Opinion: How much is Donald Trump indebted to Vladimir Putin?

To the editor: President-elect Donald Trump’s dissembling, blustery reply to the CIA’s definitive findings of prolonged hacking by Russia is blatantly self-serving and irrational. (“Trump digs in on Russia, setting up conflict with his own party’s Washington leaders,” Dec. 12)

Trump’s crude sleight of hand is transparent. The outcome of this election was determined by, one, Russian hacking of the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton’s campaign and, two, FBI Director James B. Comey’s wrongful preelection announcement about reopening a manufactured, politicized inquiry of Clinton’s private email server.

Moreover, only four presidents in U.S. history have “won” while losing the popular vote. (Trump will be the fifth.) Trump is on track to lose the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes, more than five times the next largest deficit for an electoral “winner” (George W. Bush).

The circle is closed by Trump’s refusal to condemn Russia for committing war crimes in Syria, invading Crimea or threatening the Baltic states, and by his appointment of lackeys with deep ties to Russia. Trump is indebted to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mark E. Kalmansohn, Santa Monica

..

To the editor: We’re worried that Trump may not simply be a liar. As a liar, he could realistically evaluate dangerous situations and make outlandish statements that suited his purpose without any intention that his statements should actually be fulfilled.

However, his ridiculing the CIA, an agency that evaluates the dangers of our world for the president and Congress, makes him possibly delusional. Trump redefines reality to suit what he wants.

Our country might not survive to the next election.

Patty Donnelly and Phil Beauchamp, Chino Hills

..

To the editor: When Germany invaded Russia, Josef Stalin was initially immobilized by his inability to acknowledge Adolf Hitler’s betrayal even as the bombs fell. Trump’s inability to consider the possibility of Russian influence in the election smacks of the same mental pattern: illusion transitioning into delusion.

Trump seems incapable of rebutting an idea, so he attacks the person holding the idea. The same kind of animus fueled Stalin’s purges of intellectuals, academics, activists and opponents.

In Putin’s Russia, the government controls the media and employs them to focus attention on exterior threats (both real and imagined), thereby distracting the populace from the social and economic ills afflicting the nation. Although Trump will not gain direct control of the media, he has in effect controlled the media establishment through outrageous distraction and general defamation. He has simultaneously opened his own fact-free media channels within the underbelly of the Internet.

When Trump assumes his elected office, he will be the first Russian president of the United States.

Stacey Hockaday, Moreno Valley

..

To the editor: In September, President Obama convened congressional leaders to seek consensus on making the CIA’s intelligence on Russian hacking public. Led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the Republicans prevented a consensus, so the intelligence remained secret.

When consensus was unattainable, Obama should have released those documents immediately. By not doing so, he irreparably damaged our nation. We’re going to pay a heavy price for his silence.

Obama should immediately release all confidential documents so that members of the electoral college might vote their consciences and hopefully elect the person who won the most votes. Barring that, they should select a a Republican with qualifications to govern our country, unlike Trump.

Jack Salem, Los Angeles

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook