Axelrod: I’m Not as Troubled by Trump’s Call to Putin, I’m Troubled He Won’t ‘Set Limits’ for Putin

EXCERPT:

AXELROD: "Well, first of all, it's not peace through strength if you're appeasing Putin. Putin doesn't understand -- you know, you can't send Putin flowers and chocolates and get his cooperation. Putin will cooperate for two reasons. One is, it's because it's in his interest. That's why he cooperated with Obama on Iran, on Afghanistan. Or because you're taking tough actions against him, like going after the oligarchs on whom he's so reliant, which Trump won't do. The problem for Trump is that he puts this -- this has to be put in the larger perspective. He never is willing to challenge Putin, never. It isn't what he said on that call, it's what he didn't say. How can you talk to Vladimir Putin and not at least reference the fact that he invaded our elections, he just -- he just --"
CUOMO: "The nerve gas."
AXELROD: "Knocked -- tried to knock someone off with nerve gas in London. And he is more and more emboldened. And the president of the United States won't set limits for him. And that's the real issue here. So, yes, President Obama called him. I don't -- I'm not as troubled by the fact that he called. I'm troubled by what he is unwilling to say and do."