everything that we find ridiculous about vladimir putin is very appealing in a media universe that he controls absolutely everything. perhaps the foundation of the putin juggernaut is a truism no mat wrer you liv matter where you live, it s the economy, stupid. after the chaotic years of yeltsin, putin stepped in and stabilized the country. and he rode the wave of ever rising oil prices which in russia s resource rich economy translated into rising wages and soaring stock indices. then in late 2014, the party stopped. oil prices slumped and soon after came western economic sanctions. putin has navigated hard times well. he has slashed social spending, implemented an austerity program, allowed the ruble to fall and central bank kept