The Trump Investigation(s) Thread

[Ralph-Wiggum]

Or is the best part throwing Don Jr. under the bus?

Did he really just confirm that the pretense of this meeting wasn't about adoption issues? Am I reading that right?

I think Giuliani’s comment last week that there was a pre-meeting for the meeting already removed any pretense that the meeting was about adoption. So now they’ve got to switch to the defense that the meeting wasn’t illegal (it was) and everyone would do it (they wouldn’t).

[Holman]

I'm waiting for the explanation of why they took this and so many other meetings with Russians after the FBI had specifically warned them that the Russians were trying to influence them and that they should report all attempts.

And the explanation for all the lying about every single contact, of course.

[Skinypupy]

I'm waiting for the explanation of why they took this and so many other meetings with Russians after the FBI had specifically warned them that the Russians were trying to influence them and that they should report all attempts.

And the explanation for all the lying about every single contact, of course.

Just play this on repeat for the next couple years.

[GungHo]

It would be the most glorious instance of karma if his Twitter account is what ultimately brings his cheeto ass down. Like 10x better even than seeing that guy who swerves across 3 lanes to make his exit, only to get pulled over by the cop coming out of the 7-11 parking lot.
Amazing how many self-inflicted wounds this clown has. But I suppose we should be grateful...what would his approval rating be if he didn't publicly display his idiocy? At least display it so forcefully and unequivocally. I think there's a decent subsection of the population that's always known trump for what he is, but without his Twitter antics he'd at least have plausible denability with that 25% or so who are undecided and/or reconsidering their support. I think it's well established that his 40% base is going absolutely nowhere no matter what happens..forget murder on 5th Avenue he could commit genocide against some 'scary them/other/foreigner' and they'd back him all the way to hell

[LordMortis]

Fake News reporting, a complete fabrication, that I am concerned about the meeting my wonderful son, Donald, had in Trump Tower. This was a meeting to get information on an opponent, totally legal and done all the time in politics - and it went nowhere. I did not know about it!

"NO YES COLLUSION!"

Is the best part calling it Fake News while confirming the truth of what he has been calling Fake News?

Or is the best part throwing Don Jr. under the bus?

There is no best part. The bar has slid Rip style and now his people can say they don't care and even embrace this new truth after 18 months of denial and flat out lies. If the elections are lost, I don't know what's next. Embracing the next step is happening at a crazy rate we have to be living through to believe.

[Skinypupy]

BREAKING: Rick Gates in Manafort trial testimony:

Prosecutor: "Were you involved in any criminal activity with Mr. Manafort?"

Gates: "Yes".

Prosecutor: "Did you commit any crimes with Mr. Manafort?"

Gates: "Yes."

[Smoove_B]

Did Hannity air yet? Did he say committing financial crimes isn't a crime?

[ImLawBoy]

Everyone does it.

[Alefroth]

Everyone does it.

It makes them smart.

[LawBeefaroni]

Everyone does it.

That was my go-to when I was what, 7-years-old? I had move to a new line of argument by 8, because no, if everyone was jumping off of a bridge I wouldn't do it.

[wonderpug]

Everyone does it.

That was my go-to when I was what, 7-years-old? I had move to a new line of argument by 8, because no, if everyone was jumping off of a bridge I wouldn't do it.

"Look, I know I shouldn't have hit a baseball through the neighbors window, but what about Hillary's emails?"

[Isgrimnur]

Everyone does it.

That was my go-to when I was what, 7-years-old? I had move to a new line of argument by 8, because no, if everyone was jumping off of a bridge I wouldn't do it.

"Look, I know I shouldn't have hit a baseball through the neighbors window, but what about Hillary's emails?"

[Defiant]

A Fox News host asks:

“How in the world could he ever cooperate and sit down with Mueller for an interview knowing that if you tell one lie to Bob Mueller, he will move to file charges?” she said during Monday’s show.

One of her guests responded

“He could not tell a lie, that’s always an option here,” she said.

link

[Skinypupy]

One of her guests responded

“He could not tell a lie, that’s always an option here,” she said.

Sadly, it's really not.

[Pyperkub]

One of her guests responded

“He could not tell a lie, that’s always an option here,” she said.

Sadly, it's really not.

Well, as far back as the Presidency goes, it has been (allegedly) a precedent as well as a defining virtue of the President of the United States.

I cannot tell a lie, I did it. (2 term President, enshrined on Rushmore)

I am not a crook (lie). Impeached and resigned in disgrace.

