I think that 25% or so on the right support Russia because...

[Peacetrain]

they are so embarrassed at supporting an obvious tool of Russia for so long.. Ignored all his (Trump) bowing down to Putin especially after all the years of attacking the left as being supportive of Russia..

So they have to dig in even deeper. Deeper into the muck that is Trumpism and now Maga republicans.. because what do they do if they have to admit they have been actively supporting someone who sold out our country.

They and the press being held up by Putin are going to go all in I think to try and move the country.. Be prepared

[brooklynite]

1. I don't...

I don't think anywhere close to 25% "support Russia". I think they don't care about anyone outside the US border.

[Peacetrain]

2. I disagree... they are pulling their hair out about Ukraine..

and doing that supports Russia.. we are just there now.. it is what it is.. and even worse than Trump is DeSantis..

[brooklynite]

3. No, "they" aren't

Conservative/MAGA bloggers are. The average voter, even pro-Trump isn't commenting.

That said, being anti-Ukraine doesn't mean being pro-Russia. It also means, "I don't want my tax dollars going to foreigners".

[Peacetrain]

7. the average maga voter most certainly is!!! you are wrong about this

they support who ever Trump tells them to support. They attack our houses of congress and are ready for war .. They gather to listen to the likes of Bolansaro and cheer him on.. The idea they give a rats ass about tax dollars is long gone..

[blue cat]

11. Republicans around me

Those numbers are higher. I quit all communication with my Republican sister over her support for Russia.

[Johonny]

4. They support Russia because the Russian propaganda machine tells them too

It's the same propaganda machine that told them how great Trump was . . .

[chowder66]

18. +1

[thomski64]

5. Also too..

White anti gay "Christian " with propaganda stooges like fucker carlson filling their knuckle dragger brains with hatred, lies and fear. The only redeeming quality of this war criminal genocidal pariah nation is their love of chess. And that's the people not thr oligarchy.

[SKKY]

6. Like the great Rick James once said...

...Cult! It's a hell of a drug.

[Chainfire]

8. I think that their support for Russia is simpler. They know that we generally support Ukraine.

[yardwork]

10. I think that's true in a general sense.

I have (otherwise fairly reasonable) relatives who are convinced that Nancy Pelosi was somehow to blame for Jan 6, because otherwise the cognitive dissonance is too much for them. If Republicans did this, then their whole world view was wrong...they can't go there.

Once down this Trumpism rabbit hole, it's not easy to get back. I hold out hope that some people will quietly change the way they vote, but I'm probably being too naive.

[LakeArenal]

12. I think 25% don't know their own opinions.

I think they sway with Fux Youz because it’s easy.

I think they only want to piss off libs.

If Biden became anti-choice, they’d be all about their constitutional rights to abortion.

I think if Dems were in the pocket of NRA then there would be shouts of “What about the children?”

[peggysue2]

13. We have US 'news' platforms, Fox for instance, amplifying pro-Russia propaganda

That steady drumbeat of pro-Putin nonsense has had an effect. There's a reason Tucker Carlson is RT's favorite American broadcaster; the man's totally in the tank for Russia. He's featured and headlined in Russian news coverage.

The question is why?

For White Nationalists, Putin is the perfect example of the strongman crushing all dissent, a man leading a nation of white Christian men, who are the undisputed Alphas in a country with no tolerance for protest, resistance or coloring outside the lines. I recall Putin claiming years ago that there were no homosexuals in Russia.

None, zip, nada.

You don't like diversity? You simply pretend it doesn't exist and/or you erase any evidence. Which is, of course, what Putin has declared for Ukraine and her people--they have no right to exist, therefore they do not exist. Defeating Ukraine is akin to exterminating cockroaches.

MAGAts love that sense of superiority, the absolutism of dictatorial powers bringing an iron fist down on their own perceived enemies.

Their sense of grievance is huge, as is Trump's. Perfect together.

For the hangers-on, a number of politicians, this pro-Putin slant is politically expedient. So, they mouth the words, hold onto their offices and fall further into the cesspool.

Wish I could believe it's simply embarrassment holding them in line. I fear it's something far worse.

[electric_blue68]

15. I think for some it -is- definitely worse. Unfortunately!

[sarcasmo]

14. The GOP and Russia have the same hate in common.

[Kennah]

16. Republicans easily support strongman leaders and fascism

[Johnny2X2X]

17. It's more than just Trump

Putin and the Russian dictatorship share a ton of ideals with today's GOP. Putin regularly says they invaded Ukraine to fight "woke". They have similar economic goals of a deregulated economy with perhaps a hundred rich families controlling almost all of Russia's wealth while 90% of the country works just to have food to eat. They beat, murder and imprison LGTBQ people in Russia. They murder and imprison journalists who speak out against the Right Wing leaders. Putin is said to be targeting abortion rights next, he;s going to outlaw abortion.

It's more than just Trump being a puppet, it's also a shared vision for the society Republicans want in America.