“Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find [Hillary Clinton’s] 30,000 emails that are missing. I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press.”

That is Donald Trump. A presidential candidate openly inviting a rival superpower (one whose human rights abuses are well documented and whose imperialist hunger for territory is insatiable) to commit a major crime against a domestic political rival.

Yes, Donald, Russia is listening. Russia is listening when you suggest Crimea should be Russian territory, contrary to longstanding United States and European Union policy. Russia is listening when you say:

“I would treat Vladimir Putin firmly, but there’s nothing I can think of that I’d rather do than have Russia friendly as opposed to the way they are right now.”

Russia is listening when you say:

“I was shocked to hear [Putin] mention the N-word [about President Obama] … He has a total lack of respect for President Obama … I think he’s going to respect your president, if I’m elected, and I hope he likes me.”

Good news, Donald! He does like you. Said Putin:

“Donald Trump is] a really brilliant and talented person, without any doubt. It’s not our job to judge his qualities, that’s a job for American voters, but he’s the absolute leader in the presidential race.”

Wonder why that might be …?