Why Is Trump Refusing to Face Reality about Russia

The Washington Post editorial board smacks down Donald Trump for his refusal to face the reality of the danger Russia poses to America and the democratic world.  The evidence is there for anyone sane and rational and leaves one asking the question why is he doing this?  Yes, the man id a shallow, amoral narcissist, but one would thank that Putin's flattery would not outweigh reports from America's intelligence services.  So again, why this behavior that even a growing number of Republicans find disturbing.  One thought is that Trump's real estate empire is so beholden to Russian financiers that he is in being blackmailed by Putin.  Another is that Russian hackers have something on Trump that he does not want the world to see.  The last is that Trump actively collaborated with Putin and participated in orchestrating the hacking of the DNC and release of damaging information in order to have the presidential election thrown to him.  Now, of course Putin holds that evidence over Trump's head and stands in a position to have Trump charged with treason (such a lovely thought, isn't it?).  Personally, I suspect that that last alternative may be the correct one.  No matter how you cut it, it all boils down to Der Fuhrer putting himself and his ego ahead of the good of the nation.  Here are highlights from the Post's smack down:

ALTHOUGH PRESIDENT Obama’s sanctions against Russia for interfering with the U.S. presidential election came late, his action on Thursday reflected a bipartisan consensus that penalties must be imposed for Moscow’s audacious hacking and meddling. But one prominent voice in the United States reacted differently. President-elect Donald Trump said “it’s time for our country to move on to bigger and better things.” 

No, Mr. Trump, it is not time to move on. U.S. intelligence agencies are in agreement about “what is going on”: a brazen and unprecedented attempt by a hostile power to covertly sway the outcome of a U.S. presidential election through the theft and release of material damaging to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. The president-elect’s dismissive response only deepens unanswered questions about his ties to Russia in the past and his plans for cooperation with Vladi­mir Putin.

For his part, Mr. Putin seems to be eagerly anticipating the Trump presidency. On Friday, he promised to withhold retaliatory sanctions, clearly hoping the new Trump administration will nullify Mr. Obama’s acts. Then Mr. Trump cheered on Twitter . . .
 For any American leader, an attempt to subvert U.S. democracy ought to be unforgivable — even if he is the intended beneficiary. Some years ago, then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned of a “cyber-Pearl Harbor,” and the fear at the time was of a cyberattack collapsing electric grids or crashing financial markets. Now we have a real cyber-Pearl Harbor, though not one that was anticipated. Mr. Obama has pledged a thorough investigation and disclosure; the information released on Thursday does not go far enough. Congress should not shrink from establishing a select committee for a full-scale probe.

Mr. Trump has been frank about his desire to improve relations with Russia, but he seems blissfully untroubled by the reasons for the deterioration in relations, including Russia’s instigation of an armed uprising in Ukraine, its seizure of Crimea, its efforts to divide Europe and the crushing of democracy and human rights at home.

Why is Mr. Trump so dismissive of Russia’s dangerous behavior? Some say it is his lack of experience in foreign policy, or an oft-stated admiration for strongmen, or naivete about Russian intentions. But darker suspicions persist. Mr. Trump has steadfastly refused to be transparent about his multibillion-dollar business empire. Are there loans or deals with Russian businesses or the state that were concealed during the campaign? Are there hidden communications with Mr. Putin or his representatives? We would be thrilled to see all the doubts dispelled, but Mr. Trump’s odd behavior in the face of a clear threat from Russia, matched by Mr. Putin’s evident enthusiasm for the president-elect, cannot be easily explained.

Add to the list of Russian wrong doing the cyber attack on a New England power company that gave the access to America's power grid and anyone sane or not subject to Russian blackmail or guilty of treasonous actions would not be acting like Der Fuhrer.  Until proven wrong, I will operate on the assumption that Trump is a traitor who needs to be exposed and, if guilty, given the harshest penalty possible.  #NotMyPresident