You might think Donald Trump would want to keep his passionate bromance with Vladimir Putin under wraps, or at least under control.
Especially after the Obama administration just punished his friend for allegedly trying to help Trump win the election.
But yesterday when Putin refused to retaliate.
In a head-spinning turn of events on Friday, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia announced that he would not retaliate against President Obama’s decision to expel Russian diplomats and impose new sanctions — hours after his foreign minister recommended doing just that.
Trump just couldn't contain himself.
And although he's probably only saying that because Putin once called him a genius, that overexcited tweet, which reads like it was written by a 5-year-old child, will almost certainly come back to haunt him.
For while it is a smart move by Putin, it will raise more questions about the ties that bind him to Trump.
It is not normal.
It will give the Democrats more ammunition to use against the Republicans.
The goal is to force Republicans into a tough spot in which they can either soften their long-standing animosity toward Russia, opening themselves to charges of hypocrisy — or defy Trump, who on Wednesday dismissed efforts to punish Russia by saying “we ought to get on with our lives.”
And it will leave Trump in an awkward position.
If he keeps the sanctions in place he might lose his friend Putin.
Who he admires for all the wrong reasons...
And if he lifts them he risks looking like Putin's puppet...
As well as making the Cold War Republicans look like the Russia Party...
Which would just about finish them off.
And could cost Trump the support of many of his rabid America First followers. As well as many in the military and the intelligence services. Which in America could be dangerous.
It will help delegitimize Trump's presidency.
The Trump supporters are 100 percent right: The information is delegitimizing. The president-elect of the United States reportedly owes his office in considerable part to illegal clandestine activities in his favor conducted by a hostile, foreign spy service. It’s hard to imagine a crisis of presidential legitimacy more extreme than that.
And it is the issue, along with mental illness, that could eventually lead to Trump's impeachment.
In the meantime however, it does offer the orange oaf a way out of his horrible inauguration day problem.
For while he still can't attract any big artists willing to perform at his inaugural balls, and Alec Baldwin's offer will probably be rejected.
Alec Baldwin has made President-elect Donald Trump an offer to play at his inauguration on 20 January. His song of choice? AC/DC’s Highway to Hell.
Trump does need help.
The only confirmed acts so far are the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, America’s Got Talent contestant Jackie Evancho, and the Rockettes, although the Beach Boys are rumoured to be considering playing.
He can't even count on the loyalty of some of the acts has booked. The Rockettes are rebelling at the idea of performing for him, and even the stately Mormon Tabernacle Choir is in an uproar.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's acceptance of the invitation to sing at Donald Trump's inauguration has spawned widespread debate among the faithful and thousands of signatures on a petition demanding the decision's reversal.
Now the choir's participation has even more fallout: the resignation of a female singer
For the singer, it is a moral issue, she wrote. "I only know I could never 'throw roses to Hitler.' And I certainly could never sing for him.".
But luckily for Trump, judging from the current state of their relationship, if all things fail he can always count on his friend Vladimir to liven things up...
At least until the day Americans find out why Trump is so attracted to Putin, or more likely what Putin has on him.
Over Trump’s motives for collaborating so full-throatedly with Russian espionage, there hangs a greater and more disturbing mystery—a mystery that Trump seems in no hurry to dispel. And maybe he is wise to leave the mystery in place: as delegitimizing as it is, it’s very possible the truth would be even worse.
When his decision to hitch his fate, or get hitched to the Russian strongman.
May well turn out to be the worst mistake he ever made...
While it's entirely possible that Putin himself masterminded this nefarious hack which helped corrupt mass-murderer Hillary Clinton to lose to corrupt rapist Donald Trump, ... I have to beg you Simon, to please pull your head out of your ass and stop parroting Democratic hacks who treat these ALLEGATIONS as proven facts.
ReplyDeleteStop doing your small part to re-ignite a useless Cold War.
The leaders in Washington DC and Moscow are ALL scum-bags. It matters little who is in power. You debase yourself with this nonsense.
Oh look it's another Both Sides™ moron. Let me guess, Trudeau=Harper as well?
DeletePretty much. If you've brains enough to see it.
DeleteI have, in the past, gone into great detail on the subtle, but important differences, but do go on whining in self-righteous, hypocritical liberal self-pity if that's what gets you off.
Haha your post is pure projection, bro.
DeleteHappy New Year and Jill Stein 2020 amirite?
hi thwap...I'm sorry you're angry at me, but I really don't understand why. I'm not a Cold War warrior, I would like to see good relations between Russia and the West. But Putin is a brutal corrupt autocrat and vicious homophobe who kills his opponents, so as bad and corrupt as the Democratic establishment might be they are better than him. And an alliance between Putin and another bestial autocrat like Trump is not a good thing and deserves to be denounced. You've known me for years, you know how I hate would be dictators, and I'm still the same Simon. So I'm afraid we're just going to have to agree to disagree...
DeleteIt does appear that Putin has the goods on Trump. Trump is dumb enough to think he can come out on top. Google images of "Putin" and "Poison" to make your skin crawl. Putin is called a murderous thug for good reason.
