Mueller Knows the Game — Raise the Stakes

 

It seems that as soon as there were rumors Trump was thinking of dumping Mueller, Mueller came up with the strategy laid out by Comey: Once you get a special prosecutor launched, that perch can be used to control the whole process. But, the collusion with Russia business didn’t seem to be taking off, did it? Mueller needed to act fast if he wanted to keep his position.

So, now Mueller decides — out of the blue — that he should look into obstruction of justice just like Comey was hinting at. This all seems planned with Rod Rosenstein, doesn’t it? Perhpas it’s ad hoc, but either way the important thing was to get the special prosecutor established firmly and on the hunt. And by hunting the president’s scalp directly, it would be much more difficult for Trump to fire him. Pretty clever, isn’t it? This all seems too contrived — it doesn’t even pass the Hollywood thriller smell test. It’s too far-fetched.

Mr. President: you and your hapless AG need to fire a bunch of the top people over there at Justice, starting with Rosenstein. The people still there are the ones who didn’t quit under Obama, remember. They are the true believers in ruining your presidency. Do it now — it will only get worse.

Update:

I heard Louie Gohmert on Hugh Hewitt’s show this morning — he agrees with me that this was done to make it harder for Trump to fire Mueller. Also, he said that Mueller did more damage to the FBI than Comey and that Mueller is very vindictive in his dealings with his political enemies.

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  1. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/05/19/gregg-jarrett-why-robert-mueller-should-resign-as-special-counsel.html

     

    • #1
  2. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    I’m sure Sessions belatedly realizes he should never have recused himself. Trump needs to get rid of Mueller yesterday and have a press conference clearly and unapologetically saying why.

    • #2
  3. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Just for the sake of discussion, who appointed Rosenstein?

    • #3
  4. Gumby Mark Coolidge
    Gumby Mark
    @GumbyMark

    This whole thing has gotten surreal.  As Andrew McCarthy points out today at NRO there is no there there.

    On February 14, Comey met with Trump.  Comey assured Trump he was not under personal investigation.  It was at this meeting that Trump made his plea that Flynn had suffered enough and he’d like to see him not investigated further.  Comey also testified Trump fully endorsed investigating potential Russian interference with the election.

    More than a month later, on March 20, Comey privately assured Congress that Trump was not under personal investigation, so it appears he did not see Trump’s plea on behalf of Flynn as potential obstruction.

    Ten days later, Comey once again assured Trump he was not under personal investigation.

    Now we learn that reportedly Mueller is investigating Trump for possible obstruction because he fired Comey which led to Trump’s appointee appointing Mueller as Special Counsel?  This is insane.

    McCarthy had another fine piece today pointing out that Rosenstein could legally limit the scope of Mueller’s investigation.  I had not read the documents in question before but he makes a strong case for that being the right thing to do (though he also shows too much respect for Mueller and his motivations for my taste).

     

    • #4
  5. Jim George Member
    Jim George
    @JimGeorge

    This is spot on; I could not possibly agree more with every word and would only add this– just who exactly is Rod Rosenstein and what are his ties to this little love nest of Obama-Hillary insiders now dead set on destroying the Government of the United States? And I also agree with the excellent question posed by @hoyacon— who did appoint this person who is single-handedly causing so much destruction in such  a short period of time? Very good question and one which has been given very little attention by the MSM which, alone, tells me it is something we should all be concerned about. And, it sure is way past time for the President and the Attorney General to take the bull by the horns and get rid of this appendage which has been attached to this Administration before it metastasizes completely out of control.

    • #5
  6. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    Hoyacon (View Comment):
    Just for the sake of discussion, who appointed Rosenstein?

    Yes, I really should have looked into that before I wrote this but I guess I don’t care that much — his actions alone speak volumes. But, he was in the Obama Justice Dept. — that’s quite an indictment in itself.

    • #6
  7. Gumby Mark Coolidge
    Gumby Mark
    @GumbyMark

    RightAngles (View Comment):
    I’m sure Sessions belatedly realizes he should never have recused himself. Trump needs to get rid of Mueller yesterday and have a press conference clearly and unapologetically saying why.

