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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"This is the biggest scandal in the history of the American presidency..."
December 8, 2018 at 7:58 am EST By Taegan Goddard 62 Comments
Paul Waldman: One of the remarkable things about the discussion weve been having lately is that the president still seems to think that he can be saved from whatever this investigation uncovers. He just announced that William Barr will be his next attorney general, and the New York Times reported that in private, Mr. Trump has also repeatedly asked whether the next pick would recuse himself from overseeing the special counsel investigation into whether his campaign conspired with Russia in its interference in the 2016 election. Its as though he thinks this investigation is in its early stages and can be quashed by a properly loyal underling.
But at this point it doesnt matter. Its far too late. Trumps former aides have cooperated, theyve conducted their interviews with the special counsel, theyre being sentenced, the documents have been reviewed, the connections have been traced, and the full picture is soon to be revealed.
This scandal cant be hidden away. Republicans in Congress cant save Trump, his attorney general cant save him, and no amount of desperate tweets can save him. Accountability is on its way, and its arriving very soon.
MORE:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2018/12/07/latest-filings-show-that-nobody-can-save-trump-now/?utm_term=.144004bf2b25
ttps://politicalwire.com/2018/12/08/nobody-can-save-trump-now/
This is the biggest scandal in the history of the American presidency
Sometimes I get so bogged down in the minutiae of the Trump-Russia investigation that I lose sight of the scandals scope. This Twitter thread by David Rothkopf puts it in perspective. Its long, but thats because the list of misdeeds is so extensive, and reading a brief reference to each one is instructive and devastating:
Link to tweet
So we know this, Russian government representatives reached out to the Trump campaign in 2015 and undertook multiple initiatives and had multiple points and series of contacts with Team Trump for the next couple years.
Its not just the Trump Tower meeting. Its not just the interactions with Wikileaks. Its not just the Russian ties to Cambridge Analytica. Its not just Konstantin Kiliminik, a Russian agent working hand in hand with campaign chair Paul Manafort.
Its not just the ties between Flynn and the Russians. its not just the links between the Russians and Eric Prince through the meeting in the Seychelles and beyond that. Its not just the ties of Wilbur Ross. Its not just the Trump Organization dealings with Russia.
Its not just Jared Kushners dealings with Russia. Its not just Kushner and Flynns dealing with Kislyak during the campaign. Its not just the candidate Trump asking for Russian help. Its not just the GRU hacking for which indictments have already taken place.
We can go on. But lets not stop before we discuss the many benefits the Russians delivered to Trump via hacking, the dumping of files, the manipulation of social media and other avenues all to support Trump over Clinton. Nor should we fail to discuss the benefits Trump
offered the Russians since he gained power. There was his covering up their hacking and his efforts to slow investigations of it. There was his denying the conclusions of the intelligence community about the Russians. There were the talks between Flynn and the Russians
about waiving sanctions. There were the meetings with Trump when he was president when he handed over classified information to the Russians. There were whatever promises or concessions were made in Helsinki. There was a pattern of placating the Russians or
failing to enforce sanctions for months and months. In other words, there was plenty of quid and plenty of quo ($50 million penthouse apartments and the promise of big deals or financing benefits aside).
From the outreach to Cohen to just the first mos of the admin we can count more than a dozen separate avenues of connection at the highest level. In any normal campaign or administration, just one would set off alarm bells and have the president calling the FBI into action.
But instead, in addition to those dozen avenues, the offers that were explicitly or tacitly accepted, benefits to both sides & the overt betrayal of the U.S. to advance the political or economic interests of Trump and those close to him, we have the president obstructing justice.
Actively obstructing. Threatening to fire all those getting closer to the truth. Lying and lying and lying some more and urging staff to lie and witness tampering and so on.
