General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrump won't be able to buy his way out of trouble this time - By Ruth Marcus
By Ruth Marcus Deputy editorial page editor March 15 at 7:37 PM
Over the years, Donald Trump honed what seemed like a foolproof method for bad behavior with few consequences: Bully and buy your way out of trouble. A favorite Trump tactic, whether you were a Trump Organization employee, Trump campaign aide or Trump wife, involved the nondisclosure agreement, with the accompanying threat of litigation for daring to spill his secrets. But this approach doesnt work for presidents. Alas for Trump, presidents cant impose such agreements on their aides or, increasingly in the case of this administration, former aides. And the gusher of departures increasingly and exponentially raises the risk for Trump. Some of them are going to start to talk yes, even more than they did, anonymously, when they still worked for him.
So you might have thought that Trump, who has been wary throughout his career about the damage that exes (ex-employees, ex-wives) could do, would be more careful about how he has gone about axing senior officials most recently and ignominiously Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, dumped in a manner calculated to impose maximum humiliation.
Note to the president: If you fire the guy by tweet before you deign to pick up the phone to tell him yourself, dont be surprised if he turns around and spills the beans on you and your administration.
And heres the thing: Tillerson is no Stormy Daniels. Nor are former White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, former chief of staff Reince Priebus, former press secretary Sean Spicer, former staff secretary Rob Porter, former who-knows-what-she-did-there Omarosa Manigault-Newman or any others on the growing list of formers canned with a minimum of presidential grace and a potential goody bag overflowing with problematic stories. Some of them deserved the kick to the curb of Pennsylvania Avenue, but thats not the point. The point is that they cant be stopped from talking.
more
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-wont-be-able-to-buy-his-way-out-of-trouble-this-time/2018/03/15/ddc1959e-2883-11e8-bc72-077aa4dab9ef_story.html
PatSeg
(47,567 posts)Watching Trump berate and humiliate people at a record pace, I wondered if he really thought none of them would retaliate. He was inviting them to expose him. Roy Cohn taught him long ago how to threaten, sue, and bully his victims, but unfortunately Trump is incapable of learning new tricks. His corrupt business practices don't translate well to governing and presidents live under constant scrutiny.
Trump is like a reckless and willful child, with no regard for the consequences of his actions, but that will soon change. He has made a lot of enemies, who will gladly help bring him down.
luvtheGWN
(1,336 posts)to have been fired by Trump! Tillerson may choose retirement but I doubt any of the others who have been fired will be reluctant to put working at the White House on their CV's. And if they can all write their memoirs about this most hellish of American historical times, then they'll all die wealthy.
PatSeg
(47,567 posts)they deserve tell-all memoirs. Personally, I think they should have all known better, as Trump never pretended to be something he wasn't - what you see is what you get. Many of them being opportunistic conservatives, I'm sure they'll find many ways to benefit from a really bad experience and I wouldn't hold it against them.
Texin
(2,597 posts)The rethugs have demonstrated over and over again that they are supine in the midst of this constant shit storm. I absolutely and fully expect that he will fire Sessions, and anyone and everyone else he has to in order to sack Mueller and stop this ongoing investigation. Then he'll start issuing pardons to those who've already plead guilty to charges and preemptively pardoning those who are awaiting trial. They will do absolutely nothing to stop him and his incessant march of madness and totally corrupt and morally bankrupt agenda.
tblue37
(65,483 posts)will undoubtedly face state charges in New York, Maryland, and possibly Virginia.
getagrip_already
(14,825 posts)voted out of office, especially if something criminal comes up against them. What trump has now is a doj that is almost to the point where it will attack his enemies just because he said to.
Also, governors can pardon just like presidents can. Maryland currently has a R governor. Virginia flips every few years. New york isn't a long term hold either.
It's a backstop, but not a long term one or even a sure thing.
GallopingGhost
(2,404 posts)given his past history of getting away with things.
This is a different ball game with a whole new set of players.
Don't forget the old adage, He who laughs last laughs best.
Robert Mueller hasn't laughed yet.
RainCaster
(10,911 posts)This is something he hasn't learned. Too bad that he is too stupid to learn new tricks. He will lie and bluster his way into history as the most inept and corrupt government official that the modern world has known. Caligula may top him, but not even Duterte can approach his ineptitude.
cstanleytech
(26,317 posts)0rganism
(23,966 posts)"...Bully and buy your way out of trouble." when the "buy" goes away, what's left?
and Trump's Russian boss knows a lot of effective ways to bully. if two or three of his potential allies-cum-critics (unavoidable double entendre in Stormy's case) should have unfortunate accidents befall them and/or their immediate families, i fully expect that wellspring of critical commentary to dry up real quick. with the possible exception of Ms. Clifford, we're not exactly talking about Great Profiles in Courage here.
nothing is certain. all is in flux.