GOP panics as signs point to imminent Mueller blockbuster

[orangecrush]

Behind the scenes throughout official Washington, there is a bracing for the storm that could soon engulf the investigation.



This is the context for the extreme, often irrational and in some cases ludicrous frenzied attacks against the FBI that are coming from a growing number of Republican members of the House and Senate and their hardcore allies in the media.

Most of these attacks against the FBI are so preposterous that they will not be itemized here, except to suggest that these attacks against the FBI are horrendously wrong and create huge political danger for Republicans.

These growing GOP attacks against the FBI are politically self-destructive and legally disastrous because they suggest to reasonable people that they have no confidence that Trump and other Trump associates will be cleared by investigators.

Finally, America has now entered a very dangerous zone. If Trump ultimately intends to fire Mueller, grant preemptive pardons to those who have not yet been charged or grant pardons to those who have already been charged, those actions will be triggered by the imminent fact that Trump will either soon testify before Mueller under oath or refuse to testify.

This would set off a constitutional crisis and a huge political backlash against Trump and Republicans who defend him by attacking the FBI.



https://www.google.com/amp/thehill.com/opinion/white-house/370658-gop-panics-as-signs-point-to-imminent-mueller-blockbuster%3famp

[SWBTATTReg]

1. And they should panic...rightfully so.

Mueller's been awful quiet lately, and it is feeling like the calm before the storm.

I'm going to make an somewhat intelligent guess here in that he's going to drop some bombs shortly so he won't be accused (like Comey was and did, in 2016) of influencing the upcoming elections.

In any event, the upcoming elections have already been massively influenced by the idiotic antics of this so-called administration and their fellow cronies in Congress, and anything Mueller will do is to simply ice the cake even more so.

[orangecrush]

5. They deserve

every bit of panic that they've got coming.

[jimmil]

20. I just want to say this about the upcoming elections....

From reading several places about how the public is growing disappointed in the GOP, I have heard all that before. We have an idiot for president now and a majority in Congress that think the only good foreigner is a dead foreigner and it was supposed to be a landslide for the Dems if I recall. Why do Dems seem to purr themselves into a smug, we are going to trounce them in the election because they are wrong, when it is obvious that a huge number of VOTING idiots do not care about their candidate's policies, morals, or criminal actions with the exception that they opposed Democrats.That is the ONE thing a Rep has to appeal to during a campaign. Everything else doesn't matter. So if Mueller drops a bomb now or on November 6 it will not make one bit of difference to Republican voters.

Mueller has been awfully quiet throughout his entire investigation. A couple if indictments sure, but overall all you really hear is speculation by reporters and bloggers. Nothing officially from his office has come out. So why is this the calm before the storm? When indictments, court papers, official statements start pouring forth that is when I will believe the storm is coming. I do fully believe however, that Gump will be in the center pardoning everyone whether it is legal or not and the Republican Congress will back him up and with a Supreme Court stuffed with right wing ideologues nothing will change except the real right wing nut cases will crawl out of every slime pit in the country.

[erronis]

27. You are the loud voice in the ear that keeps saying: BEWARE

I agree.

The forces that put this illegal/unethical process in place have already run millions of "what-if" runs on their 'putes. Don't forget the the Russians are the masterminds behind strategic thinking ala chess. This is not 8x8 chessboard but much more complicated and relies on understanding human behaviors - not that grand masters don't have behaviors, but they know how to control/adapt to them.

I also think that the intellectual powers of the investigatory bodies in the US are far superior to the enemy (foreign and US). I think that they know how to play and end game better than most anybody.

If I were Putin (for example) or the dump/family/cohorts, I would be extremely afraid that the denouement will be long but thorough. I don't think there will be an onslaught of court actions against 100's of individuals/corporations. I think there will be significant pulses and fear and willingness to cooperate.

I also believe that the Office of the Special Counsel is protecting itself very well against flank attacks from the real enemies of the state.

My 0.0176$

[orangecrush]

29. add my 2 cents

as collateral for your post, which I agree with entirely.

[orangecrush]

28. My money

is on Mueller and the FBI.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

48. People here keep on crowing confidently that

Trump is Toast! or Kushner is going down! and lots and lots of stuff like this. Cooler heads do point out that nothing has been leaked so far. And a whopping four people have been indicted who are now supposedly co-operating with the investigation but that's not entirely obvious to the casual observer.

