30-40 years ago Republicans were so virulent anti-Soviet Union, that were synonymous with John Birch. Here we are today, 40 years later and Republicans are Russian/Putin butt kissers. Its amazing how things change.
Please don't come back with the argument that Russia is now a democracy or a quasi-capitalist system. Its an Oligarchy run by an authoritarian dictator. Nothing more or nothing less.
Tsar Putin the First.