Trump Is Reality TV, Mueller Is The Wire

[Poopadoop]

Did anyone else see how masterfully Mueller threw up a big smokescreen by busting into Trump's lawyer's properties? Clinton and Obama will be letting their guard down even more now.

/sarcasm

[wufwugy]

Did anyone else see how masterfully Mueller threw up a big smokescreen by busting into Trump's lawyer's properties? Clinton and Obama will be letting their guard down even more now.

/sarcasm

We don't know what Mueller is doing, but we know what he is not doing.

[Poopadoop]

We don't know what Mueller is doing, but we know what he is not doing.

More like 'some of want to believe Muller is doing something other than what it looks like he is doing.'

[BananaStand]

More like 'some of want to believe Muller is doing something other than what it looks like he is doing.'

It looks like he's trying to get himself fired

[boost]

It looks like he's trying to get himself fired

You do realize that while he may not view this as an optimal outcome, he may very well not view it as an unfavorable one?

[BananaStand]

You do realize that while he may not view this as an optimal outcome, he may very well not view it as an unfavorable one?

That was kind of my point. I think there is a chance (I would guess it's probably about 35%) that Mueller has nothing on Russia, nothing on obstruction, but still would like to see Trump taken down. So he might have made himself into an overreaching, witch-hunting, nuisance on purpose just to get himself fired.

Then there is a whole new "obstruction of justice" game to be played. Even if that doesn't come to pass, the dems will spin the Mueller firing into some monumentally bad optics for Trump.

The longer this investigation continues without any definitive findings on the central matter of Russia, the more I'm inclined to believe that Mueller has some kind of alt-purpose. He's run a real tight ship, with not many leaks. When Mueller's made moves, they've always been a surprise. That makes my imagination start to conjure up images of a cult-like team where the members are convinced of some higher historical and revolutionary purpose.

Some day, someone on the team (but not Mueller) will write a book about what they did. Should be a fascinating read.

[boost]

That was kind of my point. I think there is a chance (I would guess it's probably about 35%) that Mueller has nothing on Russia, nothing on obstruction, but still would like to see Trump taken down. So he might have made himself into an overreaching, witch-hunting, nuisance on purpose just to get himself fired.

Then there is a whole new "obstruction of justice" game to be played. Even if that doesn't come to pass, the dems will spin the Mueller firing into some monumentally bad optics for Trump.

The longer this investigation continues without any definitive findings on the central matter of Russia, the more I'm inclined to believe that Mueller has some kind of alt-purpose. He's run a real tight ship, with not many leaks. When Mueller's made moves, they've always been a surprise. That makes my imagination start to conjure up images of a cult-like team where the members are convinced of some higher historical and revolutionary purpose.

Some day, someone on the team (but not Mueller) will write a book about what they did. Should be a fascinating read.

I think your imagination can tend to get away from you, but nonetheless, yeah-- this will be some interesting history to look back on.

My take is that Mueller entered into his role as special prosecutor in a tough spot, but by running a tight ship and strategically revealing cards in his hand, he's been able to build enough credibility (with a significant enough portion of the public and of congress) that his initial weakness, Trump's technical ability to indirectly fire him, is now a strength. My gut feeling is that he has something significant, but he knows he needs it to be air tight because one of the defendants is a sitting US President. To get it to be air tight, you've got to flip people, and to get pressure on them you have to have information that they don't so as to put them in a prisoner's dilemma.

You could be right that either he and his team are "hardened democrats" (but, um, probably not) or that they simply are in it for the win, but my point is that to run this sort of investigation, all the things you find suspicious are actually hallmarks of a well run operation that is trying to find the truth but also cognisant that a wrong step could end the quest for the truth prematurely.

[wufwugy]

More like 'some of want to believe Muller is doing something other than what it looks like he is doing.'

It is very possible that Mueller is trying to do exactly what he looks like he's doing.

Gotta keep in mind that even if he thinks that, he isn't. The administration is not investigating itself (legitimately). Perhaps the greatest troll Trump ever played on people is getting them to believe he is vulnerable to his own administration.

[boost]

It is very possible that Mueller is trying to do exactly what he looks like he's doing.

Gotta keep in mind that even if he thinks that, he isn't. The administration is not investigating itself (legitimately). Perhaps the greatest troll Trump ever played on people is getting them to believe he is vulnerable to his own administration.

He is.

Prior administrations saw to it that certain parts of the executive branch would function with varying levels of autonomy. Technically he could fire people until he gets someone that does his bidding, but Nixon was kind enough to let us know how that works out.

[wufwugy]

Brrrringgg! Brrrringgg!

Hello.

Hey boss, you know that guy that you interviewed yesterday? I want to hire him to investigate your alleged crimes that the butthurt losers of a campaign that badly lost fabricated out of thin air immediately after they lost. Capiche?

Sounds good.