Discussion: Republicans Urge Trump To Stop Mueller Attacks: 'Don't Go There'

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Seems apropos.

https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/975369210972049408

Moar Apropoz.

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It’s a common trope but that one you described doesn’t sound familiar. The general approach sure does sound like the Pythons, though. Holy Grail had any number of confrontations like that.

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Here’s the problem with the GOP ‘concern’ (including Graham’s warning that firing Mueller would not be acceptable because we have the rule of law): any firing will be conducted with some pretext. A narrative or maneuver will be cooked up, just as the IG report was cooked up for McCabe, and the secret memo was cooked up for Nunes, and the Comey-was-unfair-to-HRC pretext was cooked up for Comey. As soon as this false narrative is formulated and amplified by a million Russian bots and Trumpist fanatics (the GOP base), the GOP hacks will accept the narrative even as they express concern about it–because to reject the narrative is to conclude that it is false and that obstruction of justice has blatantly occurred and the President must be impeached. So nothing concrete happens–except perhaps the House concludes by some fake committee that the firing narrative was correct and therefore Mueller’s firing (and any incidental firing of Rosenstein etc )is fine.

The GOP cannot be relied on in any way, unless you’re pro-Trump–and I suspect that several Ds in the senate will have cold feet too. Mueller has to somehow insulate his inquiry from the consequences of the firing by collaborating with alternative prosecutorial authorities. That is feasible, but it’s less powerful and less comprehensive than the special counsel’s power. In any case, marching by millions of people and massive civil unrest will be required, not least to push Ds into action.

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“I hope so,” Flake responded. “Talking to my colleagues all along, it was, ‘Once he goes after Mueller, then we’ll take action.’ I think that people see that as a massive red line that can’t be crossed.”

What a fucking cowardly pant load. I guess Rs in House & Senate are going to have to settle with Gorsuch, Tax Cuts, ICE, destruction of OCare as their prospects for gutting Social Security and Medicaid and whatever else on their agenda is looking less likely to get done.

They’re admitting it, they didn’t care what trump did to wreck the country as long as they got the goods for themselves and their donors.

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Flake reminds me of an old saying: “Why do you take two Mormons fishing with you? If you only take one, they’ll drink all your beer.”

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According to the article Graham said “If Trump fires Mueller, ‘that would be the beginning of the end of his presidency,’” The standard is not going after Mueller, it is an after-the-fact response. The enunciated consequence of “the beginning of the end of his presidency” probably means they would urge him not to run for reelection.

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Candor, people; more candor!

Exclusive: Sources contradict Sessions' testimony he opposed Russia outreach
Karen Freifeld, Sarah N. Lynch and Mark Hosenball
 
(Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' testimony that he opposed a proposal for President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign team to meet with Russians has been contradicted by three people who told Reuters they have spoken about the matter to investigators with Special Counsel Robert Mueller or congressional committees.

Sessions testified before Congress in November 2017 that he "pushed back" against the proposal made by former campaign adviser George Papadopoulos at a March 31, 2016 campaign meeting. Then a senator from Alabama, Sessions chaired the meeting as head of the Trump campaign's foreign policy team.
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““I hope so,” Flake responded. “Talking to my colleagues all along, it
was, ‘Once he goes after Mueller, then we’ll take action.’ I think that
people see that as a massive red line that can’t be crossed.””

What Flake is saying and Graham is if the Republicans do not stop Trump, they are done as a party.

I also noticed Lindsay’s trying to have it both ways. Preserve the talking points on the Dossier but stand firm with the Rule of Law. Nice tightrope act.

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Until one of them gets his stinking phone, the unfit, unqualified, racist birther scumbag is gonna keep going there.

Honestly, these GOP eunuchs making what I can barely call an idle threat is obscenely pathetic. But at least I understand the meaning of the word “cuck” and have their picture to go along with it.

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I don’t trust that the GOP will stand up to Trump if he fires Mueller.
They did nothing when Trump did not execute Russian sanctions.
They put party before country over and over again. They have passed a tax cut which benefits their wealthy donors, but have otherwise, done nothing to protect or serve the people of this country. I think the reason some are not running again is because they know Trump will get impeached after the midterms, and they don’t want to have to be involved in that. Better to cash out now and get rewarded with a cushy lobbying job than to have to sully oneself with removing a traitor and tyrant from the presidency. They were willing participants in this mess, and we should not let them forget it.

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Yep

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Republicans should turn from urging Trump to stop attacking the special prosecutor, and instead turn to stopping Trump.

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“And I just hope it doesn’t go there, because it can’t,” he said. “We can’t, in Congress, accept that.”” And who is going to stop him? Republicans? You know the lie in that.

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Precisely. These threats are useless and meaningless.

The only time they would go after him is when their donors tell them, “This guy is costing me a lot of money.” That’s it. That’s the litmus test.

Somehow, they’ve convinced themselves that they will be the good Nazis and come to their senses.

There were no good Nazis.

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To paraphrase Hillalry’s husband, “It depends on what the meaning of the words ‘pushed back’ is.”

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Jeet Heer had an observation about that:

Funny how this leaks right after Sessions fired McCabe. It's a funny old world. https://t.co/oDkzDHbW6h

— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) March 18, 2018
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‘Once he goes after Mueller, then we’ll take action.’
  I think that people see that as a massive red line
     that can’t be crossed.”

Yeah …

I generally never check my oil …

Until I’m smoking on the side of the road with the red ’ oil ’ light on —

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So funny - I thought cans was purely a typo

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I think complicit works better than oblivious in your comment. But what do I know, really.

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Mr. President, some Republicans are fearful your constant attacks on Mr. Mueller will only buttress his already strong case against you for obstruction of justice.
I say, what do they know?!? You didn’t get to where you are by listening to other people’s counsel. You’ve always followed your gut and mouth (both large). Keep up the attacks, Mr. President, they can only help our country!

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