Conflicted and contradictory, at best

Four quotes that the Wall Street Journal lifted from two other papers:

Two Papers in One!—I 

“Two decades after the end of the cold war, Mitt Romney still considers Russia to be America’s ‘No. 1 geopolitical foe.’ His comments display either a shocking lack of knowledge about international affairs or just craven politics. Either way, they are reckless and unworthy of a major presidential contender.”—editorial, New York Times, March 29, 2012 

“Regardless of whether Mr. Putin is out to help Mr. Trump, voters would be right to question the judgment of a candidate who has shown so much admiration for such a dangerous adversary.”—editorial, New York Times, July 27, 2016

Two Papers in One!—II 

“And [Romney’s] unscripted moments have not inspired confidence: calling Russia America’s greatest foe, for example.”—editorial, Washington Post, Oct. 25, 2012 

“This pro-Kremlin tilt is unprecedented in the Republican Party and would represent a radical and dangerous shift in U.S. policy.”—editorial, Washington Post, July 26, 2016

I guess the bottom line: Whatever position is taken by Republicans, there are those in major media who feel compelled to denounce it.

Perhaps it's done more out of habit than anything else.