Nov.15

electoral-vote.com

Dem 47

   

GOP 53

PutinWatch 2024: Mind Games

"If you can't stand the heat," Harry S. Truman remarked, "get out of the kitchen." At this very moment, Donald Trump is being reminded that the kitchen is pretty cool when all you have to do is hold rallies, sit for interviews with Fox, and make grandiose promises. The kitchen gets much warmer once you actually have to start governing.

As we note above, domestic politics are going to be rocky for weeks, or months, or more, once Trump is inaugurated on January 20 of next year. And foreign affairs is not likely to be any easier. In particular, Vladimir Putin knows how to play Trump like a violin, and has been putting on something of a virtuoso performance this week. To wit:

• While many foreign leaders fell all over themselves as they rushed to congratulate Trump on his victory, Putin made him cool his jets for 2 days before commenting.
  
  
• The Russian has also thrown into question the nature of that commentary. Trump claims he spoke to Putin on the phone, received congratulations, and either asked or warned Putin not to escalate the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin says there was no phone call, and therefore no warning, and Putin only congratulated Trump during a press conference when he was talking to reporters, anyhow. Of course, both men are inveterate liars, so who knows what the truth is?
  
  
• A high-ranking Russian official just gave an interview to a Russian newspaper in which he said: "The election campaign is over. To achieve success in the election, Donald Trump relied on certain forces to which he has corresponding obligations. As a responsible person, he will be obliged to fulfill them."

That last part is the really interesting part. It could just mean that Russia did what it could to help Trump, and wants to be rewarded. On the other hand, it could mean that Russia did what it could to help Trump, Trump was party to the scheme, and the Russians are prepared to expose him if he doesn't play ball. It could also mean that the Russians have some other sort of kompromat, and the Russians are prepared to share it if he doesn't play ball. Either of the latter pair of scenarios would mean the Russian president was blackmailing the American president.

Whatever is going on, Trump would do well to figure out that he is not friends with Putin and that he cannot outmaneuver Putin. Of course, if Trump is in hock to Putin, then he's in real trouble, with no good way out. (Z)