I didn't think he'd resign or be found guilty but after tonight...

[eleny]

This feels like the Wild Mouse Ride. That meeting in the Oval back in early '17 has always stuck in my craw.

Maybe the Rs will think it's better to hurry and get rid of Trump if they can keep Pence and see him ascend.

I don't know how the logistics would work out for avoiding inheriting Pence as POTUS. Dems pulling off a double whammy will take so much skill. We know the mastery of Pelosi. I'm sure she'd want to keep Pence from the presidency. Maybe Trump would move to take Pence down to punish the Rs if he sees a guilty verdict coming. After all, he's been helpful so far.

[Miles Archer]

1. I still don't think he'll resign.

Remember, he's nuts. He's re-tweeting Fox "deep state" crap at a record pace. He's in a state of denial. If McConnell walks into the Oval Office and tells him "it's over," MAYBE. Until then, no.

That's possibility #1.

Possibility #2 is that he's actually impeached and removed from office, a long shot, because 20 Republican Senators would have to sign up for it.

I agree about the whirlwind pace, but the body count on Fifth Avenue continues to climb. I still see the remedy as November 2020.

I'd love to be wrong about that.

I'd love to see him removed as choice #1, and a resignation as choice #2.

[eleny]

2. Resignation sure isn't in his dna

I have to give you that. But I'm now wavering about what McConnell will do regarding the trial verdict. If Pence manages to squeak by then a guilty verdict could be viable.

The leaks coming out tonight about that '17 meeting are damning. His yukking it up with those two Russians makes me heart sick now that I know what they discussed.

[Miles Archer]

3. I said this in an earlier post today...

...if the House hands something off to McConnell that is air tight, McConnell will not tie his legacy to a defense of Trump.

But make no mistake...it will have to have every "I" dotted and every "T" crossed. And there is every indication from the House that it is exactly what they intend to do.

If that happens, McConnell will repeat history and tell Trump that he's run out of options.

If it doesn't happen, he won't.

I'm betting on "air tight."

[eleny]

6. It sounds entirely plausible if McC can have Pence as POTUS

Pence is the key to a guilty verdict. But I don't believe Trump will ever resign since that means jail time in state prison.

Husband thinks fleeing is a possibility. And given how completely nuts Trump has turned out to be I can see him languishing in Saudi. After all, he does have his own jet as do the Saudis.

[regnaD kciN]

8. Neither the Russians nor the Saudis nor anyone else...

...will welcome Trump once he’s no longer of any use to them. Particularly if he leaves in disgrace.

[eleny]

9. Oh, okay, you're surely right. I guess I'll just have to live with the image of him behind bars...

... in upstate New York.

[First Speaker]

5. I know one thing--if he's forced out, he's going to take Pence with him...

...or do his best to, in any event. And maybe Moscow Mitch, too. He'll be like Samson, pulling the temple down to take everyone with him. He won't be capable of *not* doing this.

[eleny]

7. I can easily see him pulling Pence down into the whirlpool with him

He already invoked Pence to the press the other day.

[dawg day]

4. I think he'll make it be that he's "Forced" to resign--

His brand is outrage, I been cheated!

And that will be what he talks about when he goes to his rallies all over the country. He'll probably collect contributions pretending he might run for something someday.

This is what he really likes, and now he can totally devote himself to stoking his base to violence.

I think that's what he will want-- he doesn't LIKE presidenting. I don't mean the work-- we know he hates that. But all the fun things-- like Obama bringing Jagger and BBKing to do a jam session, and all the state dinners, and having the championship teams in for a celebration, and all that-- he doesn't like any of that, and Melania gets no joy out of it, who knows why.

Being president just means to him that he can only golf 3 days a week, but someone else pays for it now.

[eleny]

10. No golf up the river - in JAIL!