Like you, I will believe it when I see the indictments and the trials.

Oh, and I'll even be willing to bet that Trump will end up as "unindicted co-conspirator", just like Nixon.

I hope I'm wrong. I hope that one morning I wake up to dancing in the streets because Trump has resigned or been removed from office, but there is currently no one in line after him that makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Plus, what has been done so far with changes in agencies, appointing of judges, and so on, is irrevocable damage. This country will never recover, at least not in my lifetime.

[certainot]

52. worse than that - 1500 rw radio stations and fox backing him up

and kremlin-fed blowhards yelling for revolution and guys like limbaugh complaining "only republicans get shot"

and thinking americans completely ignoring that giant CON megaphone

[orangecrush]

56. completely agree

The rise of hate radio should have been nipped in the bud.

[onit2day]

45. With no one to prosecute, they will not be touched

[HopeAgain]

2. I don't care for these types of headlines...

They make it sound like there is new, or better information than is already known. Then we find out they are opinion pieces that are full of speculation with things like:

"The news that the special counsel and Trump’s attorneys are negotiating the terms of Mueller’s questioning of Trump, which appears[poised to occur within three weeks if terms are agreed upon, suggests that some potentially decisive moves by Mueller are likely to happen in February and potentially could begin this month." [my emphasis added].

Not faulting the poster, just kinda tired of these opinion piece headlines which should read "My Guess is as Good as Yours."

[orangecrush]

35. The increase of GOP attacks on the FBI

and the far out nature of same is, imo, a good indicator that they are sodding their linens.

[HopeAgain]

40. Yes, but we all knew that before the article

I was hoping from the headlines to see some news. Not about you, you just posted it as it was, I just don't like the way sites like The Hill title opinion pieces like they were presenting new news rather than opinion.

[orangecrush]

41. I understand where you are coming from

and empathize.

[SergeStorms]

51. They're also sowing the seeds....

that the FBI investigation is somehow compromised by a cabal within the FBI who are anti-Trump. Then the GOP can point to their own specious "memo" as proof ( ) that these charges are not worthy of impeachment. A harsh reprimand will be deemed punishment enough for Trump's 'infractions'.

I can see it all unfolding as if it's already happened.

[denbot]

3. There has been good reasoning to believe that Trump would be the last interview.

That time is well nigh. Goddess speed Robert Mueller.

[orangecrush]

6. +1

[NewJeffCT]

9. I've read in a few places

that the obstruction of justice portion of the investigation may be winding down. That case is definitely very clear cut - I mean, Trump admitted on national TV that he fired Comey because of the Russia investigation. That's going to be a textbook example of obstruction for generations.

However, the question of conspiring with Russia and the related computer crimes is still going to be going on for a while, I believe.

[orangecrush]

34. it will be more

of a counterintelligence investigation, imo.

[ffr]

4. Criminals should be arrested and thrown in prison. Traitors, worse.

The FBI should go on a hiring binge. They'll need the manpower to raid and arrest all of the corruption brought in by conservatives.

[orangecrush]

7. Sessions

is trying to get rid of everyone who can testify.

Another sign of panic, and it will only make it worse for them in the end.

[mrsadm]

17. Just how is Sessions doing that?

"trying to get rid of everyone who can testify"

Can you point to an article or any more info? I guess I missed this news.
thanks

[orangecrush]

23. here

https://www.axios.com/scoop-sessions-fbi-trump-christopher-wray-877adb3e-5f8d-44a1-8a2f-d4f0894ca6a7.html

[Johnny2X2X]

8. The country is on the line

Either Mueller's investigation is allowed to continue and justice and the rule of law is served, or this Country is no longer governed by a Constitution. The Reps will try anything to avoid Trump facing any real consequences, if they get away with it, it's time to leave because the next step is horrifying and we will become the hunted.

[cubbies01]

10. It is not Trump

All signs the last 4 months by both GOP representatives and Senators point to this involving many in their ranks. Predict some have been getting Russian money, some Russian intel on opponents and some are subject to blackmail. This is more than Trump and thus the frothing from mouths and despair

[orangecrush]

30. Yes

thus the ensuing panic.

[zentrum]

39. Russian money isn't

…at all necessary to explain their loyalty.

These Repugs fear his base. Which is synonymous with Fox News——and they don't want either of these as "enemies".

