The Russian Asset

Since Donald Trump was elected president, there has been a cloud over his presidency (in addition to all the other bizarre scandals and decisions he's made). There are two questions: did Russia interfere with our election, and did the Trump campaign collude with them?

The first question seems to be an unqualified yes. Robert Mueller's team just indicted 12 Russians, and added a femme fatale who has been cozy with many Republican office holders (she's not as cute as Jennifer Lawrence in Red Sparrow, but good looking enough to make the comparison). The second question remains to be proved, although Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort is currently in jail. How high does it go? To Trump's sons and son-in-law? To the Cheeto-in-Chief himself?

For a man who has been under this cloud for a year and a half, Trump showed incredible cluelessness in his press conference in Helsinki on Monday, and it could be a turning point in his presidency. After having a summit with Russian strongman Vladimir Putin that was not recorded or witnessed (except by an interpreter, who may be subpoenaed) Trump went on stage and declared that he believes Putin over his own intelligence agencies, and that it was U.S. "foolishness" that has eroded relations with Russia. Basically, he was taking sides with Russia against his own country. That's treason defined.

The uproar was swift and even across party lines. Several Republicans, notably John McCain, who has no fucks left to give, excoriated Trump and called it the most embarrassing moment in American presidential history. Even Mitch McConnell, toady that he is, firmly declared that Russia in not our ally. The impeachment drum got a little louder. I did see that many Trump supporters are nonplussed. One clueless man said he still supported him because he's "working class." Trump is many things, but working class is not one of them. I suspect he's never washed a dish or operated a lawn mower in his entire life.

To anyone with a working brain, it appears Trump is one of two things: a useful idiot, so stupid and in love with autocrats that he believes Putin no matter what he says, or, more likely, that Putin has something on Trump. It's got to more than the "pee tape," because Trump could survive that--he has evangelicals making excuses for fucking a porn star. It may be much deeper, probably the loans he has received from Russian oligarchs. Perhaps the loans will be forgiven if Trump continues to act in Russia's best interest.

Let's count the ways Trump has helped Russia: he has declared our allies enemies, taken steps to destroy NATO and the European Union, rescinded sanctions, and said very nice things about his buddy Putin. All the while Putin, who has the blood of many dead on his hands, stands beside him and smiles, as if he were getting away with something so monumentally awful that he can't believe his good luck. It's clear that Putin wanted Trump to win, and took steps to ensure it. This cyber attack has to be considered an act of war, and if we don't send ICBMs to rain down on Moscow, the least we could do is impose severe sanctions.

What now? I would think Republicans would be anxious to give Trump the boot and install Mike Pence as president so they won't be hurt in the mid-terms and in 2020 (can you imagine the debate with the Democratic nominee, hammering at Trump's obeisance to Putin?) This will go on for two years.

I've enjoyed many memes showing the man-crush Trump has on Putin, such as the mural picture above. A German parade float showed Trump being mounted by Putin, another shows Trump as a ventriloquist's dummy in Putin's lap, and another has Putin in S&M leather, holding Trump on a leash.

The U.S is in crisis. Democrats must vote in throngs to make sure that both houses of congress turn blue, and then immediately start impeachment proceedings.