# Is Donald Trump a Putin patsy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 25, 2016, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875 "2016-07-25T19:00:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/201 "2016-07-27T16:59:08Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Stop putting words into Trump’s mouth, please. 😉 Using your analogy, he offered somebody to kill his wife… and then stated _other people_ will pay up, not Trump himself. Makes sense. If Trump is willing to stiff a [couple little girls](http://www.redstate.com/brandon_morse/2016/07/26/usa-freedom-kids-group-little-girls-performed-trump-now-suing/) out of their pay, he sure isn’t cutting some Kremlin hacker a check. ---
**Author:** ![Crybaby\_Boobie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crybaby_boobie/32/545_2.png) [@Crybaby\_Boobie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crybaby_Boobie)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/202 "2016-07-27T16:59:23Z")
Would it surprise anyone if later today Trump invited ISIS to attack us to show us just how bad muslims are? “Come on, you know you want to! Look what an easy target we are. You’re losers if you don’t. Sad.” ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/203 "2016-07-27T17:00:26Z")
Can’t wait to hear from Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan. Do they still retain any leadership of the Republican Party? Or is it now the pro-Russia Trump Party? Will they still support a man who openly invites illegal Russian intervention in the US political process? Are they still content to support “Anyone who is not Hillary”? Just how far will Ryan and McConnell go? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/204 "2016-07-27T17:02:59Z")
Paul Ryan gave the weakest statement ever, saying that Putin is a thug and should stay out of US elections – without referencing Trump’s invitation to conduct espionage against the United States. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/205 "2016-07-27T17:09:41Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Can’t wait to hear from Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan. Do they still retain any leadership of the Republican Party? Or is it now the pro-Russia Trump Party? > > Will they still support a man who openly invites illegal Russian intervention in the US political process? Are they still content to support “Anyone who is not Hillary”? Just how far will Ryan and McConnell go? In a movie, this is where Mike Pence steps down as Trump’s running mate and costs him the election and someday grateful schoolkids go to Mike Pence Junior High. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/206 "2016-07-27T17:12:09Z")
This is fun: > [@](#): > > Donald Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence, says there should be “serious consequences” if Russia is found to be interfering in the U.S. electoral process. > > In a statement Wednesday, Pence said “both parties and the United States government will ensure there are serious consequences” to the hacking. > > But in a press conference moments earlier, Trump declined to speak out against the breach to Democratic National Committee computers, which the Democrats have blamed on Russia. > > Instead, he called on Russia to find the missing emails from Hillary Clinton’s personal server, since they probably contain “some beauties.” [http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/putin-spokesman-disputes-russia-ties-political-hacking-40923668](http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/putin-spokesman-disputes-russia-ties-political-hacking-40923668) ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/207 "2016-07-27T17:27:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Donald Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence, says there should be “serious consequences” if Russia is found to be interfering in the U.S. electoral process. Well, according to Trump, those “serious consequences” would entail the Russians being "rewarded mightily by our press.” I wonder if Pence is now regretting his decision to hitch his wagon to the Trump Dumpster Fire. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/208 "2016-07-27T17:46:41Z")
This is officially (for the post-election narrative) Trump’s “47%” moment. We will see if he can survive it. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/209 "2016-07-27T17:50:42Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Potential Fox Headline: “Clinton entices Russians to hack email; Trump unfairly accused.” “Donald Trump (D) Calls On Russia To Hack Emails”. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/210 "2016-07-27T17:52:55Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > “Donald Trump (D) Calls On Russia To Hack Emails”. Like, upvote, whatever. That’s quality work, Smapti. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/211 "2016-07-27T17:56:31Z")
