Of course a million stories broke on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. To be fair, though, Donald Trump and his minions were mercifully and suspiciously low-key. I mean, Trump tweeted some sh-t, but mostly he spent the weekend golfing (for the millionth time). The White House didn’t even send out surrogates to the Sunday morning talk shows, which isn’t a great sign. So here are some stories that are circulating:
Will Trump testify? In a press conference on Friday, Trump was asked if he would go under oath and testify about the Comey situation. He said he would. Chuck Schumer has formally invited Trump to testify under oath now too. If it happens, then they’ll have Trump on perjury charges, because he loves to lie. He lives to lie. But I sort of doubt Trump will ever actually testify under oath. He’s a coward.
KKKebler Elf Jeff Sessions on the ropes. James Comey made it very clear that Sessions has been compromised in a few different ways. Comey apparently told Intel committee senators that Sessions had even more meetings with the Russians than he disclosed, and yes, Sessions committed perjury. Add to that the fact that Trump doesn’t like Sessions very much these days, I have a hard time believing that Sessions will make it to July. Sessions is due to testify before the Senate tomorrow, Tuesday, June 13th.
Keep your eye on Robert Mueller. Mueller – a former FBI Director – was named the independent counsel in the investigation into Trump-Russia. Trump’s people are making the case that Bigly has the right/authority to fire Mueller. I predict a situation where Trump fires Sessions and Mueller within the same day.
Reince Priebus could be out by mid-July. Priebus is the former RNC chairman and he’s Bigly’s current chief of staff, although how much Priebus actually does is unknown. I don’t think Trump trusts Priebus and the feeling is absolutely mutual. Anyway, Politico reports that Trump has given Priebus until the Fourth of July to get the White House in order, and if Priebus doesn’t, Trump will fire him.
John McCain misses Barack Obama. McCain was asked if America’s leadership was stronger during the Obama presidency and he said “yes…As far as American leadership is concerned, yes.” McCain was also asked about Trump’s attack of London mayor Sadiq Khan and what message that attack sent to our allies, and McCain said: “What do you think the message is? The message is that America doesn’t want to lead. They are not sure of American leadership, whether it be in Siberia or whether it be in Antarctica.”
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Dude if he fires Mueller…
I mean, I wouldn’t put it past him but holy sh*t if he does that, I will riot.
Also, did we already talk about Maryland and DC suing Trump? That makes me happy.
And yet his supporters would continue to support him. They wouldn’t stop to think, hmmm, I wonder why he’d fire the *independent counsel* appointed to investigate him? It’s very depressing that there is a large segment of the population so unwilling to think for themselves.
Yesterday, I heard a political add on the radio for the VA primary. One of the R candidates talking about how Trump is president and unhinged liberals need to just let him do his job. I consider myself a fairly calm, logical person. I prefer to keep my head when others lose theirs. But I admit, when I heard that, I actually could feel myself coming unhinged.
All this sh*t about Dems being “obstructionists” to a POTUS that has full control of the House and Senate is just hilarious. I mean, truly just comical.
The narrative that his supporters are dumb is not true IMO, they are just self-interested and selfish. Many interviews of his supporters have shown that a good deal are college educated and well of financially. Recent interviews show that they like him as a symbol to represent THEIR interest and THEIR voice: a rich old white man who can say or do what he wants without consequences. As in America of old.
They don’t care if he does not accomplish anything in his presidency or is corrupt. I didn’t save links but Washington Post featured a journalist coming out with a new book on this and one of the MSNBC shows featured a second journalist with the same conclusion. Remeber also that HRC won most of the votes of the working poor.
Sort of an offshoot on that-any thoughts on the VA governor democratic primary candidates? (Fellow Virginians)
Everything old is new again–it took a couple of years for Watergate to come to a head, the “silent majority” even re-elected Nixon in the midst of the investigation-that was a “witch hunt” too back in the day when the president actually had moral authority with a big percentage of the population. A certain “Midnight Massacre” propelled that investigation forward and this will be no different. It’s very hard to give up your beliefs about ideas and people, but eventually the cognitive dissonance is too great; this mess will be no different. As with Nixon and his crew, people will eventually see these folks for what and who they are and then as a nation we will have to pick up the pieces.
