Trump has already told the world he might sneak out early. You just had to listen closely.

[DFW]

He has been saying for at least half his time in office that he had accomplished more in his time in office than Obama had accomplished in eight years.

Now, while this is not the most outlandish lie he has come up with by any means, it is one he has repeated several times. It gives him the cover to say "mission accomplished, my work is done here," and take the first shuttle to West Palm whenever he likes. It also gives Pence the time to let the furor over his pardon that everyone knows is coming die down before it is even issued, and then let it die down again after it is issued.

It will also give Pence time to prepare his own candidacy for 2020, which should face far rougher sailing than Gerry Ford did in 1976. Gerry Ford was a decent guy, and experienced in government. Pence is a sham, a toady, and a con man like Trump. He is also quite an unattractive candidate, and unlike Ford, who only saw opposition from Reagan, would probably see a storm of competitors rushing to compete for the Republican nomination. EVERYBODY liked Gerry Ford. Nobody likes Pence.

I have no clue if Trump's sudden medical issue is for real or impeachment related. Either way, it provides him with his escape rationalization. "I've done everything I set out to do. I did it in less than three years. So I'm a genius. What more could you possibly ask of me?" Well, aside from him visiting Kilauea and jumping into the most active crater he can find, I can't think of much else I could ask of him.

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Interesting take.

Golden Parachute? The Redoing of his Domicile is more interesting. Seeing a mega Bankruptcy coming down the pike.

[DFW]

2. The presidency carries no golden parachute

If you're looking to capitalize on it, make your book deal the day after you leave office. Hire an agent to get you speaking gigs.

But those presuppose literacy and having something to say that people want to hear. Clinton and Obama were both educated intellectuals with the ability to spellbind a room the second they opened their mouths. Trump is practically illiterate and speaks like a petulant five year old. So, he has, in violation of a number of laws, used his office to enrich himself during his time in office.

However, his debts are probably so massive that an audit would still reveal a gaping hole between his assets and liabilities, and the only reason the house of cards hasn't yet collapsed is because no bank manager wants to go before his superiors and confess he lent hundreds of millions to a client he knew was probably already insolvent.

[Wellstone ruled]

11. Something is goin on with his

Campaign funds. Stories keep popping about Funds being used for his Kids and other uses. When you pay your Campaign Funding Chair Person a Commish on Funds Raised,the Parachute just opened.

Trump is running a Ponzi. Nothing more nothing less and yes as long as the Bankers keep quite,he is safe.

[dawg day]

32. He could keep doing those rallies long after he's completely incoherent

His fans wouldn't know the difference.

I wonder if many of them would pay to see him-- probably some would. Let's say 7K each rally at $20 each... $140K. Of course, he'd actually have to pay for the arena and the police security for a change.

I don't think too many business organizations would pay much to hear him rant when he no longer has any power. The American Banking Association isn't going to pay him $250K for a speech.

So he'll have to go to his base. He could probably collect $100K a rally. Of course, that wouldn't go very far to pay off his billion dollar debts. And young Kushner's access to huge loans from the Mideast will be gone too, so his business will probably go under...

There's not much of an upside either way for Trump. But he'll still be able to do the only thing that gets him hard anymore-- those stupid rallies. The people who go to that don't care that he's drooling and speaking gibberish even now.

[DFW]

35. There's something to that

He could probably stand there and gesture while a soundtrack of a speech by the president of Lithuania (in the original) was blaring from the speakers, and they would cheer all the same.

[PatSeg]

45. I think even his base would get tired of hearing

him ramble on incoherently. We've already seen it recently at his rallies, lots of bored faces and people leaving early. A lot of these people like the idea of Trump probably more than the actual person. He really is painfully boring and his supporters could be home sipping a cold beer while watching Dancing with the Stars or Pawn Stars. No, I think his brand has run its course and so has he.

[Aquaria]

54. Would be fitting

If he was reduced to being invited to speak only at gatherings that would be lucky to fill fundie church halls, assisted living rec centers and basement bingo parlors.

[Wellstone ruled]

91. Shades of the Sarah Pac.

Have a Sis in Law who was or maybe still is on the Sucker list. Keep them checks a coming.

