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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat happens if Putin decides Trump is more of a liability than an asset?
According to (I think) Richard Engel on MSNBC last night, the Russians are feeling a bit of buyers' remorse. Supposedly the whole purpose behind their hacking and leaking was to damage and delegitimize Clinton if she got elected, and otherwise to help Trump because they knew he would be more likely to take actions more favorable to them, probably because of his financial entanglements and/or kompromat. But now the Trump campaign's pre- and post-election communications with Russian officials are starting to be discovered, and one appointee was forced to resign and another is on the hot seat. The question of possible collusion, not just communication, is being kicked around. The GOP are trying to circle the wagons, which makes the whole situation look even more dodgy. This issue is not going away; the more they try to deny there was anything improper the worse it looks. There will be investigations by the media, even if not by Congress, and sooner or later a Deep Throat or two will come forward.
So here's the problem for Russia: The Trump administration doesn't dare take actions that would benefit Russia; they can't lift the sanctions or mess with NATO - things that Russia wants very much - because every time any such thing would happen, or even be proposed, the inquiry into the administration's possibly illegal communications with Russia will heat up even more. As a result Putin's asset (or useful idiot) is no longer valuable to him. In fact, he's getting to be a liability because he's an unpredictable loose cannon, and because the extent of Russia's interference with our elections, including sources and methods, might all become public.
So what does Putin do now?
sarcasmo
(23,968 posts)People wonder why the Russians and Wikileaks haven't released anything from the Republicans and the answer is quite simple:
Insurance
Party nomenklatura know that Pooty Poot has some damning stuff on them.
JenniferJuniper
(4,512 posts)Response to JenniferJuniper (Reply #2)
NightWatcher This message was self-deleted by its author.
Eliot Rosewater
(31,112 posts)anywhere near the white-house even as a janitor.
Caliman73
(11,740 posts)Pence was groomed by Manafort. He is not clean and it will come up. The more they try to cover it up, the uglier it will get. The Russians probably know by this point that they bit off more than they could chew. You try to get someone that has some smarts, instead they chose the worst possible candidate, and idiot with a fragile ego.
Eliot Rosewater
(31,112 posts)annabanana
(52,791 posts)WomanWhoRoars
(175 posts)They could release the golden shower footage.
Canoe52
(2,948 posts)If it was released, I would put it as one of the most incredible things to happen in my lifetime.
Wow, what if!!!
Yavin4
(35,443 posts)Putin was trying to manipulate the entire West, nation by nation. He wants a weaker America and Europe which will make him stronger. However, his strategy has been laid open thanks to the clumsiness of Trump and his staffers.
When Trump took on the Intelligence community and the press, he was cooked.
Amaryllis
(9,525 posts)don't believe any of it and think it's just Dems being sore losers. Many of them live in an alternate reality where he can do no wrong. So if Putin wanted chaos, he has succeeded in that.
Kolesar
(31,182 posts)Andy Borowitz
boston bean
(36,222 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,758 posts)with a pointy umbrella that contained ricin (the Bulgarians got him, not Putin). I think Putin will limit his murders to other Russians and not go after Trump, but I do think he might either release some very damaging information (as long as that information doesn't also damage Russia), or maybe persuade the oligarchs to call Trump's loans.
TheBlackAdder
(28,209 posts)Doreen
(11,686 posts)LisaL
(44,973 posts)Baitball Blogger
(46,745 posts)Turbineguy
(37,355 posts)trump is an asset by being a liability.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)All they have to do is maintain a steady flow of leaks. Where do you think these leaks are coming from.
roamer65
(36,745 posts)CIA, NSA, GCHQ and MI6.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)the reports for Sessions were simply "anonymous".
So earlier reports named Dutch, British, US agencies, now it is simply "anonymous".
But beyond that who is feeding the allies? If the Russians wanted the US to have it they can masquerade it to the US agencies. No one knows of course but the speed at which it is happening makes it possible to point to the Russians.
If it goes out of control and becomes a prolonged event it actually damages Russian interest by creating a larger blowback.
http://nltimes.nl/2017/03/02/netherlands-warned-us-contacts-russia-trump-report
Tatiana
(14,167 posts)Heart attack. The stage has been set with photos of his unhealthy eating and obvious weight gain. The potential assassin is probably already working at the White House, as the Russians have been cultivating assets for years.
I hate to think this way, but I think it is unlikely that Trump survives 4 years in office.
lpbk2713
(42,760 posts)Especially if it glows in the dark.