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Politics The Probe

Discussion in 'Tilted Philosophy, Politics, and Economics' started by rogue49, Oct 29, 2017.

  1. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
  2. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
  3. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
  4. ASU2003

    ASU2003 Very Tilted

    Location:
    Where ever I roam
    I am wondering if Trump can just pardon Manafort and Gates, since even if they have to plead guilty to get the pardon, I'm not sure if they are linked to actually helping the Russians influence Trump's campaign yet. Except for the RNC platform change on the Ukraine. Or is Trump powerful enough to tell them that they will have to serve 3 years in prison if Trump only gets one term, or 7 years if he wins re-election before he can pardon them. Maybe the 38% of his base won't care if he pardons everyone involved that he can.
     
  5. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
  6. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    Well, most are saying that Mueller is "unassailable" - since he's now released the first indictments
    BUT Trump has already shown he is perfectly capable of doing things that no one would ever expect.
    The Dems have started surrounding Mueller (but they often don't have teeth)
    The GOP who's in "control", are hedging their bets. (saying ...don't you "dare"...but doing really nothing to shield Mueller

    This is basically a race.
    Certainly not a chessmatch...because one side doesn't know even checkers.
    Mueller acting fast now. (cornering Trump's associates in)
    Trump potentially acting like a rat in a corner (even IF he has done nothing)
    It's who blinks first.
    Who acts first.

    This is going to get very messy
    And will be "interesting times" for future generations to think, WTF??
     
  7. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
  8. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    • Like Like x 1
  9. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
  10. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

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    Baltimore/DC
    Looks like the probe is expanding...or at least getting into aspects that haven't been revealed before
    Russia investigators probe 2016 GOP platform fight

    And if they're revealing it...it means that they have something already.
    Mueller's team is lock-jawed and only reveal when they want a reaction to get more info from the ruffled feathers.

    Bit by bit...
     
  11. martian

    martian Server Monkey Staff Member

    Location:
    Mars
    Mueller is unassailable, insofar as Trump has no direct path to affect him or his work. Mueller is currently under the authority of Deputy AG Rosenstein, who appointed him and is thus unlikely to dismiss him. Rosenstein, in turn, is under the authority of AG Jeff Sessions, who has shown no desire to dismiss Rosenstein (and may not be able to due to having recused himself from the Russia probe). Most of Trump's ability to surprise has been due to his willingness to completely disregard decorum or tradition, but he doesn't get to ignore the law. Short of pulling a Nixon and just firing AGs until he finds one who is willing to shut down the investigation, he can't touch Mueller; and even that move is limited value, since Congress can and almost certainly will just reappoint him, putting him out of Trump's reach for good. The problem is that the inverse is also true; Mueller has no path to indict Trump, and if Trump does choose to simply pardon those who Mueller indicts there's not much to be done about it. The biggest wrinkle, which I'm sure Trump's legal team has been doing their best to hammer into him over the past few weeks, is that anyone Trump pardons will lose fifth amendment protection and can be compelled to testify. Depending on what they know this could be highly problematic.

    Mueller is smart and highly competent and he knows all of this. He's going to do his job regardless. The variable right now is to see who Trump will choose to protect and who he'll leave hanging. I suspect he'll be perfectly willing to let both Flynn and Flynn the Lesser serve as scapegoats; I can't help but think that anyone who doesn't also sign their checks with Trump will find themselves sorely disappointed if they're expecting any loyalty from Don Cheeto.

    Personally, I think when and if Mueller indicts one of the Trumplings is when things are going to get real.
     
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  12. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
  13. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
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    Special Counsel sends wide-ranging request for documents to Justice Department

    Looks like Mueller is trouncing on...step by step
    Frankly, I'm surprised they didn't do this before the initial reveal...keep it even more hush-hush and no one can interfere by being aware.
    Now they may get more resistance and coverup (maybe that's what they want...a dupe, it's not the crime that gets you...it's the coverup, the obstruction)

    Or perhaps they formally had no reason to before...and now they have a "legit" reason legally to be able to request them.
    Many don't realize how much you can't review until you have "a need to know" legal and for cause.
    Especially, if your judges and go-betweens are in the opposition, formal or not inclined to assist.

    It's a maze with a lot of speed bumps and road blocks.
    It's why things don't come out in the open often.
     
  14. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
  15. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

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    Baltimore/DC
    BTW...
    [​IMG]
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  16. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
  17. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    • Like Like x 1
  18. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    Michael Flynn Expected to Plead Guilty to Lying to the F.B.I.

    Now definitely in like Flynn...
    And you know he's going to flip.

    I would love to know Trump's reaction at the moment.

    This is the minimal charge they could do...it's almost like Mueller is doing only ONE charge that can stick no matter what.
    Leaving any extra charges as a threat (and because they're legally more difficult to prove and stick)
    So that makes the perps sweat...and open up.
    Leading to an easy...Obstruction of Justice for the bigger players.

    Ya gotta admire the brilliant chess-play. :)
     
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2017
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  19. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
  20. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC