Inch by inch, Trump is attempting to turn his people toward Putin...

[kentuck]

...not away from Putin.

But he knows he is walking in a minefield. How do you put lipstick on this aggressive act by his Master?

He cannot bring himself to tell the truth about Putin. He can only tell his supporters that he was the only person that could talk with Putin. Only he could have stopped it from happening.

He cannot come straight out and denounce this horrible act of aggression. Why?

It's time to ask Republicans and the Groupies Of Putin, which side are they on? People need to know where they stand. Live with the cult, die with the cult.

There is no middle ground on this one.

[Phoenix61]

1. Of course he is. That way when he pulls the same

shit they’ll be desensitized to it. He SOOO… wants to be a dictator. He has the morals of a two year old, I want what I want and I want it NOW!!!

[leftieNanner]

2. Putin will always have a hold over him

Yes, TFG wants to be a dictator. But Putin has either financial or "personal" kompromat on him and will always be holding that leash with the choke collar.

[kentuck]

5. That is a logical assumption.

Trump is compromised.

[Skittles]

9. I cannot imagine what Putin could possibly have on Trump

that would make Trump seem more vile and disgusting than we already know him to be

[underpants]

3. I've got a back and forth going with someone on Twitter

Also I don’t think he’s siding with Russia per se, he never says that. But if you look at the broader geopolitical landscape, it becomes easier to see why Russia is doing what it’s doing. Doesn’t make it right, just means we’re not comparing this to September 1939

I don’t think anyone is indefensible really, maybe Hitlers and Stalins. To me that’s a closed minded attitude. But the answer for why now is to understand what is going on, what Russia wants, why they’re willing to go to potentially nuclear war. It’s not to conquer Europe

This is the dance they are doing to convince themselves that they are backing this monster. Their media is literally doing the Hokey Pokey on this - one foot in, one foot out - as they try to muddy the waters without causing their viewers to get upset or realize that all these years of Putin worship was a tragic mistake.

[anarch]

4. I thought that was their default stance, no?

Weren't they wearing "I'd Rather Be Russian Than Democrat" t-shirts and shit like that a few short years ago?

yeah, this never would have happened if fuckface was still in office, b/c he probably would have pulled us out of NATO by now, and also would probably send troops to help Putin take whatever he wanted.

[sarcasmo]

6. With help from Fox News

[Blue Owl]

7. Red Don fancies himself a real influencer

[Tickle]

8. How is he doing this?

I’m thinking anyone over 18 would already have an opinion of Putin from getting a basic HS education