    Right on substance but horrible politically.  He will lose half the GOP.  They will run for the hills.  That may be wrong, but it is what will happen.  The Dems are hoping Trump does it.  Trump and his people know this.

    • #7
  8. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    Gumby Mark (View Comment):
    This whole thing has gotten surreal. As Andrew McCarthy points out today at NRO there is no there there.

    On February 14, Comey met with Trump. Comey assured Trump he was not under personal investigation. It was at this meeting that Trump made his plea that Flynn had suffered enough and he’d like to see him not investigated further. Comey also testified Trump fully endorsed investigating potential Russian interference with the election.

    More than a month later, on March 20, Comey privately assured Congress that Trump was not under personal investigation, so it appears he did not see Trump’s plea on behalf of Flynn as potential obstruction.

    Ten days later, Comey once again assured Trump he was not under personal investigation.

    Now we learn that reportedly Mueller is investigating Trump for possible obstruction because he fired Comey which led to Trump’s appointee appointing Mueller as Special Counsel? This is insane.

    McCarthy had another fine piece today pointing out that Rosenstein could legally limit the scope of Mueller’s investigation. I had not read the documents in question before but he makes a strong case for that being the right thing to do (though he also shows too much respect for Mueller and his motivations for my taste).

    Yes, he’s pretty good on this but he is afflicted with the NR disease of pulling back from anything that would smack of any kind of endorsement of Trump.

    What blows my mind about Mueller is that he knows how it looks to hire all these Democrats and still does it anyway. Why would McCarthy respect a man like this? And why would Mueller decide to investigate the obstruction charges unless he wanted to make it harder for Trump to fire him? Does he want this job so much? Or does he mean to do Trump harm and that’s his mission in life — like a good Democrat.

    • #8
  9. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    Gumby Mark (View Comment):

    RightAngles (View Comment):
    I’m sure Sessions belatedly realizes he should never have recused himself. Trump needs to get rid of Mueller yesterday and have a press conference clearly and unapologetically saying why.

    Right on substance but horrible politically. He will lose half the GOP. They will run for the hills. That may be wrong, but it is what will happen. The Dems are hoping Trump does it. Trump and his people know this.

    Yes, this is why Mueller decided to go after Trump directly — to scare the cowards in the GOP and embolden the left.

    • #9
  10. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    Jim George (View Comment):
    This is spot on; I could not possibly agree more with every word and would only add this– just who exactly is Rod Rosenstein and what are his ties to this little love nest of Obama-Hillary insiders now dead set on destroying the Government of the United States? And I also agree with the excellent question posed by @hoyacon— who did appoint this person who is single-handedly causing so much destruction in such a short period of time? Very good question and one which has been given very little attention by the MSM which, alone, tells me it is something we should all be concerned about. And, it sure is way past time for the President and the Attorney General to take the bull by the horns and get rid of this appendage which has been attached to this Administration before it metastasizes completely out of control.

    This is the thing: which way forward is easier? I say that Trump should do what is right and let the people decide in the next election. What is right is to stop this treasonous miscarriage of justice.

    • #10
  11. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    BTW, Comey really is a nut job — President Trump has that right. I hope he did say it — because it is a perfect description of the grandstanding, smirking chimp we saw the other day.

    • #11
  12. Gumby Mark Coolidge
    Gumby Mark
    @GumbyMark

    Larry Koler (View Comment):

    What blows my mind about Mueller is that he knows how it looks to hire all these Democrats and still does it anyway. Why would McCarthy respect a man like this? And why would Mueller decide to investigate the obstruction charges unless he wanted to make it harder for Trump to fire him? Does he want this job so much? Or does he mean to do Trump harm and that’s his mission in life — like a good Democrat.

    Mueller sees himself as a good Republican who by demonstrating he can act in a nonpartisan manner will prove to Democrats that Republicans are respectable and ready to do business with them.  Plus he can get rid of the unspeakably gauche Donald Trump, a man who offends his sensibilities to the core.

    • #12
  13. Gumby Mark Coolidge
    Gumby Mark
    @GumbyMark

    Larry Koler (View Comment):

    Gumby Mark (View Comment):
    This whole thing has gotten surreal. As Andrew McCarthy points out today at NRO there is no there there.