@Original T.C. A college degree doesn’t guarantee intelligence and being dumb and self-interested/selfish are not mutually exclusive. If they think he’s doing anything to benefit anyone other than himself and his criminal family they’re delusional.
Agree with Original TC, I’m in the U.K. And until last year I worked for a big American bank, many of my US colleagues (college educated, career driven etc) were Trump supporters. I was absolutely horrified!
@Susantoo the point is that he supports their white supremacist goals. So from that perspective he is doing a lot for their cause. He is giving them the piece of mind that white is dominance. These people do not care about the national policies he enforces more than they care about what he symbolizes to them. This is why the facts will never matter to his core supporters.
Richard V. Reeves is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute—he’s also a dual citizen UK/US. Please read his research. His insights are very interesting. He spoke at my university and showed a chart that many in the Upper Middle Income voted for Trump and supporting the policies of the 1%. Remember the median income of a Trump voter was $75K. He also talked about upward mobility and how by policy design blacks and hispanics are not moving up the economic ladder as they did 30-40 yrs ago.
As a Marylander we are a mix bag state….Republican governor with a Dem. house and loads of active Dems represent us in Congress. We do RESIST.
Yes. Tomorrow is going to be interesting here in Virginia.
On the democratic side we have a moderate democrat endorsed by Kaine and a more leftist endorsed by Bernie. Both have openly discussed their view of trumps narcissism/mental illness so even if my choice doesn’t win, it’s a win either way.
What is going to be interesting to me moving forward is, as it has been discussed in neighboring WV, is the future of the Democratic Party going to lean more centrist (aka Sen Joe Manchin) or far lefty/Bernie esque?
OTC
No. Some of them are dumb. They are racists, lacking formal education, and they believe what they’re told because it supports what they want to believe.
When information cannot be denied they believe the irrational rationalizations fed by same sources that previously gave incorrect information.
And yea. Some have self interests.
And, once again, I repeat dumb and self-interested/selfish are not mutually exclusive. Acceleration of natural disasters due to climate change will affect them too. Nuclear disaster due to trump’s idiocy/saber rattling will affect them too. They may think their money protects them, but it won’t. Sorry, they’re dumb as well as selfish.
I would like to point out, I did not use the word dumb. I said unable to think for themselves. I live in a very red area. My neighbors are in no way dumb. But they’ve grown up indoctrinated in the conservative party. You can throw facts at them for days on end, but they have guzzled the kool aid, and are *unwilling* to look objectively at any facts that contradict the narrative they’ve been fed. I feel this phenomenon is not limited to my state.
There are so many socio-economic forces playing into support for this man, it would be impossible for us to do justice to all of them here. But I have no doubt this sh*tshow will be the subject of many studies, and I will be very interested to read them.
Rachel
Very well said. I’m in a similar area.
I just heard an interesting conversation on the Tavis Smiley NPR show. John Dean, a Nixon operative, wrote a book about authoritarians. About 30 % of the population can be characterized as authoritarian but most are followers who would find someone like Trump attractive because he likes to be front and center with his boasting of taking care of all problems. It is an explanation for the inexplicable appeal of the Hitlers and Mussolinis of the world because most people find them repulsive. Dean’s book is “Conservatives without Consciense.”
The states may save the day. Supposedly he cannot control what actions they take toward him, his ‘charities’, etc.
It’s like… the best and the worst things all rolled up in to one.
If he fires Sessions, I will have a god d*mned party. That will, quite literally, be the best news I’ve gotten since November.
If he fires Mueller, my god. We’re f*cked. Democracy is dead. Isn’t firing the special prosecutor what did Nixon in, though? But seriously, if he fires Mueller, there’s literally no way he could be construed as anything but guilty.
It did Nixon in with a Congress controlled by Democrats.
Could be he fires Mueller as a package with firing Sessions to try to “hide” the problem with firing Mueller, the way he tried to “hide” the firing of Preet Bahara (sp) amid the mass firing of US Attorneys.
