The Trump Investigation(s) Thread

[Jaymann]

Trump will just continue screaming FULLY EXONERATED! right up until the marshals lead him away.

[Kraken]

Show of hands: How many people here think Trump has read the full Mueller report? Anybody?

I would guess that he needed the four-page summary boiled down to one sheet of bullet points, with illustrations.

[Exodor]

Show of hands: How many people here think Trump has read the full Mueller report? Anybody?

I would guess that he needed the four-page summary boiled down to one sheet of bullet points, with illustrations.

I would guess he just watched the summary on Fox News.

[Zarathud]

Barr told a guy who told Trump. The most important goddamn 4 pages of his life. But someone had to tell him third hand.

It's a madhouse! A madhouse!

[Jaymann]

I have attorneys, the best attorneys, to read that legal stuff. They are really fantastic, except for that Co-han guy, really low energy, sad!

[Kraken]

Show of hands: How many people here think Trump has read the full Mueller report? Anybody?

I would guess that he needed the four-page summary boiled down to one sheet of bullet points, with illustrations.

I would guess he just watched the summary on Fox News.

...which suggests the question, "Has Fox News read the full Mueller report?" (Probably not, but it won't surprise me if they get it before anyone else.)

[Holman]

He sounds fully exonerated.

[pr0ner]

Coming from a president who allows admin officials to do conference calls with reporters but allows those officials to remain nameless so the reporters don't know who they're actually talking to...

[LordMortis]

He sounds fully exonerated.

People are saying the sources are good.

[Kurth]

Big yawn to all of this at this point. I have little confidence the Mueller report will ever be released, except possibly in a form so redacted as to make it meaningless.

But even if it were produced (or leaked) what impact are we really expecting? Nothing will happen. The needle won’t move. Not one bit. Trump haters will keep on hating. Trumpaloos will keep on Trumping. The media will keep on chyroning.

In the end, who really cares?

[Blackhawk]

There are two scenarios, I think.

The least likely is that it will be leaked in its entirety (or at least a few 'juicy' pages.)

The more likely is that it will be released publicly, just in time for our kids to tell their grandkids about how they remember hearing about him on the news.

[Pyperkub]

There are two scenarios, I think.

The least likely is that it will be leaked in its entirety (or at least a few 'juicy' pages.)

The more likely is that it will be released publicly, just in time for our kids to tell their grandkids about how they remember hearing about him on the news.

Or on January 21st, 2021/5

[Holman]

AG Barr is testifying to the House Appropriations subcommittee and getting grilled on the Mueller report.

Takeaways so far:

1) Mueller did not review or endorse Barr's summary letter,
1) Barr refuses to say whether he has briefed the WH on the report,
2) Says a redacted version will be available within a week,
3) When asked whether an unredacted report will be available to Congress, says No.

[Smoove_B]

Isn't it strange that he could read and summarize the 300+ page report in like two days, but it's taking 3+ weeks to create a redacted version for all the plebes to review?

Seriously, F this timeline.

[hepcat]

Big yawn to all of this at this point. I have little confidence the Mueller report will ever be released, except possibly in a form so redacted as to make it meaningless.

But even if it were produced (or leaked) what impact are we really expecting? Nothing will happen. The needle won’t move. Not one bit. Trump haters will keep on hating. Trumpaloos will keep on Trumping. The media will keep on chyroning.

In the end, who really cares?

The victims.

[Skinypupy]

Isn't it strange that he could read and summarize the 300+ page report in like two days, but it's taking 3+ weeks to create a redacted version for all the plebes congress to review?

FTFY.

How he's able to get away with that is entirely beyond me.

[stessier]

I don't think the time line is that crazy. Perhaps his summary, but I think 3+ weeks to make sure everyone agrees on the redactions is reasonable. Mr Fed discussed what is likely to be redacted and how Congress could still get a general idea on the topics, if not specifics, through questioning Barr.

[Holman]

[...] and how Congress could still get a general idea on the topics, if not specifics, through questioning Barr.

If today is any indication, I'd say that's not likely.

[El Guapo]

I don't think the GOP has any standing on redaction / privilege issues after the Nunes FISA debacle.