[dameatball]

88. Correct on his value as a speaker after office. He's a one trick pony in that regard. Also, many

places will not be so willing to provide venues and security without up front payment once he is out of office. Indeed, some are refusing that already. I think the well dries up for him once he is gone.

[calimary]

90. Indeed that is an interesting take.

I still believe he’s gonna try to make a run for it, under cover of darkness some very late night or the wee hours of the following morning.

DC DUers - I hope there are some eyes staying open toward the White House, watching for unmarked helicopters landing there at odd hours...

I hope some reporters and TV associate producers kinda keepin’ an eye out...

trump is basically a coward. So I expect that when all is near the point of being said and done, that he’ll take the coward’s way out. Sneaking away in the shadows, hoping nobody noticed til it’s too late to apprehend him, to what he assumed will be a safe harbor. My money’s on Crimea.

[honest.abe]

3. Yes, I do believe this is a very plausible scenario.

One that makes sense for the GOP and for Trump given the circumstances.

He will probably try to negotiate some sort of deal to ensure he's protected from all the lawsuits active and coming.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

4. I have the same feeling...

This is a way for him to resign with his “honor” intact, it’s doctors orders. Agreed on the Pence thing if he can escape the investigations.

But really throw him down Kilauea? The earth would have indigestion for centuries we have enuf on our plates with climate change. The earth having explosive diarrhea would be too much to handle.

[DFW]

6. I didn't say that Madame Pele would enjoy her involuntary snack

[RainCaster]

70. Now we are sounding like Scientology

Don't they believe that aliens dumped evil spirits into our volcanoes?

[DFW]

98. Got me

I know exactly two things about Scientology: They're a cult, and John Travolta and Tom Cruise adhere to it.

The rest? No idea, and no interest

[Enoki33]

5. Difficult to reconcile with the many statements about eight years, and

and that he should be given an additional two because the investigations cheated him. That is without even considering his unbalanced need for power that keeps him out of jail.

[DFW]

7. He changes his sentiments (and his statements) with the wind

Plus, we can all be sure he is having legal people research exactly what Pence needs to do to shield him from any post-presidency discomfort (other than what his arteries might really be giving him).

[Enoki33]

8. Agreed, except the dominant factors are that he sees the presidency

as a cash machine to pay his bankruptcy threatening loans, and Russia. Putin has invested too much and knows too much to let him off the hook early, if ever. He is trapped between his crimes, Putin and his greed.

[LiberalFighter]

12. I expect that it will be impressed on Pence that he can be impeached for pardoning DT.

And that any possible presidential candidacy will not go well for him. Seriously doubt he has anyone qualified in constitutional law. The pardon would be limited to U.S. federal laws.

[DFW]

15. Making a pardon cause for impeachment would be a stretch

Only proof that Pence was willfully complicit in Trump's crimes could form the legal basis of impeachment on those grounds alone. I don't think it would hold water legally, and Pelosi won't go for it unless it's a sure thing.

As for Pence himself, I don't think even Frank Luntz could transform Pence into a character that could inspire the Republican base. They'd bring Romney back before they let Pence run unless no one else will do it, and Pence manages to cure cancer before Super Tuesday.

[dawg day]

34. Good point. When Ford pardoned Nixon, there was no indication he was involved in the crimes.

And even then, he got "fired" for the pardon.

Pence pardoning Trump would be different-- Pence is implicated at least in the scandal of Ukraine, and maybe other crimes, so pardoning Trump could be seen as obstruction.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

58. I think they may be counting on Pence picking Nikki

As VP to add needed pizzaz. (To some idiots that is.). Hoping it will pull in soccer moms

[Aquaria]

59. I say let him be pardoned.

Then he loses his Fifth Amendment rights to self-incrimination as per Burdick.

And then drag his ass before Congress during the Kavanaugh impeachment hearings to explain what really went into the selection process. When he refuses to show up, slap him with contempt and toss the treasonous dirtbag in jail. When he finally drags his ass into court because he gets sick of the Graybar Hilton, he’ll lie under oath, then they have him for false statements and BACK to jail he goes.

We could spend years tormenting the slimeball the way he has every decent person in America all of his life.

[FakeNoose]

72. That's one way to handle this orange asshat

Meanwhile the next *Dem* administration needs to make sure we have buttoned down the loopholes in the 25th Amendment (removal from office for incompetence) and also the campaign financing laws need to be rewritten. It's almost worth it to let Chump get his "free" pardon just to get rid of him and move on. So much needs to be fixed!

