Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump defended Russian President Vladimir Putin against accusations that he has assassinated political adversaries and journalists, responding to criticism from his rivals over his embrace of praise from the Russian leader.
“Nobody has proven that he’s killed anyone. … He’s always denied it. It’s never been proven that he’s killed anybody,” Trump said on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday. “You’re supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, at least in our country. It has not been proven that he’s killed reporters.”
Ahem….[deep throat clearing]….is this the same Donald Trump who wants to drag Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl out and publically execute him, before he is court-martialed? Why would Trump have greater regard for an egotistical world leader who is noted for military crimes of aggression against Chechnya and Georgia, to Ukraine and annexation of Crimea.
Perhaps Mr. Trump has hitched his wagon to the wrong star. I also feel confident that any democrat who sang the songs of praise towards Putin like Trump has done would soon be facing a Congressional hearing. I can think of a few in Congress and the Senate who would be attempting to dig up the body of Senator Joe McCarthy to lead a communism witch hunt.
Let’s at least allow Bergdahl to stand military trial.
Looks like Trump plans to try to restart that old “restart” button. However, it is likely that Trump can find a much better English to Russian translator.
And then there is that open microphone foreign policy strategy of telling Mr.Putin to wait until after the re-election, when we will be more flexible. Putin is still eating that lunch. Hillary would be dinner.
Perhaps Trump can do like his new buddy and pose without a shirt. Perhaps the two shirtless studs can pose together.
@Starryflights
Why would he want to do that?
It is weird hearing people complain about Trump’s ‘bromance’ with Putin. When Romney was debating Obama and referred to Russia as a threat Obama’s response was that ‘the 80s called and wanted their foreign policy back’. Romney was mocked for days about that issue. Now all of the sudden that same crowd sees Putin as a bad guy? Odd…
I am pretty sure Putin was seen as a bad guy back then also. I believe what was said was about Russia not being Cold War Russia that Romney was saying was the greatest danger on the planet.
The thing that I like about Putin is that he unabashedly, unapologetically promotes his own country. There is nothing subtle about his approach to foreign affairs–he does whatever he views as being in the best interest of his country.
This is in contrast to Obama who apologizes for the US and promotes policies that receive praise from foreign leaders and the UN, but may not clearly be in the best interest of the US. The best current example of this is his willingness to accept thousands of Syrian refugees despite the security risk. Obama seems to view the moral responsibility to accept refugees as taking precedence over the moral responsibility to protect American citizens. After the San Bernadino shootings, it is clear that the vetting process is flawed. Nevertheless, there has been no discussion of restricting refugees until the issue is fixed.
Russia seems to feel no similar moral obligation to accept refugees that may well turn around and kill its citizens.
I think this type of populism is the reason for Trump’s popularity. Despite his vulgarity, he proposes actions that unabashedly promote the safety and security of American citizens. I do not favor restricting refugees/immigrants by religion. But it is not unreasonable to restrict immigrants from regions that are hostile to American values.
Trump stands a good chance of winning the general election (in my opinion), unless one of the other candidates offers an alternative that promotes the safety and welfare of the American people. Obviously the goal would be to promote American interests, but without the discrimination that Trump seems to espouse. The election seems wide open for someone that can articulate a strategy to defeat ISiS, improve border control, and deny entry to refugees/immigrants that pose a security threat, yet avoid the harsh rhetoric that causes bitter divisiveness.
I guess I like nothing about Putin. I grew up during the Cold War. He has too many bad habits.
I don’t see how Trump could possibly win when polling shows that 2/3rds of the people polled find him contemptible. The math doesn’t lie.
Primaries in your party are a real problem. They tend to knock legitimate candidates out of the running—either that or they Romney them. Romney was fine until he trie dto be all things to all people. He really didn’t wear his make over well.
I think it is very unreasonable to restrict immigrants from hostile areas. Often those are the very people who need asylum.
I also think anyone could say what Trump is saying. That doesn’t mean it is going to happen. Do you seriously want to live in a military-controlled country with 100,000 buses all heading south because storm troopers banged on their doors and rounded up all the immigrants who weren’t properly documented. I do not.