The Trump Presidency VI: Stormy Weather

I think McCabe is going to fight back. I have no idea how much support he has inside the agency. I believe that he does have some bureaucratic resources at his disposal to get some due process in this firing.

The key for me here is to hear it directly from the inspector general Horowitz. Has he spoken publicly yet? I can't find anything online. This wouldn't be the first time the administration mischaracterized an official's recommendation.

Either way, the facts almost don't matter. The important thing to realize here is that the page has been turned. The GOP has been preparing for war for several weeks, and the offensive is starting. They're masters of weaponizing minutiae into full on political warfare.

 

This is simply revolting and repulsive..... It is clear that this is a politically influenced decision by the AG and the DOJ. I hope he gets a couple of good lawyers and go after the WH and administration and get his hard earned pension.

PS. Mc Cabe released a second (and blistering) statement.
PS.2. An former special agent on CNN just said that she believes that the firing is nothing other than a move to discredit Mc Cabe as a witness in the Comey firing.

 

Welcome to the United States of Russian America?

 

It sounds like that is the way he's heading.

 

What I think will be interesting to see is if any Republicans have any sense of decency left in them.

I doubt it.

 

Tillerson taking a dump when he was dumped by Trump? Harumph!

https://nypost.com/2018/03/16/tillerson-was-reportedly-on-the-toilet-when-he-got-canned/

 

Oh crap!!

 

Grooooooan...!

 

Just read this somewhere......So true!

In what world should McCabe be punished and Arpaio be pardoned?

 

That was my reaction exactly an hour ago. I wrote in my whatsapp politics group, "Small. Petty. Weak."

 

Republicans at the highest levels are orchestrating it. This is just their first play.

It was always naive to think that the GOP would just buckle. It's going to get much worse before it gets better.

 

Will he start getting snarky like Comey or stay above it?

I hope he talks to a very good labor law lawyer. Sure would like to see his employment contract. I doubt there is much that can be done, but you never know.

 

This was synchronized to Lindsay Graham and Chuck Grassley calling for a new investigation. This McCabe firing gives them some political capital to justify a new investigation. Also Mark Meadows and Jim Jordan releasing the Peter Strzok/Lisa Page texts.

A three pronged attack like this doesn't happen by coincidence.

 

I've never seen anything like this. We're living in a banana republic.

 

Nunes gave Trump and Republicans cover by declaring no collusion; that the Mueller investigation is effectively a witch hunt.

Trump is now continuing his assault on the FBI and intelligence community, actively or passively supported by Republicans.

Republicans have retreated so much they have lost the will to draw or defend a line in the sand. That's not good news for Mueller's investigation.

 

But not the good kind of Banana Republic that sells clothes that fit me!

 

I don't think the Propaganda Ministry can spare him.

 

Each day gets more and more bizarre, but the more bizarre it becomes, the more frightening it actually is. Trump and his lot are going to take on the intelligence community. Not a wise move when you're always accused of being knee-deep in illegal shit, but OK. If this were a stable group headed by a stable leader, you'd think there was some play involved, but I'm finding it hard to see the endgame here for Trump and company. That's concerning to me because if the FBI suddenly starts going after Trump, and he feels threatened, Trump may panic and start a war somewhere, anywhere, just to deflect. The GOP need to reign this in now. It's not about being on the right side of history. It's about stabilizing the government and the intelligence community before the shit hits the fan and people start dying.

 

I think it's pretty clear that Trump has consolidated full power over American conservatism. The media that conservatives listen to has all coalesced around this warfare narrative. I listened to a good bit of Hannity's radio show today. Say what you will about Hannity ... he does have some well placed sources in the Trump camp. For the most part, Hannity has been accurate in narrating the Trump camp strategy. I'm not joking ... if you want to understand the GOP's next move, you need to listen to Hannity. They don't call it state media for nothing.

According to Hannity's sources, this is all part of a wider GOP offensive. The idea of lines in the sand is over. There is no sand. The entire party has coalesced firmly behind Trump. If there's anyone left with misgivings, they're going to quietly fade into retirement this fall. For any dissenters in the cabinet, they've mostly resigned or will resign soon.

I'm telling you. You have to listen to Trump media to understand where we're headed. We constantly get surprised because we constantly underestimate how zealous these people are. The one good thing about the Trump era is that Republicans have stopped being shy. They don't pussy foot around their intentions. It's been made very clear that they will destroy the FBI before they let it take this administration down.

Personally I think they waited too long. They gave Mueller too much time to do his work. If the evidence collected up to this point is as strong as it looks, it's too late to kill it. Too many agents know the truth and everything will get leaked anyways. The truth will find a way of coming out.

 

I'm not surprised at all as I've long said I think American democracy is dead. We're just watching the dirt being thrown on the still-warm body. People can say "mid-term elections" until they're blue in the face; Republicans attacked and damaged the foundations of the institution - a mid-term election won't change that.

OK, things get leaked, and then what? Republicans suddenly grow a spine? Voters become outraged in 2020? It'll be too late. Putin is no fool.