Eugene Robinson: Don't be fooled. Giuliani has a strategy.

[ehrnst]

So we’re supposed to believe that Trump paid Cohen $35,000 a month to reimburse him for a hush-money payment that Trump, at least initially, knew nothing about. The money went to a woman Trump barely knew — he can’t claim he never met her, since there’s a photograph of them together — for an affair he says never took place. And Giuliani says there might be other women who also received hush money, but then again maybe not.

In terms of his legal skills, I think it’s clear that Giuliani has lost a step. Or two. One day he maintained there was no possible election-law violation, the next day he made a circumstantial case that there indeed was a violation. Decades ago, when he was busting up the New York mob, he never would have made such a rookie mistake.

But I also believe his satisfaction with his media blitz is genuine. Following the FBI seizure of Cohen’s files, the whole truth of the Daniels payment — and any others — was likely to come out anyway. Giuliani preemptively offered several versions of that truth, allowing Trump’s supporters to choose the one they find least appalling.

Giuliani is obfuscating, not clarifying. He’s making it harder to know even what the president claims, let alone what the truth might be. As a legal strategy, this would be insane. But it’s really a political strategy.

Congress poses the only serious threat to Trump, in the form of impeachment. If the president’s loyal base can be flimflammed into thinking this is all a big witch hunt, Republican lawmakers will stay in line. At least for now.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dont-be-fooled-giuliani-has-a-strategy/2018/05/07/9795eb06-5227-11e8-9c91-7dab596e8252_story.html

[Va Lefty]

1. "Republican lawmakers will stay in line. At least for now."

I see little evidence to dispute this statement.

[themaguffin]

5. Sadly yes, outside of a few empty statements

[sharedvalues]

2. This is true. "The Autocrat's Language" - M Gessen

Masha Gessen has discussed how this is Putin’s strategy: present multiple versions of every story so that Russians feel they have to rely on Putin for the truth.

http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2017/05/13/the-autocrats-language/

That’s why our real media is so important and we can’t let the GOP propaganda machine confuse us with lies.

[OrlandoDem1]

3. Which means that the Dems need to hold the GOP accountable. They need to be shaming the GOP.

The message ought to be that someone needs to stand up to Trump. Someone needs to hold him accountable and Congressional Republicans refuse. Put them on the defensive and force them to defend Trump, making them look like stooges who won’t stand up to a dictator, or hold him accountable and anger his base.

[ehrnst]

4. Like this?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/24/congress-releases-democratic-memo-rebutting-gop-claims-fbi-surveillance-abuse/370381002/

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2018/01/31/nancy-pelosi-donald-trump-russian-sanctions-sot.cnn

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2018/04/10/chuck-schumer-senate-floor-trump-mueller-warning-bts.cnn

Link to tweet

?lang=en

[Orsino]

6. Well, his being on the TV 24/7 probably gives him (and the president) the illusion of control.

Both may be shallow enough to think that they must be winning something or Rudy wouldn't keep getting on camera. As for Trump, he just didn't want Daniels' side getting all the airplay. He needs to see that his team is out there fighting for him, and for the moment that's enough.

It won't last.

[Girard442]

7. "Congress poses the only serious threat to Trump, in the form of impeachment."

Not entirely true, since Trump's family and business holdings are subject to prosecution and civil litigation inside and outside of the United States. Still, the only court Mueller can really win in is the court of public opinion.

Not pretty, but it's hard to see it any other way.

[dreamland]

8. Key item here, is whether he is really in control

Although everything seems to be running amok with Rudy, this strategy seems to be working for his party members. Whether it is by accident or by design, They are looking for excuses and scapegoats. Eventually, they will find the narrative that works best for themselves.

[ieoeja2]

9. Sounds like a good legal, not political, defense.

He makes it sound like Cohen was on retainer. He paid Daniels out of his retainer. And he paid several other women over the course of decades starting long before Trump even considered running for President. All of this would make it standard procedure unrelated specifically to the campaign and therefore completely legal.

As a former prosecutor Giuliani appears to know what he is doing. Politically it has poor optics. But legally he appears to be dotting the j's and crossing the q's.

[Merlot]

10. Standard procedure except for the the timing of the Stormy payment.

[Nitram]

11. I'm not so sure he has a strategy. He just called his own statements "rumors."

Giuliani is just getting the most out his day in the sun. Enjoy your 15 minutes, Rudy.

[duforsure]

12. I agree.

Ghouliani promoted BS by repeating the lies for trump, he broke no campaign finance laws, which he did, and he repeated the lie trump wanted to to talk to Mueller which I don't believe for a second, and Rudy went out to repeat the lies for trump . He just couldn't stop talking and has no ability to limit what he now says on tv. He's not all there anymore. Maybe drinking or drugging. Nothing would be a surprise from these people anymore that trump picks. Corruption running wild.

[Javaman]

13. I think Robinson is giving this version of ghouliani too much credit.

I think the "mob buster" days of ghouliani's past are long since gone.

not only do I think ghouliani is phoning it in, I don't believe has a good connection.

[Cosmocat]

16. Intentional or not, Robinson is correct on the process

The battle for 45 is keeping the Rs in congress under his boot, to provide cover for the next three years, then win reelection.

Justice will not hit him as long as his home address is 1600 Pa.

[Eyeball_Kid]

14. Controlling the news cycle is essential for Trumpy.

[yallerdawg]

15. Testing: "Which scenario would be worse?"

Answer: "The base doesn't give a shit, keep dismantling our government and calling people names."

We just have to remain outraged enough to get up off our asses!