DAVE ROSS

Doesn’t President Putin deserve extra praise?

Mar 22, 2018, 6:19 AM

Putin...

Come on. All President Trump did was congratulate Putin for winning a sham election. (File, Associated Press)

(File, Associated Press)

All the president did was pick up the phone.

Related: We don’t have to believe what we see on Facebook

“I had a call with President Putin and congratulated him on the victory,” President Trump said.

Suddenly, everybody’s upset because Trump reportedly ignored warnings not to congratulate Putin.

Even Republicans were upset.

Republican John McCain said an American President doesn’t lead the free world by “congratulating dictators on sham elections.”

But hang on, Republicans. The White House archive shows Barack Obama congratulated Putin in 2012!

In any case, how significant is a simple “congratulations?”

Your kid takes eight years to get through college with a C-minus and you still praise him or her. You do it because you want to keep the relationship. You’re also grateful it wasn’t nine years.

Way back in Little League, my Dad congratulated me for almost raising the mitt in time to catch that fly ball. The concussion was minor.

If you go on YouTube, you can watch videos of people congratulating their kids for everything, including going to the bathroom!

And let’s not forget that Putin congratulated Trump on his election. If winning with 46 percent deserves a pat on the back, winning with 68 percent certainly does. Especially considering Putin had to work both elections!

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

privacy pods...

Dave Ross

Ross: Tracking employees’ vital signs at work via privacy pods, what could go wrong?

I saw a Bloomberg story about the latest innovation to reduce your stress level at work: Privacy pods.

17 days ago

car culture...

Dave Ross

Ross: Are we killing car culture? Or is car culture killing the US?

I don’t think the question is whether we're going to "kill" our car culture. The real question is can we stop our car culture from killing the U.S.?

24 days ago

drivers data insurance...

Dave Ross

Ross: As cars release driving data to insurance, is your driving my business?

Every move you make, every swerve you take, every lane change you fake – someone’s watching you. Do drivers have a right to keep driving data private?

1 month ago

rent control...

Dave Ross

Ross: Rent control was never the answer in Wash.

The rent control bill died in the Washington State Legislature this week, even though Democrats control both houses.

2 months ago

end of democracy...

Dave Ross

Ross: Conservative activist earns applause for pledging an ‘end of Democracy’

The theme from Jack Posobiec's speech is that Jan. 6 was a righteous attack not on democracy, but on those who threaten democracy.

2 months ago

Image: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, is seen on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: Alex Brand...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters can help cull bad politicians from the herd early

Let's remember that just about every occupant of a higher office once occupied a lower office, and was put there by us, Dave Ross says.

2 months ago

Doesn’t President Putin deserve extra praise?