I see your assertion. Where is your evidence? If you’re too fond of Putin to hear what’s wrong with him, just say so. The Left had it’s fellow travelers who for years wouldn’t accept the truth about the communists. Maybe you’re like that compared to Putin. And the Obama-robots cannot accept the truth about him.
Your assertion that trebb’s comment is a defense of Putin is really kind of silly in my opinion. One does not automatically condemn Putin because he believes our US Administration is so much better at graft, greed, handouts and cronyism than Putin.
To my mind, Obama, Clinton(s), et al are cut from the same cloth as Putin. They’re just better at it.
You obviously missed my intended point - perhaps I should clarify: Title said Putin awarded $8 Bn in contracts to cronies. My observation was that our politicians have him beat by a mile. I had no other ulterior motives/points to make. If that isn't clear, or if you still have issue, please take a look at all the mega-rich politicians who couldn't possibly have become that way just on their known salaries/incomes - it took a bunch of selling us down the road via illegal and very lucrative "deals". I stand by my assertion in that context - compared to our leadersrulers, Putin is a piker.