ok, put in your guesses. what is the most likely *realistic* outcome of the mueller investigations?

[unblock]

my guess is:

- indictments and convictions of a small number of cronies (manafort, flynn, maybe a few more).

- a list of bad acts done by donnie, which could in theory be used as impeachable offenses, but on which the republican congress will do nothing of consequence. *if* democrats win the house, they likely would be used to justify an impeachment, but the senate will not remove (we need 2/3rd there).

- the media will call the report (and eventual impeachment in 2019 if we win the house) "historic", and they will describe the allegations as "quite remarkable", and then dismiss it all as donnie being an outsider to washington and not knowing the subtle rules.


in other words, it will further solidify opposition to donnie, but it will not lead to much in the way of concrete political difference.

i wish i could be more optimistic, but i'm not.


what do you think???

[Yupster]

1. Your first point

They always get someone for something.

[temporary311]

2. My guess is that Mueller Time

will replace Fitzmas in our lexicon.

[unblock]

6. exactly.

[emulatorloo]

10. Totally different circumstances and that reporter was rightly humiliated

And someone did get indicted, it just wasn't Rove as Leopold baselessly promoted

[sharedvalues]

61. Mueller: case of Century. Trump and family go down.

Mueller is waiting to do all the indictments at once to rwduce impact of pardons.

[brooklynite]

94. A President can issue pardons at any time...even if under indictment

[sharedvalues]

98. NYAG Schneiderman: crimes charged can't be pardoned

Did you notice that when the president talked to the press about pardons a few weeks ago, the next day there was a leaked story saying that Mueller was working with Schneiderman?

President and his family are going down.

[brooklynite]

99. With all due respect to AG Schneiderman, that's his opinion...

If Trump issues a pardon, will the Supreme Court vacate it?

[sharedvalues]

100. No, settled law. Pres can't pardon state crimes.

There's an additional question of whether pres can pardon himself or coconspirators on federal crimes. That's not settled and we'll probably see scotus rule on it in the next two years.

[brooklynite]

106. We're not talking about State crimes; the OP is about Mueller's investigation

[sharedvalues]

108. Yes. Manafort can be charged with state crimes

Did you see the article 3 weeks ago saying Mueller was working with Schneiderman to charge Manafort with state crimes to prevent pardons from derailing the investigation?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

84. Yep. My feeling exactly.

[Orrex]

3. It will culminate in an invasion by colossal robot lobsters

[unblock]

4. ftw!

[MuseRider]

33. Lobstrosities! n/t

[ProudLib72]

58. I thought it was a rock

But it was a colossal robot rock lobster!

[Dulcinea]

95. Down! Down! eom

[Smickey]

62. The Lobspocolips n/t

[Ellipsis]

69. Google can find it...

[yuiyoshida]

76. love Samurai Jack...

Have some action figures around here some where in a box...

[SeattlePop]

5. All Of Them Will Get Away With No Jail Time Of Course

Jails are for poor people and minorities.

[unblock]

7. here i disagree.

someone will serve 3 months or so, with 3 more years suspended or something like that.

[SeattlePop]

9. Pardon City

Honey Badger Trump Don't Care.

[unblock]

12. that i don't know about.

it's certainly possible that he pardons/commutes, but it's also possible that he waits until late in his term, after some prison time has been served.

[emulatorloo]

14. Not for state crimes. He cannot pardon those charged w state crimes, only federal

[unblock]

18. true, but i think mueller is technically only looking into federal crimes.

although he's certainly likely to refer any sign of state crimes to the appropriate state attorneys general.

and some actions that are federal crimes might also be crimes under certain state laws.

[emulatorloo]

26. He's working with/coordinating w a couple state prosecutors

And has financial crime experts on his team. Money laundering etc

[unblock]

42. Right

A fine line, by officially any state-level prosecutions won't really be the result of the mueller investigation. They'll be the result of schneiderman's, etc.

[sharedvalues]

60. Schneiderman NYAG will jail him.

Don't worry about federal pardons.

(Not to mention a good legal case can be made that he can't pardon himself or coconspirators). See L tribe.

[SeattlePop]

8. You Can't Indict The Messiah Of The Deplorables

Just ask Fox News.

