If an impeachment inquiry is started, I predict Trump will withdraw

[MineralMan]

his release of the transcript he announced today. "Come and get it, Nancy," he'll say, essentially. Shortly afterwards, he will begin a rage tweet session that may never end.

That's my prediction.

[mainstreetonce]

1. Bless you

And may your words shine through

[olegramps]

37. Is it another ruse like his promise to release his tax returns?

It scenario could go something like this: I promised to release the transcripts until I was faced with a vicious attack by lying scam bag Democrats and on the advice of my attorney, i.e., alias: Ghouliani, I will direct there release 100 years after my death.

[unblock]

51. haha, "i can't release tax returns while under audit, so now i can't release the transcripts!"

"see, it's all nancy's fault for investigating me!"

[lark]

2. Damn, you appear to have been paying very close attention to his toddler antics.

I agree this could easily happen. However, I could also see him releasing a totally phoney lie and call it the transcript.

[MineralMan]

3. If he releases a phony transcript, he will be found out.

He knows that, too.

[Wellstone ruled]

6. Game on.

[Generic Brad]

63. But yet he will release a phony transcript

He’s the ballsiest character in the history of this country. I expect nothing less than another criminal act in response from him.

[kentuck]

4. He was trying to pre-empt Nancy's statement...

...I doubt that he has any intent of turning anything over. He does and says stuff like this to buy time. He always has.

[Blue_playwright]

49. I think you guys are spot-on!

[barbtries]

57. what's scary is

he's running out of distractions.

i hate this. nobody knows what he will do.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. Or the copy that is summitted

will be so redacted that it will be meaningless. Bill Barr will do his best to work the come and get it.

[tblue37]

12. Or it's a limited hangout, to obscure other, more damning elements of the "multiple

instances" cited by the whistleblower.

[Wellstone ruled]

16. Interesting that the said Whistel Blower is now

wanted to speak directly to the Schiff Committee.

Watch Trump head to the Court House in the next hour to block this. As one of the Watergate investigators said,do not trust the Transcript. Nixon's Aides were masters of deceit and omissions.

[lagomorph777]

67. There are 8 calls, according to the whistleblower. The other 7 are WORSE than this one, I guarantee

We need the fucking tapes, not some made-up "transcript."

[bdamomma]

7. I just hope

his head blows up.

[MineralMan]

9. We all hope for that, I'm sure.

I'd keep my distance from him this afternoon and evening...

[Celerity]

35. a true shame Stormy is no longer for some mushroom 'relief'

I guess he will have to settle for self service

[SammyWinstonJack]

58. Spontaneous combustion.

[W_HAMILTON]

8. That was sort of my thought.

Given that Trump's announcement of releasing the transcript came just a few minutes before the big media outlets reported that Pelosi was going to announce formal impeachment proceedings later today, my guess is that he heard through the grapevine that she was going to do this so he offered up the transcript just to pull the offer back later today and blame it on Pelosi threatening impeachment. Let's see if he actually goes through with releasing the transcript...

[tblue37]

13. The transcript will include 18 minutes of silence. nt

[fierywoman]

26. (my thoughts exactly) ... calling Rosemary Woods, Rosemary Woods ...

[volstork]

59. No way that chucklefuck

could stay silent for 18 minutes. He LOVES to hear himself talk.

[tblue37]

62. True. nt

[roamer65]

10. Just ignore Dump and impeach.

Everything he says is a lie. It’s as constant as the North Star with him. All LIES.

[mnhtnbb]

20. More than 12,000 documented lies at this point

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-washington-post-fact-checker-figure_n_5d526ff0e4b0c63bcbecbbea

[Eyeball_Kid]

11. The transcript is small potatoes anyway.

The big prize will be the whistleblower's complaint and the IG's report that's now being held up by the White House. The transcript is secondary.

[2naSalit]

14. +1

[MineralMan]

15. Yes, it is, but it will be entertaining to watch Trump back away and rage.

As always.

[stopdiggin]

17. yep. this is pure slight of hand

no one every thought that a single phone call was the whole deal here. Multiple contacts, by multiple different players. The offer to release a "transcript" just looks silly. (although FOX might be all in)

[FakeNoose]

18. I hope they impound Chump's cell phone

That would put an end to the rage tweeting, am I right?

Also Rudy G. needs to be held and interrogated by real intelligence agents - not TV reporters. Get his testimony all on tape, but don't televise it live. If it's televised, Chump will watch and find some way to interfere with it. Once Rudy is pinned down with his testimony on tape, then interview Chump and watch him lie his ass off trying to save himself.

This can all be done in the next few days. Probably the sooner the better.

If they do get Chump's cell phone, it would be interesting to see how many calls he's had with his Russian buddies - in the last week or two.

[Johnny2X2X]

19. Has anyone considered Trump wants to release a transcript that shows he's guilty?

Gangster mentality. He knows his crimes don't matter to his voters, he knows Moscow Mitch in the Senate will protect him. So he wants the world to know he is above the law. It's a gangster tactic and sends a message that he can do what he wants.

[Nasruddin]

36. He wants it

I agree- it could show the world he’s in charge of this.
I’ve been thinking he wants to be impeached - nothing works better for his whiny narc MO than this kind of spectacle. But maybe his handlers want a demo of power.

I think it’s bad strategy tho - there are lots of other sharks & They may have plans of their own.

[Buckeyeblue]

48. At this point he thinks he is beyond reproach

All we need is the Republicans to vote unanimously to convict. I honestly don't think Trump's base of toothless racists can bite hard enough to break the skin.

