Paris Match's (or was it L' Express?)airbrushing of Sarokozy's love handle has been the buzz of "exposing journalism" in recent days. Some have emphasized how this fits into a recent trend in which leaders bare their breast or otherwise display their physical prowess: from Putin to the well known fatigues or runs of GW.

Once again, Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose, if you excuse my ... Look at this Mussolini fighting for wheat.

And how about a naked emperor (Trebonianus Gallus at the Metropolitan Museum)?