But I don’t see him firing Jeff Sessions anytime soon. He hasn’t fired any of the other problematic people around him and Sessions knows too much.
Feeling extra extra cynical today, but I don’t think it makes any difference if firing Mueller cements the sense that he is guilty. His followers don’t care and they are loud and dangerous. I doubt Paul Ryan would care either. He and McConnell both know Trump’s a dangerous, corrupt and inadequate president but they allowed him to get into office and stay in office — and his approval ratings are not likely to drop to a level at which they say “enough.” They’ll wait ’till 2018.
Be careful what you wish for.
Sessions has recused himself from the Russia investigation. A new appointment would not be recused.
With Sessions recused, we have a Deputy AG who appointed Mueller as our first line of defense against Trump. He will have to be fired if Trump tells him to fire Mueller, since he most likely will refuse. Don’t know about the next person in line, but having someone refuse Trump’s order is a powerful sign. We had to lose both the AG and the Deputy AG before Nixon could get Cox fired.
I can’t even imagine what would happen if he fires Mueller.
You guys did not live thru Watergate. Nixon fired special prosecutors and AGs but congress still got him.
I lived through Watergate and at that time there were some Republicans who put country above party. That doesn’t exist anymore.
The only answer is to take back Congress.
As SusanneToo says, the Republican party today is a corrupt cult that lacks integrity. They won’t do a damn thing to touch him unless they get direct evidence that he will cause them to lose power, and that won’t happen till the end of 2018. That’s why these special elections are important: Republicans are watching them closely to see if they’re predictive in any way. Support Democratic candidates any where you can.
We’ll all have to hold tight and let NY State AG Schneiderman do his job. He’s on the hunt there, supposedly enpaneling Grand Juries and uncovering Trumpian misdeeds on the local level. He’s a pitbull; if Mueller goes down he’ll continue the drive forward.
Trump, and any subsequent President CANNOT pardon anyone for state crimes. Only federal.
Dems HAVE to win the House in 2018. That is the only way. Mueller or no Mueller, we need to win back the house.
IF he fires Mueller that cements his guilt. WTF dude, it’s going to happen whether he likes it or not but firing the special counsel will just fast track this investigation. He fired Comey and we got what we got today. He never learns his lesson which is good for us.
If he’s smart, he’d keep Mueller and let it progress. I don’t know what the next step would be if Mueller is fired. I’m really pissed about this.
We’ll see Rod Rosenstein’s true colours should Mueller be fired. I suspect those true colours are purplish in hue.
Comey did mention to his friend, and this was published, that he thinks Rod waves where the wind blows. That’s why he survived all those regimes without getting purged. I don’t think Comey liked him.
Ah, Rod Rosenstein. He’s been cultivating his “non-partisan man of integrity” reputation for DECADES. Years upon years of expert image cultivation blown to hell within *5 months* of Orange Satan’s ascension to power.
Truly, Mango Mussolini destroys all that his creepy little baby fingers touch.
I think that last week’s Kamala Harris question of Rosenstein and McCabe was trying to get them to get them to sign a document giving Mueller unfettered access above Presidential power or something like that. Her questions didn’t seem relevant at the time, but I think she was up to something to possibly prevent a Mueller firing. I’m not legal expert, but Senator Harris definitely is…
Just my thoughts and keeping my fingers crossed that Mueller doesn’t go anywhere….
He can really, he has got away with everything he has done because the Republicans are cowards.
Trump may try to fire Mueller, but Priebus and Sessions are going nowhere, especially after the “cabinet meeting” hand jobs they gave him today. Trump thinks all his bullshit is fooling people beyond his stupidest supporters, and he is rapidly turning into our version of Kim Jong-Un. “Dear Leader” my ass.
At any rate, Priebus and Sessions have NEVER been in danger of being fired – this is just a ruse to throw blame on them while at the same time keeping them in the WH – Trump’s most loyal retainers. This country is being ruined by this fat, ugly blowhard charlatan.