ReplyDeleteTS
Hi TS...there can be no doubt that Putin is a murderous thug, and his apparent bromance with Trump is bad enough, whether or not you believe that he was involved in the hacking on the DNC. Like you I also believe that Putin, the old KGB officer, has something on Trump. But while it may have helped the orange oaf win the election, it will help delegitimize his presidency, and at this point that's all that counts...
DeleteThwap: I don't know when far right websites became pro Russia and pro-Putin ( I should have been paying more attention ) but the about turn was amazing. Some of these sites are saying what they have been paid to say while others use misinformation dispensed by services like Wiki Leaks and RT. Now unpaid trolls are along for the ride using Russian " facts " to praise Trump and curse Clinton. It's pretty one sided.
ReplyDeleteIt is not just the US that is being attacked by far right Russia supported groups. Farange and his Brexit boys have close ties to the Kremlin just as Trump and his cabinet do. Far right groups in France, Greece, Holland etc. receive Russian funding and attend expenses paid conferences in Russia. Just a few years ago, Russia backed left wing groups as a way of disrupting the West . Now they have decided the best way to damage the EU, UK, US, Nato etc. is to assist and finance far right wing politicians . The most interesting and frightening thing is the choice , by Putin, of Trump as the person most likely to damage the security and economy of the US.
hi rumleyfips...thanks for reminding people that the Russians have been supporting right-wing groups all over Europe with the clear intention of undermining their government and sowing chaos. The Germans are already complaining that Trump trolls are trying to interfere in their upcoming election, so if the same thing happens there, it will be very hard for the Putin gang to claim it's just a coincidence...
DeleteThe video of Putin "singing" reminds me of another dictator named Steve who occassionaly warbled out a tune that would assault the senses. Funnier still were the clapping seals whose existence depended on them pretending to enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteGiven the disturbing relationship between Pooty and Donny, and all of Trump's baggage, and of course the Con zombies leadership race, or as I like to think of it, the rise of the living dead, 2017 should provide plenty of fodder for your blogs Simon and much entertainment for us.
Happy New Year and thank you for the time and effort you put into this site Simon, it's very much appreciated.
JD
hi JD...thank you for your kind words and Happy New Year to you too. And yes, Putin's performance did remind me a lot of Harper's ghastly warbling, complete with clapping seals. In fact I have a video of Harper performing, and when he finishes Kellie Leitch jumps out of her chair and rushes up to the stage applauding wildly. I'm saving that one for later. ;) And yes, 2017 is shaping up as quite a year. I was thinking of retiring now that Harper is gone and the Cons are destroying themselves, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to continue until Trump and his gang also go down in flames...
DeleteThwap spends very little time anywhere other than his own site. He has come to hate anyone who doesn't buy into his dog whistle for revolution statements while hiding away expecting others to get run over by the machine he demands be overthrown by the rest of us. I've lost all respect for him and no longer peruse his site, it's almost reading the rantings of a want to be Pol Pot. Go away thwap, you have nothing to contribute any more.
ReplyDeletemr perfect
mr perfect,
DeleteSo, it isn't clear: Are you totally ignoring me or are you reading me steadily with a sneer of contempt? I mean, how would you know I'm doing anything at my site since you no longer peruse it?
A peak into the future... Trump admits that he is really Boris Kropotkin:
ReplyDeletehttp://musemash.tumblr.com/post/152260319810/the-trumping-of-gods-country-a-modest-proposal
hi David...thanks for that, now I'm really worried. But yes, maybe it's time we started demanding Trump's birth certificate... ;)
DeletePutin did make a smart move. However, it was really, really dumb for Trump to write that tweet. Guys like McCain and a few others will be waiting for Trump and his nominees. Two other Republicans have already spoken out on this. So if the Dems can get their act together and keep it there, with the assistance of 3 Republicans life could be very difficult for Trump.
ReplyDeleteTrump seems himself as a smart guy because he equates the accumulation of wealth as a sign of intelligence. That isn't always true. Putin is much smarter and also better trained. he came out of the KGB and has seen more and done more than any American federal politician. McCain is his closest rival. he spent years in a Viet Con prison and survived. Now Trump may call him a looser for that, but in my opinion, it gave McCain an education you can't buy. McCain is a patriot, Trump isn't. Trump doesn't understand anything about deprivation, fear, etc.
My guess: confirmation hearings are going to be the best entertainment on t.v. Trump is going to go bat shit crazy when he doesn't get his way. Trump's supporters, those who aren't rich are going to find out they are still poor. Not going to be pleasant for Trump. Yes, his family will enrich itself at the country's expense. Watch for a whole new chain of Trump hotels in Russia and Syria. Oh and the wife and kid, I'd be really surprised if she ever moved into the White House.
hi e.a.f...as I said in my post what I find disturbing is Trump's almost childlike glee. I just watched a Frontline documentary on the rise of Trump and a couple of bis boyhood friends said Trump is still the same person he was when he was ten-year-old. And while those qualities might be charming in an ordinary person, in a president with such power at his disposal I find it deeply disturbing...
Delete