Seeing the uproar in the Ukraine. The Rcon fawning over Vladimir Putin's 'tough leadership' in this crisis. Recalling that Forbes named Putin Man of the Year. Putting it all together? Reminds how and why Barack Obama and Joe Biden were elected to 2nd terms.
President Obama nailed Romney when he tried to bring up Benghazi in the second debate. And in the third foreign policy debate, Mr. Romney became Mr. 'Me Too' as he agreed with almost all of The President's Foreign policy. From Afghanistan to Iran to Libya. 'Leading from behind? It is fine given the 'real politik' options.
Now unlike when the Russians invaded Georgia on President Bush's watch. President Obama has in place a unified sanction regime coming out of the EU. Russia had to veto a resolution in the Security council that went 14 to 1 against its actions. - With China abstaining. While the high handed violent and bullying behavior of the Russian President may look appealing to Rcons, as an act of 'strength and decisiveness.'
In reality it is a huge act of political desperation. To? Hold on to a neighboring country that wants to go with the Western political and economic alliance led by President Barack Obama.
Putin's tactics? It is kind of like voter suppression and gerrymandering in the USA on an international scale.
'If I can't win on ideas and popularity, I will use whatever means available. Redraw the lines, impose new rules on a population.'
And then beyond that? Really, where is the loyalty, in a time of international crisis.
Sadly, this is where we are after the Rcons emboldened Putin, 'Do what you will we will tie the President's hands just like we did in Syria when he was ready to go kinetic on the chemical weapons. Then, we will call him weak.' The fact is, The President played them and got what he and most American's wanted; diplomatic pressure for a non-military resolution of the conflict.
When Vladimir Putin looks for weakness in US resolve? It is not President Obama he sees. But Republicans, who, too often, will do anything and everything to undermine The President of The United States and Commander in Chief, - including giving Mr. Putin comfort admiration and measures of support. Regardless of the silly small and feudal reasons, in a time of crisis and war, it is usually called...
Here are parts of a big Rcon think piece to remind how much they love Vladimir.
IS PUTIN ONE OF US?
By: Patrick J. Buchanan
12/17/2013
Is Vladimir Putin a paleoconservative?
In the culture war for mankind’s future, is he one of us?
While such a question may be blasphemous in Western circles, consider the content of the Russian president’s state of the nation address.
With America clearly in mind, Putin declared, “In many countries today, moral and ethical norms are being reconsidered.”...
....President Reagan once called the old Soviet Empire “the focus of evil in the modern world.” President Putin is implying that Barack Obama’s America may deserve the title in the 21st century...
And he goes on..
...Peoples all over the world, claims Putin, are supporting Russia’s “defense of traditional values” against a “so-called tolerance” that is “genderless and infertile.”...
.
And then Mr. Buchanan concludes .
...
“We do not infringe on anyone’s interests,” said Putin, “or try to teach anyone how to live.” The adversary he has identified is not the America we grew up in, but the America we live in, which Putin sees as pagan and wildly progressive.
Without naming any country, Putin attacked “attempts to enforce more progressive development models” on other nations, which have led to “decline, barbarity and big blood,” a straight shot at the U.S. interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Egypt.
In his speech, Putin cited Russian philosopher Nicholas Berdyaev whom Solzhenitsyn had hailed for his courage in defying his Bolshevik inquisitors. Though no household word, Berdyaev is favorably known at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal.
Which raises this question: Who is writing Putin’s stuff?
*This is an extensive quote, But we want to be fair. The point is this type of simple black white thinking must be called and pushed back upon. It is naive dangerous because it 'emboldens' others. As current events show.