Somebody has actually read something. Putin is precisely “in character” to see FDR as a role model, and it fits quite well. FDR’s penchant for central planning, and his minions’ utter disregard for individual rights (up to and including felony trials for allowing customers to pick their own chickens at the butcher’s!) makes this quite a good fit.
And, actually, the truth is, it would be good were it truly so. Likely, it’s not as close a fit as we’d like…but if you wanted a central-power guy to emulate, FDR was considerably less insidious than some others one could name.
