Sean's gone. It's sad. Great guy. Going to miss him.Trump continued

[orlantina]

New thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2977693-The-thread-where-we-meet-to-discuss-the-unfolding-Trump-administration-catastrophe-but-end-up-discussing-adoptions-from-Russia?msgid=70627530

That is thoroughly depressing reading Roussette.

Great article in the Boston Globe - An Incoherent President Trump.

www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2017/07/20/incoherent-president-trump/tMBXYu0BRg50ESgfpfhMCI/amp.html

Although I take issue with the idea that his answers are like a sixth grader. I teach children around that age and they would definitely do better!

Oh yes SetPhasers. We just have to keep telling ourselves this is not the new normal. It is bizarre, frightening and scary.

This bit from the article (have read it before and I'm every time I read it.) It's like on the previous thread when someone talked about balloons and him saying how much he liked them. I believed it! Because what he said here about Napolean is just as unbelievable but true!

Here’s Trump talking about Napoleon, whose tomb he visited during his recent trip to Paris: “His one problem is he didn’t go to Russia that night because he had extracurricular activities, and they froze to death.”

He really is unintelligent isn't he. That sentence is what a 7 year old would write.

I like your wapo article roussette, but I think they might have made some assumptions.

1. Trump orders Attorney General Jeff Sessions to fire Mueller. Sessions quits, as does Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein and Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand. Eventually someone agrees to fire Mueller. Republicans either will not pursue impeachment or are obliged to begin impeachment hearings but refuse to vote out articles of impeachment. In 2018, Democrats sweep to victory in the House and gain a seat or two in the Senate. Trump cannot be removed (two-thirds of the Senate is required for removal), but his presidency is in tatters. Some aides or ex-aides face criminal prosecution.

If we get to the 2018 mid terms and the republicans haven't done anything about mueller being fired, it's unlikely that the mid terms will be fair and free, and so dems sweeping to victory isn't guaranteed.

2. Trump orders Attorney General Jeff Sessions to fire Mueller. Sessions quits, as does Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein and Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand. Eventually someone agrees to fire Mueller. Republicans, together with Democrats, pass by a veto-proof majority an independent prosecutor statute. Before impeachment proceedings can finish, Democrats sweep to victory in 2018 in the House and gain a seat or two in the Senate. Trump cannot be removed, but his presidency is in tatters. Some aides or ex-aides face criminal prosecution.

Not sure why sessions would quit as he's shown no compunction in violating his supposed recusal when recommending comey to be fired but I suppose it doesn't really affect the rest of this scenario. Dems being victorious again not guaranteed.

3. Republicans join Democrats in warning Trump not to fire Mueller. Mueller remains and keeps digging. Mueller subpoenas damaging documents; Trump refuses to comply. A court orders him to comply. He doesn’t. We have a full-blown constitutional crisis.

Not sure that they will warn him off firing mueller in any meaningful way with repercussions, although it might be a pleasant surprise. Some have expressed disquiet but republican media, wh staff and some repubs have been pushing the narrative that it's fine if he pardons himself.

1. Resignation

I think this could happen in theory, but trump has had a tendency to double down harder when challenged. The scope and gravity of this situation might make him decide resigning is better but he's done so many things that have been damaging to him that it isn't a safe assumption that he'll pursue the most sensible option.

5. Republicans join Democrats in warning Trump not to fire Mueller. Mueller subpoenas damaging documents. Trump complies. The evidence of collusion and/or obstruction is overwhelming. Mueller recommends prosecution or impeachment. The GOP turns on Trump, who is impeached and removed (with the GOP by that time possibly in the minority in one or both houses)

This is the one I'm hoping will happen but I'm not sure that trump
Will allow mueller to continue unimpeded.

I don't have alternate scenarios of my own, but I do think the potential for authoritarian measures is being underestimated.

If we get to the 2018 mid terms and the republicans haven't done anything about mueller being fired, it's unlikely that the mid terms will be fair and free, and so dems sweeping to victory isn't guaranteed.
Agree.
And with how the press keeps underestimating Trump and his handlers and cronies.

