I'm a child of the 70s. Many a childhood afternoon was spent soaking up the endearing familial antics of "The Brady Bunch." So, I was right there with the millions of others who caught the "Russia, Russia, Russia!" reference when "Russian collusion" was all the rage during Donald Trump's presidency.
Indeed, everywhere you turned, there was Russia — which was doubly ironic given Barack Obama's dismissive taunt to Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential debates that the 1980s were "calling to ask for their foreign policy back." Though a skilled politician, Obama clearly wasn't a fortune-teller. Who knew the dang Russkys would prove so diabolical — or useful? — in such short order? (Besides Mitt Romney, that is.)
The tune has since changed, though — not that Vladimir Putin's Russia isn't just as evil an actor as always — but these days, everywhere we turn, there is Ukraine:
- Hunter Biden's cushy Burisma gig? Ukraine.
- Trump Impeachment 1? Ukraine.
- Endless congressional battle over military aid? Ukraine.
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To be clear on that last point, I'd love to see Russia's rear handed to it by Ukraine. The issue I (and many) have is skepticism as to what (or whom) exactly is being funded and to what end.
Either way, it struck me the other day that the Russia obsession has been largely swapped out for the Ukraine obsession.
And always, there is the sense that the tail continues to wag the dog.
This “Moore to the Point” commentary aired on NewsTalkSTL on Wednesday, February 28th. Audio included below.
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