Season Finale of America…Let this whole governance sham fall apart, let em drive the car straight to the Canal.. F*ck it.. i’m dead serious.. Us in Team Brown, my LGBT Brothers and Sisters, Immigrants, we aint gonna have it worse than the bottom of the barrel, we know how to maintain
ALSo, Also STOP. GIVING COUNTRY TO MCCAIN This MF loves t bloviate for the cameras with that Maverick BS like he doesnt toe the party lines with the votes when it counts, he is just attention whoring with Lindsey Graham Trying to front “moderation” and he oughta be ashamed on himself, cause part of us looking up at the pond scum now as a country started with him foisting that loud Alaskan Hick on us
Completely agree with you about McCain.
QQ, your throwdowns are always on point, always straight to the heart of matter. McCain needs to go back to the house, i.e. retire, and ponder what his legacy will be knowing he formerly ushered in the scum to the highest level of government when he accepted Palin as his running mate. Had he not done so, I don’t think the US would’ve reached the level of public acceptance for a presidential candidate as nasty, crude and corrupt as drumpf is.
McCain is a craven weasel. He offers up a sop. Weak, weak man. Some hero. Contemptible.
Every word true.
McCain epitomizes the quote “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”. He is war hero. His silence is shameful and depressing.
He was a reckless pilot whose recklessness landed him in a Viet Cong POW prison and a weak and craven politician with deeply conservative beliefs. All talk no action — and last week, that talk was terribly confused.
@ WATP
I know he’s conservative, I don’t need an education about McCain and his record. I believe being a POW is heroic. He is still a disappointment because for a “maverick” he sure is doing absolutely nothing to defend our country from Trump.
i’m literally clapping at my desk as i read this.
QQ nailed it. Not even going to add anything *claps*
He needs to sit down. Unless he is finally going to put his country before party he needs to shut it. You called it.
McCain seriously needs to sit down and STFU. I’m infuriated by the Rethuglican party and everything going on politically right now, but I have a special level of disgust for John McCain. He is a spineless coward who wants to give the appearance of standing up to Trump even as he lines up with the rest of the party to kiss Trump’s flaccid, oversized a$$. I hope Karma comes back around for all of the GOP, but especially for McCain.
I used to respect him as a politician up until his 2008 campaign until he unleashed Palin upon politics but even after that I respected him as a person , Now ? I just want him and all of the republicans disgraced and be removed of all positions , since all they do now is stand by and do nothing
and we have to consider the fact that this is probably his last run as a senator and he doesnt need to worry about getting Reelected and yet he still doesnt have the balls to stand up to trump!
A Mueller firing? On the surface it sounds unlikely, but this weekend I noticed some conservative lawyers on TV making the case that a president can stop any investigation. Could more knowledgeable people, some of our CB lawyers, weigh in?
I meant, of course, more knowlegeable than I. I can, however, answer all your Romantic poetry and Gothic Lit. questions. LOL
Yes he can fire Mueller. And he is listening to the whispers in his ear telling him to do it. He watches the political talk shows and takes his ques from the people that are in support of is crazy. He even said as much that the people her “heard” on TV said that he could have told Comey to stop the investigation “even thought he didn’t” and there would be nothing wrong with him doing so. We are F****d in so many ways. We have a con man running the Government. And we got what we deserve for be complacent and not understanding how quickly our Democracy can be destroyed by the wrong person at the helm. When will enough be enough??
I know he could fire one person, but could he stop everything with no consequences except possible impeachment? I think he could. I did not frame my question correctly. Sorry. And you are so right about “whispers” My guess is they come from Bannnon.
If Trump fires Mueller, he has to give notice to Congress and explain why. I think it’s like 30 or 45 days, so it’s not immediate firing. For that reason, I don’t think he will do it.
This morning I noticed morning joe was quite subdued. He was saying if #45 would just shut up he man be able to get through this. I mentioned to a friend that he was giving 45 a pass, something was up. Also, Mike was very quiet compared to the last few weeks. Then joe was saying all 45 has to do is pass the tax reform because he joe was paying 89% in taxes, so 45 should just shut up. Now we are hearing about firing Mueller. Something is up. I hope they don’t fire Mueller because that would tear the country apart. Then they are trying to pass the health care bill when no one is looking. This is going to be a b$$ch of a summer if the rep gets their way.