This is not a case of possible collusion. This is sweeping, multi-layered, high level conspiracy led by Vladimir Putin and the Russian intelligence community and involving the active cooperation and complicity of a man who was a candidate for president and then president
as well as his entire team. This is the biggest scandal in the history of the American presidency and there is not another that is close to it. But that is not all we know.
The DoJ believes the president of the United States directed the commission of campaign finance felonies as a candidate. The NYT produced extensive and compelling evidence of serial tax fraud by the Trump family. The state of NY is investigate fraud in their charities.
The House will soon begin investigation of Trump money laundering. A case involving his violation of the Constitutions emoluments clause is under way. In other words, as massive as the Russia scandal is, it might not be the biggest Trump scandal.
It might not even be the scandal that brings Trump down. But what we know is that all of these or any of these scandals must bring him down. This criminal has no business being the White House. He has no business walking freely among us.
2019 is going to be the worst year of Donald Trumps life except for all those that will follow it. These cases will be investigated further and then proven. Some may be prosecuted while he is in office. Some may wait until he leaves office.
But someday this is already certain, no senior American public officialnot Richard Nixon, not Andrew Johnsonwill go down in more disgrace or be more reviled by history than Donald Trump. And that is as it should be.
https://www.balloon-juice.com/2018/12/08/this-is-the-biggest-scandal-in-the-history-of-the-american-presidency/
https://www.lawfareblog.com/totally-clears-president-what-those-cohen-and-manafort-filings-really-say
Victor_c3
(3,557 posts)underpants
(182,879 posts)We lost a member of our family. Not unexpectedly but it was a tough day.
UpInArms
(51,284 posts)Expected, or not, it is painful.
ailsagirl
(22,899 posts)uponit7771
(90,364 posts)calimary
(81,467 posts)That one is NEVER easy. Even when you expect it. Both of my parents went that way.
Poiuyt
(18,130 posts)duforsure
(11,885 posts)Treason is what he did intentionally too.
BadgerMom
(2,771 posts)And no one in the Republican Congressional delegation had the courage and clear-eyed sense of justice to do anything. Some Republican commentators turned from him and that is noteworthy. But the party stood by him when he backed a child molester for Senate. The party gerrymandered and suppressed votes. The party stole elections and, post-election, undermined the will of the people.
By all means, justice must rain down on Trump but, please, dont let his minions get away. Republicanism is now but a greedy cancer.
Grasswire2
(13,571 posts)....and cancelled regulations, and rewrote as much law as they could in order to maximize their evil agenda before the end comes for them (as it will)
Farmer-Rick
(10,211 posts)But what do you think is happening to all our state secrets? Do you think Little Tiny man Putin isn't gathering as many as he can from the traitors infesting our government? Do you think all our defense have been compromised? I sure do. A traitor is a traitor is a traitor, from Mitch, to Pence, to General Nakasone, to General Milley, I believe they are all busily turning over or plan to turnover every last advantage our country may have had in its own defense.
Grasswire2
(13,571 posts)Oh my god.
I hope that some professionals are keeping certain things from him. We know that he would never read reports or briefing materials.
I have been worried about the precious items in the WH and in the National Archives.
Someone need to raise your issue in a national forum. MSM. If you write an OP here, as many as 6,000 people may see it -- I have seen OPs with that kind of viewership. And it might be copied elsewhere, if it has a little meat in it.
WestMichRad
(1,338 posts)...that collectively show the massive conspiracy(-ies?) that led to his election. Whether or not the orange blimp led the efforts, these illegal activities contributed to his winning the election. And as prosecutorial filings on Cohen yesterday clearly show via Cohen's admissions (and, importantly, accompanying corroborating evidence), the pRresident orchestrated the commission of felonies to further help his chances of being elected.
I have little doubt that with the House in Democratic control, articles of impeachment will soon be brought forward and will likely pass - he'll be impeached. But unless the Repukes unexpectedly turn on him, he won't be convicted in the Senate and will remain F*up in Chief unless he resigns or croaks. Ugh!
