Jennifer Rubin at WaPo: "In no scenario does Trumps presidency recover."

[kpete]

This presidency can’t be saved. It’s all downhill from here.
By Jennifer Rubin


.......... Trump’s team is scouring the record for conflicts of interest on special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s team (the essence of chutzpah) and contemplating pardons (of aides and/or himself), it is worth considering how this may all play out.

We offer several scenarios:

1. Trump orders Attorney General Jeff Sessions to fire Mueller. Sessions quits, as does Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein and Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand. Eventually someone agrees to fire Mueller. Republicans either will not pursue impeachment or are obliged to begin impeachment hearings but refuse to vote on articles of impeachment. In 2018, Democrats sweep to victory in the House and gain a seat or two in the Senate. Trump cannot be removed (two-thirds of the Senate is required for removal), but his presidency is in tatters. Some aides or ex-aides face criminal prosecution. LESSON: Republicans’ failure to stand up to Trump early dooms his presidency and crashes the GOP.

................

4. Republicans join Democrats in warning Trump not to fire Mueller. Mueller remains and keeps digging. Mueller subpoenas damaging documents; Trump refuses to comply. A court orders him to comply. He declares this a witch hunt, an attack on his family (or whatever). Then he resigns, claiming he has already made America great. He tells the country that Vice President Pence will carry on in his place. LESSON: Congress must protect Mueller and preserve the possibility that Trump may be forced to resign.

5. Republicans join Democrats in warning Trump not to fire Mueller. Mueller subpoenas damaging documents. Trump complies. The evidence of collusion and/or obstruction is overwhelming. Mueller recommends prosecution or impeachment. The GOP turns on Trump, who is impeached and removed (with the GOP by that time possibly in the minority in one or both houses). LESSON: Congress must protect Mueller and pay the price for failure to oppose Trump’s nomination and election.


Is there a sixth scenario in which Mueller exonerates Trump? That’s the least likely outcome after Trump has fired former FBI director James B. Comey and threatened the special counsel. Why would he do those things unless there was something really, really bad to find? And if there is something bad, Mueller will find it. You can understand then why Trump sounds frantic. In no scenario does Trump’s presidency recover.




the rest:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2017/07/21/this-presidency-cant-be-saved-its-all-downhill-from-here/?utm_term=.44908aae9aa4&wpisrc=nl_popns&wpmm=1

[L. Coyote]

1. The remaining question, "How does this all end?" Back to Trump Tower?

[SayItLoud]

2. Time is of the essence

We now are learning that there are limitations on crimes: the clear money laundering of tRUMPS house sale in Palm Beach is clear. So, he got away with clear money laundering on that one. It seems that the 5 years or clear is the key so Mueller has to find something within that time frame to nail tRUMP with a crime. I hope the NY AG is also looking within this time frame. Florida is lost with Scott a mini tRUMP and Biondi tRUMPS local zipper queen.

I used to think follow the money would nail this creep but maybe he will skate away due to our laws.

[Stuart G]

3. Mueller and his team will get him. That is what they will do..Why?

He is a crook..That team does not like crooks...Especially crooks that con lots of people. Trump has lied and covered up lies. Then lied some more...

Mueller and his team will get Trump ...etc.....It may take time. Mueller's crew is patient and knowledgeable.

They will get Trump...if Mueller fired, then the new crew will get him. Or, with the firing , impeachment or something similar...Trump will find that he can't play this game like a business deal...........

This one he, Trump, has already lost..The rest is inevitable ...Jr. has lost and so has Pence....

[Frustratedlady]

4. Recover? It never got started unless I missed it. eom

[Cicada]

5. He has a Hail Mary: bring back incandescent bulbs

Conservatives view the elimination of incandescent bulbs as worse than Obamacare. If Trump mobilizes the National Guard to put them back on America's store shelves a huge surge of conservative support would bring him back to his original glory.

Alex Jones would declare it as significant as the invention of the personal anti-reptile stun gun.

[Mme. Defarge]

6. Brilliant!

[DFW]

7. They aren't there to "recover"

They are there to do as much damage as they can, grab as much money as they can, and get outta Dodge City before a new Attorney General can come poking around--just like Cheney moving Halliburton's world HQ from Texas to the United Arab Emirates just before a Democratic Justice Department could give it a close bit of scrutiny. Dubai? Sorry, that's out of your jurisdiction, Mr. Holder.