THE TRUE CONSERVATIVE POSITION: Russia is a revisionist power with values that are antithetical to our own. It is engaged in asymmetric warfare against us for the purpose of damaging our institutions and our standing in the world. It must be resisted by all means short of war.
THE GOP POSITION: Ditto.
TRUMP’S POSITION: Putin is a fellow strongman with whom we can work to get things done. Our real enemies are the EU, China, and Islamic terrorists; he hates them, too.
CONCLUSION: Will Trump succeed in flipping his party on this issue, as with so many others? It certainly isn’t beyond the realm of possibility.