Vladimir Putin is highly composed and well spoken, particularly when responding to the highly scripted questions or expected questions in an interview. People in the west don't get to see the few interviews where he gets caught off guard and appears angry or confused for lacking answers. (ex: https://youtu.be/1mVqFeFwAJQ when he spoke with the Poet/Singer Shevchuk - look at Putin's body language when calm critical commentary is made) In general though, appearances are his strong point, similar to Barack Obama.

Since we should judge people on their actions, not just words, this is where the illusion breaks:

• Russia benefited from highest Oil / Gas prices in history during the Peak of Putin's rule. At the same time Putin achieved total control over most institutions and Media in the country. He has no excuses when it comes to results.
• Russia builds a fraction of the roads/infrastructure built by China under similar economic conditions (despite both countries starting out at a disadvantage in transportation, and both identifying it as a requirement for economic growth).
• Russia failed to diversify its economy and promote a rise in the middle class of taxpayers. It is still highly reliant on raw resource exports, a great waste of potential.
• The famed Russian education system is collapsing, with cheating and fake degrees going so mainstream most officials and politicians are complicit.
• Brain Drain out of Russia accelerated, with Inventors and Researchers achieving greatness in other countries, while those remaining stifled with threats of persecution by security opportunists and low rewards.
• Russia promotes internal migration of culturally incompatible populations, with large numbers of illegal migrants from Asian republics taking over entry level jobs in the core cities, often acting as indentured servants.
• Russia is leasing large swaths of rich land in the far-east to China, with the Chinese taking over in terms of population and economic activity. Even though the leases will expire in 50 years, the same "referendum" tactic Russia promoted elsewhere can be used by the Chinese to eventually take permanent ownership.
• The corruption in the Russian government is massive, everyone is complicit, everyone is self-enriching on the backs of taxpayers. Corruption revelations are constant, yet only a few cases of mild prosecution exist despite great evidence.

For example: Mr. Chaika, the chief prosecutor of the federation, is a mob-tied murderous thief, publicly showcasing his unearned riches: https://youtu.be/3eO8ZHfV4fk

Here is another case explained in English: "The Untouchables" https://youtu.be/4ZB3YoAvEro

There are countless more cases available with documents in Russian - documentation of Russian officials buying real estate in the USA, England, France, Italy, at price ranges they have no way to earn in their lifetime with their salary or past business incomes.

The presidency of Vladimir Putin is much less impressive once you dig into results and compare to other countries with similar or worse opportunities.

There are great similarities in the methods of Vladimir Putin and Hillary Clinton's DNC - from the shill/troll farms to the toxic control of MSM and administrative resources in local elections. They inspire each other, and help each other in various ways (as convenient enemies, or Uranium One conspirators, etc) which explains why they are trying to project their crimes unto Trump.

Putin isn't nearly as bad as he is made out to be. The left wants nothing more than a war with Russia.