It depends upon what the definition of the word is is. Impeached.

[LawBeefaroni]

"Lying is not a crime."
1st God-Emperor for life

[Pyperkub]

"Lying is not a crime."
1st God-Emperor for life

Paul Muad-Dib?

[Max Peck]

I am not a crook (lie). Impeached and resigned in disgrace.

IIRC, Nixon resigned before he could be impeached.

[Fitzy]

"Lying is not a crime."
1st God-Emperor for life

Paul Muad-Dib?

I thought Leto was the first God-Emperor and Paul was just Emperor?

[hepcat]

Steve Bannon was Thufir Hawat.

[Holman]

"Lying is not a crime."
1st God-Emperor for life

Paul Muad-Dib?

I thought Leto was the first God-Emperor and Paul was just Emperor?

Leto II

Steve Bannon was Thufir Hawat.

Piter De Vries

[Sepiche]

Piter De Vries

Piter was marginally sane, but extraordinarily competent. Bannon is much more of a 'Beast' Rabban... in form and function.

[Skinypupy]

Great Mr. Fed article explaining why the judge yelling at the prosecutors means very little.

[Fitzy]

"Lying is not a crime."
1st God-Emperor for life

Paul Muad-Dib?

I thought Leto was the first God-Emperor and Paul was just Emperor?

Leto II

Oh yeah, I forgot he was named after his grandfather

[Skinypupy]

Let's hear a recording of what Devin Nunes is saying about the investigation "in private" (at a private fundraiser dinner), shall we?
Whoops...he said the quiet part out loud again.

TL:DR - Nunes openly admits that they know Trump is (at best) a sack of shit or (at worst) engaged in illegal activity, but they have to defend him or else "this all goes away". A better summary taken from this amusing Twitter:

So, Maddow rolled a tape of Devin Nunes blabbing at a fundraiser about House Republicans' overt schemes to obstruct justice and protect Trump as a means of staying in power. The comments were as stupid as Nunes himself. This is Stupid Watergate. 1/

Among them, Nunes alleges there really is an interest in impeaching Rod Rosenstein but only after SCOTUS nominee Kavanaugh is confirmed since that would be doomed after the midterms. 2/

So, on the one hand, even Nunes knows Repubs have "only a few months left". On the other hand, he doesn't seem to get that impeachment would require a 2/3 Senate vote - which has a 0% chance of happening. 3/

Later in the audio, Nunes openly talks about how House R's have to stay in the majority because if they can't protect Trump from Mueller "all of this goes away." 4/

Now, bear in mind, this colossal dipsh** made these comments from the podium at a fundraising dinner for the #4 ranking House Republican. He didn't get caught on a mic in a private moment. He said this to a roomful of people. Dumb as a f***ing hammer, that guy. 5/

...and this is the kicker: All the covert operatives had to do to get the audio was buy a ticket to the fundraiser. They bought a ticket and then sat there eating the obligatory Caesar salad and cordon bleu while Nunes gave away the whole plot. Dumb. As. A. Hammer. 6/

Can't wait to see the right try to do damage control on this one... The entire treason jenga tower is falling down. They're rickety facade if just plain coming apart. And it's only Wednesday. This is Stupid Watergate, y'all. <end>

Good to see Stupid Watergate rolls on unabated. Sadly, Stupid Electorate still won't care, because STIGGINIT.

[GungHo]

Yeah that Nunes guy...not sure who invited him to either the Party or the party but I don't think he's particularly welcome. Much less so after this mess. But I've first hand knowledge of his particular base as it involves my MIL and several BILs plus their kids and then the whole family tree just sort of explodes from there. Long story longer, they're all in on Nunes. It's not the rabid in your face stuff we see from trump supporters but they are definitely there for him and given the demographics of that part of CA and that the largest minority group in play, Hispanics, have a ridiculously tough road to hoe simply to stay in the country given the current political situation we find ourselves in. Going to be very difficult get a grass roots operation going with a bunch of folks who are quite correctly worried about being here next month.
Unfortunately I think it means Nunes for another 2 years.

But yes I concur he's an idiotic

[malchior]

I bet we'll see the House leadership totally step up and do something about this now. It was pretty obvious what he was doing but unfortunately there was no proof. Now that he has said it out loud and the public has heard it...they have to do something. Right?

[Paingod]

Can we stop calling it Stupid Watergate and just simplify it to Stupidgate?