[Kurth]

Big yawn to all of this at this point. I have little confidence the Mueller report will ever be released, except possibly in a form so redacted as to make it meaningless.

But even if it were produced (or leaked) what impact are we really expecting? Nothing will happen. The needle won’t move. Not one bit. Trump haters will keep on hating. Trumpaloos will keep on Trumping. The media will keep on chyroning.

In the end, who really cares?

The victims.

Not this victim. That may be a little hyperbole, but I really don't care much at this point.

We all know what Trump has done. We know who he has surrounded himself with and what they've been up to. At least, we know this stuff at a high level. Do we think the details are really going to change anyone's view or change the impact? Everything's about 2020. Unless you think that damaging stuff from the Mueller report will somehow stick to Trump and have an impact on the next election, who cares?

I'll tell you what I do care about: The Democrats eating their own. I'm watching what's been happening with Biden. And I'm seeing the savaging Buttigieg is taking from the progressive corners of social and mainstream media. I'm reading the stupid CNN takedown piece on Kamala Harris today regarding her position on the death penalty and her refusal to seek it when she was a recently elected DA and a copy got shot in the line of duty. I have a terrible feeling that we're going to end up with 4 more years of Trump, and it will be the Democrats who put him in office.

Sorry. This is a misplaced post. I'll save it for the 2020 thread from now on.

[GreenGoo]

Another great thing drumpf has accomplished is creating an environment where corruption and incompetence elicits apathy, paving the way for mediocrity and questionable legality both at home and on the world stage.

American exceptionalism indeed.

I mean, you know, whatever.

[hepcat]

I'll tell you what I do care about: The Democrats eating their own. I'm watching what's been happening with Biden. And I'm seeing the savaging Buttigieg is taking from the progressive corners of social and mainstream media. I'm reading the stupid CNN takedown piece on Kamala Harris today regarding her position on the death penalty and her refusal to seek it when she was a recently elected DA and a copy got shot in the line of duty. I have a terrible feeling that we're going to end up with 4 more years of Trump, and it will be the Democrats who put him in office.

Sorry. This is a misplaced post. I'll save it for the 2020 thread from now on.

Have you never been through a presidential primary before?

[Kraken]

I'll tell you what I do care about: The Democrats eating their own. I'm watching what's been happening with Biden. And I'm seeing the savaging Buttigieg is taking from the progressive corners of social and mainstream media. I'm reading the stupid CNN takedown piece on Kamala Harris today regarding her position on the death penalty and her refusal to seek it when she was a recently elected DA and a copy got shot in the line of duty. I have a terrible feeling that we're going to end up with 4 more years of Trump, and it will be the Democrats who put him in office.

Sorry. This is a misplaced post. I'll save it for the 2020 thread from now on.

Have you never been through a presidential primary before?

"I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat." --Will Rogers

Cacophony has always been their stock in trade, and that's healthy if they finally rally behind the nominee.

[El Guapo]

I'll tell you what I do care about: The Democrats eating their own. I'm watching what's been happening with Biden. And I'm seeing the savaging Buttigieg is taking from the progressive corners of social and mainstream media. I'm reading the stupid CNN takedown piece on Kamala Harris today regarding her position on the death penalty and her refusal to seek it when she was a recently elected DA and a copy got shot in the line of duty. I have a terrible feeling that we're going to end up with 4 more years of Trump, and it will be the Democrats who put him in office.

Sorry. This is a misplaced post. I'll save it for the 2020 thread from now on.

Have you never been through a presidential primary before?

"I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat." --Will Rogers

Cacophony has always been their stock in trade, and that's healthy if they finally rally behind the nominee.

I don't worry about primary in-fighting so much (the Republicans had a messy primary in 2016, and that didn't prove to be a problem). I do worry about a brokered convention, and that it might lead to the #2 candidate's supporters staying home on election day (especially if that runner-up is Sanders).

[Holman]

He sounds fully exonerated.

[Holman]

If I'm a Mueller investigator, I'm going full Daniel Ellsberg at this point.

