Trump Turns On His Defenders

[berni_mccoy]

He’s done it time and time again.

He’ll do it this time as well... he’s already reportedly overwhelming House Republicans with communications about it in full on panic mode. If Trump feels like they aren’t defending him “well enough”, he will throw them under the bus. And let’s face it, unless Trump does it himself, he will never be happy with anyone else doing it. That is the way he is.

This serious character flaw will lead to his own downfall through the Impeachment Process.

[jberryhill]

1. The problem is that if they commit themselves to a defense, the legs are pulled out

What they are going to have to do is to divvy up which GOP officials are going to go with which defense.

The "it didn't happen" defense only lasts as long as it is shown to have happened.

Then they have to move the goalposts to "state of mind".

Then they have to move the goalposts to "this kind of thing is normal".

It was the same sequence in Watergate. But when you get to "this kind of thing is normal", then the obvious question is "why were you fighting so hard at 'it didn't happen'?"

So, they have to maintain a contingent of defenders at mutually-incompatible defense positions, so that when push comes to shove, any senator can pick the one most likely to fly with that senator's constituency.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. +1 (nt)

[wnylib]

2. You think he might insist on testifying in his

impeachment hearing? That would be amusing.

Or will he wait for the Senate trial?

His lawyers talked him out of testifying in person to Mueller but will he feel compelled to speak out in an actual trial about him?

[berni_mccoy]

5. Reporters ought to start asking him this question.

"Mr. President, why don't you simply clear the air and testify to Congress that you did nothing wrong? Are you afraid to testify?"

Challenge him on it, and he will probably do it.

[WhiteTara]

8. flattery will work better than challenges

tell him only he can tell the best story and will bigly carry the day.

[CrispyQ]

9. Maybe the NBC reporters should ask this question. After all, the network wants more pizzazz.

[Silver1]

6. He might find it irresistable ...

and really push to testify, especially if he feels his defenders are inept, which he does. I think if he did testify he would completely expose himself which would be a good thing.

At the same time, if he testified he would turn the hearings into a circus. And because he's already destroyed public confidence in our political system so much, it would take a very long time to recover from that kind of damage. I mean, lets face it, the republican party has gone rogue. I don't think they would even be interested in restrengthening our democracy and more interested in how they could benefit from its weakness for profit.

[Mike 03]

3. We'll see what, if any, changes they make at tomorrow's hearing.

Trump doesn't form his own opinions: he listens to the news and the reviews were terrible. Will he demand someone else do the formal questioning for the republicans? Will he tell Gym Jordan to step it up?

We won't have to wait long to find out who he lambasted, and what the consequences will be.

[ScratchCat]

7. If he's gonna turn on them

Then they might as well listen to George Conway. He is correct that their only half-way plausible defense of Trump is he shouldn't have done it, lets censure him but this doesn't rise to removal from office. They would have shut down the entire impeachment inquiry before it began if they had the nuts to say "you are wrong, Mr. President", but the idiots can't figure out if they stand together the Trump twitter feed wont matter. There is no defense without admitting Trump is wrong, but as Conway said, Trump wont allow them to say it. And that's where we are.... half the Congress refuses to say what everyone knows because of a man-child's twitter feed.

[TeamPooka]

10. Funny thing about a golem, it always turns on its creators.