[unblock]

11. yes, i think donnie will escape.

he won't be indicted until after he leaves office, and i suspect we'll be told his health has severely decline coinciding with that, and prosecutors (including state-level attorneys general) will decline to pursue any case against him.

[Tikki]

74. Even if trump and buddies escape...the Christian Right will martyr his persecution...

and then add a few new chapters to the Bible..Donald's number 1 and number 2.


Tikki

[Squinch]

13. I really hope you are wrong, but I suspect you are right.

[Doreen]

15. He will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that all this crap took place.

Then nothing will happen and the show will go on. Maybe I should say this nightmare will go on.

[C Moon]

70. Agreed. The GOP will try to make it look like a left-wing witch hunt.

[RobinA]

102. Yeah, This

Maybe a minor indictment or three. Remote possibility - insignificant jail time for some scapegoat.

[Chasstev365]

16. A treasonous, damming report that warrents immediate impeachment

The GOP will say nothing to see here!

[cilla4progress]

17. Sadly,

I agree this is probably the best we can hope for.

We and the rest of the world are, for now, being run by a violent murderous crime gang. I'm afraid it's out of our hands, and I apologize for my defeatism, which I am feeling very strongly of late. We will be lucky to get out of this without civil war, famine, economic crash.

[Orrex]

19. If Mueller doesn't get Trump, then he shouldn't get anyone

Trump will simply pardon whoever Mueller goes after, and then Trump will be absolutely indestructible for the remainder of his two-term presidency. Assuming that it's only two terms.

Further, the emboldened GOP easily retain their congressional majority in 2018 and 2020. Further, they'll take the failed Mueller investigation as carte blanche to accelerate their privatization of the government, with the complete dismantling of the social safety net and unprecedented giveaways to the 1%.

Trump himself will profit hugely from Mueller's swing-and-a-miss, and he'll openly use his office to rake in millions or billions for himself and his family, all while working in service to his master Putin.

In the wake of a failed Mueller investigation, the GOP will refuse any other call for investigations, crying "how much more taxpayer money do the Democrats want to waste on this fruitless witch hunt?"


As always, my esteemed fans from Conservative Sewer and The Disasterist can go fuck themselves.

[PJMcK]

29. I like your optimism (n/t)

[LiberalLovinLug]

39. unfortunately I agree

Unless Mueller gets a provable, locked down, criminal conviction against Donald J Trump. It would not matter if everyone around him was convicted. They will use his "vindication" to whitewash and dismiss any and all bad behaviour, both criminal and ethical, that Trump has committed his whole adult life. And the Rebub deplorable base will lap it up. And elements in the MSM news, other than Fox, will also bend somewhat. And Trump will be even more 'normalized'.

And the GOP and Trump will use that non-conviction as a rallying point for 2018 and 2020... that everyone is out to get them and Christmas too. Poor poor Republicans. The sick thing is how their base will nod in agreement and their RW daytime talk radio shock jocks will foam and spit into their mics at an even higher decibel than they did before. And of course they nave hackable machines owned by Rebublican backers, they have voter suppression and gerrymandering with a majority of State governors, they have the SCOTUS to make it all legal, they have that RW hate radio, and Fox News, and of course they still have Putin's cyber army.

[womanofthehills]

90. Wrong. Politico reports Trump can't pardon state crimes and Mueller is teaming up with NY AG

Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team is working with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on its investigation into Paul Manafort and his financial transactions, according to several people familiar with the matter.

The cooperation is the latest indication that the federal probe into President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman is intensifying. It also could potentially provide Mueller with additional leverage to get Manafort to cooperate in the larger investigation into Trump’s campaign, as Trump does not have pardon power over state crimes.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/30/manafort-mueller-probe-attorney-general-242191

[Orrex]

91. Yes, that's true.

But that's like trying to convict a murderer and getting him on a jaywalking charge.

Granted, the NY AG is bringing a heavier charge than jaywalking, but the press and the GOP will minimize it, and Manafort will be ostracized as a lone wolf acting without Trump's knowledge.

Unless, of course, Mueller can prove that Trump knew. If he can't, well, see my previous point about Trump becoming indestructible.


If Mueller can't get Trump on an impeachable offense, then there's no point in any of it.

