In the war of words between the American progressives, still aching from their loss to President Trump in November - Barack, who has known about Russian hacking for six months or so, now decided to expel 35 Russian diplomats suspected of being spies.
President Vladimir Putin took a different approach and said that he would not respond in kind. Putin said he was already looking ahead to the incoming Trump administration -- but he vowed that Moscow would stand firm.
"Although we have the right to retaliate, we will not resort to irresponsible 'kitchen' diplomacy but will plan our further steps to restore Russian-U.S. relations based on the policies of the Trump administration,"
The Russian president described the White House actions as "unfriendly," but suggested he would take the high road. "We will not expel anyone. We will not prevent their families and children from using their traditional leisure sites during the New Year's holidays. Moreover, I invite all children of U.S. diplomats accredited in Russia to the New Year and Christmas children's parties in the Kremlin."
In doing so, President Putin made Barack look small and weak.
Context and Precedence: Barack Hussein Obama was raised in a family of communists. Uncle Frank Marshall ran the Communist Party in Hawaii. His mother, his father and his grandparents were devoted communists. Growing up the communist party heroes were his heroes. The USSR fought the good fight against forces of imperialism and against the petty bourgeois in America. Thus he tried to have a "reset with Russia".
Some people look at George Paton as a hero and others look to Joseph Stalin as heroic. (the difference between President Trump and Barack)
But the Russians saw Barack as a small, ignorant, puffed-up, mack-daddy with a narcissistic streak that runs wider than a stripe down a skunk's back. They also saw him as a traitor to American values and the Russians know that you can't ever trust a traitor - not ever. So they didn't trust Barack. That lack of trust and that knowledge that Barack is incompetent has seen Putin and the Russians, who are in an economic bind, outmaneuvering the witless Barack at every turn.
Such is the case with the expulsion of Russian diplomats.
President Trump said that on January 20, the US would "move on".