V.B. Bart, I wonder if Putin has a preference in this election.

One point I would make with my friends on the left is that a nation that acts in its self interest is much more predictable then one that tries to act altruistically. Because no one can predict what altruistic cause you’ll take up and what your staying power will be. And because all that kindness can put you in a hole that you have to punch your way out of.

So Putin may be able to roll President Obama but then find himself on the edge of a war he does not want as Obama over reacts on the other end — to show how tough he is.

A nation that acts in its self interest is more predictable because you can pretty well guess where their interests lay.

Also, Russia’s biggest threats come from China and Islam. A forward leaning US can be helpful with both those problems since it is a “stand pat” power interested in stability. But with unstable “Left Idealists” in charge? They may say, “Hey, before we give our Southwest back to Mexico we want you to give your Southeast back to China.”

It is possible that he is looking for someone less idealistic than George Bush but just as tough. He may see something like that in John McCain — someone he can cut a deal with. What sort of deal? Only tough bargaining will tell.