So, Here's My Theory About What's Happening Right Now in the Mueller Inquiry

[louis c]

I'm trying to apply critical thinking here, so I will be making some assumptions and speculation, but not without some evidence, which may be circumstantial.

I assume that Matthew Whitaker has been told by the ethics people in the Justice Department that he should recuse himself from the Mueller investigation. Add to that the fact that he is personally involved in an FBI fraud investigation. Add to that the fact that he is privy to Mueller's overwhelming evidence, and you can see that he would come to the conclusion that it's in his best interest to "stand down".

The evidence to back this up is that Bob Mueller has been moving full steam ahead. My theory is that Rod Rosenstein is still the person Mueller answers to and needs permission from. Whitaker is only informed of the moves. I still think Whitaker passes the information along to Trump, hence his uncontrollable outbursts as he sees the walls closing in.

Trump, knowing that his ploy of placing Whitaker in charge of the Mueller investigation has not worked and that Rosenstein and Mueller are now emboldened. This puts Trump and his family further in harms way, with time running out. Trump is left with fewer and worse options.

As a result, Trump needs to act and act fast. He needs to replace Whitaker as soon as possible. But, Trump can't get a lackey confirmed in the Senate and that AG nominee is going to be asked pointed questions about restraining Mueller. You see, if Whitaker was obstructing the Mueller investigation, as he was supposed to, Trump would be holding the stronger hand. If the Senate didn't confirm a lackey, his lackey Whittaker, would still be the acting AG. But, (if my theory is correct) Whitaker has moved aside and Rosenstein is still in charge of Mueller so Trump needs to replace Whitaker ASAP. Hence, William Barr. It has been explained to Trump that Barr is easily confirmable. He has the credentials that make him qualified. He has the gravitas, as Papa Bush's AG in 1992 and 1993 to make it through the Senate process. He may not be a lackey, but he's the only plausible and best option left to Trump.

I believe, either way, Trump's fucked.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

1. Not to diminish your thoughtful post-but...

I'd say they're all shitfaced drunk. The poor slob who has "witch hunt" in the office Trump Bingo game has done so many shots they're probably in the hospital getting their stomach pumped and suffering from alcohol poisoning. No, please don't tweet "angry democrats" again! I can't do another shot and I have work to do!

[jodymarie aimee]

2. I happen to think that

you are spot on...he just this second announced Barr...

[Jarqui]

3. I'm not quite as confident about Barr's involvement

He did not like some of Mueller team donating to Clinton
He's defended Trump's firing of Comey
As AG, he backed GHW Bush pardoning the Iran Contra criminals to help protect GHW Bush

I think Trump is doomed politically but Barr could help him with Mueller.

[louis c]

5. I trust Patrick Leahy's Judgment

<snip>“What I have said, without mentioning Mr. Barr — I’ve said, the best thing the administration can do is to get somebody who had majority support from Republicans and Democrats alike for attorney general. Those are the best attorneys general,” said Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which would hold hearings on a nominee.<snip>

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/former-attorney-general-william-barr-contender-for-old-job/2018/12/06/63e14de8-f991-11e8-8642-c9718a256cbd_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.0212cefc3258

[Jarqui]

6. I don't trust Patrick Leahy's Judgment

Trump Attorney General Nominee William Barr Thought Clinton ‘Should Be Investigated’
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-attorney-general-favorite-william-barr-thought-clinton-should-be-investigated

Barr has said publicly that the DOJ should have done more to investigate Hillary Clinton, telling The New York Times in November 2017 that there was nothing “inherently wrong” about the president calling for an investigation into Clinton.

“Although an investigation shouldn’t be launched just because a president wants it, the ultimate question is whether the matter warrants investigation,” Barr said, adding that there was a basis to investigate Clinton for Uranium One.

“To the extent it is not pursuing these matters, the department is abdicating its responsibility,” he said.

“I don’t think all this stuff about throwing [Clinton] in jail or jumping to the conclusion that she should be prosecuted is appropriate,” Barr told The Washington Post last year, “but I do think that there are things that should be investigated that haven’t been investigated.”

Barr is probably coming after Hillary

[louis c]

8. Any investigastion of Hillary will clear her.

There is no "there" there.

She may end up with some sort of reprimand. The worst thing she may have done was circumvent the FOIA laws, which is a minor and civil infraction. It's more like an ethics violation. Since she is not running anymore. who cares?

The most important thing to this country is throwing Trump out of office or making him resign.

[Jarqui]

9. I think he was talking about Uranium one

which even FOX News cleared her of

Uranium One Conspiracy Theorist Bill Barr Emerges As Leading AG Choice
Barr also supported pardoning Iran-Contra stooges, which seems relevant.
https://abovethelaw.com/2018/12/uranium-one-conspiracy-theorist-bill-barr-emerges-as-leading-ag-choice/

In fact, in November 2017, Barr told the New York Times that there was actually more basis to investigate Hillary Clinton for the Uranium One deal than there is to investigate Trump for potential collusion with Russia. He went so far as to say the Justice Department was wrong to give Clinton a pass.

...