[Dulcinea]

96. Remember what sent Al Capone to prison.

Tax evasion, not his multitude of other crimes. That's the one that stuck.

[Orrex]

97. Yeah, we keep hoping.

I stand by my assertion: if Mueller doesn't get Trump with ironclad, must-impeach evidence, then the investigation will have been wasted.

[yallerdawg]

20. I expect he will resign soon!

There is no upside to destroying his international brand further - this is not the legacy he wants to leave.

We just need to continue to turn the screws!

[unblock]

23. my best case scenario is basically this.

the mueller investigation completes, mueller and congressional republicans meet privately with donnie and tell him, look, you're screwed. resign for "health reasons" and we'll drop all charges, otherwise we'll impeach and remove you and send you to prison. oh, and if you agree, we'll build you a f*cking statue (because you just know that that's the sort of thing it will really take to convince him).

the trick is they have to figure out a way where donnie can leave early and still declare a "win". that's the only way he'll agree.

[TomVilmer]

77. Thar would be the smart way...

... so it is not going to happen. But it works - I was in a union where we first declared the sitting chairman to be a honorary member, with clapping and a nice plaque. And then decided that honorary members could not be chairmen, and elected a new one. The old one did not see this coup coming, but was anyway very pleased for his plaque.

[LuckyCharms]

21. My honest opinion: Bodies will be flying around like bowling pins. n/t

[IamFortunesFool]

22. We are headed for armed civil conflict

The Mueller investigation will yield precisely the results you predict. The escalating and polarizing vitriol surrounding Tump (and what he represents in our collective social psyche) will lead us to civil war. Culturally and intellectually the rift already exists, has existed in its current form for several generations, and everything I've observed in pop culture and politics for the last couple decades only confirms and reinforces this quickening. The rise of Trump is the tipping point of our age. It will end bloodily and badly, I'm afraid.

"They have the guns, but we have the numbers..."

[unblock]

24. rush limbaugh and foxnews was always going to lead to this point.

this is my worst case scenario....

[IamFortunesFool]

25. It is a terribly fraught situation

We have enshrined and upheld the idea of "free speech" to such a point that it may ultimately be our downfall. I believe we are past the point of no return. The only way to properly address the sheer volume of misinformation, hate, and divisiveness that the RW media juggernaut poison us with is to censor them... the very antithesis of free speech.

The unfortunate fact is that there are just far too many uneducated, partially educated, or religiously (un)educated people in this country. An educated society, a culture that valued education and knowledge would never have elected Trump or even allowed him in the race for our highest and most important office.

We are what we eat, so to speak. This country has been bindge feeding on reality TV, consumptive economic excesses, and social media abstractions nonstop for nearly 20 years... and in the case of the economic consumptiveness, for far longer. How anyone is surprised that we're an illiterate and obese nation led by a deranged carnival barker only illustrates my point that we had this coming.

What really bothers me is imagining the world my two young daughters are coming of age in. They will have to either be revolutionaries, hounded by authorities, or they will be lost in the mindless meat grinder. Neither is a fate you wish on a child.

[unblock]

40. This is not the result of insufficient education

The ones who hate the most have graduated magma cum laude from hate university.

These people watch foxnews and/or listen to hate radio nonstop.

It's an education, just a horrible one.

Fear can be borne of ignorance.
Hate can only be learned.

[IamFortunesFool]

45. I have to disagree

I understand the spirit of your post, but there is a very distinct difference between education and indoctrination. Words matter. Now more than ever. You shouldn't conflate the two terms. Education is the only answer....and that's only because you can't prescribe enlightenment.

I stand by my assessment.

[unblock]

46. Fair distinction. Might point was they were actively taught to hate

Call it indoctrination, brainwashing, whatever.

But it's not mere ignorance.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

48. K & R - Excellent summary.

I fear for our children's future as well. They have destroyed the very fabric of our communities, enveloped everyone in fear and left the public totally delusional.

Virtually all public capital now trickles up. What else could a billionaire ask for?

[7962]

68. But if you censor them, they can censor YOU.

And right now "they" have the numbers

[IamFortunesFool]

80. Yes, that was my point in saying that censoring them is the antithesis of free speech.

And, the obvious hypocrisy of such a path betrays the validity of the supposed pretext, rendering it intellectually neutered, as well.