It was a joke. Hard to tell with him, I know, having no more sense of humor than sense of decency. And, he would like to change the subject. Anybody who has not already decided to vote against Trump is a bit dim. We shouldn’t try to burden them with complicated stuff. Just get the idea across that Vlad the Impaler wants Trump to be President. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/212 "2016-07-27T17:58:39Z")
When you offer to give the rest of Crimea to Russia in the very same press conference, it’s hard to escape the impression that the Russians are applying pressure to DJT. Financial pressure? Exposure pressure? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/213 "2016-07-27T18:00:26Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > It was a joke. Hard to tell with him, I know, having no more sense of humor than sense of decency. And, he would like to change the subject. > > Anybody who has not already decided to vote against Trump is a bit dim. We shouldn’t try to burden them with complicated stuff. Just get the idea across that Vlad the Impaler wants Trump to be President. His spokesperson has already denied the possibility that it was a joke. Pence and Ryan have issued statements distancing themselves from this. Trump also offered to give the Ukrainian portion of Crimea to the Russians and lift sanctions. NO JOKE. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/214 "2016-07-27T18:01:58Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > …Trump also offered to give Crimea to the Russians and lift sanctions… I doubt neither your honesty nor his stupidity, but this just gotta have cite. Cite for sour eyes! ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/215 "2016-07-27T18:08:05Z")
OK > **[Trump to look at recognizing Crimea as Russian territory, lifting sanctions](https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/trump-crimea-sanctions-russia-226292)** > > Trump said he “would be looking into that” when asked about his stance on Crimea and Russia. Note that I edited my post to state “rest of Crimea”. Russia holds most of it, of course. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/216 "2016-07-27T18:09:04Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > This is officially (for the post-election narrative) Trump’s “47%” moment. > > We will see if he can survive it. Yeah, hopefully it’s more than that. > [@](#): > > While a majority of independents — 53 percent — said the comments would have no impact on their vote, 29 percent said it would make them less likely to back Romney, according to a Gallup poll. Fifteen percent said it would make a Romney vote more likely. > > Overall, 43 percent of registered voters were unswayed by the leaked video, which shows Romney disparaging “47 percent” of the country as dependent on government and destined to support President Barack Obama. A fifth of registered voters said the former Massachusetts governor’s comments made them more likely to support him, compared to 36 percent who said it makes them less likely to support him. > > But even those numbers may overstate the impact of the clips. Sixty-eight percent of Democrats said the video makes them less likely to vote for Romney — but only 5 percent of Democrats in Gallup’s daily tracking poll said they planned to vote for him before the comments were reported. Similarly, 92 percent of Republicans said they planned to vote for Romney, and 44 percent of them said the video makes them more likely to back the challenger. [http://www.politico.com/story/2012/09/poll-romney-remarks-hurt-indie-support-081408](http://www.politico.com/story/2012/09/poll-romney-remarks-hurt-indie-support-081408) ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/217 "2016-07-27T18:10:47Z")
Now Paul Manafort, Trump’s campaign manager, [denies that there is any financial relationship](http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/campaign-chair-denies-financial-relationship-between-trump-and-russia/)between Trump and Russia. And we’ve gotta believe him, right? It’s not like Manafort [has strong ties to](http://www.politifact.com/global-news/article/2016/may/02/paul-manafort-donald-trumps-top-adviser-and-his-ti/) pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine, right? He’s probably never even worked with Viktor Yanukovych, right? So there’s no connection at all with Trump recently saying he’d recognize Russia’s ownership of the Crimea, and drop sanctions. Oh, and if you want proof that Trump has no financial relationship with Russia, Manafort also emphasized that Trump will NOT be releasing his tax returns. Ever. So you’ll just have to trust him. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/218 "2016-07-27T18:11:29Z")
Sigh… I rest assured. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/219 "2016-07-27T18:16:07Z")
I bet Trump gives Putin Alaska during the first state visit. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875/220 "2016-07-27T18:23:10Z")
> [@Crybaby\_Boobie](#): > > Am I wrong in thinking this is an actual “Holy shit” moment? Nope. FOX News says he’s just joking. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-donald-trump-a-putin-patsy/760875.md?page=12)