When Putin attacked Ukraine, American right-wingers kissed his ass. They're backing off now he's been denied a quick victory

[gracchus]

A certain derangement can set in even for smart people when they go all-in on a rash and unwise course of action. Things tend to snowball from there. It’s one of the reasons I characterised him as a reckless gambler…

@gracchus

a chancer who wagers with other human lives (often with the cowed re-assurances of toadies and sycophants). This goes hand-in-hand with the other characteristics you describe: when he gets caught out he just shrugs, gives a sh*t-eating grin or a wink, and says"so, what are you gonna do about it?" That might not work so well with a failed invasion as it does with assassinating political opponents, though.