The Great Game

This article has an interesting take on Putin that suggests he is much more popular in Russia then is suggested in the media here in the West. There is a sense in the North America that he is a unpopular dictator. Both characteristics may not true. He is still within the democratic constitution (more the most part) and he is apparently deeply popular (something about making people's lives better). Here is the money quote:

While Russian law bars Putin from seeking a third term, he is so popular at home that many Russians would relax the rules to allow him to seek a third term. He has said that he intends to step down, though Russia watchers speculate that he will land in a position that keeps him close to the center of power...

"I think the Russian people would support Putin staying in power indefinitely," says Dmitri Trenin, deputy director of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Moscow Center. "If you look at the way people live today compared with when he came to power, they will say that living standards are twice as high. More importantly, there's a sense of stability that has replaced the chaos of the 1990s. They will also say that Putin has restored some pride and respect for Russia abroad."