The recurring patterns of behavior of Repukes over the last few years show they clearly put ambitions for power and retention of power over the good of the country, and I for one don't expect this to change.
MyOwnPeace
(16,937 posts)says it all. I agree - I don't foresee the Pukes changing plans now.
However, that would only build our case and our chances for 2020 and a complete Blue Tsunami!
sandensea
(21,664 posts)But this comes a close second.
brush
(53,868 posts)although journalist Gary Webb was onto it and tried mightily to get support for his investigative reporting on it.
He lost his career and life as the forces arrayed against his exposure of government dirty dealings prevailed against him.
It may well have had the potential to be bigger than this trump scandal but it was squashed and Reagan retired into senility and, disgustingly, sainthood to repugs.
Once they found they could get away with that, it made further (perhaps even more brazen) acts of treason practically inevitable.
Martin Eden
(12,875 posts)Treason trumps Iran-Contra which, though clearly illegal, was motivated by (however misguided) the pursuit of perceived American interests.
sandensea
(21,664 posts)Of course though, creating a crack cocaine epidemic in order to fundraise for one's misguided goals makes that a more heinous crime.
Ever since Kissinger, it seems the GOPee is never at a want for motives to betray the national interest.
anarch
(6,535 posts)huh...funny, that.
sandensea
(21,664 posts)Kind of Blue
(8,709 posts)brush
(53,868 posts)Augiedog
(2,548 posts)volstork
(5,403 posts)This may be my favorite sentence ever written.
This one is pretty good, too: "But someday this is already certain, no senior American public officialnot Richard Nixon, not Andrew Johnsonwill go down in more disgrace or be more reviled by history than Donald Trump. And that is as it should be."
It appears that Mueller and his team are functioning as Heracles, cleaning out the filth of the Augean stables, which have been fouled by the republicans for at least the past 40 years.
MyOwnPeace
(16,937 posts)Good stuff there - thanks!
malaise
(269,157 posts)Rec
Linda Ed
(493 posts)Thank you. This should be sent to all the republicans in congress and senate!!
The whole Republican apparatus is dirty. But as long as Trump holds on to his 40% approval there is no way an impeachment conviction will happen. Lets see what else Mueller has. His team clearly knows more than we know. The criminality runs very deep.
Still can't believe he is at almost 40%...
Eyeball_Kid
(7,434 posts)propaganda machine in human history. And it continues to spew out spin, lies, treachery, and evil. That's who Republicans are, the whole lot of them. I'll change my tune when Republicans stand up for the Rule of Law and call Trumpy out for who he is. Until then, they are complicit in Trumpy's crimes. All of them.
MyOwnPeace
(16,937 posts)With McTurtle out in front leading and commanding the troops.
MY sincere wish is that he goes down with IQ45 and the rest of the immediate gang.
MrModerate
(9,753 posts)Eyeball_Kid
(7,434 posts)I estimate that Trumpy will die long before he enters prison.
Martin Eden
(12,875 posts)... finishes this term and wins his party's nomination in 2020.
OMGWTF
(3,975 posts)marlakay
(11,493 posts)And have more judges now all over not just supremes.
They know they have more states because of the abortion vote.
I guess my dream is a video gets leaked so bad he has to quit and Pence cant control economy and loses miserably in 2020.
marieo1
(1,402 posts)Hallelujah..........I hope and pray you are right, kpete. This baloney has got to end.
mnmoderatedem
(3,729 posts)Obama's tan suit.
KPN
(15,650 posts)get away with since Reagan, not to mention Individual-1 throughout his entire life, who is surprised? They see all of this as normal course of business, and we naively did not expect it. At least not this big. It is inherent in what the Republican Party has become.
keithbvadu2
(36,907 posts)OMGWTF
(3,975 posts)If justice is done, we will be looking at Madam President Pelosi.
calimary
(81,467 posts)Steadfastly defending that vote for trump. Because of Mike Pence. Just couldnt possibly vote for Crooked Hillary. Not only believed the snow job but had the sled and mittens and galoshes all set up by the front door. Theres NO EVIDENCE...
