Individual 1

[H2O Man]

“Just ask the axis, he knows everything”
Jimi Hendrix; Bold as Love.


I was surprised yesterday by the Mueller court action involving Michael Cohen. Caught totally off-guard. In fact, I was writing an essay for this forum on a different topic, when the first reports were being carried by CNN and MSNBC. Within minutes, I knew the bit I was working on could wait – I'd write something on Cohen's plea instead. But as more news came in, I recognized that it would take at least a day to seriously consider the full implications.

A day and a half later, I realize that I am still only able to scratch the surface. The more I think about it, the more blown away I am. And it's not just because of the mainstream media reporting ….one of the finest reviews of what this means comes from DU's kentuck. Now, this comes as no surprise, because this forum still has many insightful members who had, years ago, provided similarly high-quality insights on the Plame scandal. Here is a link to kentuck's OP:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11491811

This is outstanding, because kentuck recognizes that Mr. Mueller provided information that serves as the axis for understanding virtually all of the connected parts of what is the largest and most dangerous scandal in our nation's history. Literally everything revolves around this axis, thus making it far more important than a single guilty plea by Cohen.

As tempted to address how it connects to everything else – a topic already covered in detail in David Corn and Michael Isikoff's outstanding book, “Russian Roulette” – I'll focus on two important, related issues. The first has to do with Matthew Whitaker. Recently, when Trump tweeted about Mueller's team yelling at people, a couple people concluded this information came from Whitaker. At the time, I noted that it had come from Jerome Corsi and/or his legal team.

It's not that Whitaker wouldn't report to Trump and his legal team – he would. But he couldn't have had access to this type of information. Likewise, contrary to some folk's fears, he doesn't have copies of the investigators' records to copy and share. It is important to understand how the Justice Department works. More, even as Mr. Rosenstein's supervisor, the attention that Whitaker's appointment has gotten has greatly reduced the chances of him interfering by attempting to limit the case. Things have gone too far. All Whitaker can do without a massive negative reaction is to relay what he hears to Trump.

Now, let's examine the implications of what Mr. Mueller spread upon the table yesterday. And let's do so, by considering what one of my favorite Watergate prosecutors, Jill Wine-Banks, says is important. She spoke briefly about part of this last night on MSNBC, and it is worth serious attention. It has to do with the Articles of Impeachment that were being prepared when Nixon resigned.

I realize that some good people do not believe the republican Senate would find against Trump if the House impeached him. It seems worth keeping an open mind as the process unfolds. Republicans on the Intelligence Committee have shown more interest in this scandal than those on the House committee. And things will be different by March, and very different by June, in ways that are devastating to Trump.

This entire document is worth reading. I want to focus on three of the sections of Article One: parts 3,4, and eight. These have to do with trying to influence witnesses, abuse of information from the Department of Justice, and lying to the public. That third one is important: lying to the public is not a crime, but lying about misdeeds is an impeachable offense.

http://watergate.info/impeachment/articles-of-impeachment


Trump's attempt to build in Moscow may or may not have been a crime. But it did involve national security. And that's what Mr. Mueller's investigation has been about – potential crimes and national security. Yesterday's events uncovered the axis.

Peace,
H2O Man

[JDC]

1. Excellent and well cross ref'ed. Thanks!

[H2O Man]

12. Thank you.

New reports keep coming in so fast these days!

[chillfactor]

2. another articulate thought-provoking post H20 Man.....

well done!

[H2O Man]

13. Thanks!

Much appreciated!

[Haggis for Breakfast]

3. Every now and then it is really helpful to connect ALL the dots

in this way. I get overwhelmed sometimes by the shear overload of all the details, and what each of them represent. And then I get lost in the minutia. One needs a wall chart with pins and yarn and flags.

Thank you, Professor.

