welcome back to "hardball." the president and his administration have come under strong criticism by conservatives this past week for not being tough enough with vladimir putin. >> this president does not understand vladimir putin. he does not understand his ambitions. he does not understand that vladimir putin is an old kgb colonel bent on restoration of the soviet of the russian empire. >> the u.s. is behaving in a way that in the world we're in decline, we're in withdrawal. we created a leadership fvacuum in the world. it is u.s. weakness that has shaken the world. >> the perception of him and his potency across the world is one