The Russian Debate

[Final-Fan]

NightDragon83 said:

1.  I still want to know from the "Trump stole the election via collusion with Russia" conspiracy mongers why Russia was brushed off as a non-factor during most of the Obama administration (mainly from '09-'12 when Hillary Clinton was SoS and was BFFs with Russia) and yet now they have magically become our #1 geopolitical threat after Hillary blew the election?

2.  How's that "reset button" working out for you guys?

"The 1980s called, they want their foreign policy back!" - President Barack Obama's quip to candidate Mitt Romney during one of the 2012 election debates after Romney argued that Russia was one of if not THE biggest threats to our national security interests.  Obama in reply had to dig up Al Qaeda as the real boogeyman, despite the fact that OBL had been dead for over a year, AQ was a disjointed mess, and the post-Arab Spring Middle East had been thrown into chaos with power vacuums in failed states like Libya (which Obama helped destabilize) being filled by the likes of ISIS.

3.  “This is my last election … After my election I have more flexibility,” Obama said, expressing confidence that he would win a second term. “I will transmit this information to Vladimir,” said Medvedev, Putin’s protégé and long considered number two in Moscow’s power structure. https://www.snopes.com/obama-more-flexibility-russia/

Gee, imagine if Trump was caught on a hot mic prior to the election talking to Putin or some other high ranking official from Russia promising "more flexibility" after the election, presuming he would emerge as the winner.

1.  Maybe you missed it, but after "09-12" there was something that sort of happened in Crimea and it kind of upset some people.  There were sanctions and stuff. 

2.  The "reset" failed ... what's your point? 

3.  I'm not even sure what it is you're trying to insinuate here ... that Obama rigged the 2012 election?  That he was making promises as to where his "flexibility" would extend to?  That sitting Presidents should not negotiate with foreign powers? 

I personally interpret this as basically Obama saying "the elections are causing politics to get in the way of my actions, we'll talk later".  That is nothing like the allegations against Trump.