>>>>>In any country where the leader has complete control, including complete control over the enforcement of his dictates, he can operate on any whim he pleases. Tell Kim Jong in North Korea that he has to answer to public opinion, and he'll laugh in your face.
>>>>
>>>>This is Russia we're talking about, not USSR under the rule of that guy from Georgia.
>>>
>>>Yes, but it still seems to me that Putin has pretty much a free hand to do whatever he pleases regardless of public opinion.
>>
>>At 70+ % positive rating he seems to have earned it.
>
>Didn't Saddam have something like 127% positive rating?

Here is a big difference: the majority of Russians support Putin' policy and share his view on many subjects.