Democrats continue to howl about Russian interference in our elections, and rightly so. But will they be quite so worked up if Putin chooses to oppose Trump in 2020, and backs their candidate instead? For many reasons, Russia’s president is likely to want a Democrat in the Oval Office. Here are ten:
1. A strong U.S. economy undermines Russia’s long-standing efforts to destabilize the U.S. The GOP tax cuts and reduced regulation have led to record-low unemployment and rising wages, not exactly fertile ground in which to sow discord. Democrats can argue otherwise, but it is a fact that President Trump’s election ushered in a significant surge in business and consumer confidence, which has led to increased spending as well as higher corporate investment and a welcome rise in productivity. Under President Obama, business executives held back, concerned at the onslaught of regulations and the White House’s overall hostility to the private sector.
2020 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS WEIGH IN ON AMERICAN VOTING RIGHTS
2. The Trump administration has made it a priority to increase defense spending, which Russia views with alarm. The 2018 budget included a 15.5 percent hike in defense outlays, the biggest since 2003; in 2019 another increase was pushed through. Not only is the U.S. spending on military refurbishment, but the government is also allocating money towards a build-up of our activities in space. Bernie Sanders, a leading Democratic contender, wants to cut military spending. Nothing would please Russia more.
3. President Trump has riled our NATO allies by demanding they increase their military budgets, the first line of defense against Russian mischief in Europe. Though much has been made of the deterioration in our relations with Germany and various other EU countries, in reality this hard line by Trump has stiffened spines and drawn attention to the shocking deterioration in EU military preparedness. Russia cannot be happy.
4. Trump has openly criticized German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her commitment to the Nord Stream pipeline project, which guarantees that Europe will remain uncomfortably dependent on Russian gas. After an agreement reached last year between Trump and EU President Juncker, U.S. LNG shipments to Europe rose 181 percent and the EU agreed to invest heavily in new LNG terminals. This pact allows the U.S. to provide Europe with an alternative source for natural gas.
5. More importantly, President Trump is 100 percent committed to expanding U.S. energy resources. While Beto O’Rourke and other Democrats have vowed to halt oil and gas leases on federal lands and want to tax and restrict our fossil fuel producers, the White House rightly views our strengthening energy position as a geopolitical and strategic advantage and will legislate accordingly.
6. In the same vein, Democrats are of one mind about the Paris Climate Accord: they want back in. The agreement would severely hobble the U.S. economy but barely re
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