[tomder55]

consider the facts ...... Investment money that began to flow into Russia in anticipation of better relations between the US and Russian has begun to withdraw. The Russian economy is in the doldrums . Trump has not eased any sanctions ,and his favorable oil and natural gas policies have really taken a toll on the price of oil. There has been a 400,000 bbl /day increase in US production and the price has dropped below $48 /bbl.

This has caused Putin to make drastic cuts in his defense spending . Janes reports that it is cut by 25.5% for 2017 .
Russia announces deepest defence budget cuts since 1990s | IHS Jane's 360
This at a time when Trump's budget calls for an increase in defense spending.

At the UN ,US ambassador Nikki Haley has been using very harsh language against Russia. She called them out for aggressive actions in Ukraine ,stands committed to sanctions over the seizing of Crimea ,and has said that Russia is committing war crimes in Syria.

Meanwhile the US has matched the tough rhetoric with military action. The US for the 1st time has a significant number of troops in Syria to support the assault of Raqqa .US tanks and NATO troops are exercising right on the Russian border in Poland . Under Trump the US has been exhorting our NATO allies to spend more on defense .

Now if Putin was really the puppet master wouldn't he get Trump to reduce oil production ;lower defense spending ,lift sanctions ,and give him a free hand to do in Syria what he wants without a US presence (remember ,the goal of the Syrian war is to determine the course of Middle East gas to Europe) ? All this so called manipulation of the US election .....what did Putin gain from this ?

[paraclete]

I don't think Dump is anyone's puppet, he may tend to compromise and appease when it suits him, but Dump is a puppet master, not a master puppet. Dump is everyone's friend while it suits him, but he is not above telling his so called allies where to go.

He lost big this week because he compromised, perhaps the lesson is learned

[Wondergirl]

He lost big this week because he compromised, perhaps the lesson is learned

He compromised???? No, he folded. I wonder what news you're watching or reading.

[paraclete]

He compromised???? No, he folded. I wonder what news you're watching or reading.

By compromise I mean he didn't push the complete withdrawl of the ACA to be followed by fresh legislation, but had given in to the swamp, and it cost him valuable kudos

[tomder55]

1. By compromise I mean he didn't push the complete withdrawl of the ACA to be followed by fresh legislation,

That never was going to happen. The Ryan approach was the right one to take given the realities of sausage making on the hill. It is the rare times that a party has so much power their that they can impose their will .2009 was one of those times ,and even then if the Dems went all out and imposed their true goal ,it would've been soundly rejected .

But this whole Putin canard the Dems are spinning was not about domestic policy . It was ,according to the narrative ,a way for Putin to get a US foreign policy that was favorable to Putin's interests .

[talaniman]

Newsflash... Nobody liked the Ryan Plan, and The Dufus didn't have one! What? You thought he did? Regardless repubs never made a plan in 7 years. Their agenda was repeal, go back to the old crap, give the rich MO money.

That's always been the plan! As for Putin, after crippling the US, he is free to March through Europe. Nothing to see here Tom? You seem to have a lot of faith in Dufus Donald and don't mind him getting rich while you won't. That's no leftie plot!

[paraclete]

You don't think an ego like Dump would allow Putin to march through Europe. Dump wants détente not war, he wants to be chummy with Vlad, so he has an ally against China, but you have to factor in; Russia is bankrupt, it is what put paid to the soviet union and the spectre looms again, Putin is fighting his war with soviet era equipment and trying to look like he has fancy new weapons, he is protecting a client state so he can sell them arms in the reconstruction.

But the US has it's own problems keeping weapon systems serviceable, much of the US arsenal has been very busy for nearly twenty years or even longer

[talaniman]

Actually Putin has a new weapon to conquer Europe, money and charming right wing loonies. Will France fall for his crap?

[paraclete]

The French will always initiate and institute a gallic solution, The far right is on the rise in France, but not for reason of concern over Russian intent, they have had just a little too much of socialism, globalism and multiculturalism, which has been particularly rampant in France. The French have enormous problems from migration and internal security and are euro skeptic

France's Le Pen says the EU 'will die', globalists to be defeated | Reuters

[tomder55]

1. Actually Putin has a new weapon to conquer Europe, money and charming right wing loonies. Will France fall for his crap?

It wasn't that long ago when the Lefties were the 5th column .From the Red scare of the 1950s all the way to the protests again Pershing IIs in the 1980s . It was the swimmer Ted Kennedy who send a letter to the Russians asking them to undermine the American election in 1986 .

https://www.forbes.com/2009/08/27/te...-robinson.html

It is amusing now watching them become what they supposedly abhorred ;McCarthyites .