Trumpocalypse: The End Game
You can see where this is headed, the once bright and shiny democracy going down the drain before the holidays are out. The Russians, the special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and his agents, desperate men flipped and singing to save their souls — all may soon be gone, by President Trump’s design.
If there’s any outrage left in the tank, use it now, because Trump has signaled exactly what he’s going to do. First, he had to set some brush fires, impugning the legitimacy of the rule of law — an old dictator’s trick. Trump is no Hitler, but when the German Reichstag burned in 1933, it was all the Nazis needed to gut civil liberties.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
So, before Trump can fire the prosecutor who is hot on the corruption trail of those in the president’s inner circle, he needs a pretext. He could just work his way down the line at the Justice Department, until he found a quisling willing to remove the special counsel. But before he gets to that, he has to delegitimize the whole investigation.
Thus, he’s now attacking the F.B.I., saying the agency is in “Tatters” and its standing “the worst in History.” Bashing cops — wasn’t that what those Black Lives Matter people did to disrespect Blue Lives?
Thank God we have Sarah Huckabee Sanders as a moral clarion in a crisis. “When you’re attacking F.B.I. agents because you’re under criminal investigation, you’re losing,” she tweeted. Sorry — that was Sarah Huckabee Sanders of a year ago, before she was paid to defend the liar in chief.
Trump’s lawyer, John Dowd, has been busy clearing out more brush, making the preposterous claim that the president cannot obstruct justice because he’s the nation’s chief law enforcement officer. If Trump shot somebody on Fifth Avenue — his own suggested redline — he could, as the nation’s chief law enforcement officer, tell the cops to quash the investigation.
See, when the president does it, it’s not a crime. This defense was floated during the two impeachment episodes of the 20th century. The third time will not be a charm. But Trump’s team already has gone from there is no collusion or obstruction to, so what? If it happened, it’s no biggie.
They don’t appear to be the least bit troubled by a stunning report from a whistle-blower. As Trump was pledging to put America first during his Inaugural Address, his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was texting a former business associate serving foreign clients. With Trump in, the sanctions against Russia would be “ripped up,” clearing the way for big money to be made on the inside, according to the report made public Wednesday.
Ignoring that story, Trump’s media wing is doing its job. Sean Hannity, at state-run television, went on a vein-popping rant Tuesday against law enforcement, complete with conspiracy charts. He called the federal authorities “a team of so-called investigators.” As for their boss, he said that “Mueller is frankly a disgrace to the American justice system and has put the country on the brink of becoming a banana republic.” He’s certainly learned the art of projection from his master.
The Wall Street Journal, channeling its owner and Trump whisperer Rupert Murdoch, has been making much of the same case, albeit without the spittle.
Don’t forget, this is the same Robert Mueller who won wide bipartisan praise when he was appointed special counsel: a career prosecutor, the longest-serving director of the F.B.I. since J. Edgar Hoover, awarded the Bronze Star for his service as a Marine in Vietnam. Republicans love him. Or they did until he started closing in on Trump’s closest associates.
Mueller should be fired, the Russian enablers now claim, because one of his agents said some bad things about Trump. This agent, Peter Strzok, was reassigned over the summer, as soon as his comments came to light. Wow, a G-man has opinions. The cops I know, a couple of longstanding friends, have more opinions than I.
The facts are what matters. And the facts are pointing in a very bad direction for the gang that can’t collude straight. Trump has got to be sweating it; he was said to be “seething” when two of his campaign aides were indicted and third pleaded guilty in October. He looked punch-drunk at recent public events.
Now that he’s a felon from a guilty plea last week, Flynn is cooperating with Mueller. He knows plenty. Trump could pardon him and try to bring him back into the fold. The outrage would be minimal among the Banana Republicans. Sure, they got their tax-relief-for-the-rich bill passed, so they may no longer need Trump after he signs it. But now they’re dreaming of more — cutting Medicare and health care for children, so they have a reason to keep him around.
If Trump fires Mueller, he can start the new year clean. His base will stick with him. Though voters believe, by a nearly 2-1 margin, that Russians interfered with the United States election, Republicans do not. Party before country — in the face of a dangerous turn toward authoritarianism, that’s all that matters.