I'm interested in who you define as "they" who you say actually have the numbers.

The "they" I referred to was a nod to the deplorable base that stand ready and willing to fire the first shots. I took the liberty of assuming that demographic heavily overlaps with the percentage of the population that owns the lions share of the nations regestered firearms.

[7962]

88. I was referring to the Govt, not the public. I didn't specify.

I was thinking about outlawing certain speech. If there were to be laws passed prohibiting speech, right now the republicans would be writing them.

But you're likely correct; the trump "base" is probably also the ones who own the most weapons

[elmac]

27. whatever it leads to

russia cyber war will take advantage of it because they can and will. The fascist party is in putins camp and they control much of the country so things will just get worse and that is the only change we will see.

[madamesilverspurs]

28. Whatever the outcome

what's left of the GOP will spend the next 50 years retaliating.


.

[Mr.Bill]

32. For the forseeable future,

anytime we elect a president and the opposition party is in control of Congress, they will be impeached on day one, but not removed from office. It will become meaningless, simply a formality. I think if Hillary had been elected, the republican Congress would be having impeachment votes on a weekly if not daily basis.

Regarding Mueller, he will be fired before the investigation is complete. There will be leaks that he was onto something big, there will be leaks that he found nothing. What leaks you hear about will merely depend on which cable news network you are watching.

[pnwmom]

30. I think DT is as guilty as hell and was counting on Sessions to cover for him.

Now he's hoping his pardon power will take care of things, but it won't.

If Congress doesn't stop him, then there are the State Attorney generals. In NY he could be tried for state tax evasion, money laundering, fraud, and who knows what else.

But maybe he'll just resign . . .

[Igel]

31. Sure, I'll parody prophecy again.

Have two strikes against me for saying there was no way Trump could win the primaries, and then doubling down on dumb by saying there was no way he could win the general election. So why not?

--indictments of a small number of cronies. Perhaps one conviction, and that far from necessarily for anything done during the campaign.

--a list of suspicions about Trump, but a short list. Most of the suspicions that Mueller has will remain that, and we can all fight for a copy of his best-selling book outlining all the things that he thinks Trump did but didn't really have much evidence for. Remember, Trump delegates for real. That both frees up time, let's subordinate take actions on their own, and provides plausible deniability.

--the media will call the report historic and they'll be right in a trivial sense. The report will say that Russia tried to meddle, and outline the meddling activities. It will have no evidence that the meddling moved the needle because it can't, but any speculation will be taken as conclusive proof. Remember, it's the Russian meddling that's the target of the investigation, Trump's collateral. Instead, Mueller will echo the intelligence community's findings: Russia tried to weaken the US body politic and electoral system as job 1; it targeted HRC before it had any reason to help Trump for any reason except to hurt the carousel of (R) front runners during the primary; and late in the game Russia helped Trump, but by then he had racked up numerous primary wins and was probably going to win the primaries overall. (This will, of course, be heard by many as "mmmmmmmm Russia helped Trump mmmmm." The first part has again surfaced in the consciousness of the body politic as a scapegoat for all the partisanship and internal divisions. HRC said they "sowed" division, but really, you sow seed; Russia fertilized crops well on the way to maturity.)

[world wide wally]

34. Id like to think that eventually the GOP will force him to resign to save face.

That, and/or a violent civil war when the deplorables decide they won't follow the law (probably because they are too busy respecting the flag), and we will have reached our breaking point.

Pretty grim, but what else can you expect from a Donald Trump?

[MineralMan]

35. I have no prediction at all. It's impossible to know what

is going on in the investigation. That's a good thing, too.

[Smickey]

66. Yessir

My impression of Muller is that he is a wily old legal soldier that knows how to play a fiddle and have others dance to his tune. I too have no idea whats coming, I believe however there is much he has or is on to that none of us have a clue of. This gives me hope, something i think we can all use right now.

[cab67]

36. I'm guardedly optimistic.

Depending on what's in report, the Orange One might become a very real liability on congressional Republicans, and they might want him gone. It'll be a matter of party over country again.

[Garrett78]

37. You're being more optimistic than I am.

Your scenario is probably the best we can realistically hope for.