[H2O Man]

15. Thanks!

I know that David Corn has been saying for some time that the Trump effort to build in Moscow was the key to understanding the Russian effort to elect Trump. I think that now the public can see that the two efforts are part of one larger conspiracy. I'm impressed at how quickly the Mueller team put the plea agreement with Cohen together, after Trump's legal team submitted the written responses to Mr. Mueller's questions.

[Hoyt]

4. Excellent. It just takes enough trump supporters to turn on him. He's clearly a security risk, and

is guilty of major obstruction of justice. He’s likely guilty of much worse. His kids have used the office for personal gain for the “trump organization.” He associates with questionable people.

But enough GOPers still support him, such that his actions are tolerated if not condoned.

[H2O Man]

17. My younger son

got together with a man he went to high school with, and the guy's mother, two days ago. Over a meal, the discussion eventually was about politics. The mother and son couldn't understand why my son doesn't like Trump. Each time he would give an example of Trump's behavior, and explain why he found that offensive, they'd respond, "Yeah, but why don't you like him?" My son said it was painful.

Sadly, there are a lot of people who inhabit this low level of understanding. But there are a growing number of people who are realizing that Trump conned them. That all he said during the campaign was a lie. That he is a swamp monster.

There are also a lot of republicans in DC that recognize that hooking their wagon to his isn't going to help them get re-elected come 2020. Some are worried about primary challenges from the alt-right, and not because they can't win the primary, but because of the cost and in-fighting. After what has come out this week, and having an awareness of what 2019 will expose, they will know that their public "support" of Trump will have to end when the cards are put upon the table.

[ProudLib72]

5. Do you suppose the news of the Deutsche Bank being raided

had any bearing on how the Cohen info was released?

Maybe I'm grasping at tinfoil hats here, but it seemed like two big stories dropping in quick succession was more than coincidence. I could go into more detail about my hypothesis here, but I think you can guess the general outline.

[H2O Man]

18. Good question.

I don't know the answer to that, and can only speculate. And in speculating, I'd look to a basic model of how investigators and prosecutors destabilize "organized crime." In a sense, it's similar to when an intelligence agency destabilizes another country. It involves the timing of actions, be it raids, round-ups, and/or indictments. And making the best use of time can often involve coordinating with other units.

If it wasn't coordinated, it was a coincidence. And as Malcolm Nance often notes, in these contexts, "coincidence" takes a lot of planning.

[coeur_de_lion]

6. Can you elaborate on this?

And things will be different by March, and very different by June, in ways that are devastating to Trump.

What do you think will be different?

[H2O Man]

19. It relates to

my previous answer on here, having to do with timing. Let's think of another model to illustrate this. In a good boxing match, even the best-conditioned fighter -- let's say Floyd Mayweather, Jr. -- fights his hardest for three minutes of every round. Rather, he exerts his energy patiently, when it to his advantage. He breaks his opponent down carefully in a manner that frustrates and tires the opponent. As his opponent tires, the champion begins to apply more pressure, with spurts of high energy. In doing so, he creates openings to inflict damage. This leads to victory.

Mr. Mueller has been engaging with the Trump machine in much the same way, has he not? Every so often, at the time of his choice, he inflicts some damage. The timing, while not as fast as we want, is outstanding. Keep in mind that his team isn't only prosecutors ….there are lots of investigators. And the prosecutors and investigators are engaged in an on-going process, at the pace they pick.

The Cohen bit this week indicates that Mr. Mueller is picking up the pace in terms of connecting the Moscow tower project, and the Russian hacking etc. This was a very large piece of the puzzle that Mr. Mueller laid down this week. I was as surprised as I was glad. Each piece of the puzzle provides a better picture of where he is going. So, by March, a great deal more will be made public. And so much more by June.

I should add that the Democratic House leadership, led by Nancy Pelosi, is doing a heck of a lot more in preparation for committee hearings than is publicly reported. I'm very impressed with that. We are in a very good spot now, because of the Mueller investigation and the Democratic leadership in the House.

