I think I am being a little unclear here.

IMO, given Trump's 0-sum view of trade, it is much easier for him to stay away from combative statements about Russia, with whom we trade very little, than it is for him to avoid confrontation with Canada, the EU, and Japan, with whom we trade a lot. And of course China. That was my overall point - NJ lamets that he refers to the EU as a foe (which lament I agree with, but am not surprised), which is a natural offshoot of Trump's views on trade (IMO).

The world has existed since WW II on, among some other international norms and institutions, the notion that countries that trade with each other do not fight with each other. Our closest allies are our biggest trading partners, and Trump can't help but see them as foes. We don't trade as much with most of our traditional foes (China aside), and so Trump ironically tends not to be as combative with them. Trade is not a win-win proposition to Trump. Trump is no free market conservative. He is a nationalist populist.

As for why he obsesses over Russia? Who knows. Could be one of the nefarious explanations, or it could be that Trump admires authoritarians who grip their countries for decades, and more immediately, any suggestion of Russian interference is mostly about the legitimacy of Trump's win in 2016 (in Trump's mind), driving Trump's obsession over witch hunts and Russia generally.

(In response to this post by Seattle .Hoo)

Posted: 07/16/2018 at 11:25AM

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Current Thread:

So, the EU is our enemy now? -- NJHoo 07/16/2018 10:21AM

Any enemy of Russia/Putin is now an enemy of ours ** -- Hoo TV 07/16/2018 11:22AM

Yes, and that fucking Canada ** -- FfxStationHokie 07/16/2018 10:53AM

Molson-swilling luge-jockeys. ** -- CavMan1 07/16/2018 12:53PM

They're the worst, a bunch of scuffed-shoe-smuggling back-stabbing bastards ** -- Hoo TV 07/16/2018 11:35AM

Not to be overly jocular but VPI is a foe not an enemy -- Wahoo Ron 07/16/2018 10:50AM

Remember the saying friend or foe? The EU are not our “foe” -- hooyorkcity 07/16/2018 12:26PM

Sorry, but it's a crap word -- Beerman 07/16/2018 10:55AM

Plus he put them first on the list, then China but not so bad and then -- KCHoo 07/16/2018 11:38AM

Before you handed Putin your brains and testicles, -- Shenhoo 07/16/2018 10:53AM

I'm sure Putin felt short-changed on both accounts. Bigly. ** -- WahooRQ 07/16/2018 11:13AM

You are referring to Trump calling the EU our foes in trade, right? -- hoolstoptheheels 07/16/2018 10:28AM

Dem populism is a concern. I like Bernie better than Trump, since he seems -- HoosWillWin 07/16/2018 10:45AM

Correction: Everybody but Russia ** -- wahoo138 07/16/2018 10:32AM

If we traded with Russia more, he might see them more like he sees China. ** -- hoolstoptheheels 07/16/2018 10:37AM

But you know it's hardly a fair comparison. Russia's GDP is on the order of -- Seattle .Hoo 07/16/2018 10:59AM

The USSR/Russia actually was/is/will be for a long time a ... -- HowieT3 07/16/2018 11:32AM

I think I am being a little unclear here. -- hoolstoptheheels 07/16/2018 11:25AM

Your last paragraph doesn't explain why he was changing the GOP -- HoosWillWin 07/16/2018 11:58AM

Your last paragraph rings pretty true ** -- wahoo138 07/16/2018 11:30AM

Agree. Sadly I think your authoritarian explanation also is spot on. ** -- Seattle .Hoo 07/16/2018 11:29AM

That's my point. Why is he always so concerned -- wahoo138 07/16/2018 11:07AM

Well, if they ever decide to make something we can use, then ... ** -- HowieT3 07/16/2018 10:58AM

Maybe they should go mass with those umbrellas with the radioactive tip. -- hooyorkcity 07/16/2018 11:27AM

That’s why they took all of America’s uranium. We have very little -- KCHoo 07/16/2018 11:43AM

All he seems to care about is our relationship with Russia -- wahoo138 07/16/2018 10:23AM

Haha you talking about obsession, just because you can’t stop -- TomKazanski 07/16/2018 10:53AM

"Collusion" is not the only possible explanation. -- hoolstoptheheels 07/16/2018 10:35AM

Financial crimes intertwined with Russia is my guess. -- WahooMatt05 07/16/2018 10:41AM

Could be. But I am a proponent of innocent until proven guilty for all. -- hoolstoptheheels 07/16/2018 10:46AM

It was a campaign promise he reneged on and nobody has held him accountable -- hooyorkcity 07/16/2018 11:35AM

Well said. ** -- jdubforwahoowa 07/16/2018 11:23AM

Whatever it is, he's obsessed with it ** -- wahoo138 07/16/2018 10:42AM

I didn't say anything about collusion -- wahoo138 07/16/2018 10:39AM

I wasn't directing that at you personally, although I probably assumed that -- hoolstoptheheels 07/16/2018 10:42AM

If he was his handler, this would be a good way to do things -- wahoo138 07/16/2018 10:56AM