Unforeseen Contingencies

We are told by the mainstream media and the Democrat Party that Donald Trump was elected only because Russia "hacked the American presidential election," whatever that might mean.  Many intelligent, well-educated people seem to buy this story, hook, line and sinker.  Rumors and allegations abound (all of it from Trump's political enemies), while actual evidence ranges between slim and none.

It's very suspicious that despite the record levels of leaking, no actual evidence has come to light.  But that's not the only suspicious thing.  Suppose the allegations are true; suppose Trump really is Putin's man.  In that case, whose man is Putin?  Look at what Trump has done since taking office:

1. Trump restarted the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines that Obama blocked.  The worst thing to happen to the Russian economy is the collapse of fossil fuel prices, driven especially by the hydraulic fracturing revolution in the U.S.  Note Hillary Clinton promised to keep the pipeline projects shut down.

2. Trump has promoted more hydraulic fracturing and energy development. Note Obama opposed this, Clinton  proposed increased restrictions on hydraulic fracturing.

3. Trump has promoted export of American liquified natural gas to Central and Eastern Europe, again unlike Obama and Clinton.  As Trump pointed out, this will help the Poles and others escape from Russian energy blackmail.

4. Trump has proposed an expansion of the American military...just what the Russians want, right?

5. Trump has pressured NATO members to increase their defense spending and strengthen NATO forces...just what the Russians want, right?

6. Trump authorized an attack that destroyed one quarter of the Syrian air force, and authorized a change in the rules of engagement that led to shooting down of another Syrian fighter plane...all to the consternation of the Russian military in Syria, which threatened to end deconfliction (apparently a hollow threat).

7. Trump proposes giving or selling weaponry to Ukraine, weaponry that would be suited to battling the Russians who have invaded, something Obama previously ruled out.

8. Trump has signed congressional sanctions against Russia and authorized additional sanctions against Iran (a Russian ally) for its missile development, and against Russia and China over DPRK's missile activities.

That's an interesting list.  Let's suppose, now, that all the aforementioned "intelligent, well-educated" people are right -- Trump has been co-opted by Putin and is following Putin's playbook.  If so, for whom is Putin working?  The eight things I've listed undercut the Russian KGB state.  They are also worse for Russia's siloviki than anything Obama did or Clinton proposed.  If Putin really did maneuver Trump into the presidency and now gives him orders, then obviously Putin is acting to undercut Russia's siloviki regime, and the reasonable conclusion is that Putin is, in fact, an American agent.

I suppose there is an alternative explanation...maybe the "intelligent, well-educated" people are completely wrong.