[rock]

38. "... donnie being an outsider to washington and not knowing the subtle rules."

Ignorance (which Trump has bigly amounts of) does not count in law as a defense. Everybody knows this, Donnie included.

Now as to my guess, I do NOT expect Mueller's finding's to lead to the extraction of Trump but DO have a reasonable hope that that it will lead to the whole world (especially the republiCONs) knowing that Trump is an illegitimate president of the US. We're going to have to take care of this after the 2018 or possibly the 2020 election.

[jmowreader]

41. Let me try

The most likely realistic outcome is:

1. Trump fires Mueller.
2. Sessions begins an investigation of Mueller for official misconduct.
3. Sessions finds some - in an investigation this big, it would be hard to NOT cross the line even a little bit.
4. Mueller is prosecuted and imprisoned.
5. No one tries investigating Trump ever again.

[unblock]

44. Oh good grief

I don't drink, but maybe I should start.

I hear vodka is good for an intractably corrupt government....

[CousinIT]

43. I doubt much will happen. SHitler will go on a twitter rage-fest. Our only hope...

...is that if people WISE UP and VOTE in the mid-terms - and ELECT DEMOCRATIC MAJORITIES in House and/or Senate (preferably both). But even that is a longshot. Not impossible, would take VERY CONCENTRATED EFFORT.

Dem majorities will impeach his ass.

[rockfordfile]

47. If Muelller doesn't get Trump, then I think the investigation is a failure.

[demosincebirth]

49. Nothing will happen to Trump, but many of his stooges will be in deep shit. trump will throw them

all under the bus and he will skate.

[Skittles]

50. there is absolutley no doubt in my mind that orange bastard colluded with Russia

he is OWNED by them

if Mueller fails to prove this I will consider the investigation a complete failure, right up there with O J Simpson's "innocence"

[Vinca]

51. I think you're probably right, although I'm interested in what the New York AG is looking into.

If Manafort is connected to money laundering, it's hard to imagine Trump isn't. Look at the house in Florida he flipped for millions in profit, but the Russian who bought it never moved into the place. A bona fide buyer would have negotiated a "market value" sale and not paid whatever Trump asked for.

[L. Coyote]

52. The horrific nature of the truths revealed will result in Trump's resignation.

[Downtown Hound]

53. I believe Trump will be charged with Obstruction of Justice

Which will make for one hell of a shitshow. I believe there will be other indictments too but I really do think the GOP knows his days are numbered and they're just using him to get as much of their agenda passed as they can until the hammer falls.

[uponit7771]

104. +1, forgot about this one the obstruction of justice is nearly a slam dunk. He admitted on live TV

... he was firing Comey in part because of the investigation.

[Jim__]

54. Mueller will get Trump for obstruction of justice.

I'm not sure if he'll try to indict him. If he does indict him, either he'll resign or the repubs will be forced to impeach him. If he's not indicted, they won't impeach him.

Don jr and Kushner will be charged with colluding with the Russians.

Manafort and Flynn will be charged with various serious crimes.

If Trump remains in office, he'll pardon everyone else.

[davsand]

55. I doubt we'll see an impeachment.

I expect a couple convictions--Manafort being one, for example--but I doubt highly that the orange assailant will be impeached. I think the AGs working the state level investigations will turn up enough stuff to go after some money laundering charges on various trump family members and maybe even Donnie himself.

Having said that, I do think the GOP will have a conversation with him offering him the opportunity to resign "for the good of the country" and to protect his family from prosecution. I do think he and Bannon have managed to piss off enough of the heavy hitter GOP members that they will try and get him gone before he completely screws the GOP majorities in the House and Senate in 2018. There have already been a couple comments made about the GOP wanting to push tax reform through so they will have something to point to that they've accomplished, and that's significant, IMO.

But, given the shit show, and the general level of insanity we've seen at work here, it's possible he might get us all blown to hell and gone before anything can be done about him. THAT is always a possibility too.



Laura

[Sunlei]

56. Many Republican party & others charged with treason, colluding with Russia, spying, high crimes.

Trump and family in on some of it but not to the depth of treason as some Republicans.

[broadcaster90210]

57. Not much.

Donnie will escape. A couple of other indictments. We will scream and no one will care.

