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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRussia comes down to either "willful colluder" or "useful idiot".
There is now way more than enough out there to show that there are really only two ways that things went with Trump himself and Russia.
A - (THE WILLFUL COLLUDER) He has had an ongoing relationship with Oligarchs and various Russians for years. He has always wanted to do business with them. He most probably has done so by accepting or borrowing or laundering money. His not so latent admiration for Putin (and all dictatorial types) has also fueled his fascination with Russia. Therefore, he was either courted as an asset and eventually a Presidential candidate by the Russians or when he decided to run, he did so knowing that he could count on them for their direct help in the GOP primaries and later the General. This is a proactive Trump who sought out and accepted Russian help.
B - (THE USEFUL IDIOT) In this option, its the Russians who sought out Trump as an asset. They used his need for money and alienation from American banks to court him. They used his narcissism and possibly his sexual proclivities to blackmail him. He knew that he was getting their help in the election but he tried to keep some sort of deniability by keeping buffers like Flynn, Manafort, Stone, etc. in place, for the most part. However, he made some major errors like inviting Russians into the Oval Office and blatantly asking them publicly for help (the Russia if youre listening 👂 statement being the biggest mistake).
Both options are horrendous for our country. But, its hard to see what else could have happened.
I dont know how you define them legally. Treasonous? Traitorous? Conspiracy? Accepting foreign money and help in an election?
Hopefully, Mueller has everything he needs to prove his case, one way or the other.
And, hopefully, he can do that soon.
Its only our entire democratic republic thats at stake.
vlyons
(10,252 posts)Probably started as "useful idiot" and morphed into "willful colluder" shortly before his formal entry into the campaign in 2016. Trump is completely devoid of a moral compass. It would never occur to him to NOT do something, because it is immoral. Whatever serves his desires is just fine with him.
Funtatlaguy
(10,856 posts)tanyev
(42,360 posts)Funtatlaguy
(10,856 posts)I swear we are headed there.