What’s different now is we are now dealing with a Russian regime that is not actively exporting & supporting a “pernicious ideology” against us and to others around the world. Its a regime that so far is more like “Old Russia” and will see its interests more along previous historical lines. All those previous attempts you cite are with the USSR, its gone! This Russia seems to be behaving like Old Russia - pre-communist Russia. I say this is an opportunity to go back to the old relationship. Liking, admiring, hating or whatever of Putin is irrelevant. But seeing him as a continuation of the Cold War is wrong and not useful.
Go back and re-read what I posted:
The fall of the Berlin Wall (1989) roughly corresponded to the collapse of the old Soviet Union (1991).
So the presidents mentioned include: WJ Clinton, Bush II & Obama/Hillary.
Reily: "Liking, admiring, hating or whatever of Putin is irrelevant.
But seeing him as a continuation of the Cold War is wrong and not useful."
Except that Putin is an old Cold War KGB agent, whose goals appear to be restoration of as much of the old Soviet Empire as he can manage.
So sure, we can trust Putin, but only as far as we can throw him, no further.