Just checked Morning Joe twitter account, cricket, cricket. They are cooking something up. I’m hoping they are putting country over #45 lying.
I’ve noticed more tension between he and Mika since her father (Zbigniew Brzezinski) died in May. In interviews, Brzezinski very clearly stated that Tru*mp is ineffective and weak. Mika seems ready to burst at the seams over the mess. Joe keeps patronizing her and trying to shut her up. (I have no idea why she got engaged to him.) Anyhow, I think you’re right that due to Mika’s connections and Joe’s GOP network, they get valuable behind-the-scenes info.
I think there are variations in what is acceptable, and the terms are getting confusing. (FYI, I’m not a lawyer).
I believe there are things that are not technically “illegal” that would be considered improper and grounds for impeachment papers to be filed. So while maybe Trump has the ability to fire Mueller, just as he had the ability to fire Comey, if he does so with the intention to hinder an investigation, that is impeachable because it is obstruction of justice.
Just because he might have the “ability” to do something, doesn’t mean that he took action in the appropriate way. It is like labor laws. Employers can fire employees, but if it is retaliation for reporting sexual harassment etc.., then it wouldn’t be legal.
Remember to call your Senator’s about ACHA
( Turtle McConnell but in a Rule 14, which mean that they are trying to pass it with no open meetings, CBO, etc) and the Dodd Frank repeal passed the House. They said that the phone calls are dropped drastically since February. Get on the phone to your Senator’s ASAP.
YES! Call people. They are being sneaky little rats trying to pass draconian legislation in the dark. While the Cirque d Trump takes center stage Ryan and McConnell are busy little malignant bees. Call and tell everyone you know to call.
Yuck. Tangerine’s press conference is on and it is like a contest to see who can blow the most smoke up his arse. Did they take lessons from Kim Jong-un’s minions? Lack of self-respect must be a job requirement.
If he fires Mueller (another attempt of obstruction of justice on his part) all hell will break loose but I doubt even then Republicans will have a spine and start the proceedings of impeachment.
On one hand I’m very happy that all of his cabinet is falling apart and the circle is getting tighter on his orange ass , on the other hand I want him to be removed as soon as possible before any other damage is done to America and at this rate Republicans hypocrisy and failure at being decent politicians is astonishing.
Kkkebler Elf…. brilliance. Well done!
The walls are crumbling. If tRUMP were smart, he’d resign now. Putin will give the whole Rump clan asylum.
Putin would laugh and offer nothing. Trump without the oval office is useless to him.
Technically he can fire Mueller, but could he survive the blowback if he did? Since the majority of the American public wants the Russian ties properly, and independently, investigated, I can’t imagine that even members of his own corrupt party wouldn’t have to respond to this for their own survival. Please let Sessions be out. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. Priebus, too. Let the house of cards crumble around DT, fully exposing him as the emperor with no clothes to his little cohort of diehards.
As long as every Republican (and all of his minions) keep supporting him no matter what? Yes, he’d get away with firing him.
Except that they have responded when the blowback has been strong enough, for example to their early attempts to dismantle the ethics office. Russia is a contentious issue for Repubs as well. I hope I’m not wrong, but I do think the blowback from this would make the former look piddling.
They’re getting everything they want behind the scenes. Reproductive Rights gone. Freedom FROM religion gone. Tax cuts for the rich. Decimating health care. They’ll get to name two Supremes. They’re getting the right-wing Republican dream. As long as they get that, they’ll ride the Trump Train.
Well somewhere lost in this is Congress rejecting that clown DeVos’ dept of ed budget. Her slash and burn budget. There was news that Congress told her it was DOA. So if enough push back happens the Repubs will listen.
The majority of voters voted for the other team and look what happened.
Man, I’m negative today.
Call about the health-care act. 202 224 3121 for your senator
It is ironic how Delta pulled sponsorship from Shakespeare in the Park in New York City ,when what is going on right now at the White House ,Bard himself could have written this drama. Art imitating life or life imitating art, the lines are blurred.
as a New Yorker with mad love for SITP, that Julius Caesar business made me stabby as hell. other companies have done productions with PBO and HRC in the role in prior years – – crickets. the story is about violence = BAD. the morons trashing it probably don’t even know the godd*amn play.