Yeah, dear friend. You just keep on telling yourself that...
moondust
(20,006 posts)Last night on CNN Paul Begala referenced this tally:
Trumps Russia Cover-Up By the Numbers 94+ contacts with Russia-linked operatives
Sloumeau
(2,657 posts)independents know he is a crook, his chances of getting reelected approach zero. It does not matter how high his approval with his base is if he tanks with Independents. Also, once he is no longer President, he can be indicted for anything.
Bayard
(22,149 posts)I don't know if impeachment is the answer. But one way or another, he has to be removed. Like, immediately. His actions and words are becoming more insane every day. He is actively harming this country, at home and abroad. Now that he's been proved a criminal, he will get ever more dangerous.
Until that is done, he cannot be allowed to appoint anyone, change/break any more laws and regulations, show himself abroad.
Scandal is the least of our worries. He is illegitimately in office, and has committed treason. We have to shut him down sooner than later.
Enoki33
(1,587 posts)are complicit in every damning paragraph in the article. Sadly this will continue until they are threatened with a wipeout at the polls. Their miscalculation is that they have failed to realize that the Russian investigation daily continues to impress on voters the patriotic value of a long memory.
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,416 posts)I hope every thread of this criminal web is tracked to its end and all the silent partners in crime are held accountable.
cp
(6,655 posts)Republicans are complicit.
Thank you for posting!
peggysue2
(10,839 posts)2016 and the subsequent stolen election in broad daylight through foreign money, interference and hacking. Not to mention the help from our own media who chose revenue over anything resembling loyalty to the country.
This was an Act of War on the American system which Trumpski, his family and band of criminals (including the GOP & and their band of nefarious buddies like the NRA) willingly signed onto.
They are all traitors, each and every one. The conspiracy is huge, mind-boggling and Trumpski and his cohorts are all going down in one fashion or the other: Jail time, asset forfeiture, reputations in the dumpster.
Never forget, never forgive.
rickyhall
(4,889 posts)saljr1
(273 posts)substance abusers in denial. "Nothing here going on" everything is fine.
SeattleVet
(5,479 posts)everything about him always has to be the biggest, the best, the hugest.
By calling it the 'biggest scandal ever' it can trigger him to start claiming complete credit for the whole sordid mess!
onit2day
(1,201 posts)Hekate
(90,793 posts)...at the work of Mueller and the SDNY, and at her own ability to teach any who care to listen to her. Cohen's indictment just peeled the hide right off him and left him naked in the storm.
A toast to Mueller, Maddow, and all who labor to protect our democracy from vicious predators.
yuiyoshida
(41,861 posts)on history in a way bigger than Obama, looks like he will, but it should be called Infamous, and not famous!
Botany
(70,582 posts)no more lock 'em up but string 'em up.
We executed two people for selling us out to Russia (Soviet Union) in the 1950s
and this was even worse ..... the Rosenbergs* gave nuclear bomb secrets to the Russians
(Soviets) and they got executed but Trump and company turned over America to
Putin for money and power ..... sooner or later the Soviets would have gotten an A bomb
and and then the H Bomb because we don't own math, physics, and engineering but the Trump
campaign, Fox News, and members of the GOP sold out America.
*when the USSR folded and we could look @ KGB files the Rosenbergs gave info to Russia,
antirepugvoter
(2 posts)everyone under presidential appointment !!! MUST GO !!!
LuvNewcastle
(16,856 posts)Trump isn't going down easily. He's going to show the world all the dirt he can find on his enemies. It's going to be uglier than anything we've ever seen. He'll make up shit about the people he doesn't have dirt on. This is the culmination of Republican rule for the last 40 years. They've always wanted to tear down the government and before this is over with, it just might spell the end of the United States as we've known it.