Thursday, May 11, 2017

Things Are Starting To Crumble


The wheels are starting to come off the Trumpmobile. Daniel Dale reports in the Toronto Star that, in the wake of FBI Director James Comey's firing, several revelations have come to light:

In the most noteworthy of the revelations, the New York Times, Washington Post and others reported Wednesday morning that Comey had requested additional resources for the Russia investigation just last week. The Times reported later that Trump was angry about that investigation and “enraged” by Comey’s testimony about him last week in Congress.

That wasn’t all. The McClatchy news service reported that Trump himself had requested the supposedly independent Department of Justice memo on which the ouster was supposedly based. And CNN anchor Jake Tapper cited a “source close to Comey” as saying he was dismissed because he would not pledge personal loyalty to Trump and because the Russia probe was “accelerating.”

Though the news did not come close to proving his critics’ theory that he is trying to hide something from the FBI probe into his campaign’s possible collusion with Russian interference in the presidential election, it strongly suggested that his administration’s central rationale for Comey’s dismissal — that he acted out of dismay at Comey’s improper treatment of Hillary Clinton last year — was a mere pretext for a decision that was personal rather than principled.

The Trumpists are scrambling. But, so far, the Republicans are standing behind their man. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says there's no need for a special prosecutor. And, back in their home districts, Republicans are not holding town halls. Perhaps most notably, "Sean Spicer had resorted to hiding in bushes to try to avoid reporters — one aide told Politico on Wednesday that the situation was “total and complete chaos, even by our standards.”

The Senate Intelligence Committee has issued subpoenas. And a Grand Jury is now getting into the act. Things are starting to crumble.

Image: ClipartFest

18 comments:

the salamander said...

.. there's a conundrum presented by the fake President ..
X nunber of Americans wake up every day, currently.. knowing their president is a disgrace. Another X number of Americans wake up daily, believing Donald Trump is the best man they could have as President & Commander in Chief. Since both perspectives can't both be true, it does seem alarming.

Of course there's that political, financial, military and industry core of White House folks, cabinet, media and government etc glad to stand behind Trump and try to batter or fool the X number who recognize a disgrace when they see one. I don't see the point to making value judgements & I can certainly get behind freedom of opinion.. but there is almost always a point where objectivity can be blown off for very odd subjectivity or disgraceful behavior or just plain stupidity, greed or conspiracy etc.

As Andrew Coyne pointed out, never has there been an American President who combined & embodies essentially. every character flaw other presidents may have embodied plus a variety that are unique to Trump. There's that conundrum. X number of Americans do not see any problem or character flaw at all. What gives? He paid 25 MILLION to silence some people who paid to be fleeced by Trump's fraudulent 'University'.. or was that fact 'fake news'

Owen Gray said...

"There are none so blind as they who will not see." It's an old and maudlin axiom, salamander. But it's true.

the salamander said...

.. fyi .. I came across this from Juan Cole
thought was very related to your article ..
The final paragraph is a home run..

https://www.juancole.com/2017/05/sadism-creeping-dictatorship.html

Owen Gray said...

Thanks for the link, salamander. It's an excellent piece. The manner of Comey's dismissal suggests that is Trump a bully who likes to humiliate people. But it also suggests he is a coward. The man who became famous for saying, "You're fired," couldn't face Comey.

Deacon Jester said...

Lots of Americans believe that the office itself sanctifies the man, no matter how moronic or malevolent. The inculcation that every American undergoes, beginning in the cradle, leads even the most aware and enlightened of them into a Sisyphean cognitive dilemma.

Owen Gray said...

Unfortunately, Deacon, most Americans believe in the Myth of America, not the Reality of America.

Anonymous said...

Though the news did not come close to proving his critics’ theory that he is trying to hide something from the FBI probe...

Really? Trump has fired Yates, Bharada and Comey - in other words, anyone probing his ties to Russia. What other plausible explanation comes to mind?

Cap

Owen Gray said...

You don't have to work too hard to connect the dots, Cap.

Anonymous said...

Hell, it's even clear to former GOP congressman and Trump supporter Joe Walsh (no, not the Eagle's guitarist):

Trump said he fired Comey because “he wasn’t doing a good job. Very simply.” According to the Justice Department’s memo that went along with Comey’s termination letter, the administration lost faith because of the way Comey handled the FBI’s investigation of Hillary Clinton. But to believe that’s the real reason, you have to believe that Comey — the guy overseeing the investigation into possible ties between Russia and the Trump campaign — was let go for doing the same things Trump praised Comey for six months ago, when Trump said the FBI director had “guts” and “did the right thing.”

There’s nothing normal about that. That’s tin-pot dictator territory. It’s an abuse of power.


Cap


Owen Gray said...

With Trump, Cap, the hypocrisy is simply stunning.

The Mound of Sound said...

2018 looms large on the horizon, Owen, and those Repugs who've stopped holding townhalls are beginning to feel chafing in their shorts.

Owen Gray said...

They're getting scared, Mound, and they're beginning to hide.

Deacon Jester said...

BTW, have you learned of Trump's Razor?

John Scalzi, brilliant author of Old Man's War, by way of Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo.

Trump's Razor (pace Occam) "When seeking an explanation for the behavior of President Donald J. Trump, ascertain the stupidest possible scenario that can be reconciled with the available facts and that answer is likely correct."

Owen Gray said...

Sounds accurate, Deacon. It's a maxim that has no general application. But it does apply to Trump. And Trump believes the so called rules don't apply to him.

Steve said...

Owen you have a Clinton person Mcabe saying most of the above is nonsense. Fact is the Donald has hit a land mine lets see how far he can crawl before Pence walks. President Pence is the wet dream of la la land.

Owen Gray said...

My hunch is that Pence will replace Trump before Trump's four years are up, Steve. We'll have to see if that scenario unfolds.

Lulymay said...

My friends in Colorado have speculated that the Donald might just last one year. However, they are also of the opinion that Pence is even scarier than the Donald!

It's looking like de ja Nixon all over again (pardon my plagarism,Yogi)

Owen Gray said...

I've thought for awhile now, Lulymay, that Nixon's ghost has been very busy.