Dear MAGAs: It doesn’t condone violence. Read a f*cking book. Also. When you voted for the openly racist, misogynist, xenophobic, unqualified, dangerous p*ssy-grabber, you forfeited your f*cking Outrage Card, so f*ck you very much, KTHXBAI.
I didn’t realize he could fire Mueller. How is he an independent prosecutor if the president can fire him? I don’t get it.
I really want Bannon gone. Please.
Because he was hired by a presidential political appointee, who can be ordered to fire him (or be fired and replaced with someone who will heed that order).
Ohhh, thank you. (PS I meant investigator not prosecutor, getting ahead of myself)
Spicey denies that Reince has only until July 4 to straighten things out In the White House. So, that means he’s a goner.
Ha! Thanks…I needed a good laugh!
As many people pointed out, the problem with the WH is Trump and the GOP who are so complicit in everything that he does. Firing Reince P, although he deserves to be gone because of how complicit he is in everything that Trump does, isn’t going to make things better in the WH.
I wonder if behind the scenes Pence remains loyal to Trump or whether he is licking his chops and manipulating to have him removed so he can replace him. Just wondering.
No one really knows. He is very, very careful. And doesn’t seem to be surrounded by leakers a la Trump.
He is a DeVos $$ boy. Her brother Erik Prince probably has Blackwater/Academi swat teams supporting his every move and keeping his info on lockdown.
I don’t think he’s ever been loyal to Trump. Pence gets what he wants out of this – the extremist Republican agenda made into law. He just has to sit back and wait until Trump implodes and it is all handed to him.
You can take it to the bank that Cardinal Richelieu Pence has “mother” holding the Bible while he rehearses taking the Oath of Office in his monastic bathroom.
Pence Im surprised hasnt gotten blackmailed yet. He’s closeted and has paid for high priced male escorts in the past while visiting florida.
Where did you hear that? It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest, but I’m curious…
Trump and his cronies are already painting Muller as Comey’s best bud who cannot be trusted. Jeffery Lord was doing it on CNN right after Comey’s testimony. Now, they’re floating the idea of firing him. I think it will happen and they will use the “he’s biased” argument as their reasoning.
If he does fire Muller, impeachment proceedings need to begin immediately.
They wouldn’t. If they haven’t happened yet…
Ooh, so Jeff Sessions will testify in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee in an (wait for it…) open session(s) tomorrow!
*offers popcorn*
The Senate loves him … remember how many go to the gym with him? … and he’s already perjured himself with limited consequences. What are a few more lies among friends?
not much among friends, but Mueller is watching and the team he’s putting together is scary af – – if you’re a bad guy. SO. lie away, boys!
I’m not expecting anything out of Foghorn Leghorn — he’s a snake and wouldn’t have offered without looking at all the angles. The fact that he said he’d testify in an open session tells me it’s going to be a polished, rehearsed takedown of Comey.
So If Cheeto Mussolini fires Meuller, what happens next? Do the investigations just stop? Is all of the work that Mueller has done so far just dumped in the trash? What happens to the investigation if he’s fired?
Not entirely sure, but I think it would be up to Rosenstein to collect and gather (and protect) the investigative information. And he could then appoint a new special counsel. But my hope is that Congress will vote on an independent prosecutor to cut off Tiny Hands from further ridiculousness. If Fat Cheeto were to formally nominate that Chris May guy quickly, and he is approved by Congress, then that could put another wrench in this whole debacle.
Oh good lord. I can see Trumplethinskin firing every single person appointed to investigate him. What a giant mess!
we go ham and we don’t f*cking stop until these clowns are OUT
Is this the norm in American politics? That everyone all the time gets fired and sued?
not even remotely. the way I see it, the US is essentially under occupation right now. the firings are coming from a criminal SOB. the lawsuits are coming from orgs like ACLU, CREW, the states, who are heroes trying to check these lunatics as much as we can until we can be rid of them. NOT. NORMAL.
If Trump fires Mueller, it is an obstruction of Justice. If he wants to be cleared, he need to let the investigation to go on.