of rape and murder! (And inappropriate oral contact with young boys … never forget!)Remarking on the rape charges against Israeli President Moshe Katsav — another early favorite for the 2008 U.S. election — Putin had the Israeli delegation cracking up with his Rapin’ Moshe routine:

“Greetings to your president. What a powerful man he turns out to be! He raped 10 women. I would never have expected this from him. He surprised us all. We all envy him.”

All that’s necessary for a Putin presidency in Washington is a quick “fix” to the Constitution — something that’s remarkably easy at the moment.

Putin’s Israel President Joke Doesn’t Condone Rape, Office Says [Bloomberg]

Putin Jokes About Israeli Sex Scandal [AP]

A murder, a grudge, deportations and what they say about Russia’s worrying political direction [Economist]