[sharedvalues]

59. Trump and his kids all go to jail

Trump is hanging on by a thread.
When Nixon got to high 20s approval the GOP turned on him.

Same here. DJT is in the mid 30s depending on day. He tried to intervene in AL Senate and his base didn't listen to him. GOP noticed- it's not Trump, it's hate motivating the base. So Trump can go without breaking the hateful base.
And Bob Corker is mainstream GOP who has turned on Trump.

Make no mistake - Trump is not long for this office. 6 months tops is my prediction. And Mueller or Schneiderman will jail him afterward, and take away all of his assets .


As Democrats our mission now is to work on turnout and against voter suppression.

[SonofDonald]

63. I think dumpf will be impeached AND prosecuted

For treason, look at all the connections with his administration and russia, look at all the meetings, phone calls etc that have been discovered, look at all the money involved that dumpf received from shady persons and banks, look at all the russia sourced ads and facebook, Twitter and Google media that was bought and paid for.

When that many obvious links have been found you know there's lots more that haven't been as of yet, a coincidence or two is one thing, when they reach the dozens that we know of already it's not a coincidence any longer, it's conspiracy.

Dumpf was front and center in everything, there's zero way he didn't know what was happening when so many around him did, his own son, son in law and campaign manager met with the russians in his own building while he was there.

It goes on and on, Mueller knows the extent already and who was involved, when you consider that once dumpfs name came up in surveillance intercepts it's doubtful they ignored it and didn't seek FISA court permission to monitor everybody's communications they could.

Just the circumstantial evidence alone warrants further inquiry into numerous avenues, where there's smoke there's fire.

I think Mueller will get the truth out, I also think it will be so overwhelming that there's no way dumpf will be allowed to walk away scot free.

The real test is when the pukes have to make a decision of what to do, they have to realize that if they do nothing 2018 will be a very bad year for them, and if we can take back control of our country they'll be fair game themselves.

[ProudLib72]

64. Only one recourse for the messiah of the deplorables

Public crucifixion. Sessions will ask the GOP Senate whom they want to crucify, McConnell or Dotard. They will pick Dotard just to get rid of him. Sessions will wash his hands of the ordeal, Pence will take over, and we will still have hell on earth.

But it may just take Christianity in a new and interesting direction. Most evangelicals will adopt Dotard as the new messiah and declare that he arose from his grave, ate burned steak slathered in ketchup, and then caught a tax payer funded flight to Mar-a-lago, where he disappeared forever. But we will be stuck with the lasting legacy of tRumpistianity for thousands of years. Priests will have their hair pulled out and replaced with orange hair plugs. Communion will take place with Diet Coke and KFC (that literally IS what Dotard's body is made of!).

[madville]

65. Trump will pardon everyone recommended for indictment

Then after Trump loses the 2020 election he will resign a couple of days before the inauguration of the next Democratic President and Pence will pardon him so nothing can happen at the federal level after he leaves office.

[7962]

67. Not much.

Just keep hearing "this is IT!!!" so often I guess I'm jaded. We'll see

[Motley13]

71. the scapegoats go to jail & the moron resigns

I can hear the moron now, I didn't know-------(fill in the blanks) did that. Which could even be Jared.
BTW, where is Jared?

[louis c]

72. Trump will pardon everyone connected

with the investigation, and then resign, himself.

Pence will pardon Trump.

I know Mueller will be bringing state charges against many of the group, and that the president can't pardon state charges. That has never been adjudicated in court, so we'll see how that all pans out.

[doc03]

73. Number 1 they are setting up Manafort as the fall guy and no

solid evidence will ever be found involving the Trump family in Russian collusion.
Number 2 this investigation is going to drag out beyond next years election.

[C_U_L8R]

75. No justice until

we elect a Democratic majority.
Republicans are simply too corrupt and complicit.

[Cryptoad]

78. Whose Reality ,,,

are we going to use to define "realistic"

[Bleacher Creature]

79. Trump has been in the NY real estate game for 40+ years and also has ties to Russian oil money.

There's no chance he's not dirty. Seriously, if he's not dirty, who is? I agree that Mueller may have a hard time proving anything, but I just have to think he'll be locked onto Trump before it's all over.

