Analysis: The Quiet Response to President Trumps Explosive Claim

[TomCADem]

This is both good and bad. On the one hand, most folks, even Trump's allies, know that he is full of shit. On the other hand, the bar is lowered once again, so that when he manages not to shit all over himself, people weep with joy regarding how Presidential he has become. The article concludes, "[t]he fact that this pattern had become so established, so normal, was on its own a shocking moment in American politics. It took 43 days into the Trump administration to arrive at this point."

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/analysis-the-quiet-response-to-president-trump%E2%80%99s-explosive-claim/ar-AAnNEzc

On Saturday, President Donald Trump posed a new question: Suppose the commander-in-chief declared a massive political scandal — and nobody cared?

In a series of early morning tweets, Trump claimed — with no evidence — that President Barack Obama personally ordered wiretap surveillance of Trump Tower and implied he might take legal action in response. He likened the purported scandal to "Nixon/Watergate" in scope and called his immediate predecessor a "bad (or sick) guy."

It was an explosive allegation that raised immediate questions about both the Obama administration's behavior and the status of investigations into Trump associates' relationship to Russia, which the intelligence community has accused of a hacking campaign to aid Trump politically.

And then ... not much happened.

[Chevy]

1. May have moved up IC agenda quicker n/t

[elleng]

3. Yes.

[elleng]

2. 'Not much happened?'

We shall see. A stranger waiting for a movie, reading Saturday's news, predicted: '3 months til impeachment.' This in a DC suburb, likely just a person like me, but aware.

[dchill]

4. 43 days.

Congrats, Don. That's gotta be a record.

[LonePirate]

5. I call BS on that article as no questions were raised about the behavior of Obama & his admin.

Everybody knows that if 45's phones were tapped, Obama or anyone in his administration did not ask for the warrant or wiretapping. This is not a case where both sides need to be viewed equally or impartially here.

[Cha]

6. Thank you, LonePirate! I was rolling my eyes and

getting pissed @ that.

Link to tweet

[loyalsister]

8. I have no illusions about how ridiculous conspiracy theorists can be

I talked with someone who was convinced that HRC demanded the IRS audit republicans. People will believe this shit coming from 45, because not so long ago people were paranoid about the NSA listening to their phone calls. Of course, Obama got blamed for the policies initiated by Bush. We are dealing with people who either went along with it, or just weren't bothered by the birther campaign. 45's loyalists are prepared to believe almost anything he comes up with and the administration knows it. They just keep piling on one lie after another priming people to believe anything they say. "See what happens when you have a president who tells it like it is? You find out the real dirt." If the press is an enemy to their hero, whatever comes out of the white house is to be unconditionally trusted.
This is a dynamic where facts and truth are not relevant. It was intentional during the campaign and I think it's intentional now.

[madaboutharry]

7. A lot has happened

Television cable news was wall to wall analysis all day. The whole Russia story got turned up to 500 degrees. An independent commission became much more likely.

[BainsBane]

10. If Trump and his asshole aids read actual newspapers

and not just Breitbart, they would know that the Guardian and others reported a month ago that there are three FISA warrants related to the Trump-Russia connection. Hell, it's been on TV. Malcom Nance has talked about it. We know Trump likes to watch a lot of TV.

[OnDoutside]

12. I'm surprised Trump hasn't attacked Nance, when he has

No problem going after everyone else.

[BainsBane]

13. I was surprised he didn't attack the father of the navy seal

and yes, Nance too.

[OnDoutside]

14. True, although with widow coming to Congress he was

Probably convinced not to. That said even he must have recognized the folly in attacking the parent of a war hero after last time.

[BainsBane]

15. He doesn't seem to learn

Perhaps the fact the guy was white influenced him.

[OnDoutside]

16. True.

[ProfessorGAC]

17. I'm Going With "Presidential" Mode

Had this been 2 weeks before or after SOTU, he attacks the dad.

[OnDoutside]

11. All we know of President Obama says he does it by the book.

[mnhtnbb]

18. I think one of the reasons that Obama has been smiling so much--

aside from the fact that he's DONE having to deal with the likes of McConnell and Ryan--is that he KNOWS
what's up with all the Russian connection with Trump. He knows and he's keeping quiet about it and enjoying
the hell out of watching Cheeto destroy himself.

Obama is a hopeful, positive guy. Whether he's right to think that the country will come out of this terrible
attack on our democracy remains to be seen. But he clearly thinks we'll be ok, so he's able to smile broadly
at the thought that all it takes is giving Trump enough rope and he'll hang himself and so far, he's proceeding
at a steady pace toward the gallows.

[OnDoutside]

19. Yes, but i hope it is watertight, there's too much at stake.

[mnhtnbb]

20. I agree. And that's why it's important to go slowly and build the case.

[OnDoutside]

21. It certainly has the appearance of death by 1000 cuts, but maybe they don't have it all and are

doing this into goading him to lose the plot.