The attacks on Mueller push us closer to the precipice

[oaklandhater]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...010_story.html

The attacks on Mueller push us closer to the precipice

Our democratic republic is in far more danger than it was even a few weeks ago.

Until this point, there was an underlying faith in much of the political world that if Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian collusion in the election turned up unmistakably damning material about Donald Trump, Republicans in Congress would feel obligated by their commitment to the country’s well-being to accept Mueller’s findings and challenge the president.

We would often hear recollections of how Republicans during Watergate — Sen. Barry Goldwater would inevitably come up — decided that the smoking guns were too smoky and that Richard Nixon had to go. They made clear to him that he no longer had the support of his party.

Surely, said the optimists, we have not drifted so far from decency that this sort of patriotism is beyond us.

Well, it sure seems to be. It’s not surprising that Trump and those on his payroll want to protect him at all costs. But we learned last week that Republicans are deepening their complicity in derailing Mueller’s investigation and burying the facts. The more Mueller imperils Trump, the more McCarthyite the GOP becomes.

The apotheosis of Republican congressional collusion with Trump’s efforts to hang on at all costs came at a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee. One Republican after another attacked Mueller and the Federal Bureau of Investigation as if the latter should be placed on a new compendium of subversive organizations.

The occasion was testimony before the committee by Christopher A. Wray, the Trump-appointed FBI director. It was heartening to see Wray stand up for his colleagues, which made you wonder if Wray may soon go the way of his predecessor, James B. Comey.

Deserving an Academy Award for the most striking imitation of a member of the old House Un-American Activities Committee was Rep. Louie Gohmert. The hard-right Texas Republican went through a roll call of investigators, name by name, asking Wray if each had shown political bias. Wray defended every one of them he knew and wryly smiled when he was unfamiliar with one of the five names on Gohmert’s hit list.

Gohmert might as well have echoed the favored question of the congressional inquisitors of the early ’40s and ’50s: “Are they now or have they ever been . . . supporters of Hillary Clinton?” When Republicans are FBI haters who are sidetracking probes into Russian subversion, the world truly is turned upside down.

Note also the statement of Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) that if every member of Mueller’s team who was “anti-Trump” were kicked off, “I don’t know if there’d be anyone left.” The implication is that even if Mueller’s investigation produced unassailable evidence of wrongdoing by Trump, we should ignore the truth, because Mueller’s team should have been vetted to exclude anyone who had a smidgen of doubt about the president.

The rationale for this GOP assault is that Peter Strzok, an FBI agent involved in the investigation, exchanged texts critical of Trump and favorable to Clinton with an FBI lawyer. Somehow, Mueller got no props for removing Strzok from the investigation this summer.

But even if Strzok played some role in developing material that ultimately hurts Trump or proves Russian collusion, are Americans supposed to brainwash themselves? Trump’s allies want us to say: Too bad the president lied or broke the law, or that Russia tried to tilt our election. This FBI guy sending anti-Trump texts is far more important, so let’s just forget the whole thing.

Really?

Because we are inured to extreme partisanship and to the political right’s habit of rejecting inconvenient facts, we risk overlooking the profound political crisis that a Trumpified Republican Party could create. And the conflagration may come sooner rather than later, as Mueller zeroes in on Trump and his inner circle.

Only recently, it was widely assumed that if Trump fired Mueller, many Republicans would rise up to defend our institutions. Now, many in the party are laying the groundwork for justifying a coverup. This is a recipe for lawlessness.

We also assumed that Mueller’s findings would be respected because of his deserved reputation for fairness and independence. Just last May, Newt Gingrich called him a “superb choice to be special counsel” and praised his “honesty and integrity.” Now, pro-Trump politicians feel free to contradict anything they said in the past and to dismiss what they once saw as legitimate authority if those who hold it threaten their power. This is a recipe for autocracy.

Trump himself told us plainly on Friday night in Pensacola, Fla., that he will do whatever it takes to hold power, and he should be taken seriously. “There are powerful forces in Washington trying to sabotage our movement,” he declared. “These are bad people, these are very, very bad and evil people. . . . But you know what, we’re stopping them. You’re seeing that right now.”

We are far closer to the edge than we want to think.

[AMDChief]

the nation's outrage would be unprecedented.

Americans by a large majority see this investigation as important and believe Trump and his lackeys had improper contact with the Vlad the shirtless.

I'm proud the press for pushing back.

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by AMDChief

the nation's outrage would be unprecedented.

Americans by a large majority see this investigation as important and believe Trump and his lackeys had improper contact with the Vlad the shirtless.

I'm proud the press for pushing back.

Same but sadly I think it this country is going to have to pay to get trump out of the white house.

Alaska and Oklahoma wanted to abolish the EC during obama admin now trump is in the white house and the G.O.P base is gonna fight tooth and nail to keep trump in.

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

The conflicts of interest are appalling and they know it... More to come, this is a shit show investigation...

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

The conflicts of interest are appalling and they know it... More to come, this is a shit show investigation...

it makes the GOP look like a JOKE asking if any of them are Hillary supporters

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

Originally Posted by oaklandhater

it makes the GOP look like a JOKE asking if any of them are Hillary supporters

Do you understand the difference between supporting Hillary, her team, or associates and representing them in legal matters...

You guys are going to really spaz out when this boomerang backs...

[GloryDayz]

Attacks? LOL, like he shouldn't be subject to scrutiny!

[Bowser]

I don't think I agree with this article in regards to the impending doom this investigation might bring, good or bad (from anyone's point of view). This has the feel of a partisan stir-up job, intending to rile up those dead set against Trump.

[LiveSteam]

Could spark a civil war. That would be awesome.
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For me.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by LiveSteam

Could spark a civil war. That would be awesome.
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For me.

Sounds like you've got a hit list and are looking for an excuse to scratch people's names off of it.

[LiveSteam]

Who me. I'm not crazy like that.

[AMDChief]

Originally Posted by Bowser

I don't think I agree with this article in regards to the impending doom this investigation might bring, good or bad (from anyone's point of view). This has the feel of a partisan stir-up job, intending to rile up those dead set against Trump.

I think they are drawing a rational prediction. There obviously is something there - if it rises to a certain level - we'll just have to wait and see. I think with FOX and the GOP all of the sudden going all out to discredit anything to do with the investigation shows they are nervous.

As far as partisan - It's a GOP administration and a GOP congress. The DOJ portion of this GOP administration chose a GOP investigator as special council.

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by LiveSteam

Could spark a civil war. That would be awesome.
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For me.

it worked out well for the south last time.

but by all means try again.

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Sounds like you've got a hit list and are looking for an excuse to scratch people's names off of it.

This...


Livesteam jacks off to killing libs at night.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by AMDChief

I think they are drawing a rational prediction. There obviously is something there - if it rises to a certain level - we'll just have to wait and see. I think with FOX and the GOP all of the sudden going all out to discredit anything to do with the investigation shows they are nervous.

As far as partisan - It's a GOP administration and a GOP congress. The DOJ portion of this GOP administration chose a GOP investigator as special council.

I think there's a possibility that there's something there, but I'm not sold it is THE thing Trump's detractor's have been begging and pleading with higher powers for. That's kind of the problem - the left have been in a complete frenzy to get Trump out of the White House that anything less than a total conviction and imprisonment of Trump won't be good enough, and then we'll hear no shortage of how it's all rigged. Again.