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POPSThe Winter of Our Economic Discontent Russian voters who watched Putin build palaces for himself while their roads decayed did the unthinkable by challenging his cult of personality at the polls, and despite the massive voter fraud, dealt a severe blow to his grip on power. As long as Putin holds executive power, the repression will double and the suicides, violent assaults and criminal trials against critics will continue—but it’s clear to everyone that he has lost any popular mandate to rule. Obama lost his popular mandate in 2010, and no matter what happens in 2012, his rule has already ended. Like Putin, he wields executive power, but without the support of the public. It’s ironic that he played such a key role in removing Gaddafi when he had more than a little in common with him. The vain showboating, the flagrant corruption and the constant speeches are a feature of both regimes.