Posted on 03/06/2014 3:30:24 PM PST by Jim Robinson
While Vladimir Putin has faced condemnation from the west for his troops' takeover of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, at home the Russian president is enjoying his highest approval ratings in the past two years. Research also appears to confirm solid support for Russian intervention in Ukraine.
According to a survey conducted by the state-run pollster VTsIOM on 1-2 March, just as Russian forces were quietly taking control of key infrastructure in Crimea, 67.8% of respondents approved of Putin's job performance.
Although the president regularly achieves approval ratings above 60%, this was his highest rating since May 2012. Researchers attributed this latest number to the political situation regarding Crimea and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which respondents said were the two biggest news events that week.
In addition, 71% of respondents said Russia should more actively defend the interests of Russians in Crimea, while only 17% thought it would be better not to come into conflict with the Ukrainian authorities. These results were similar to those for the same question five years ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
The Germans thought Hitler was pretty cool when he took the Sudetenland. That didn’t work out so well in the long run. Of course, we’re a little short of Churchills these days ...
Some American rag claimed he's hated in Russia now for the same reasons.
We'll know after the war.
Yep. But BIG on Chamberlains.
“Some American rag claimed he’s hated in Russia now for the same reasons.”
Like Walter Lippmann said in “Public Opinion,” “When somebody says France thinks this or that, what part of France was he permitted to see? Who did he speak to? Under what circumstances?”
Short of polling a statistical sample and asking the right question, we can’t know what “Russians think.” And, if we could poll them, I guarantee they’d lie to protect themselves. I too would lie if somebody asked me if I’d vote for Hillary Clinton. “Sure. Yeah...Why not?”
Wonder what the results would be if Americans were polled as to their opinion of Putin.
Putin is running a decrepit kleptocracy. Nationalist expansion is how Putin plans to keep the proles distracted and happy. He has to feed the beast or it will turn on him.
So glad you posted this! I saw it on FB this morning and laughed and laughed. I love laughing at Obama.
I see you've been audited by the IRS recently.
I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure about what the American people have to say about Obama. And it ain’t good.
Not surprised, considering we have NO leadership in the White House at all.
Obama is running a declining kleptocracy. Socialist expansion is how DemoRats plan to keep the proles distracted and happy. They have to feed the beast or it will turn on them.
LOL! I love it, the look on his face is priceless.
Vladimir Putin’s personal approval ratings have always been above 50% and no lower than 70% throughout his 14 years either as President or Prime Minister. That’s a level of personal popularity most Western politicians can’t match. His first term was secured by a modest margin but his second term was a record landslide and his term came in at 63% of the vote.
He does pay attention to public opinion polls and makes sure is on the popular side of issues. And his tough guy image has made him popular with Russians - also his use of earthy language resonates with core supporters in Russia’s countryside and small towns. What is certain Crimea was as poll-tested as all the other policy initiatives he has undertaken.
And when you’re popular with the voters, you have political freedom of maneuver - at home and abroad. That’s why its going to be extremely difficult for the West to persuade Putin to do things a far less popular politician might easily go along with in order to shore up his domestic and foreign support.
UP
Pootie’s numbers go
Bammy’s numbers go
DOWN
LOL. It’s a wonderful graphic.
So sad and too bad Crimea is a crying shame.
Amen to that, my FRiend.
34% approve of obama.
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