Dread hangs over Washington as Mueller probe moves ahead

[Mediumsizedhand]

White House sources, meanwhile, coalesced around an argument that expectations of a big break in the case around allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia were now proven to be misguided. "Today has zero to do with the White House," a source close to the administration told CNN. Trump's attorney Jay Sekulow pointed out to CNN's Wolf Blitzer in an interview that that the charges laid against Manafort and Gates pertained to "business activities ... not campaign events."

But Mueller had a surprise up his sleeve -- one that cut deep into Trump's conceit that stories about Russian efforts to forge links with the Trump campaign were simply made up. An hour after the President's adamant tweet, it emerged that a former foreign policy adviser, George Papadopoulos, had admitted lying to the FBI about contacts with foreign officials close to the Russian government who discussed "dirt" relating to emails linked to Clinton.

*

But the fact that the Manafort case alone will likely drag on for months -- well into 2018 and possibly beyond -- means that hopes in the White House that the Mueller process could be swiftly dismissed will be unfounded.

The Republican Party itself now faces a midterm election year with the President being continually tainted by the Russia affair and with several of his former high-profile associates potentially facing jail time after a high profile trial.
Democrats did not take long to preview their arguments.

"Paul Manafort and Rick Gates ran Trump's campaign and continued to be a part of his inner circle after Election Day," Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez said in a statement. "This underscores the seriousness of the investigation into Donald Trump's ties to Russia. It's time for Republicans to commit to protecting this investigation and preserving the rule of law."

http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/29/politics/indictments-mueller-trump/index.html?sr=fbCNN103017indictments-mueller-trump0949AMVODtop

[NastyRiffraff]

1. Their mantra now is that the indictments had nothing to do with the campaign

or the White House. Then came the bombshell: George Papadopoulos with his evidence of collusion. And he's singing like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir!

[Mediumsizedhand]

2. Correct. Not only singing, but making a CD of it with the Administration as back up voices.

[Girard442]

5. Heh heh. Papadopoulos's "Wire" album.

Live. Uncut. Unpardoned.

[herding cats]

3. The best part is they don't know who else may be singing.

They had no idea Papadopoulos had been arrested and turned on them, who else may be working for the FBI that they're not aware of?

[Mediumsizedhand]

10. Right. Lol. Kinda fun.

[herding cats]

16. I just keep thinking of how distrusting they're all going to be now of each other.

It's going to make for some stressful working environments.

How does one even go about getting HR to deal with a coworker you can't work with anymore because you suspect they've turned state's evidence against you?

[Mediumsizedhand]

17. And putting it out lulling them into safety then three hours later, bam! They will be jumpy all over

[herding cats]

22. I loved the timing of the releases today.

Just when they have their talking points in order and Trump tweets his drivel, boom! They changed the entire narrative on them!

If this is a sense of how Mueller's going to be working them, they're not going to make it to the new year before the stress begins taking them out.

[Mediumsizedhand]

23. Too funny. For sure.

[cstanleytech]

31. Oh I think they knew. Look at the sudden upswing in the uranium and dossier stories from

the Repugnants and their varies PR news sources like Fox.

[BigmanPigman]

4. And he probably flipped in JULY!

Think of all the "private" conversations and emails since then that could have been gathered by Papa and given to Mueller.

[Girard442]

7. And the best part: all the Trumpies are now giving each other the side-eye.

They're all wondering who else has turned.

[Mediumsizedhand]

11. Ha ha, I am in a gigglin' mood. Yes.

[world wide wally]

28. Paranoia strikes deep

[whathehell]

30. Into your life it will creep..

It starts when you're always afraid...Step outa line, the Man comes and takes you away..

Can anyone finish for me?

[sheshe2]

8. Pitch perfect.

Pitch perfect with Mueller's fast ball and Papadopoulous singing to the heavens above.

Magnificent!

[Eliot Rosewater]

9. "Conspiracy against the United States of America" to be exact

What will be wild about this is once it is certain they are ALL guilty of this, basically treason, I say 80% of his deplorables will still support him which means we may no longer have a country.

For real.

[Mediumsizedhand]

12. There is still way more than us. They have always been around, but like cockroaches,

they need to scurry back into the baseboards with the lights on.

[OldHippieChick]

6. Am not sure of this "dread" you speak of

Perhaps there is a Joe Btfsplk black cloud hanging over the GOP, but I don't think it's over Washington. I am sure some Repukes are feeling dread, but not most Dems.

[herding cats]

13. Excellent point.

There's rumors of massive amounts of Dems wandering about D.C. unable to wipe the smiles off their faces.

[Mediumsizedhand]

15. +1. Bad headline because I read it that way too. But, I think just a bad headline.

[Mediumsizedhand]

14. Ya... I do not think it dread for Dems at all. As a matter of fact, last paragraph would counter.

[WinkyDink]

32. Funny; I read it as "The ones in power in Washington"---aka, the Republicans.

[Mediumsizedhand]

34. Thanks. I think it must be your perspective cause clear not the Dems doom and gloom.

[Progressive dog]

18. All the Democrats must be out of town

--probably celebrating.

[Skittles]

19. GOOD

NOW THEY KNOW HOW I HAVE FELT SINCE LAST NOVEMBER

[Mediumsizedhand]

20. There is that, for sure.

[Tatiana]

21. Who feels a little better? I'm certainly breathing a sigh of relief.

Mueller is doing what I hoped and trusted he would.

When all is said and done, he deserves a Presidential Medal of Freedom, as well as his team.

I think this administration is going to die the death of a thousand cuts.

[OnDoutside]

25. Better, but they fight dirty and there's a long way to go.

[struggle4progress]

24. New York Mining Disaster 1941

[struggle4progress]

26. Who'll Stop The Rain

[LonePirate]

27. Dread? Hardly. Seems more like dawn on the first day of spring for some of us.

[Loyd]

29. Dread is Good

Especially for Orangutan-Americans.