I agree Pain but it was fun reading and having that light at the end of the tunnel but I take it all with a pinch of salt as nothing surprises me any more!

Oh, you're here . Thanks for the new thread and so much to catch up on.

The Wikler thread on the MTP is just so depressing. It will be a big slip on the downward spiral if that happens.

I wasn't convinced by the WaPo article either. It all seemed v simplistic and I agree that elections in 2018 will not be fair and I doubt the Dems will prevail. Trump is already talking about needing more Republicans to get his agenda through and his friend Vlad will help him make it happen.

I read the Sarah Kendizor thread on NYT. She has always been sceptical about their reporting and she has good instincts. I still remember the headline on Election Day was 'Clinton cleared for now.' I searched for what made them add the judgemental rider and couldn't find anything in Comey's letter. I'm still bemused by it.

I don't know whether this has been posted but it shows how Trump has interpreted law enforcement about being about what the President wants. Everything is about him. The US is now one of Trump's companies to do his bidding.

https://www.lawfareblog.com/president-vs-federal-law-enforcement-trump-attacks-everyone

Does anyone know whether the Judicial committee is still interviewing the guy who commissioned the Steele dossier this week? Maddow was suggesting that it was the start of the Republican pivot to blaming the Dems, shift the attention make Mueller seem wrongly focused. As a prelude to sacking him, maybe ...

And finally, thanks to dumdedum and rousette for their Soap reminiscences. In our house 'confused? You won't be after this week's episode of Soap' always became ' you will be after ...'. It's now how I think about every new revelation in Trump world.

Kushner preparing the ground.

edition.cnn.com/2017/07/24/politics/jared-kushner-russians-statement/index.html

Kushner' s statement is a very interesting read. I don't know what to make of it.

For example, he says of the email chain about the meeting that he didn't read all of the messages, but wasn't the subject line itself notable? I'm sure it had Clinton in the subject line but can't remember the exact wording.

Just popping in to say keep up the good work you lot with all the links and stuff. Just can't keep up at the moment, my concentration has gone to shit but very glad I can turn to these threads on the rare moments my brain works.

I'm not sure of the order but the subject was five words comprising of: Clinton Russia private and confidential

Stephen Colbert had a skit about how out of the 5 words, 4nof them signal shit's going down.

I'm seriously in love with Stephen Colbert.

I think that this is likely the piece you meant, Pain.

Did we know before that Kushner was the one to leave the meeting early?

Curious he needed a call to extricate himself. He couldn't just leave?

So yes 'Russia - Clinton - private and confidential'. So what did Kushner think the meeting would be about?!

And as much as I enjoyed the way he got out of the meeting, my question would be - if they had been discussing HTC when he joined the meeting, would he have stayed?

HTC? I think I mean HRC.

I think when Donny Jr was revealing (lying about) who was in the meeting, he did say Kushner came but left after a few minutes. So they are keeping their stories straight...
It all sounds so plausible when you see it written down but when you realise who's writing it - then it becomes difficult to believe!
Are we all mugs or over-invested conspiracy junkies? Confused? You will be!

Maybe Kushner did leave. The fact remains that he arrived.

But then again, there's this...

Jared Kushner sealed real estate deal with oligarch's firm cited in money-laundering case
Donald Trump’s son-in-law bought part of old New York Times building from Soviet-born tycoon, Guardian investigation into Russian money in NYC property market finds
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/24/jared-kushner-new-york-russia-money-laundering?CMP=share_btn_tw

An article regarding the vote that is expected Tuesday. This is really, pardon my language, fucked up. Scrotus & McConnell are just bound and determined to demolish the ACA at any cost.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/confusion-grips-senate-gop-ahead-expected-health-care-vote-n785066

Well I'm plain confused, Across.

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump 4m4 minutes ago
More
So why aren't the Committees and investigators, and of course our beleaguered A.G., looking into Crooked Hillarys crimes & Russia relations?

Because you're POTUS?

This is all going to turn out to be HRC and the Dems fault isn't it? SCROTUS is going to gaslight us all.

Even if he wanted to, he has nothing else to talk about.

GO is good at this, isn't he?