Does it cross the imagination of the average American what the war in Ukraine might look like had the ex-President still been in charge of this country? He and Putin were good friends. They were all about control and letting pals accumulate wealth and luxury yachts and soccer teams and big houses, all at the expense of their people. Controlling the media, curtailing the freedoms of the press would have been central. Imagine the headlines. "Freedom loving Russian soldiers liberate Ukraine from despotic Nazis led by autocratic Jew." "Stubborn resistance of misguided people, infected with liberal ideas is crushed by missiles and soldiers of the glorious Red Army following in the footsteps of their forefathers." "Americans support their Russian brothers fighting to eliminate this cancer in their society." "The deaths are regretted but were necessary so Ukraine will be rebuilt in the glorious image of its past." This is what we as a nation have been flirting with - autocracy, tyranny- one man rule. Doesn't standing up for democracy with all its arguments and up and downs and legal protections feel good? We, the people, run this country, not rich oligarchs or secret police or tyrants.