Useful Idiot?

Wired magazine published an excellent article this week (link here) with the provocative title "Trump Must Be a Russian Agent; the Alternative Is Too Awful."

The piece has a straightforward thesis: "we’ve reached a point in the Mueller probe where there are only two scenarios left: Either the president is compromised by the Russian government and has been working covertly to cooperate with Vladimir Putin after Russia helped win him the 2016 election -- or Trump will go down in history as the world’s most famous 'useful idiot,' as communists used to call those who could be co-opted to the cause without realizing it."

I wonder if the answer is somewhere between the two. Trump is known to owe hundreds of millions to Russian oligarchs close to Putin. Hence, he goes out of his way to curry favor with Russia and avoid any direct criticisms. Russia doesn't direct him specifically, but since they realize what he's doing, they know he can be manipulated.

Unfortunately, most Republicans in Congress are so busy trying to look the other way, they're straining their necks. They pretend they don't see what Trump is up to with Russia and hurriedly try to change the subject.

But this is a problem that's not going to go away. Fortunately, House Democrats are gearing up for public hearings on the matter that are sure to be embarrassing for the administration.