Just a little over a year ago when President Trump first announced that Rex Tillerson was his dark horse selection for Secretary of State, the left was ready with its narrative.

Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State: close ties to Putin with no foreign policy experience. pic.twitter.com/LcYsfXNQ7e

— The Democrats (@TheDemocrats) December 11, 2016

This is the statement issued by Nancy Pelosi declaring Tillerson to be a Russian stooge:

This is what she had to say today:

Trump: I'm firing Tillerson because we was too soft on Iran deal (which empowers a Russian ally) and I'm replacing him with Pompeo, who is a hawk on Russia & Iran

Politics Twitter: THIS PROVES RUSSIA COLLUSION

— Omri Ceren (@omriceren) March 13, 2018

In order for the “Tillerson out bc Russia” bullshit to be true, you have to believe something even dumber: that Mike Pompeo is soft on Russia.

You people are batshit crazy at this point.

— David Reaboi (@davereaboi) March 13, 2018

This story is not unique to Pelosi. Basically Never Trump World has picked up on the same theme. None of them bother to try to explain why Trump nominated Mike Pompeo, who is about as hawkish on Russia as it is possible to be without going full-metal Buck Turgidson. But consistency and honesty is never really a consideration in these critiques. The idea is to push the most damaging possible interpretation of the event and move on to the next.