[world wide wally]

9. Trump also knows that once he leaves office, he is open game

[mjvpi]

50. Bingo

Perhaps he will personally over see the construction of Trump Tower Moscow?

[paleotn]

81. Exactly.

No deal with congressional Repthugs, no matter how sweet, can completely protect him and his entourage from criminal prosecution.

[getagrip_already]

83. Not if he is in a country that won't extradite him.....

[yardwork]

10. Is there speculation inside the beltway on this?

Last edited Sun Nov 17, 2019, 03:08 PM - Edit history (1)

This administration leaks like a sieve. It's only because Trump himself changes his mind every five minutes that we don't all know everything. It's not secrecy. His administration literally doesn't know what he's going to do next. He has the attention span of a fruit fly.

However, if he's planning to resign - even intermittently planning - I'd think it would be common knowledge in DC.

Edit to fix typo

[DFW]

13. I've heard nothing from my contacts, but keep in mind

The kind of people I communicate with are rarely the same kind of people who like Trump or his party.

Besides, if Trump resigns, I am fairly sure it will be a spur-of-the-moment decision, with a few hours of frantically put-together damage control before it is made public.

He himself would have to be thoroughly convinced that an impeachment trial would take place, and that it would reveal evidence so damning to him that he would be in serious danger even after leaving office. If counsel that he trusts--and who knows if there even IS such a thing any more?--tells him to git while the gittin' is good, I'm sure he will do just that. Probably take Air Force One to St. Petersburg or Sochi, and then not return it as payment for deferred salary. Want it back? So sue him. They have lawyers in Russia.

[LiberalFighter]

101. If that happens deport the hell out of the rest of the family.

[tinrobot]

14. He doesn't want "impeached" hanging around his neck...

So if he's going to bail, it would have to be soon, before the House votes.

[DFW]

17. I'm not so sure that worries him as much as what the Senate trial would reveal.

The impeachment vote in the House will be a party line vote, so he can still yell "witch hunt" and sell that to his base. I think that is already factored in.

On the other hand, during a Senate trial, he can't stop the House managers from presenting evidence, and THAT is where it gets tight around the collar for him.

[crickets]

21. I think we're going to see by mid-week, next weekend maybe.

If he's going to resign, he needs cover. He wouldn't want to leave in disgrace like Nixon, so health reasons would allow him to walk out with head held high. Sortof.

Or this could all be nothing, a hiccup never to be mentioned again. Who knows with this guy?

[tinrobot]

40. But... but... he is the healthiest man EVER to be President.

That weird long-haired doctor said so. Must be true.

[Mr.Bill]

16. Forget speculation, one thing we know is 100% true

is that his visit to the hospital was not about what he says it was about.

[DFW]

18. That is a given

It's like the old Soviet days, when the more the Kremlin gushed about the glowing health of their 80-something leaders, the more the people figured they were on death's door.

[bdamomma]

92. It will be

glorious if the later came true in your comment.

[Grasswire2]

19. But Trump would be immediately subject to arrest.

The only way it would work is for Pence to be immediately sworn in while holding a pardon in his hand for Trump that is immediately signed --- and all in secret and within a moment's time.

Otherwise, Trump is at great risk, and he knows it.

[DFW]

25. The lawyers are not fools.

Trump would be pardoned before the handcuffs could be readied. I'm sure the only reason the pardon isn't signed already is because it has to be signed by a sitting president.

[Grasswire2]

27. exactly.

But would he leave Ivanka and the others dangling in the wind?

[DFW]

31. I'm sure he'd arrange for pardons for Don, Eric, Ivanka and Jared

He'd see the rest as having "failed him," and thus deserving of their fate. Exceptions: those who haven't yet revealed evidence of crimes a president could not pardon him for, and are saving their ammunition for later if they feel they need it.

[cab67]

52. That only works for federal crimes.

Trump's successor would be powerless to stop SDNY from prosecuting him.

[leftieNanner]

75. SDNY is Federal

New York State is where he's in trouble.

