Back when I was a Republican (from birth til 2003), I remember loathing the Soviet Union while at the same time fearing MAD (Mutual Assured Destruction).

I generally don't hate anything so I refrain from using that word except for very specific occasions. But I had a real dislike of the USSR.

I feel like all of us did.

Their way of life, form of government, economic system, war mongering, etc. all lead to me not really giving a shit if their whole society blew up (not literally–I never wanted to see them nuked).

When 1989 rolled around, after Reagan said in 1987, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down that wall” (meaning the wall between East and West Germany), and the wall literally was torn down, I was happy.

The Great Menace of the 20th century was dust.

NOTE: I NEVER disliked Russians. They are people just like us, except worse off. Standing in line all day for crumbs seemed then–and now–like a big fucking deal. In fact, I felt sorry for them.

For a land with such rich history and vast resources, the Soviet government oppressed its people for far too many years.

Not to mention the hell they went through during and after WWII.

I felt like ALL Republicans and many Democrats felt the same way I do. We didn't trust the Soviet government ever to do the right thing. They were the Evil Empire.

We didn't trust a Soviet leader as far as we could throw him, which wasn't far.

Nowadays, however, it seems that the Republican party in its entirety, just LOVES Russia. They love Putin. They trust the former Soviet Union leaders far more than they trust our traditional allies.

What happened?

Why is this?

If you know, hit the comments. This is the weirdest thing ever.