I don't think it's unfair to say that Mueller and team know quite a bit more than we, the public. — Maw
The country is living through an astonishing story without a full sense of what that story is. But as the public waits to discover who on the Trump team knew what and when they knew it, Mr. Mueller has been telling another story, about “draining the swamp.” And how that story plays out stands to have a major effect on how our politics moves forward after the investigation is complete.
The themes of corruption and white-collar malfeasance link the cases of those caught up in the special counsel’s inquiry. Their indictments shed light on the culture of influence peddling and less-than-savory financial transactions that Mr. Trump promised to dismantle if elected president. (He has done the opposite.)
It’s just like everybody wakes up every morning and does whatever is right in front of them,” said one West Wing aide... “Oh, my God, Trump Tower is on fire. Oh, my God, they raided Michael Cohen’s office. Oh, my God, we’re going to bomb Syria. Whatever is there is what people respond to, and there is no proactive strategic thinking.” — Washington Post
Senior U.S. officials describe a president who is operating largely on impulse, with little patience for the advice of his top aides. “A decision or statement is made by the president, and then the principals — Mattis or Pompeo or Kelly — come in and tell him we can’t do it,” said one senior administration official. “When that fails, we reverse-engineer a policy process to match whatever the president said.”
What actually happened to Clinton again? (quasi-impeachment?) — VagabondSpectre
Article I charged that Clinton lied to the grand jury concerning:
the nature and details of his relationship with Lewinsky
prior false statements he made in the Jones deposition
prior false statements he allowed his lawyer to make characterizing Lewinsky's affidavit
his attempts to tamper with witnesses
Article III charged Clinton with attempting to obstruct justice in the Jones case by:
encouraging Lewinsky to file a false affidavit
encouraging Lewinsky to give false testimony if and when she was called to testify
concealing gifts he had given to Lewinsky that had been subpoenaed
attempting to secure a job for Lewinsky to influence her testimony
permitting his lawyer to make false statements characterizing Lewinsky's affidavit
attempting to tamper with the possible testimony of his secretary Betty Curie
making false and misleading statements to potential grand jury witnesses — Michael
I think the chief prosecutor had it right: "A failure to convict will make the statement that lying under oath, while unpleasant and to be avoided, is not all that serious...We have reduced lying under oath to a breach of etiquette, but only if you are the President...And now let us all take our place in history on the side of honor, and, oh, yes, let right be done."
There shouldn't be different rules for the President. — Michael
Ousting a president because he's not principled enough to obey the oath when only his reputation is at stake. — VagabondSpectre
Well it's not like he's lied under oath... Yet... If Mueller actually subpoenas Trump it wouldn't be surprising to see him talk his way into trouble. I'm not sure on what basis this alleged subpoena would get stamped though (the scope of Mueller's investigation seems very broad). The firing of Comey amidst the Russian investigations? — VagabondSpectre
It's not about ousting a President for not being principled; it's about ousting a President for committing a crime. Perjury, and particularly obstruction, are serious charges. — Michael
I'm just talking about Clinton's impeachment. — Michael
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