Putin is a dictator. Trump wants to be a dictator.
If you watch MSNBC you will have seen many clips of Trump praising Putin and expressing admiration for him. Of course, we have all see Trump saying the line that no doubt Robert Mueller takes very seriously:
“Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing,” referring to emails Mrs. Clinton had deleted from the private account, “I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press.”
Someday hopefully we will learn the truth behind Trump’s praising Putin so frequently.
In October 2016 Mother Jones published this in an article entitled “A History of Donald Trump’s Bromance With Vladimir Putin:” Here are a few excerpts:
Sen. Tim Kaine dropped Vladimir Putin’s name more than 20 times in last night’s vice-presidential debate, suggesting that Gov. Mike Pence and his running mate, Donald Trump, shared an unseemly admiration for the Russian president. “You guys love Russia… You both have said Vladimir Putin is a better leader than the president,” Kaine said, referring to recent statements by both Republicans that contrasted Putin’s supposed strength with President Barack Obama’s weakness. Pence pushed back, calling Putin “small and bullying,” and saying that a Trump administration would respond to Russian provocation “with strong, broad-shouldered American leadership.”
….
December 17, 2015: In a rare moment of recognition, Putin praises Trump, saying that he is “a very lively man, talented without doubt,” adding that Trump is the “absolute leader in the presidential race.” Before the day ends, Trump returns the favor. “It is always a great honor to be so nicely complimented by a man so highly respected within his own country and beyond,” he says of Putin.
….
December 18, 2015: On Morning Joe, Trump defends Putin from allegations that he’s murdered journalists and political opponents. “He’s running his country, and at least he’s a leader. Unlike what we have in this country.” He adds, “I think our country does plenty of killing, also, Joe.”
Here’s another element, albeit a minor one, to consider if you are wondering about other similarities between the two presidents.
They may have something else in common besides their authoritarian proclivities. If the rumors about Putin are true, they are both in committed relationships with much younger women. At present Wikipedia does not address the rumors about Putin and his alleged mistress.
Although not officially acknowledged by Putin, the tabloid press has reported that gymnast Alina Kabaveva, about 30 years younger than the 65 year old Russian president, is his mistress. There was speculation that she had his child and that she may be secretly married to him.
Interestingly, two Rupert Murdoch owned newspapers have reported on this.
Most recently, The Sun which is now in the news because of the Trump interview where he disparaged Theresa May had a story on this in March 2018.
FIRST MISTRESS? Who is Alina Kabaeva? Vladimir Putin’s rumoured girlfriend and Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast — Russian president is alleged to be in love with ex-gymnast Alina Kabaeva... and speculation is rife over a secret marriage
In 2015, Murdoch’s New York Post published Swiss media reveals more about Putin’s girlfriend, baby and also Missing Putin ‘in Switzerland for birth of love child’
The Daily Telegraph, generally called simply The Telegraph is not owned by Murdoch. According to Wikipedia “The Telegraph is widely regarded as a national ‘newspaper of record’ and it maintains an international reputation for quality, having been described by the BBC as being ‘one of the world's great titles.’ ”
The Telegraph also had an article in March 2015 using a Swiss tabloid as its source.
Vladimir Putin's 'girlfriend has given birth': Speculation over the whereabouts of the Russian president continues as Swiss tabloid claims his girlfriend has given birth.
The Telegraph article also includes a photo of Putin with his ex-wife Lyudmila Putina.
The Moscow Times reported in 2015 that Putina once jokingly called her husband a vampire.
Lyudmila Putina once called President Vladimir Putin a vampire, while he in turn has suggested that anyone who could put up with her for three weeks was heroic and deserved a monument.
These and other observations about the private family life of the Putins were detailed in a 2001 book that provided a rare glimpse into a relationship that the Putins abruptly announced Thursday evening had ended in divorce.
The book is titled "Fragile Friendships" and was penned by a German friend, Irene Pietsch, the wife of a Hamburg banker, who became acquainted with the Putins in 1995.
The Daily Mail, the British tabloid competition to Murdoch’s Sun published this in January 2016: Revealed - Putin's ex-wife 'marries a toyboy' 21 years her junior as Russian president woos younger gymnast:
- Putin's ex-wife Lyudmila is barely seen in public but appears to have remarried
- Dashing businessman is 21 years younger than her but known to be a friend
- No confirmation of marriage certificates in Russia but she has changed her name on official documents
- Putin has said he will not remarry himself until Lyudmila is 'betrothed'
The Telegraph article also has photos of Putin shooting an assault rifle and several of the ruggedly masculine images of the Russian leader which he allowed to be released to the media.
UPDATE: Putin is fodder and clickbait for the tabloids. Here’s a 2017 story from The Star:
Like I say, who cares? Except possibly the people who eat up these kinds of stories, and Donald Trump?
Sunday, Jul 15, 2018 · 4:35:06 PM +00:00 · HalBrown
NOTE: If I don’t respond to respectful comments it may mean I have been suspended again, as I was because of my previous diary so I could take a three-day “time-out to reflect on Daily Kos’s zero tolerance for all forms of bigotry” — I did think a lot about this and I discussed it with close friends who know me very well and are always objective and candid with me. I think it is better to drop the entire issue. If I am not commenting it also may also mean that I was banned from Daily Kos forever. If this happens there will probably be no way of readers
knowing this.
If someone has a personal issue with me I would rather they send me a PM instead of airing it publicly.
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I truly hate being in a position where I feel I should explain who I am and what I did with my life, at the risk of being attacked once again. Being accused of bigotry let alone insensitivity is a bitter pill to be forced to swallow.
My entire 40+ year career as a psychotherapist both in community mental health and in private practice was devoted to helping people. All kinds of people with all kinds of problems. All kinds people with all kinds of problems! I also was active in my town’s diversity group, the child abuse council, the Vietnam PTSD therapy program which I started, and others.