[cab67]

96. Understood

[certainot]

51. he needs to go before pence gets drawn too far into it that he can't pardon him

if they know lev and igor turned and think sondland is going to turn on him in front of the world rather than take his word on pardon, and maybe already knows stone thinks he's getting 10 years and will be left without a pardon so he's making a deal too....

what if sondland and other witnesses are going to out pence too?

who's going to pardon pence? pence's a bozo slimeball who's getting assured he'll get total republican devotion for pardoning trump but he does not have the royal certitude needed to hold the base.

[Aquaria]

61. He can still be arrested under state charges

And there’s plenty of dirt SDNY could hand over to Letitia James under abstention.

In fact, when it comes to financial crimes, NY may be less lenient in some ways than the Feds.

[erronis]

20. We won't get an impeachment. SCOTUS hangs by a tattered thread.

Hoping that some of the "installed" justices actually have a conscious and a caring for freedom in the US.

[Aquaria]

71. Roberts cares enough about his legacy

That he will insure the Judiciary maintains its share in the balance of power, and thus make sure Congress does, too.

Don’t think I have some naive idealistic notion that he cares about the country. He doesn’t. But he isn’t stupid enough to sacrifice his own power base under the Constitution for this illiterate nincompoop.

Roberts will look out for himself. That’s why he won’t let Tangerine Twitler get his grubby paws on the powers of the judiciary, or the legislature. It’s in Roberts’ best interests to support the status quo. That’s why he won’t yield one inch of ground to this greedy little nitwit.

[erronis]

97. Thanks. Since you speak with some apparent knowledge - the Chief Justice really doesn't have

the power to influence the other justices.

Will the entrenched conservative/RWers (Alito, Thomas) and the new Gorsuch, Kavanaugh listen to reason? Stay tuned....

[area51]

22. Did someone say Trump jumping into a crater?

https://pushtrumpoffacliffagain.com/

[INdemo]

23. Had Pence stayed in Indiana and not have been selected as VP

He would not have won a second term. He was a very unpopular Governor.

[ooky]

24. If he resigns, I don't think he will be heading for West Palm or that he

will rely on a pardon from Pence. I believe he will pardon himself and head for a retirement where he believes he cannot be extradited back to the United States to face any possible prosecution.

I suspect the pardons would be many, for his criminal cronies and his family members and himself - then leave the United States - and only then announce his resignation from where he believes he is completely safe from extradition.

[DFW]

28. I don't credit him with that much humanity

Pardons for other people, especially if time gets short, will be that last thing he'll worry about.

He might take care of his 3 most prominent kids and Kushner, but with his warped view, I think he'll most resemble Hitler at the end, who saw anyone who was still alive as having failed him, and this not be deserving of a pardon.

[ooky]

37. This person has zero humanity, of course,

and you may well be right. But he has nothing to lose if he is in process of his escape from the U.S., and he is big on loyalty. So Manafort, Stone and perhaps Flynn might have hope of a pardon.

[Aquaria]

68. Pardons are not a get out of jail card.

When you accept a pardon, you are making an admission of guilt, and you lose your Fifth Amendment right to self-incrimination for any subsequent investigations related to those offenses.

So if a Dem AG decides to pursue charges against someone NOT pardoned for illegal acts while in office during the previous administration, then any or all of the relevant pardonees can be compelled to testify to what they know about the allegations under investigation. If they refuse, they get charged with contempt and go to jail. If they lie, they get charged with perjury, and serve time in jail.

That pardon can become an albatross around their necks in the hands of a skilled prosecutor. Like, oh, Kamala Harris or Ted Lieu.

[ooky]

73. But they can be.

Take the case of Roger Stone, facing decades in prison convicted of federal crimes. He could be sitting in prison, say, sometime next year, when a pardon from Trump would get him released. Keeping in mind the context of my OP, Trump escaping the country and prosecution, Stone would have no reason to refuse to testify if called again, because Trump at that point has no further need of Stone's protection.

[Aquaria]

77. And if he accepts that pardon...

Then he is confessing his guilt and he can be compelled to testify to what he knows about Russian interference in the election. Anything that even hints at contempt, obstruction or perjury from the slimeball and off to jail he goes, and that pardon is now wasted.

[ooky]

82. Again, context...

He's already IN prison for decades, likely to die there. Accepting the pardon gets him out. Nothing else does. Under those circumstances what reason(s) would he have not to accept it and just stay in prison?

