General Discussion

DonViejo

(60,536 posts) Fri Jul 21, 2017, 02:35 PM Jul 2017

This presidency can't be saved. It's all downhill from here. - By Jennifer Rubin [View all]

July 21 at 1:14 PM

In light of news reports that President Trump’s team is scouring the record for conflicts of interest on special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s team (the essence of chutzpah) and contemplating pardons (of aides and/or himself), it is worth considering how this may all play out.

We offer several scenarios:

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. LESSON: Republicans’ failure to stand up to Trump early dooms his presidency and crashes the GOP.

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. LESSON: Fire Mueller, and Congress will hire him back.

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. LESSON: Congress cannot delegate all responsibility to Mueller. It must conduct a parallel investigation and, if need be, commence impeachment proceedings.

4. 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 declares this a witch hunt, an attack on his family (or whatever). Then he resigns, claiming he has already made America great. He tells the country that Vice President Pence will carry on in his place. LESSON: Congress must protect Mueller and preserve the possibility that Trump may be forced to resign.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2017/07/21/this-presidency-cant-be-saved-its-all-downhill-from-here

73 replies

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Highlight:

This presidency can't be saved. It's all downhill from here. - By Jennifer Rubin [View all] DonViejo Jul 2017 OP

Used to loathe her Gabi Hayes Jul 2017 #1

I am not familar with her Skittles Jul 2017 #4

She is a very conservative columnist I used to dislike. kwassa Jul 2017 #5

Yes, they are doing good work now, but they don't acknowledge, and probably tblue37 Jul 2017 #7

I think she wrote an article about that if my memory is good. boston bean Jul 2017 #37

" " " " " MBS Jul 2017 #9

How will it end? apkhgp Jul 2017 #2

I haven't said the "p" word referring to him yet. raven mad Jul 2017 #22

He is nothing MFM008 Jul 2017 #33

Yep, like pro wrestling. Good metaphor Alice11111 Jul 2017 #26

The list grows madaboutharry Jul 2017 #3

Lisa just hasn't gotten enough $$ out of sTrumpet yet. raven mad Jul 2017 #23

Steve Schmidt, David Frum, and more all the time. The current bunch in the WH are radical rightists Hekate Jul 2017 #24

Democracy in Chains explains it pretty well Gabi Hayes Jul 2017 #30

She is leaving out the part where Mueller can use the courts to avoid being fired. phleshdef Jul 2017 #6

John Dean's article today highlighted this roscoeroscoe Jul 2017 #11

Excellent, just excellent Hekate Jul 2017 #25

Thx for post Alice11111 Jul 2017 #27

+1000 smirkymonkey Jul 2017 #8

we've had six months of steady downhill. we have to dig a hole to go lower NRaleighLiberal Jul 2017 #10

Started when Comey reopened the email distraction, Alice11111 Jul 2017 #28

Bingo. riversedge Jul 2017 #38

Yep Doug the Dem Jul 2017 #54

Comey wanted a legacy ...he will be remembered. Alice11111 Jul 2017 #60

She misses that Sessions Mr.Bill Jul 2017 #12

Indeedy. Duppers Jul 2017 #14

Cannot, but has not stopped them before. He fired Comey, Alice11111 Jul 2017 #29

She left out the obvious, more realistic scenario BumRushDaShow Jul 2017 #13

Yeah, I was looking for this scenario. It's the most realistic one. NBachers Jul 2017 #15

I agree. tomp Jul 2017 #18

Unfortunately BumRushDaShow Jul 2017 #21

Yeah, and meanwhile, back at the ranch, N Korea finally Alice11111 Jul 2017 #32

Sadly that scenario seems to be the only one based in the reality of the moment workinclasszero Jul 2017 #17

Sad, but true. I'll die of exhaustion by DT by then. At least, Alice11111 Jul 2017 #31

It can't, but then neither can the GOP. Solly Mack Jul 2017 #16

I would not bet on which one of them will last longer... tomp Jul 2017 #19

True. Solly Mack Jul 2017 #20

Yeah, but as Sessions said, I LOVE my job. He ain't leaving Alice11111 Jul 2017 #34

Excellent points. Solly Mack Jul 2017 #40

Thank you. Yeah, the KKK Elf is on a tear Alice11111 Jul 2017 #41

Also, Sessions is far more savvier about DC than Trump Solly Mack Jul 2017 #43

& if DT makes his life worse, he has goods too Alice11111 Jul 2017 #61

Mutually assured destruction, with a slight edge going to Sessions. Solly Mack Jul 2017 #62

I agree. He could try to fire all of them, fight, and then say, Alice11111 Jul 2017 #63

There's the rub. His supporters will believe it, further cementing the cloud he is creating - Solly Mack Jul 2017 #66

He is too Invested in the cover up, protectimg it. Alice11111 Jul 2017 #69

Yes. We have to elect more Democrats. Solly Mack Jul 2017 #71

We have a few of these MAD set ups Alice11111 Jul 2017 #65

I agree about what what Grassley is doing. Solly Mack Jul 2017 #68

...makes it hard to prove they are lying Alice11111 Jul 2017 #70

It does, but we both know no matter the proof, some will call it "fake". Solly Mack Jul 2017 #72

Jennifer left out some other possibilities... Rollo Jul 2017 #35

The weakness in the 2nd scenario BumRushDaShow Jul 2017 #39

Their stupefying incompetence is the only thing Gabi Hayes Jul 2017 #44

Yup. BumRushDaShow Jul 2017 #45

Same here Gabi Hayes Jul 2017 #46

I fear for my country. BumRushDaShow Jul 2017 #50

You know Democracy in Chains? Gabi Hayes Jul 2017 #51

I have heard of that BumRushDaShow Jul 2017 #53

This is the plan: (1) Sessions Resigns; (2) New AG Appointed; (3) New AG Fires Mueller TomCADem Jul 2017 #36

If he is smart, he will get fired Alice11111 Jul 2017 #42

He's gotta do whatever he's told to avoid prosecution Gabi Hayes Jul 2017 #48

Any "appointed" (actually "nominated") AG has to be CONFIRMED first BumRushDaShow Jul 2017 #47

Recess appointment Gabi Hayes Jul 2017 #49

After Obama tested and lost the recess appointment argument in the SCOTUS BumRushDaShow Jul 2017 #52

The way they explained the majority party Gabi Hayes Jul 2017 #55

It's complicated because BumRushDaShow Jul 2017 #56

Thx! Now I'm really reeling Gabi Hayes Jul 2017 #57

Go to bed! BumRushDaShow Jul 2017 #58

Reminds me that Obama didn't do this w SCOTUS. He Alice11111 Jul 2017 #67

I think the nazis either made it clear they'd Gabi Hayes Jul 2017 #73

Republicans join Democrats ?? Ha ! Never happen. rickford66 Jul 2017 #59

When I click on the link Sugarcoated Jul 2017 #64