Let's not forget in all of this that

[RVN VET71]

11. Remember back when America was "great" (sort of) and

it was Republicans claiming that Democrats were too friendly with Russia? And Democrats rightly accused Republicans who made that claim of being extremists?

Now the Republicans are saying the same thing about Democrats!

This all might seem a little eery until you look at the difference between then and now:

Those golden age Republicans were, definitely were, extremists; they were John Birchers, they were neo-fascist propagandists like Phyllis Schlafly, and worse, McCarthyites. And today's Republicans are shamelessly and publicly chummy with and beholden to Russia. (If there were only an afterlife! Joe McCarthy and Phyllis Schlafly would be rolling over in their graves if they could see and hear what their 21st century spawn have morphed into.)

(Hey, Joe! Phyllis! Did you see the visit by 7 of your descendants to Vladimir Putin's Russia on the 4th of July where they had closed-door meetings to discuss the best ways for Russia and America to work together? And what about Mike Pompeo's scorn for our ally, Ukraine, telling NPR that nobody gives bleep about that nation that was desperately awaiting military assistance from us in its war against Russia? Oh, c'mon you guys, don't beg me to stop! I haven't even mentioned Helsinki yet!)