How do you see this unfolding? Where do you see

[AmericanActivist]

it going? I’m a novice, ok, actually fledgling ing chess player. I am limited in the number of moves I can imagine if and ahead. Perhaps some of you are much better at it?

When you think about the current situation this government and the American people are in, how do you see it unfolding? I mean, there’s the miracle outcome where tRump and his complicit cohorts are rendered no longer a threat to the country preferably by the application of RICO laws. What would that look like? Charges. Indictments. Removals from offices. Resignations to spend more time with family. Trials. Testimonies. Depositions. Plea agreements.

I mean we know Russia interfered. We know tRump is a Russian asset. We know at least 19 tRump people (so far) have connections to Russia. We know there is money laundering, Cyprus, Mob/Mafia and the like. But how does this play out?

What will happen in the public opinion arena? What will the people do? First of all, we know Americans cannot be bothered to participate in their government, you know, the one “of the people, by the people, for the people” that has functioned for decades without most of the people because you know they’re “not political” or “all politicians are corrupt” or “both political parties are the same so it doesn’t matter” but I digress, my point is given the climate here now, do you think people will be thoughtful, reasonable, civically minded, hell, even civil? I don’t. Maybe you do?

I’m attempting to wrap my head around what could be ahead. What might unfold. What the possible outcomes are. At this point, I don’t see things going well. How about you?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. The election of Trump was a black swan event.

I don't know what the hell is going to happen.

[AmericanActivist]

4. lol ok not funny but true and I appreciate that you

Made me laugh. It’s hard to see given the “black swan event” as you say.

[blue cat]

2. I don't see things going well either

There is no fight in me anymore. I'm so apathetic about politics right now that I don't feel like arguing with my relatives at Christmas. It feels like they won everything, yet nothing and their not capable of seeing it.

[byronius]

3. There's precedent for hope.

I would cite the 1920's trial of the Grand Wizard of the Klan. At that time most Americans embraced the Klan's mission. Calvin Coolidge thought Birth of a Nation was brilliant. The Klan had several declared Supreme Court justices, most of the Congress, most of the Senate, and the entire State of Indiana.

The Grand Wizard had been charged with biting a young woman to death. It was his sexual preference to bite young women all over their bodies, after which they would be discarded to die of sepsis. One young 17 year old woman survived being thrown from the Grand Wizard's train and was found by two police officers, both Klan members. Before she died, she identified her assailant.

Her testimony convicted him in Indiana in front of an all-Klan jury and judge. Within a year the news had spread and sympathy for the Klan fell from 90 to 15 percent. They were effectively finished as a national force.

The United States has a conscience. Things turn on moments like that. We are a fierce and diverse nation that can learn lessons and combine for the common good. People can change under the ruthless beam of truth. It happens, and it happens here a lot.

We'll turn this back. We'll make this right. And when we do we need to return to a solid education in civics, the kind that's been degraded by the GOP for fifty years.

I don't think the Russians can pull this off. And they're going to wish they had. Terribly.

[AmericanActivist]

5. Thanks for the Hope Byronius. Something

I lack and am in desperate need of.

I am not familiar with the grand wizard case but have read about and seen films where the judge and juries warp the laws to suit their own motivations and prejudices. You know the stories, based on fact, in books, songs, movies. This is a disturbing part of tRump stacking courts with cronies even Hitler did this sort of thing.

Anyway, thanks for the information and especially the HOPE.

[OnDoutside]

9. Whatever about finding "12 good men and true", are there 12 good Republicans ?

We need courageous, honest republicans to save democracy in America, but I don't know where they are. Ones who have stood up to Trump, have then snaked their way back into his arms.

[world wide wally]

6. It worries me that people aren't up in arms already.

I think their philosophy is to keep us focused on making ends meet, television and... well........ that's about it.
Not looking good from here.

I think our hope is in the young people (if we can get them involved)

[rusty quoin]

7. I dont see this as anything like chess. There are no rules.

It is more like Calvin Ball from Calvin and Hobbs.

[AmericanActivist]

14. True eh. Recently I thought about this no rules

thing in terms of tRump et al versus the rest of us. Many people are playing by the rules but tRump and Rethuglicans are not. How would that work in...let’s say pro football or baseball or basketball or hell, any sport for that matter? Americans love their sports surely they could relate to such an analogy.

[pnwmom]

8. We are in uncharted waters. If Mueller is allowed to pursue his investigation unimpeded,

I think the results will end in toppling Trump and probably Pence, too.

If he's interfered with, then the battle will shift to the states and people like Attorney General Schneiderman.

[sprinkleeninow]

10. Sadly, I'm becoming less civil. Can still be a nice kiddo.

But, the current 'pathology' is quite affecting.

I have less patience with 'some' and I have no compunction/remorse about that.

[MFM008]

11. I'm fired up and ready to go.

Ready to march..protest..boycott...whatever.
This is WAR people.
Slap yourselves out of it.
The worst assholes in history are trying to kill us by neglect.
Everything we hold dear.
Look at these slurping pigs and
the ass they are kissing.
What lowlifes they are.
Scumbags.
Get angry.
Not just annoyed.
Furious.
We can't rest till we have him boxed in like the
Rat he is.

[Tetunot]

12. In The End

“The United States can always be relied upon to do the right thing — having first exhausted all possible alternatives.”



The majority of the country will see/has seen there is something very wrong w/this man & his administration. We will step up & admit this was a failure & Russia committed an act of war. There will always be a small percentage of imbeciles who believe the earth is flat, the south shall rise again & Elvis & Tupac are alive; you can't fight stupid. However Americans rise to the occasion when needed and I believe we shall do so again. Although it may take awhile.


(I didn't attach a name to the above quote because there is debate on whether it was Winston Churchill or Abba Eban who stated the quote. Read more about it here
quoteinvestigator.com)

[AmericanActivist]

17. Thanks for your reply. I meant to thank you

earlier; sorry about the delay. Also, I really love the quote and the information about it too.

[Squinch]

13. As someone else said, it looks like the only way out of this is through it. This cabal

will continue to loot our government for our money and services, and we will continue to protest wherever we can.

But the only way out is by getting them tossed. Stop their advance in 2018, then destroy them in 2020.

As I see it, there is a limit to what I can do: 1) browbeat my congress people until they wish I would die. 2) join EVERY protest that I can. ESPECIALLY any protest if Mueller is fired. And the upcoming anniversary women's march. Show them we are watching. And 3) Get Out The Vote. Seriously. Anything we can do.

[bluestarone]

15. way i see it is we all know how WW1 and WW2 were fought right?

i believe we need to look at this as War from Within! (as bad as the first 2?) Now we need to be prepared to do WHATEVER IT TAKES!!!!!!!!!! WE ARE UNDER ATTACK again our own democracy is at stake. Next 3 years will tell, BUT we better be ready if we want our country back!!!!!!!!!!

[milestogo]

16. The thing that scares me most are Republicans trying to protect Trump by undermining the FBI.

Trump is trashing every government agency, and now the Republicans are helping him behind the scenes. This is a direct attack on our democratic institutions.

[Orsino]

18. Nixon understood the scope of what he'd done, and the likely consequences.

We have a president who has never faced consequences, and won't necessarily know when he should resign. He's made it this far bluffing and blustering, and I see know sign of his learning new tricks.