[CloudWatcher]

26. State crimes.

From what I've read, his forthcoming pardon could only cover federal charges and he'd still be liable for his many state crimes. Of course he might not realize this yet and still resign during a particularly bad tantrum.

Which begs the question ... where might he flee? Moscow? What countries without extradition treaties would host him? Perhaps he could stay with his true love in North Korea.

[Auggie]

46. Russia, provided Putin owes him a favor. Saudi Arabia?

Any oil producing nation? Just because there an extradition treaty doesn’t mean it has to be enforced. He orders subpoenas ignored now.

[Baked Potato]

29. Play golf in a lightning storm

And raise that golf club high !

[llmart]

30. Don't forget how he only recently announced changing his domicile to Florida.

There's a plan afoot I'm sure, and this week was bad for him, so he decided to step it up a bit on the optics.

I've always said that if he resigns, he'll say we didn't deserve his awesomeness.

[DFW]

33. Actually, I hope he DOES say that

Tweeting from a villa in Sochi with lots of pictures and Russian flags waving in the background.

[patphil]

36. Even if this happens and Pence pardons him, Trump will still have state charges to deal with.

[DFW]

38. IF he sticks around, that is

He might get a statement from his doctors revealing that only ten years in the climate on the northeastern Black Sea will restore him to health.

[DENVERPOPS]

39. He should run, but not to Florida

He should run, but not to Florida. He would be much better off escaping to Russia. Not that Putin has any use for him whatsoever if he isn't the president of the U.S. anymore..........

[DFW]

43. He could fly to Sochi in Air Force One as president, resign there, and deliver the plane to Putin

"Here you go, see if there is some tech stuff or if some computer records are in there that might reduce my tab."

[Auggie]

47. Air Force One would be a prize!

[Scarsdale]

78. Would the pilots and crew

of AF 1 go along with a plan such as that? Surely, there are some true patriots in that group? They could fly in a circle, then land in the US, telling him they are in Russia. Oh, how about the parade Putin invited him to? Drop him off, then return without passengers to the US.

[DesertRat]

89. Wow, I'd never imagined such a scenario!

But doesn't he prefer a tropical climate where he could golf most of the year?

[DFW]

99. Sochi is a semi-tropipcal resort on the Black Sea.

It qualifies just fine.

[bdamomma]

94. Putin got everything

he wished for. He neutralized us.

[Trailrider1951]

95. I don't think he would head to Russia

Putin scares the shit out of him. My money's on Saudi Arabia, with his little sycophantic kids in tow. Melania can hide under her burka.

[Eliot Rosewater]

41. He has a simple question and issue.

How can he survive justice and keep the blood money he borrowed from Putin.

He has the luxury of not caring what happens to ANY other living human being, as he is a psychopath narcissist.

His children will go under the bus, including the daughter, the INSTANT he is threatened.

So does he leave early and fly to Russia? IDK

[radical noodle]

42. If he gets out

my guess it won't be to allow Pence to run. He'll try to make room for Junior or Ivanka.

[DFW]

44. I think his main concerns for Junior or Ivanka would be pardons for them, too

Even he surely knows they are no cleaner than he is. For that matter, I think Trump harbors no love for Pence at all, but rather sees Pence as his last bit of revenge on the country for allowing the "witch hunt" to go on. The master rarely respects his toady, and so it probably is with Trumppence, too.

[JeaneRaye]

48. Disagree

I just don't see Trump leaving early. In fact, I think we will have to drag him, kicking and screaming, out of the White House after he has been removed via Impeachment or he loses the Presidency via an election. The only thing that is keeping him out of prison is the fact that he is a sitting President. He will NOT leave voluntarily.

[redstateblues]

66. I'm with you. It's wishful fantasy thinking.

[dawnie51]

49. He tried to get his domicile refurbished....

on the taxpayers, but it didn't work out for him. He'll snatch and grab everything he can, then walk away, like he always does, and leave all those toadies and ass kissers like Graham and McCarthy to hold the bag for all this. Fine with me. I'd love to see all of them in court for the rest of their lives.

[Upthevibe]

53. Great post....

I was contemplating the various scenarios early this morning. I also feel that his trip to Walter Reed yesterday could be a kind of paving the way for him to get out - by resigning for health reasons. I think one of the biggest problems for him resigning would be the possible charges pending from the Southern District of New York (which I don't think are pardonable). I just want this MO FO out!

