Nadler: Mueller Testimony Was ‘Inflection Point’ In Trump Saga

formerChild · July 28, 2019, 5:34pm

So, how do we get them from social media onto the evening network news shows?

thunderclapnewman · July 28, 2019, 5:35pm

“the inescapable agent of someone’s or something’s downfall.”

pshah · July 28, 2019, 5:36pm

I think what the media has egregiously missed is that Mueller bent so far backwards -to the point of intellectual incoherence -in trying to avoid calling Trump what he is: a serial obstructor of Justice, simply because of an OLC opinion. Even so, between the lines, there’s no question he would have indicated Trump if he could have.

Mueller was very guarded in his replies, took a beat before answering many questions, and then answered succinctly in most cases to avoid being drawn in and having to make the obvious conclusion -though he did slip just the one time. He did this to the point of appearing a bit sluggish and slow in his mental functioning, though I suspect it was partly calculated on his part. It was a remarkably egoless performance, especially by Washington standards where everyone’s crowing about being the smartest person in the room.

khyber900 · July 28, 2019, 5:36pm

Another thing to consider. Joe Scarborough highlighted the other day what many have said off and on over the past 4-5 months. For Trump, his choice is win re-election or go to jail. Mike Quigley put that out there in the intel hearing with respect to the statute of limitations issue, and Mueller did not disagree.

But what that also strongly implies is that if Trump theoretically got a deal to resign in exchange for no charges, he might take it.

I believe he has a window until Halloween of this year to work with Barr and perhaps Pence to do so. Afterwards, the Dems will be only too happy to beat him up at the ballot box and keep the threat of jail hanging over his head so he goes into a complete meltdown.

Any deal cut in a lame duck session following a loss will not work b/c no incoming Dem administration will honor it.

Here’s the environment that Trump is now facing:

Economic data now provide clarity that the Trump economy is fully juiced but underperforming. It’s like a car with the pedal to the metal but it’s not picking up speed. Only a matter of time before it starts getting reflected in the unemployment rate. This data picture align to the critique that many Dem candidates have of the current economy.
Dem enthusiasm up, and the 2020 map and electorate will be more favorable for them than 2016.
GOP facing record levels of unpopularity on many policies and can’t bail him out.
Trump facing possible charges post-term. Mueller brought that realization home. Nadler is sticking the needle in him about it today.
Poor fundraising by GOP House/Senate, good matchups for Dems in those key races make them too dependent on an unpopular Trump.

Most folks would look at that picture and conclude that Trump is unlikely to win re-election. If the cost of losing is jail, you might sober up real quick and be more inclined to find an alternative.

The time to cut a deal is now. Pelosi will honor it if it happens soon. She will not honor it and neither will any Dem candidate if this were to happen later than October because you’re deep into the election cycle at that point and no Dem is going to let Trump walk free. It’s just not popular with Dem voters.

The deal would involve either a pardon from Pence (which I think is not all that likely) or a deal brokered by Barr encompassing all potential federal charges from the Mueller probe and SDNY as part of resignation. GOP Senate would probably endorse such a deal (not that it’s required. It would be more for the politics of it).

thunderclapnewman · July 28, 2019, 5:36pm

We know, dear. We know.

khyber900 · July 28, 2019, 5:37pm

I would run superpac ads funded by Tom Steyer types to make them go viral and get on tv.

tena · July 28, 2019, 5:37pm

Don’t you think social media reaches thousands more people than the network news?

thunderclapnewman · July 28, 2019, 5:37pm

Nadler has already announced that the Judiciary Committee is working through the recess.

srfromgr · July 28, 2019, 5:41pm

And then there’s this from Newsweek on Moscow Mitch adding to his shameless avarice:

emiliano4 · July 28, 2019, 5:42pm

IF Trump were to be in position to run for re-election, there is going to have to be multi-layered security on the election process.

And I mean multi-layered.

paul_lukasiak · July 28, 2019, 5:42pm

just because Trump is an idiot doesn’t mean his lawyers are. Moreover, it not like Nadler/the House lawyers aren’t going to have to take a firm position in oral arguments.

There might be some plants/agents provocateur at town halls held by Democratic congresscritters.

Dog Whistle dems should have the chance to demonstrate their competence during the recess – and any Democrat who can’t accomplish what Justin Amash did with HIS town hall, and explain why Trump is unfit for office, should be considered too stupid to waste DCCC cash on.

tsp · July 28, 2019, 5:43pm

Yes, he wants to Die Bold.

ralph_vonholst · July 28, 2019, 5:44pm

Inflection point: realizing the metaphor.

ETA. The inflection point is not at the peak or the trough, but where the function changes from convex to concave and vice versa.

timorwig · July 28, 2019, 5:44pm

She has been pretty excitable lately.

karenldr2009 · July 28, 2019, 5:46pm

I love this but I am wondering about the following two things:

I can’t remember ever seeing Trump or any Trumpians admitting fault or giving up on something, and I don’t see Trump seeing just the two outcomes of “take a deal” or “go to jail.” There’s always another news cycle, another appeal, another distraction for him.

And

“If the cost of losing is jail, you might sober up real quick and be more inclined to find an alternative.”

What if the easiest, most appealing alternative is to cheat harder than you ever have in your long 70+ years of cheating?

becca656 · July 28, 2019, 5:48pm

I have to wonder if those town halls are even scheduled yet. With a fair portion of constituents on summer hiatus from reality, will they show up even if they are scheduled?

I don’t have alot of faith in the American people these days. I guess I’m hearing too much from the know-nothings and nothing from the sentient folks except for here on TPM.

Even here in my little town, a power play took place to close down a public boat launch on the say-so of one resident that just moved into the area (the boat launch has been there for 20 years). The hearings have been scheduled for 5p during the week, deliberately so that most residents who work for a living cannot attend.

That’s what I fear from all of this.

timorwig · July 28, 2019, 5:49pm

What he said to the court is on the public record, so he isn’t obscuring anything.

srfromgr · July 28, 2019, 5:49pm

You’re so punny.

castor_troy · July 28, 2019, 5:51pm

Ah, but there are any number of folks here that will tell you that it’s simply voter apathy that prevents folks from participating in the Democratic processes… Couldn’t possibly be that the whole bit has been deliberately structured at all levels of the system to put a significant thumb on the scale for the outcomes.

paul_lukasiak · July 28, 2019, 5:54pm

IMHO, Democrats should not accept such a deal under any circumstances. Its not as if they couldn’t stop Trump from resigning with a promise of a pardon from Pence - and I can’t think of any upside.

Trump and the GOP would still spin the deal was being necessary because Democrats would “continue the campaign of harassment, making it impossible for Trump to accomplish anything”, and that Trump was sacrificing himself for the good of the nation, and that while he did nothing wrong, he is accepting the pardon so that the country can focus on other stuff.

Indeed, if Trump gets a pardon, Dems should continue with impeachment investigations, because only an impeachment conviction can result in Trump being disqualified from holding office again.