With sources as diverse as MSNBC, Bloomberg,Britain's Independent, and even, yes, Fox News, literally using the word "freefall" to describe the meteoric plummet of the Russian currency and economy, will the right wing FINALLY disavow their crush on "decisive leader," and Man's Man Vladimir Putin? Follow below the fold for some reminders and discussion.
Let's take a look at some Conservative squishy love for Mr. Putin, shall we?
Well, yes, especially under the commander-in-chief that we have today because Obama's -- the perception of him and his potency across the world is one of such weakness. And you know, look, people are looking at Putin as one who wrestles bears and drills for oil. They look at our president as one who wears mom jeans and equivocates and bloviates. We are not exercising that peace through strength that only can be brought to you courtesy of the red, white and blue, that only a strengthened United States military can do.
That would be half governor Sarah Palin, speaking with Sean Hannity
Well, did you hear that the White House put out a photo of Obama talking on the phone with Vlad, and Obama's sleeves were rolled up? That was done to make it look like Obama was really working hard—I mean, really taking it seriously. His sleeves were rolled up while on the phone with Putin! Putin probably had his shirt off practicing Tai-Chi while he was talking to Obama.
Take it from perpetual bloviater Rush Limbaugh. He knows how to be taken seriously. But lest you think it's been just the punditocracy fawning over the shirtless Decisiony Manly Guy, try this one -
“The world has seen some great chess matches, and yet in the geopolitical stage, it is almost as if the Russians have a renowned grandmaster playing chess and the United States is playing checkers”
That's Senator Ted Cruz. To be fair though, he's not the only one using that canard... pundits
John Wight,
Michael Goodwin, and
Steve Foley all seem to have run with the talking point. Or you could tune in to Fox and see Mr. Noun-Verb-911 Guiliani wax poetic about how Putin is a "
what you call a leader."
It's almost as if expensive saber rattling and territorial acquisition, at the cost of MASSIVE sanctions and the disapproval of most of the rest of the free world, is a recipe for disaster. Or, as Matt O'Brien succinctly put it in the Washington Post,
Putin might be playing chess while we play checkers, but only if we lend him the money for the set.