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by Timothy Egan
There may be links in the Original Article that have not been reproduced here.
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Current NT rules allow anyone to post more-or-less anything more-or-less anywhere... so I won't waste our time with pointless rules about behavior. I will simply ignore any member who in my opinion posts in bad faith. (See this article for an explanation of "bad faith".)
Removed CoC violation. (BT)
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We live in "interesting times"...
We saw the slow disintegration and ultimate collapse of the Soviet Union.
Now we are seeing the slow disintegration of America...
LOL
jobs up... illegals down. stock market up, taxes down
unesco, tpp, paris trade and the UN migration plan? all dead as a doornail.
that is the disintegration of the liberal world order and the rise of America.
we will never answer to foreign bureaucrats about how we run our country again = those days are done.
but hey, if you want to call that the disintegration of america? bring it. bring more of it. and bring all of it
I've been away from my keyboard for a few hours, playing a (very good, thank you very much!) round of golf. I've had time to think about your post... I'm not accustomed to far-right code-words, so I didn't really catch your meaning.
We aren't disagreeing about events, you and I. Not at all .And while the guy in the photo I posted is, for me, an ugly peek at America's future, he is probably, for you, a glorious warrior for American Greatness.
When someone on the far right says "disintegration of the liberal world order", they mean "elimination of democracy and individual rights". When someone on the far right says "rise of America", they mean "rise of White nationalism".
So... we actually agree on what is happening, you and I: America is transforming into an authoritarian plutocracy.
The difference between the two of us is that you applaud this evolution, while I abhor it.
Though voters believe, by a nearly 2-1 margin, that Russians interfered with the United States election, Republicans do not. Party before country — in the face of a dangerous turn toward authoritarianism, that’s all that matters.
Not true, not by a long shot. What you meant to say is that they might have tried to interfere, but were unsuccessful. The system, which has stood the test of time, correctly declared Trump the winner of a fair election. Not one single left winger can explain just how the nasty old Russians changed the outcome of the election. Truth is, they wanted Hillary to win because they knew she would be a weak push over and ass kisser.
Now we are seeing the slow disintegration of America...
That's because liberals like you are bound and determined to do so. You guys should have given up this unwinnable battle to overturn the election a long time ago. You hate America and all she stands for, and all intelligent voters possessing common sense and good will are making a note of it as the midterms rapidly approach. BTW, thanks for adding me to you ignore list.
We already know the left has lost its mind. All we're waiting for now is for somebody to put it in a rubber room and wait until it comes to its senses.
we need to help those people.
be part of the solution and support them
The difference between our two images is that mine is genuine and pertinent, while yours is made up...
LOL
your funny
made up?
Trump will be re-elected and you can buy the shirt here...
Bunch of liberal torch bearers ya got there.
trump does not need to fire mueller .
once under investigation mueller will be forced to fire himself.
it all starts here
should be good fun to watch
I fear for your well being when this investigation concludes. Perhaps you should remove all guns and sharp objects from your home, have yourself fitted for a straight jacket, and inform your doctor that sedatives may be necessary. It’s good to be prepared.
I am fairly crafty so no need to worry about me
My gut feeling is that the more they attack Mueller the more he will be resolved to see this through to the destruction of the Trump Travesty. Very few people in America today are in a position to actively do something substantial to rid the nation of this plague we call Trumpism, and Mueller is one of them. This is likely to be the last big endeavor of his public career, and I get the sense he is going to go for the gold.
1stwarrior, arkpdx, Badfish, Capt. Cave Man, No Fear, Nowhere Man, Rex Block, Sunshine, Tacos!, Texan1211, XXJeffersonwhatever.
While the author claims he wont see this, I do want to thank him for putting me on his list of the most distinguished and honorable posters here.
Thank you! Thank you very much! I am greatly and truly honored.
No, thank you for the most ridiculously, absurdly hilarious post I've ever seen.
Bizarro world.*
* bizarro world is a place where everything is inverted, backwards,
You are easily amused. Most likely that neans you are also easily led and misinformed also.
Nope not backward but a true fact. Getting put on a list like that with you as a member, however, wiuld be one if the most grievest insults ever. Thankfullly I doubt I shal ever be on such a list.
You greatly underestimate the comedic value you bring to us.