Putin must have hooks in Trump

Why else would he suggest Russia should be back in the group of industrialized nations called the G7?

Mark Shields, on The PBS News Hour tonight:

I think the president, quite frankly, what amazed me today was the announcement that he wanted to invite Russia back into the G7, make it the G8. Russia has been evicted overwhelmingly by the group for its invasion of Ukraine and its annexation of Crimea, neither of which it’s apologized for or changed in the least.

And, you know, the deafening silence by Republicans, with the conspicuous exception of John McCain, Rob Portman, senator from Ohio, and Ben Sasse from Nebraska — I can’t imagine if a Democratic president suggested rewarding Putin and dismembering NATO or at least disabling NATO’s unity by such an act. It would be unthinkable.

It’s not the Republican Party anymore, Mr. Shields. It’s Trump’s party. Any Republicans who are left are hiding in embarrassment.