[demigoddess]

55. If I were Pence, I would not pardon Donnie, he would constantly

be on Twitter, saying he could do it better, he did it better etc. Can you imagine having to live with that while following him as POTUS???

[Doodley]

56. I have heard the actual reason he needed medical assistance. He has a rare condition called IPE.

Involuntary Putin Erections. Apparently, just somebody saying the name Putin can cause him to be aroused.

[Oppaloopa]

64. Good one I was just going to look it up.

[Drunken Irishman]

57. Sorry - but no. I feel like we're falling into the same loop we did four years ago.

Plenty of people went on record saying Trump wasn't serious about his campaign. His running for president was a publicity stunt and, after a certain point, he'd step aside because he hates to lose - he hates being humiliated. Hell, you had people pushing this idea AFTER he won the nomination. It never came. Trump never signaled he was going to bow out.

You're operating under the illusion Trump doesn't think he'll win in 2020. I have no doubt Trump has convinced himself he'll win and that he's far more popular than he really is.

The only way Trump ever thinks of resigning is if the House impeaches and he's told by Mitch McConnell or Lindsey Graham that there's enough votes in the Senate to convict and remove, which is not likely to happen. Until he loses GOP support, he will remain and run and be convinced he'll win because, well, it happened once before, so, why not again?

[gordianot]

60. Somehow I got on Repuke mailing lists and notice something odd.

Nikki Haley is all over Puke funding and promoting her book. I used to occasionally get Pence pedaling have not seen that for almost a month. When was the last time Trump was seen golfing?

[Texin]

62. The scenario the OP provides is plausible. But it's tRump. This is just a pleasant fiction.

The Whistleblower indicated that if tRump lost in 2020, he wouldn't leave peaceably. He's said it himself and speaks about a tRump family dynasty ruling in his aftermath. Of course, that was before he was being impeached and before those NY State indictments dropped. I think what happens to him depends on how the SCOTUS rule on his tax release to congress (and is it known that the justices will even hear the suit?).

I don't know what the situation was on Saturday that caused him to go to Walter Reed. It doesn't hinge together, frankly. The WH has a fully staffed and very state-of-the-art medical suite. I think the only thing they don't have there is a MRI machine, and no one that I've ever known has ever had "rounds" of examinations for the annual exam. Certainly, no POTUS in the modern era has (that we know of). There was some incident awhile back in which his quack physician (not the New Yorker, but the cornpone Naval one) who explained that he had a "dry mouth" and that was the reason they had given him an MRI or some such so they could look at his neck. Who the hell has a scan like that for a dry mouth? My take is that they are doing brain scans to keep track of his cognitive decline, and of course he wouldn't want anyone know about that. The initial reports that the WH provided to the media gaggle at the WH when he was escorted into Walter Reed was that he had been experiencing "chest discomfort" or "chest pains". Could have been a panic attack. But if I were in his shoes after watching that standing ovation by the gallery in the congressional chamber for Marie Yovanovitch after her testimony, I'd be having a panic attack myself. Or maybe he just ate too many pieces of Kentucky Fried chicken and had heartburn.

And, if things looked as bad as they do legally for tRump, I'd be seriously thinking about faking my death and disappearing someplace far, far away - sort of like they did in the movie Dave (well, they faked Dave's death and then the already braindead POTUS on life support was removed and the VEEP was made President and Dave went back to where he came from). tRump can't leave and not have to face prosecution in NY, so he won't just quit.

[Buckeyeblue]

80. If he went to have an MRI

It was more than likely to rule out a stroke. As far as I know, those are the only MRIs that are urgent.

Those so much coming out now about how much of a disaster he is as president that you have to wonder where his head is. If we look at past presidents who had scandals, with the exception of Clinton. It took huge tolls on their health. Nixon started talking to pictures, Ronnie's alzheimers got worse and Tump seems out of it. None of those presidents were facing reelection.

If he could cut a deal to keep him and his family from being charged when he leaves office, I think he'd quit and try to either start his own TV channel or do a reality show. Or both.

If he can't cut such a deal, he has to stick around and try to get reelected.

It seems like it would be better for the country if he was cut a deal.

