re: Will we look like fools if the administration keeps spouting off about Ukraine

I don't see that the Obama admin has drawn any lines or done anything unusual in this lose/lose situation. No American administration is going to actually get into a conflict with Russia over the Ukraine and no American admin would sit by and not issue some sort of finger wagging/sanction response.

What we know about Russia is that it is a thugocracy and it's very dangerous and we are going to try to deal with them diplomatically as it makes no sense to take it to the next level.