[Caliman73]

53. Maybe in his head. Does not comport with his other behavior.

He has fought like hell to keep his tax returns from being seen by anyone. He fought like hell to keep people from talking to Mueller. He talks real tough about his information and how powerful he is, but he has fought tooth and nail to actually prevent anything from being released.

This transcript that he is releasing is in all probability altered and worthless. He is going to scream and use all methods legal and otherwise, at his disposal to keep the actual complaint from being released or the actual whistleblower from disclosing any information.

He is a WANNABE gangster.

[duforsure]

21. He try to pull a fast one

Bypassing Congress and all courts with a declaration, but it will fail.he's a career criminal, and if he's not stopped he'll get much worse for everyone,everywhere.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

22. has he ordered a new box of Sharpies?

If there's a delivery of new Sharpies to the WH, he'll release a transcript, else, he's stalling.

[yaesu]

23. I think this plays right into what he enjoys the most, chaos. nt

[bucolic_frolic]

24. Moscow Mitch is sanitizing it already

stating Trump gave no reason for withholding Ukraine funds authorized by Congress.

You don't need a reason to establish a quid pro quo with multiple moving parts and entities. The sleight-of-hand does that just fine.

[bucolic_frolic]

25. Rage tweet is the road rage of the internet

self-control is a big asset online

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

27. I wouldn't trust his transcript as far as I can throw a grand piano.

Bill Barr will have massaged it somehow, if Spanky doesn't personally take his Sharpie to it.

[Celerity]

40. Barr and 'massaged it' and Rump should NEVER be in the same sentence

Barr's 'post-massage' expression

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

41. Now you made me think some terrible and disgusting thoughts.

[Celerity]

43. sawwwwwy

[Bradical79]

28. I could see that

Going to be an interesting couple of days.

[Kingofalldems]

29. I predict the transcript will be fake.

[USALiberal]

30. No way! Nt

[cmeneer]

31. It doesn't matter

As I've heard discussed on the MSNBC panel, we don't need the transcript. The quid pro co may not be in the transcript. The deals were probably made back channeled. The whistleblower knows the story. That testimony will tell the tale.

[ritapria]

32. Trump is crazy enough to put out a fake transcript

[berni_mccoy]

33. I predict Trump will fight to the bitter end. That is what he does

Even when he knows he’s already lost.

[bdamomma]

60. He's a loser

anyway, it makes sense he's no winner.

[calimary]

34. He could be making arrangements to skip town some dark night.

He may need to call somebody in Russia about a place to hide.

I STILL think when the heat grows too hot he’ll grab Ivanka and Melania (in that order) and call for an unmarked helicopter to meet him on the White House grounds at 3am on a moonless night.

[DallasNE]

38. What Has Trump Promised Tomorrow

He offered an unredacted transcript. What does that mean exactly? If it is edited then no redactions are necessary because it will have already been scrubbed.

Second, that is just one aspect of the whistleblower complaint so we still need to see the whistleblower complaint that was described as alarming.

Yes, I agree, the offer was only a carrot to head off a formal impeachment inquiry. When that doesn't work, he will withdraw the offer. That is why is was made for tomorrow, after today's meeting. It has not been offered in good faith.

[William Seger]

39. If he releases the transcript, it's because the complaint is worse

e.g. based on additional info, events or context. However, the complaint is what Congress has a clear legal right to, and I think they should stay away from the transcripts unless Trump denies that the complaint is factually accurate.

[yuiyoshida]

42. I don't see that happening

If anything, he will probably barricade himself in the White House and fight anyone who tries to remove him from office...He will not go quietly.

[Brainfodder]

44. He's going to play the victim card probably too.

FAKE NEWS! FAKE NEWZ! FAQ NEWS!

He & the Sean Hannity network have been planting the seed of doubt for 3 years, can't expect anything but that echoed back by any and all ignoramuses still solidly believing him STILL, plus all the bad operators trying to keep him in power?

[3catwoman3]

45. Jill Wine-Banks was on Stephanie Miller this morning, recounting how Nixon...

...tried to get away with releasing transcripts, and was told that was a no-go - He had to cough up the actual tapes. I hope that happens now, as well.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

46. You may be right. I keep wondering why scaramucci

keeps saying he'll be out in March.

[JCMach1]

47. HE will release the transcript (not the complaint) and says it exhonerates him

followed by rage tweeting...

[erronis]

50. I may actually break down and watch some faux newz just to watch the spin

Now, I need to find out how to turn on my non-existent T.V. and turn the knob to channel ??

Or I can go to a local airport lobby or some sports bar.

Theatrix will abound!

[Generic Other]

54. I think you are right

Will enjoy the tweets over a glass of whine.

[Vinca]

55. I don't think it matters since the transcript will be the "Trump edition."

[barbtries]

56. just as likely imo

is he'll release a transcript that is total bullshit.

[MineralMan]

64. Very possibly.

I don't know how we'll tell, though. We need the audio recordings that were used to prepare the transcripts.

[barbtries]

69. yep.

so i'm watching the Last Word and he has a guest on who says there is not a recording. that surprised me.

any transcript from trump cannot be trusted.

[randr]

61. I agree

He has quit every enterprise he has started.

[Act_of_Reparation]

65. I think he'll withdraw his release of the transcript...

...because one of his smarter aides will tell him transcripts aren't typically hand-written in Sharpie.

[MineralMan]

66. LOL!

[Tipperary]

68. I would not be surprised.

I bet you are right.