by Robert Reich:'I spoke this morning with my friend, a former Republican member of Congress,

[elleng]

who’s as worried as I am about Trump’s mental state and the growing possibility that he or people around him committed treason by collaborating with Russian operatives to throw the election.

Me: Do other current and former Republican members of Congress feel like you do?

He: Lots of them. They think Trump’s loony tunes, and he’s in Putin’s pocket.

Me: Well why the hell don’t they say something? As long as this looks like a partisan brawl we’re never going to get anywhere.

He: No one wants to be the first. They worry Trump will start tweeting on them, or his crazy-ass supporters at home will go after them.

Me: Then why not issue a joint statement? A bunch of Republicans could call for a Select Committee to look into all of this, a special prosecutor. There's safety in numbers.

He: A few of them are talking about it right now, but McConnell and Ryan don’t want to rock the boat. They want to focus on repealing Obamacare, getting a giant tax cut, wiping out environmental regulations, you know the drill.

Me: But don’t they know the Trump issues are just going to get worse? Republicans need to get ahead of this or they’ll get bulldozed by it.

He: McConnell and Ryan don’t see it that way. They figure Trump will continue his circus act, stirring up the press, driving everyone crazy. So they can quietly work with Pence and get their agenda through when no one is paying much attention.

Me: You mean Trump is a decoy?

He (chuckling): Yeah. At least for now.'

https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/?fref=nf&pnref=story

[guillaumeb]

1. Who will say that the Emperor is naked?

Opportunists like Ryan and McConnell will take advantage of the chaos. Like thieves looting while the city burns. But thieves in suits.

[doc03]

2. Oh please Trump naked is something I don't want to see

[2naSalit]

3. This right here...

He: McConnell and Ryan don’t see it that way. They figure Trump will continue his circus act, stirring up the press, driving everyone crazy. So they can quietly work with Pence and get their agenda through when no one is paying much attention.

Me: You mean Trump is a decoy?

He (chuckling): Yeah. At least for now.'

[SeattleVet]

4. In other words...

don't pay attention to the monkey; pay attention to the organ grinder.

[2naSalit]

5. Or...

Shock Doctrine for the win, Alex.

[progressoid]

7. That's why I don't want DT removed yet.

At this point he and congress are at odds. But if it were Pence and congress, they actually work together and wreak havoc.

[2naSalit]

8. That's the problem that I see

Pence is the actuary here, cheato is the squirrel! to keep us all outraged and fearful while the veep is handling the overturn of the government. SB is keeping up the shitshow as head writer and the joystick on the military. A little encouragement from the puppeteer and all things shiny and military are a great talking point.

I could go on but I need to think of my health.

[MosheFeingold]

17. I'm being saying Trump is Zaphod Beeblebrox, not Hitler

But no one knows who Zaphod Beeblebrox is.

[J_William_Ryan]

6. Former member of Congress

That’s the problem.

[starshine00]

9. brilliant, I've been saying this all along, when he does the clown act

we need to pay attention to policy. however, I don't at all feel it is going to go as well for them as they think that Trump appears to be in Russia's pocket, which will make itself evident in the 2018 elections.

[Orrex]

10. An anonymous rogue Republican saying exactly what we want to hear?

Who could doubt such a tale?

[JudyM]

11. Do you have reason to doubt Reich? The guy seems to have good integrity, AFAIK.

[Orrex]

12. Trust but verify

[Hassin Bin Sober]

13. He's not the only person saying there are worried republicans afraid to speak out.

[Orrex]

14. Yes, yes.

Republicans are afraid to speak out.
Democrats are afraid to speak out.

The only one who's not afraid to speak out is Resident Chump. How do we have to endure this before someone with a spine steps up to hold him accountable?

[yellowcanine]

15. It will work for Republicans until it doesn't. Then it will fail spectacularly.

The longer Republicans in Congress try to ignore the elephant in the room that the President is a certifiable fruitcake the more likely the backlash in 2018 will be spectacular.

[lagomorph777]

18. Assuming that there is an election in 2018.

That is not a guarantee.

[hughee99]

16. Donald Trump, the modern incarnation of Zaphod Beeblebrox. n/t