Conspiracy Theory

Let's plot out a thriller in which Putin gains control of America by electing his man as president.

First Putin would need to a find a well connected influence peddler and image maker, with unrestrained greed and no scruples.

A client list like that of Paul Manafort, filled with tyrants, would get Putin's attention.  Putin would be impressed that someone would represent Ferdinand Marcos as well as the dictators in the Dominican Republic, Nigeria, Kenya and Somalia.

But Putin would want proof of a total lack of empathy or conscience.  Fleecing HUD, and doubling the rent of those living in projects in New Jersey, would buff Manafort's appeal.  But for Putin, there must be blood.  By continuing to lobby for arms for his client, Savimbi, Manafort prolonged the civil war in Angola leading to more deaths, and more fees.

Although impressed, Putin would want to test him with a project near and dear to Putin's dream of empire.  Putin wanted to retain and expand influence, by having his man win the 2010 election in the Ukraine.

Manafort got Yanukovych, a rough edged politician with a thuggish past, elected.  This blocked a west leaning government committed to democracy.

Putin was sold.  Now all he needed was for Manafort to control the campaign of a presidential candidate with a major flaw, such as narcissism.  That would allow the candidate to be manipulated,   with Manafort playing the inside game, while Putin fostered a bromance with the weak minded fool.  To be continued???

Facts liberally poached from this excellent piece in slate:

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2016/04/paul_manafort_isn_t_a_gop_retread_he_s_made_a_career_of_reinventing_tyrants.html?wpsrc=sh_all_mob_em_top