[Oppaloopa]

63. Yes he could just say this is to hard on my family and I will make more money leaving. lol

[True Blue American]

65. I think

The move to Florida and this is a prelude to not running for health reasons.

Then he will fight ,delay the N.Y. charges for the rest of his life

[Laura PourMeADrink]

67. Ford was only prez from 1974-1977

through his succession not election. But it was a much longer time to actually be president than Pence would have.

That said, Trump doesn't care about the party or who succeeds him. Repukes may. And my bet is that they have their eyes on Nikki running with pence to add pizzazz and recapture female suburban vote.

I have noticed that trump hasn't pushed "ruler for life lately". He's probably bored as hell. Won't be able to get away with as much now that we are finally impeaching. So I'm agreeing he will get out before rather than run and lose.

I think you may be right...he's ready to get out. Isn't he building a church? I can see that he's realizing he'll never get the admiration of all ..so what better environment than his faithful is there for a narcissist?

[DispondentRepublican]

69. Always give your opponent....

...a way out. An escape method. A way to save face and slip away.-
Classic Chinese Sun-Tzu

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

74. Good analysis!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[paleotn]

76. He better go further than West Palm

This Justice Dept isn't going to charge him with anything. Impeachment simply means he has to vacate the white house. The incoming Dem administration will be under intense pressure to prosecute criminally for at least campaign contribution violations and obtaining personal gain through corrupt use of his authority, no matter what deal is cut with McConnell and Senate Rethugs. He'd be better off learning to speak Russian.

[zentrum]

79. This is how I see it too.

Or at least he won't run again and have to face the humiliation of losing 2020.

[Thomas Hurt]

84. I am not certain his narcissism will allow him to quit.

He is an addict and being President is a new high. Next level, Kim Jong Un level dictatorship.

[oldsoftie]

85. What sudden medical issue? I've missed something.

[DFW]

100. They aren't saying, so we are all speculating like mad.

But when the president is suddenly shuffled off to Walter Reed, and the reason given is vague, it usually does not mean he is being treated for a case of the common cold. On the other hand, it could also mean he strained his shoulder while reaching for a towel in the shower, and his complaints of subsequent chest pains were over nothing more drastic than a pulled muscle.

But the longer the public is kept in the dark, the more the public speculates that the reason for his visit was more serious than something trivial. Like I said, it's all speculation. I wouldn't put it past his schemers to pull a stunt like this when there was nothing at all, just to see if there would be an outpouring of sympathy and an easing up in the schedule of the impeachment hearings. When there is none, if Trump makes a spectacular recovery due to his "robust health," we'll all know then won't we?

[Smith Jack]

86. Make this clear- trump got CAUGHT trying to steal the 2020 election!

Yes trump committed BRIBERY,

but let it be known; trump got CAUGHT trying to steal the 2020 election!

[SayItLoud]

87. When grifters are exposed:

and can't grift in secrecy they move on to new marks.

tRUMP has secured black deals with MBS, Turkey, North Korea, China, Ukraine and others we have NO FRIGGIN idea he's cut deals with via Kushner and the #trumpcrimefamily.

So, his mission is accomplished. Now time to pardon the #trumpcrimefamily and get out.

[Grammy23]

93. I can see him taking the risk of facing an impeachment but

Counting on his loyal republican senators to save him from conviction.

On the other hand, he also risks really damaging information being revealed in the hearings thus further eroding his base and certainly adding to the damaging info already in evidence. So a normal person might want to avoid a trial at all costs. We have to remember that tRump truly believes he can outsmart any Democrats who come after him and certainly all the lawyers hot on his trail. So knowing he’s got allies in the Senate, he just might allow the impeachment to go forward.

One always needs to keep in mind, however, that tRump is not mentally normal. So expecting normal behavior from him is naive on our part. Before pondering what he is doing and will do, we need to factor in all potential scenarios because with someone as erratic and unhinged as tRump is, you can never rule out any particular move he’ll make. He could face trial, counting on the repubs to save him. He could make a run for it and take his hateful family with him. He could defy everyone and have to be forced out of the White House at the business end of a gun. Buckle up, fellow Democrats. We could be in for a very rough ride before we know how this nightmare ends.

[rpannier]

102. The odd that would die down before the next election are slim, none and slim left town

Pence and the Republikkans would get slaughtered in that election
It would make 1976 look like a huge victory for the republikkans