Trump/Putin Bromance 2

Yesterday, having just finished writing the post on the Trump/Putin Bromance, I heard the news that we are expelling 60 Russian diplomats in retaliation for the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter. Thinking about it I imagined being a fly on the wall during the last conversation between President Trump and Vladimir Putin. Hey Vlad, Congratulations on your reelection, really great for our cause. Listen, You know I have been soft on you, removing an anti-Russian plank from the Republican Presidential Convention and not messing with the finances of you’re and your guy’ moneys by the recent sanctions. In the sanctions we only targeted minor elements along with your chef. But the pressure is on me to do something so as not to lose my position. Vlad, what can you recommend I do? Well, Donald, that was quite a victory I won, huh? Had more people in my crowd than you did at the inauguration. I appreciate you being able to tone things down while letting there be a lot of noise about your new toughness on Russia. Here’s what I recommend. Throw out a big bunch of our diplomats. With our ability to hack with your systems their value has really diminished. This should keep the critics quiet for a while and not touch my or my friend’s finances. In response, I will make some blustering noises to satisfy my guys and to add to the effect at your end. Good hearing from you and lets not wait too long to get together and chat again. Call me any time you need some advice.

Trump Putin Bromance

Yesterday I watched a history of Vladimir Putin on Fareed Zakaria. In the program one saw a parade of Russian Soldiers and demonstrations by Russian people. In viewing these scenes I imagined an Alt-Right individual watching the program (though as a practical matter most probably don't watch CNN) and thinking "boy these people look just like me, white and Northern European". During the program Fareed also happened to mentioned that part of Putin's program was to advance Christianity in Russia. Here the Christian Fundamentalists perked right up. There was noise on the news shows about Putin's anti-Semitism where, when asked about the hacking, he said that he had no control and it could just as well have been done by Jews. I watched the interview and what he actually said was that he didn’t know and it could have been done by Ukrainians, Tatars or Jews. Tatars for the most part are Muslim living in Russia for centuries. In Russia there are many Muslims and Jews so what Putin was really doing was dividing Russia by suggesting that Jews and Muslims, not being Christians, were not really Russians. Furthermore, Putin is attempting to outlaw homosexuality and abortion, real Fundamentalist Christian values. Back a number of years ago, Pat Buchanan, a former presidential candidate was quoted as saying that Putin was the last hope for global Christian values. During one of the meetings in Europe last year (I think it may have been NATO), our President said he wanted to fight for (he may have said protect) Western civilization (he may have said culture). In either case he is supporting the notion that there is a struggle between the West and “others”, a line playing right into ISIS’s propaganda. I know I’m now getting into the realm of "conspiracy theory". In pursuing the connection between our President Trump and Vladimir Putin, most are looking at financial ties, but what if the connection was a move to create a powerful alliance of white Christians against the brown, non -Christian world. This certainly would have the full support of all Trump voters. Maybe this is why there is very little issue with them about the President’s bromance with Putin.