Finally, I liked that on CNN, that Jeffrey Toobin said that until this week's events, he was certain Trump would last until the 2020 election ….but now he believes Trump won't survive this term. Mr. Toobin is someone I listen closely to.

[coeur_de_lion]

21. Good analogy I like it. Wearing down his opponent.

What do you think of Mueller's timing as it relates to trump's scheduled meetings with putin?

Twice now it seems like he's dropped bombshells like this a day or two before trump and putin were scheduled to meet.

[H2O Man]

22. I think that,

even more than us, Mr. Mueller understands that this scandal involves crime and national security. Hence, the pattern you are talking about fits -- at least in my humble opinion -- more into national security than the criminal actions. We still don't know, for example, what Trump and Putin discussed in private at Helsinki. That's not good, and can't continue to happen.

[murielm99]

7. Thank you for your observations.

I read kentuck's OP three times, because I was so impressed by its intelligence.

Your post as well! K&R.

[H2O Man]

20. Thank you!

Kentuck was right on the money.

[yonder]

8. K&R, like automatic by now.

[H2O Man]

23. Thank you!

[Hekate]

9. I trust you saw Joyce Vance's comment...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211494385


QUOTE: I took this picture this morning after I finished reading the Cohen information & plea agreement because I wanted to make sure I could always remember the moment when it became clear Mueller was preparing to lay down a royal flush.

[H2O Man]

24. I had not

seen that until you provided it here! Thank you! I have the utmost respect for Joyce Vance. She is a treasure.

[Hekate]

10. Forgot to add: Bookmarked

[lunatica]

11. This is why I love DU!

It makes my IQ go up!

[malaise]

14. Ditto

Great thread WaterMan. Rec

[H2O Man]

26. Thanks!

I'm glad you like it. I think of you every time there are reports about Roger Stone are on. I know that you are enjoying those!

[malaise]

28. I am enjoying everything

Including the great blue wave. Most of all I'm enjoying the way the system is surrounding the con and his fellow idiots. Ii can't wait to hear checkmate or you're fired.
I know you're enjoying it because you knew this two-bit Con and his goons were and are out of their depth big time.

[H2O Man]

29. Right!

This guy is no Teflon Don. He is a common criminal, and he is no doubt splattering his diapers now. His only advantage over any two-bit mob thug from yesterday is that he's in the White House. But he's starting to find out that poses some serious disadvantages, too.

[malaise]

30. Sadly he thought he could declare himself emperor of the world after

Illegally occupying said WH

[H2O Man]

25. Well, thank you!

At a time when Trump is trying to lower the national IQ, DU is a heck of a good place. No question about it.

[Calista241]

16. Acting AG Whitaker was briefed by Mueller's team in advance of the plea.

Depending on when this briefing happened, it may very well have been communicated to Trump's team ahead of his document submission to Mueller's team.

[H2O Man]

27. Right.

The thing is, though, that he was informed the afternoon before Mr. Mueller's team filed it in court. No doubt that he told the White House immediately. They were reportedly caught off-guard.

Mr. Mueller did not begin to take action on this particular filing until after Trump's team delivered his written answers. This raises the possibility -- perhaps probability -- that Trump was not honest with his legal team about the Moscow plan. As was widely known, and later documented in Bob Woodward's book "Fear," Trump's first legal team grew tired of his constantly lying to them.

[Calista241]

31. NPR has changed their reporting on Jr.

NPR is now saying he didn't, in fact, lie to Congress in regards to this. I cannot see Trump Sr's lawyers not taking everything everyone said to Congress into account when Trump completed his questionnaire. Rudy is kind of a doofus, but Emmett Flood is a rock star lawyer, and this would not escape his notice.

[Me.]

32. KR

[ms liberty]

33. K&R. Excellent analysis, as usual. Interesting times. n/t

[blugbox]

34. Now THAT is some high quality H2O...