Malcolm Nance details how Trump is mimicking Putin's rise to power

[Miles Archer]

[yuiyoshida]

1. K&R and Tweeted

n/t

[sandensea]

2. But worse, really.

Because whatever else can be said about him, Putin at the very least seems to take governing his very chaotic country seriously and actually has some results to show for it all - by Russian standards anyway.

Cheeto is more like a Third World-style despot à la Marcos or Mobutu: all of the cons (corruption, financial deregulation followed by crisis, etc.); but none of the pros.

[Demsrule86]

3. Are you serious...Putin has stolen everything that is not nailed down...he has murdered his

opponents and life in Russia sucks. Putin is a monster.

[sandensea]

4. Key words there being 'by Russian standards'

Keep in mind where they were in 1999. Same corruption and thuggishness, but in a much more ruinous situation overall.

Of course, none of that really matters.

What does matter is that he's taken to choosing U.S. presidents (as well as vice presidents) - and that can't be allowed no matter who it's coming from, be it Putin, Bibi, the Queen of England, or I don't care what.

[Demsrule86]

5. They have no standards for sure...but he represents himself in my opinion, but I see your point.

[sandensea]

6. Absolutely. He does keep his country fairly stable - but mostly because it suits him and his cronies

I don't doubt he loves his country, in his own way. But above all, you can steal a lot more from a 2018 Russia than you can from a 1998 Russia.