They love what's going on behind the scenes: The undoing of regulations, the tax cut for richest, the privatization of public land, the privatization of education, the installation of hugely right wing judges. They are slobbering over the idea that they can get their hands on SS and Medicare.

They back him because he's doing what the Republican party is all about—Democracy is just a pain in the ass to them when it interferes with they power and $$$$$$.

[alwaysinasnit]

11. A crumb of comfort

Trump may not be able to pardon these conspirators if he is part of the conspiracy (even if unindicted).

[orangecrush]

31. True

[Stonepounder]

14. We know that the GOP does not worry about the Constitution.

They have blithely ignored Trump's blatant violation of the Emoluments Clause, they have abdicated totally their Constitutional duty to 'advise and consent' by approving completely unqualified nominees for high office and, at times, people who were known to be hostile to the agency they were appointed to lead, ie. appointing and confirming a Education Secretary who doesn't believe in Public Education.

We are already in the middle of a 'Constitutional Crisis' since the Executive and Legislative branches no longer feel the need to adhere to the oath they took to 'Protect, defend, and preserve' the Constitution.

[Ligyron]

18. I so agree.

[red dog 1]

26. + 1

[orangecrush]

32. +2

[Nitram]

12. Pat, I'll take an "O".

[orangecrush]

24. You win!

[aggiesal]

37. I think you have to buy ...

the "O"

otherwise

[BobTheSubgenius]

13. "...has now entered..."???

That entrance is that disappearing speck in the rear view. This is another door - albeit a large one - along that corridor.

Students of modern history - even relatively modern history - can you tell us of an analogue to what seems like this totally uncharted territory?

Perhaps in some banana republic hellhole, but not in a beacon of democracy, surely. And how much too far am I going to suggest that, just maybe, Mueller et al are nipping this evil travesty in the bud a little before the Reichstag fire?

I don't want to sound hysterical, paranoid or overly conspiratorial, but there are parallels.

[orangecrush]

21. very good post

and I certainly hope you are right.

[True Blue American]

33. Nixon tried most of the same things

Trump and Republicans are doing today

[orangecrush]

42. except for Russians.

Nixon hated them with a white hot passion.

[True Blue American]

54. True! Nixon loved China.:)

[orangecrush]

57. True also!

He sold out South Vietnam and half a million American sacrifices for them.

In return we got Walmart.

[watoos]

15. Hmm, it looks to me like

these people who harped about Blue lives Matter mean that they only matter when they are beating on minorities.
As Malcomb Nance said, this war against the FBI is sedition.

[orangecrush]

25. +1

[Iggo]

36. Blue lives matter...

....has only ever been about defending cops who murder brown people.

[L. Coyote]

16. By Brent Budowsky, opinion contributor, former assitant to Sen Lloyd Bentsen.

He predicted a Hillary landslide.

[orangecrush]

22. So did

all of the major polls.

Which does not mean all subsequent polls are invalid.

It means the election was fixed by Russia.

And Hillary still won, by 3 million votes.

[Sophia4]

44. We forget. Hillary won 3 million more votes than Trump.

It was a sort of landslide for Hillary. Maybe not quite. But she actually won the popular vote. It's the electoral college that stopped her.

[orangecrush]

46. electoral college

and Russian ops.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

19. Please trim your links. Google.com does not need to know everybody who goes to TheHill.com via DU.

[ananda]

38. What does imminent mean?

Next summer or fall? Maybe ...

[orangecrush]

43. coming soon...

[Johnny2X2X]

47. Fascism comes next

Full Blown fascism. And with it comes eventual genocide.

[orangecrush]

50. Mueller

hopefully has prevented that.

[keithbvadu2]

49. "preemptive pardons" - Like elderBush for Casper Weinberger and several others.

"preemptive pardons" - Like elderBush for Casper Weinberger and several others.

[Cha]

53. Ya think!

"These growing GOP attacks against the FBI are politically self-destructive and legally disastrous because they suggest to reasonable people that they have no confidence that Trump and other Trump associates will be cleared by investigators."

Make it so!

[orangecrush]

58. Putin

wins no matter what happens now.

All we are doing is mitigating the damage.

Not good news, but that's how I see it.

[mgardener]

55. Money laundering

They will get him and his family on money laundering. And a few others I would imagine
And the NY and NJ will go after them.
He cannot pardon a state crime.

[orangecrush]

59. ...