[nathanbedford]

I quite agree, it is the responsibility of the author to be sensitive to his audience and to the realities of what works and what does not work in advocacy. There is no point in offering up a hanging curveball to your adversary.

I remember comparing the rise of, not Putin, but Obama to the rise of Hitler and commenting on the parallels. But I did so only after a careful reservation of the scope and intent of the comparison to avoid the problems you describe.

[annalex]

OK, you are on. In the Hitler Sweepstakes, Putin wins.

Charisma. Putin 0.5: Obama 0.5 (neither is as good orator as Hitler).
Recession. Putin 2: Obama 2.
“Vertical of power”: Putin 3: Obama 3
Confrontation with Catholic Church: Putin 4: Obama 4

What else have you got? But Putin also has...

Losing an existential war that deposed the old regime;
Blaming foreign powers;
Disillusionment with international finance, economic autarchy;
Military buildup;
Surrounded nation mentality;
Steps to reclaim the lost empire where possible;
Alliance with former enemy (USSR for Hitler, China for Putin);
Cultural conservatism;
Longing for “New Europe”;
Admiration for the Anglosphere combined with treating it as an unnecessary enemy;

I probably got more.