Barr also has a relevant history with special counsels, and has appointed some himself. But when Bush in 1992 decided to pardon several figures in the Iran-contra scandal, he took the legs out from beneath the independent prosecutor investigating the matter. And one of the people Bush consulted was Barr. At the time, the prosecutor, Lawrence Walsh, called it “a sort of Saturday night massacre” — a reference to high-profile Nixon firings during the thick of the Watergate scandal.

Read that bolded sentence.
This guy is very partisan.
He will shut down Mueller as much as he can - including with pardons like Iran Contra.
And he'll come after the Clintons to score political points leading up to 2020.

If Pat Leahy is not wary of this guy, he's an old fool.

[ScratchCat]

12. They are not going to investigate

"Uranium One". There is nothing to investigate. Keep in mind, every time someone on the right brings up U1, its simply an attempt to divert the conversation away from Trump to "Bad Hillary Clinton" without having to actually discuss U1. Its a talking point. U1 has nothing to do with HC other than the fact that she was SOS when the deal was approved by a dozen departments in the Federal Government. They aren't going to "investigate" something that doesn't really have anything to do with Hillary Clinton which would result in it their entire talking point being destroyed.

[Jarqui]

15. I don't think there's anything to Uranium One either

It is a sign that like Trump, Flynn and Corsi, this AG is into conspiracy theories.

And it is a sign he is coming after Hillary - basically saying "if you're going to mess up our Republican president with prosecutors, two can play that game and we're going to mess up your w-2016 candidate until another one emerges".

[louis c]

13. Barr has to answer pointed question, under oath...

...just like Elliott Richardson did.

If he doesn't answer them correctly, he won't win confirmation. If he goes back on his word, he'll be held to account for perjury. If not this Senate, certainly a future one. Barr will not take that chance. Hell, even Whitaker won't take that chance.

[Jarqui]

14. If he is going to do the Republicans dirty deeds, why couldn't they press to confirm him?

There doesn't seem to be right and wrong with Republicans. It's "do it the Republican way or we won't let anyone do anything"

He's partisan. He's gunning for Hillary because that will fire up the base, etc.

[louis c]

16. He still has to answer Democratic Senators' questions under oath and in public...

...and he'll find nothing on Hillary.

[Jarqui]

18. So did Kavanaugh - until he boiled over. Where did that get us with that sex assaulter?

He's cued up to screw progressive laws for the next thirty something years.

Hillary finished her term as Secretary of State with pretty good numbers. She did herself a lot of good in that role and deserved it. Benghazi. Emails. They damaged her numbers big time.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/224330/hillary-clinton-favorable-rating-new-low.aspx

They didn't find anything of great substance with Benghazi either ... except a way to hurt her candidacy. That was always what it was about.

This time around, she'll just be something for their rabid conspiracy theorists to gnaw on - to keep their base hating and engaged until new leaders start to emerge from the primaries.

This is simply a part of the playbook on how the Republicans govern.

William Barr is well versed in it and prepared to do just that.

[louis c]

19. Patience, my friend...

...I've seen this movie before.

I was 22 years old in 1974. This movie ends with a disgraced President resigning and waving good-bye as he boards the helicopter that can't be called marine one because he's not President anymore.

In the coming weeks, Trump won't be able to find a friend anywhere and a year from now you won't be able to find a person who will admit he voted for Trump.

Be patient and watch the show.

[Jarqui]

20. I was just a little bit younger in 1974

and very disappointed with the pardon

Among other things, this time, they've stolen an election and so far, two justices on the Supreme Court.

I feel we have endured a number of election "thefts".

Nixon messing with the Vietnam peace talks for '68
Nixon burglarizing Democrat offices in '72
Reagan Iran-Contra to take out Carter
Bush Willie Horton swiftboat of Dukakis
Bush steals Florida in 2001
Bush lies to get into the Iraq war and swiftboats Kerry

Asking me to be patient after the Republicans steal another election in concert with the Russians and walk away with the spoils is asking too much. I'm fed up.

If Trump winds up friendless, I could care less. These people are circumventing democracy and screwing with peoples lives. I'm after some restitution.

[louis c]

22. We will get justice, but not full restitution

We aren't getting the Supreme Court justices back. Pence may very well pardon Trump.

What we will get is the satisfaction that everything related to Trump will be disgraced and we should win landslide elections in the next few cycles. We have to use those mandates to right the ship of state.

[JCMach1]

4. I feel the evidence is so substantial that almost

No one who becomes AG can ignore it, or significantly interfere. It's bad people...

[louis c]

24. I agree

[sunonmars]

7. and lo and behold Trumpy just nominated Barr.

[dalton99a]

10. Trump nominates William Barr to be his next attorney general

https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/07/politics/william-barr-attorney-general-nomination/index.html

[louis c]

11. I posted this before that news broke...

...pretty uncanny, ha?

[denbot]

17. If Barr is loyal to Pappy, Shitler done fucked up.

Pappy could strike back from the grave for torpedoing Jeb’s Political career via Barr.

[OnDoutside]

21. I don't think we will see the big indictments like Uday until after Jan 3rd, and then it's on. I

would also reckon Whitaker has been given enough information to say that such is the evidence, if he obstructs, he will go down too.

[louis c]

23. I'm getting to believe you are correct