2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumWhy Putin wants a Trump victory
(so much he might even be trying to help him)
Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to see Donald Trump become the next president of the United States. To that end, Putin and his government have taken unprecedented steps to influence our electoral process to help the Republican Partys nominee. Whether Russias interventions will succeed is not obvious. But its clear that Putins government has the motives and the means to try.
Putin has rational motives for wanting Trump to win: Trump champions many foreign policies that Putin supports. Trumps most shocking, pro-Kremlin proposal is to look into recognition of Crimea as a part of Russia. President Obama and nearly every member of Congress Republican and Democrat have rejected that idea vigorously. Only Afghanistan, Cuba, Nicaragua, North Korea, Syria and Venezuela have recognized Russias annexation of Crimea. Naturally, Putin would love to see the United States join that list.
Trump also has made clear his disdain for the United States alliances around the world. Demonstrating his misunderstanding of how NATO works, Trump has demanded that other NATO members essentially pay us for protection, making many of our allies, especially in the eastern part of Europe, nervous about his commitment to defend them. Trump has also disparaged our allies in Asia, creating new opportunities for Russian influence. On trade, Trumps promises to disrupt our agreements also play right into Putins agenda. From Putins perspective, what could be a better way to start the New Year than a trade war between the United States and China or Mexico? Trumps threats to stop paying our debts also would radically undermine our credibility as a lender, another desirable outcome for Putin.
On the whole, Trump advocates isolationist policies and an abdication of U.S. leadership in the world. He cares little about promoting democracy and human rights. A U.S. retreat from global affairs fits precisely with Putins international interests. And if Mr. Trump becomes president, experts on U.S. politics predict a tumultuous period domestically. If a President Trump tried to implement his radical ideas regarding immigration or walling off our southern border, a serious push-back effort would ensue, both in Congress and in the country as a whole. A United States convulsed by infighting over Trumps deeply divisive policy proposals gives Putin more freedom to act around the world.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/why-putin-wants-a-trump-victory-so-much-he-might-even-be-trying-to-help-him/2016/08/17/897ab21c-6495-11e6-be4e-23fc4d4d12b4_story.html?utm_term=.0bd6dcf5c266
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)support one with lots of ties with Putin.
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)trump is a patsy who Putin can flatter and control
meow2u3
(24,746 posts)I wouldn't put that past him. I can just picture Russian tanks rolling into Washington, Russian soldiers seizing control of Congress, and them abolishing the Supreme Court.
I know this sounds far-fetched, but nothing is off limits to tRump. He'll do anything to bring this country to its knees.