[GreenGoo]

Ellsberg was a big wikileaks fan. Maybe Mueller's team is too.

[hepcat]

I don't worry about primary in-fighting so much (the Republicans had a messy primary in 2016, and that didn't prove to be a problem). I do worry about a brokered convention, and that it might lead to the #2 candidate's supporters staying home on election day (especially if that runner-up is Sanders).

I wish I lived in a country in which I could vote for the person I thought could do the job the best, instead of a country where I vote for someone because I don't want another 4 years of Trump.

In the past, throwing away your vote could be a noble gesture. Now it's just downright dangerous.

[El Guapo]

I don't worry about primary in-fighting so much (the Republicans had a messy primary in 2016, and that didn't prove to be a problem). I do worry about a brokered convention, and that it might lead to the #2 candidate's supporters staying home on election day (especially if that runner-up is Sanders).

I wish I lived in a country in which I could vote for the person I thought could do the job the best, instead of a country where I vote for someone because I don't want another 4 years of Trump.

In the past, throwing away your vote could be a noble gesture. Now it's just downright dangerous.

Then, sir, ranked choice voting is for you.

There's been more of a push for it in recent years, and they now have it in Maine, where it resulted in a Democratic victory in the ME-2 House district (the GOP candidate was first in the initial vote with a plurality, but the second+ choice votes put the Democrat ahead.

It's something that should be pretty universal in our elections.

Of course, for now yes voting third party is dangerous.

[El Guapo]

Though I should add that the risk of a brokered convention is not driven by spoiler candidates or plurality election winners, but rather by the Democrats proportional allocation of delegates, reduction in superdelegates, and a surfeit of candidates.

[Jaymann]

He sounds fully exonerated.

That's a rather serious allegation for the POTUS to be making. It's telling that no one will do a damn thing about it.

[hepcat]

If you shock people 942 times a day with lies or outrageous claims, you're eventually going to make them immune to whatever you do or say. This is Trump's entire point of existence...and has been since birth.

[Unagi]

since birth?! that's almost an outrageous claim.

[Jaymann]

Well since he became a birther at least.

[El Guapo]

since birth?! that's almost an outrageous claim.

One month in he was complaining about his mother's breastmilk, saying "Trump breastmilk is the best, top class, everyone says so, much better than this cheap low cost breastmilk that I'm getting."

[Kraken]

If you shock people 942 times a day with lies or outrageous claims, you're eventually going to make them immune to whatever you do or say. This is Trump's entire point of existence...and has been since birth.

Robert Reich's mantra is Pay no attention to what Trump says, but watch carefully what he does.

[Unagi]

since birth?! that's almost an outrageous claim.

One month in he was complaining about his mother's breastmilk, saying "Trump breastmilk is the best, top class, everyone says so, much better than this cheap low cost breastmilk that I'm getting."

Donny make biggest boom boom in potty, mommy!

[Holman]

If you shock people 942 times a day with lies or outrageous claims, you're eventually going to make them immune to whatever you do or say. This is Trump's entire point of existence...and has been since birth.

Robert Reich's mantra is Pay no attention to what Trump says, but watch carefully what he does.

Like, say, having his AG launch an investigation into Obama/Comey's DOJ "spying" on the Trump campaign?

[LawBeefaroni]

He sounds fully exonerated.

That's a rather serious allegation for the POTUS to be making. It's telling that no one will do a damn thing about it.

Wasn't it only a week or two ago when Huckabee said the same thing and the defense was that oh, no, she just meant that people running the investigation were accusing Trump of treason, which is punishable by death, the treason, not the accusing, what are you crazy although accusing a president is probably treason, right? Like do we forget this shit?

He will be calling for arrests and executions. Well, someone will put it out there again and see what kind of reaction it gets. Until it's safe for him to say it.

[GreenGoo]

Robert Reich's mantra is Pay no attention to what Trump says, but watch carefully what he does.

That's moronic. He does the same stupid shit that he says. He's got all the subtlety and effectiveness of a rusty chainsaw. The only reason that his words and actions don't align at times is that his handlers (and, rarely, the law) reel him in).

He is his words. That's almost entirely all he is.