That’s just it, people want to think he’s Hitler, when in reality his grip on power is much more tenuous than most people realize.
Putin has been in power since 2000. He was President from 2000 to 2008, PM from 2008-2012 (Putin actually was in charge using Medvedev as a puppet President because the Constitution prohibited him from a third term), and was elected President in 2012 for another 4 and probably 8 years.
Running a country for 14 years with a likely 6 more years in power is not exactly "tenuous." 20 years is a long run even for a dictator. And who is to say that Putin will not pull another rabbit out of the hat to extend his term beyond 20 years as either President or PM. Putin is a ruthless, corrupt dictator in the mold of previous Russian leaders from the Tsars, Lenin, Stalin, Khrushchev, etc.
The comperable trait is his end game. he's going to move to the West, and you just don't see it. I am talking about Europe, not the US.
We will destroy ourselves before he finishes up his plan. he's not playing checkers. He's playing the long game of Chess without the clock.
Let’s hope Putin is overthrown by someone who realizes that you can have an assertive Russia without waging a covert war on a peaceful neighbor who is no threat to you. The people who are supporting this bully should be happy though since at least one Ukrainian has been killed by his thugs.