It's difficult not to be loved when you control every media outlet in your country. And even easier in a nation which is invested in the cult of personality the way Russia is. Everything in Russian history is geared to worshipping the leader - be it the Holy Chosen One of God the Czar, the Fearless Comrade Leader Stalin who is the undeniable instrument of the inevitable historical dialectic, or the Very Heart and Soul of Mother Russia, VVP..
You're brighter than that.
I thought my point was pretty obvious.
As to Putin getting elected, there was an article in the Toronto Star today that said that they did a survey in Russia asking Russians who they thought was the greatest HUMAN whoever lived on the PLANET was or is.
THE PLANET.
34 percent of Russians said Vladimir Putin.
Do you really think he didn't win the election or that he won't win the next one? (That's a rhetorical question by the way.)
If there's any solace in that poll, it's that 38 percent of Russians think Uncle Joe Stalin was the greatest human that ever lived, so it shows you that your average Russian is just as dumb as your average American (at least those who voted for Trump.)
As for the rest of your post, I guess I'm really not "brighter than that". Because I don't get your drift.