I don't believe the Republicans want to help Putin. I believe that Trump wants to help Putin, and the Republicans are afraid of Trump. So Putin is already, through his puppet Donald, the boss here.

But something else is at work mechanically. The Republicans have come to see that it is easier to win elections by blaming the other guy for failure than by sharing credit for success. So the Republicans block solutions when a Democrat is in the White House. That's why there is no comprehensive immigration reform. Not solving the problem wins more elections than solving it.

Trump is the wages of Republican sin. By making Government feckless - Congress's approval rating never got over 20% in Obama's second term - the Republicans made "What have you got to lose?" a viable slogan. Even now, there is a hunger for a do-something government, and if the current arrangement can't provide one, then why not authoritarianism? At least the trains will run on time.

McConnell may want something done about immigration, but he's the one who destroyed the Senate and enabled the nihilist asshole Republican wing to control the House. He's the Sorcerer's Apprentice, breaking the Constitution and then wondering why it doesn't work anymore. Please make an effort not to say anything good about him while he is still living. He is why we have Trump. He should eat shit and die. (No, I do not digress.)