If they didn't love him, they had a golden opportunity now to rise up against him, why wouldn't MOST Syrians rise up against him right now, the power of people can beat million tanks and thousand bombs, Alasad can't do anything then, he will be forced to leave the office in minutes. Trust me Alasad power comes from the people. Well true he didn't get elected, but heck we WE LOVE HIM, it doesn't matter.
I do not doubt that you love him and millions other love him too but it does not provide the legitimacy to his dictatorial rule. Their are many you tube video where opponents of his rule asking his removal, though i believe mobocracy do not decide who is right and who is wrong. In that case the popular mandate is necessary to determine that what exactly people want, here he diplayed dictatorial attitude and got wrong because he knew that being a minority Alawite he can not win any free and fair election, if not so he would have declared the UN sponsored elections in the spring 2011 when protests began .