[egduj]

81. I didn't know the investigations were still going on.

[Fiendish Thingy]

82. It depends on a lot of variables, especially the timing of the report, and the media's response

Of course, the details of the report are the most important variable. However, if the report, no matter how damning, is released before, say, August 2018, it will get lost and fade away, especially if the news media have a weak response in crafting a narrative, or give "equal time" or tolerate any false equivalencies to distract from Trump & Co's crimes.

I think a mid-to-late August release of the report, along with indictments of Flynn, Manafort, Page, Sater, and any member of Trump's family would have maximum impact leading into the mid-terms. Even better if Trump pardons any of them, as Republicans would have to answer to voters where they stand on impeachment. Even better if Trump is, indicted or not, named for obstruction. I bet we'll see a lot GOP rats fleeing the sinking Trump ship if that happens.

Even a military escalation with Korea or Iran wouldn't be able to totally distract from this report, if timed right. Nevertheless , I do agree, depending on the circumstances, it's possible that nothing will change, except perhaps the number of outraged memes of Facebook.

[Kablooie]

83. Yep. A couple of cronies might get short sentences at a country club prison but that's all.

I don't think even release of the pee video would have any effect on him among his toadies.
There's really no way to get rid of Asshole unless the majority of Republicans, including the Republican base, finds him unacceptable which isn't going to happen.

If the Republican Congress voted to impeach the Republican president, their base would turn against them with even more virulence, something they won't be willing to risk.

I don't have a lot of faith in the 2018 election either. Sure there is lots of opposition towards him and some of his followers have turned but I'm not sure they will turn far enough to elect a majority of Democrats. I hope they do but when it comes down to the line most will still vote Republican because they are told constantly that it's the only real choice they have.

[MyNameGoesHere]

85. No impeachment

unless he gets to around mid 20's approval. Then they will impeach him for just being stupid, at that point you don't need high crimes or misdemeanors.

[unblock]

86. In the end, impeachment is a political act

And the ultimate political crime is being just too damn unpopular.

[vi5]

87. Nothing. Nothing will happen.

This has been another edition of simple answers to simple questions.

[madokie]

89. I pretty much agree with you

I've had my hopes dashed too many times before to believe this time will be different

These people are all the same in a lot of ways. Its them against US

[PufPuf23]

92. Your assessment is much like that of my own prediction.

At best, several cronies (Manafort, Flynn, etc) now outside the inner circle will be prosecuted.

Trump will not be impeached nor prosecuted because of the Mueller investigation.

That does not seem to be how 21st century USA works.

Fitz-mas redux.

[Locrian]

93. I think you pretty much have it right

I'm sure right now "deals are being made". Pretty much everything we see is what is leaked on purpose: as leverage.
So it'll be a few "bad apples" and move on - after they get the real power players behind the scenes off the hook.

As for donnie-little-hands - he's useful in that he's a distraction and a wrecking ball. Pretty much it. I'm sure they're using that to the full advantage as long as possible until they decide they need to move on. A dangerous game to be sure, but when has that ever stopped them?

Always the same....

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

101. Don't wanna jinx it... have my fingers double crossed for good luck.

[Bettie]

103. A few people get indicted

that orange creature declares that he is fully vindicated and declares himself president for life and appoints his daughter/wife as his successor.

Congress enshrines that into law.

I have no optimism anymore, only a creeping sense of doom.

[Joe941]

105. I continue to believe tRump will not finish the first term.

Mueller will get tRump and end this nightmare. As a result of the investigation a new general election will be held and Clinton will become madam president.

[LeftInTX]

107. I agree with you

I also read this article:

With Trump in office, do scandals matter anymore?
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article178355531.html

[Tommy_Carcetti]

109. I think the result of the investigation itself will be quite damning.

There will be indictments, including of Trump family members, and if Trump himself is not immediately indicted he'll be listed as an unindicted co-conspirator.

The million dollar question is whether the self-serving Republican cowards in Congress will do anything in reaction to it or simply ignore it.

And the even greater question is what move of desperation Trump will pull as the walls close in on him, and whether or not he'll be successful in possibly the most horrific of ways.

Or maybe he'll just resign. Or have a heart attack.

[JoeStuckInOH]

110. A few cronies get scooped up, Trump lives on, new election regulations. nt