[Jaymann]

I'm kinda partial to Vatergate.

[LawBeefaroni]

Witchergate.

[Carpet_pissr]

Let's hear a recording of what Devin Nunes is saying about the investigation "in private" (at a private fundraiser dinner), shall we?
Whoops...he said the quiet part out loud again.

TL:DR - Nunes openly admits that they know Trump is (at best) a sack of shit or (at worst) engaged in illegal activity, but they have to defend him or else "this all goes away". A better summary taken from this amusing Twitter:
Can't wait to see the right try to do damage control on this one... The entire treason jenga tower is falling down. They're rickety facade if just plain coming apart. And it's only Wednesday. This is Stupid Watergate, y'all. <end>

Good to see Stupid Watergate rolls on unabated. Sadly, Stupid Electorate still won't care, because STIGGINIT.

Exactly.

Why would the right try to do damage control? Completely unnecessary these days.

The author keeps mentioning how stupid this was, but I disagree. It's not stupid, it's a just comment/line of thinking that has unfortunately become acceptable in the current political climate, so there will likely be no blow-back or repercussions, or firing that would have likely happened even 5 years ago if anyone on either side of the aisle had done this. Maybe 10 years? I dunno.

I get the mental image of the author (Maddow?) hearing this, pointing a finger, and yelling "HA! I KNEW IT! BUSTED!!!" And then crickets.

[LordMortis]

It's just one pretense on the all pretense being dropped line. How many pretenses do they have left?

[hepcat]

The only thing that could potentially turn a Trumper away from his orange god is a sustained economic downturn. There is quite literally nothing he can do otherwise that would cause them to break ranks.

[Skinypupy]

The only thing that could potentially turn a Trumper away from his orange god is a sustained economic downturn. There is quite literally nothing he can do otherwise that would cause them to break ranks.

Why would that matter? They've already proven that they'll vote against their own economic interests time and time again as long as there's an R next to the name.

[LawBeefaroni]

The only thing that could potentially turn a Trumper away from his orange god is a sustained economic downturn. There is quite literally nothing he can do otherwise that would cause them to break ranks.

Pretty sure an economic downturn would serve to further entrench them. Immigrants taking jobs/diluting American dominance, Democrats hate capitalism, etc. Also, I'd expect to hear a lot of "Desperate times call for desperate measures."

[hepcat]

I doubt Trump would escape unscathed from such an event. Factories shipping jobs overseas, or simply laying off workers in droves, would turn quite a few of his supporters. It's all about the economy for a president.

[Carpet_pissr]

I doubt Trump would escape unscathed from such an event. Factories shipping jobs overseas, or simply laying off workers in droves, would turn quite a few of his supporters. It's all about the economy for a president.

The lay-offs, due to tariffs, are already happening. Not in droves yet, but when these things really kick in next year....oof.

[stessier]

I doubt Trump would escape unscathed from such an event. Factories shipping jobs overseas, or simply laying off workers in droves, would turn quite a few of his supporters. It's all about the economy for a president.

The lay-offs, due to tariffs, are already happening. Not in droves yet, but when these things really kick in next year....oof.

Just in time to blame the new Democrat controlled Congress.

[El Guapo]

I doubt Trump would escape unscathed from such an event. Factories shipping jobs overseas, or simply laying off workers in droves, would turn quite a few of his supporters. It's all about the economy for a president.

The lay-offs, due to tariffs, are already happening. Not in droves yet, but when these things really kick in next year....oof.

Just in time to blame the new Democrat controlled Congress.

People reflexively blame the President more than Congress when things go badly.

[LawBeefaroni]

I doubt Trump would escape unscathed from such an event. Factories shipping jobs overseas, or simply laying off workers in droves, would turn quite a few of his supporters. It's all about the economy for a president.

Logical assesements? Measured reactions? Isn't it a bit late to assume those?

I doubt Trump would escape unscathed from such an event. Factories shipping jobs overseas, or simply laying off workers in droves, would turn quite a few of his supporters. It's all about the economy for a president.

The lay-offs, due to tariffs, are already happening. Not in droves yet, but when these things really kick in next year....oof.

Just in time to blame the new Democrat controlled Congress.

People reflexively blame the President more than Congress when things go badly.

Not when the President "tells it like it is" and makes them feel good about being jackholes. And these are not normal times anyway. We're wondering if neo-nazis are going to show up to march in Washington and where deep state conspiracy nutobs are going to strike next.