    On February 14, Comey met with Trump. Comey assured Trump he was not under personal investigation. It was at this meeting that Trump made his plea that Flynn had suffered enough and he’d like to see him not investigated further. Comey also testified Trump fully endorsed investigating potential Russian interference with the election.

    More than a month later, on March 20, Comey privately assured Congress that Trump was not under personal investigation, so it appears he did not see Trump’s plea on behalf of Flynn as potential obstruction.

    Ten days later, Comey once again assured Trump he was not under personal investigation.

    Now we learn that reportedly Mueller is investigating Trump for possible obstruction because he fired Comey which led to Trump’s appointee appointing Mueller as Special Counsel? This is insane.

    McCarthy had another fine piece today pointing out that Rosenstein could legally limit the scope of Mueller’s investigation. I had not read the documents in question before but he makes a strong case for that being the right thing to do (though he also shows too much respect for Mueller and his motivations for my taste).

    Yes, he’s pretty good on this but he is afflicted with the NR disease of pulling back from anything that would smack of any kind of endorsement of Trump.

     

    Actually I think that makes his recent analyses even more powerful.  This isn’t about whether you like Trump or not.  I don’t.  But what’s going on is outrageous.

    • #13
  14. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    Gumby Mark (View Comment):

    Larry Koler (View Comment):

    Gumby Mark (View Comment):
    This whole thing has gotten surreal. As Andrew McCarthy points out today at NRO there is no there there.

    On February 14, Comey met with Trump. Comey assured Trump he was not under personal investigation. It was at this meeting that Trump made his plea that Flynn had suffered enough and he’d like to see him not investigated further. Comey also testified Trump fully endorsed investigating potential Russian interference with the election.

    More than a month later, on March 20, Comey privately assured Congress that Trump was not under personal investigation, so it appears he did not see Trump’s plea on behalf of Flynn as potential obstruction.

    Ten days later, Comey once again assured Trump he was not under personal investigation.

    Now we learn that reportedly Mueller is investigating Trump for possible obstruction because he fired Comey which led to Trump’s appointee appointing Mueller as Special Counsel? This is insane.

    McCarthy had another fine piece today pointing out that Rosenstein could legally limit the scope of Mueller’s investigation. I had not read the documents in question before but he makes a strong case for that being the right thing to do (though he also shows too much respect for Mueller and his motivations for my taste).

    Yes, he’s pretty good on this but he is afflicted with the NR disease of pulling back from anything that would smack of any kind of endorsement of Trump.

    Actually I think that makes his recent analyses even more powerful. This isn’t about whether you like Trump or not. I don’t. But what’s going on is outrageous.

    This whole thing shows how weak and pathetic the GOP leaders are and why they have to go — they let their party be taken over so easily and all they do is carp from the sidelines rather than do something to help the country. I’m glad some are stepping up but it beggars the imagination as to how they can actually expend a lot more effort against Trump than they ever did — in real terms that matter — on Obama and Pelosi and Reid and the media. Most of them even helped the media’s lying narratives.

    • #14
  15. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    Gumby Mark (View Comment):

    Larry Koler (View Comment):

    What blows my mind about Mueller is that he knows how it looks to hire all these Democrats and still does it anyway. Why would McCarthy respect a man like this? And why would Mueller decide to investigate the obstruction charges unless he wanted to make it harder for Trump to fire him? Does he want this job so much? Or does he mean to do Trump harm and that’s his mission in life — like a good Democrat.

    Mueller sees himself as a good Republican who by demonstrating he can act in a nonpartisan manner will prove to Democrats that Republicans are respectable and ready to do business with them. Plus he can get rid of the unspeakably gauche Donald Trump, a man who offends his sensibilities to the core.

    Yes, like his sensibilities of misusing the justice department to the point where he is appointed as a special counsel with no crime on the horizon? Those sensibilities? I know all about those.

    • #15
  16. DocJay Inactive
    DocJay
    @DocJay

    Larry Koler (View Comment):

    Gumby Mark (View Comment):

    Larry Koler (View Comment):

    Gumby Mark (View Comment):
    This whole thing has gotten surreal. As Andrew McCarthy points out today at NRO there is no there there.

    On February 14, Comey met with Trump. Comey assured Trump he was not under personal investigation. It was at this meeting that Trump made his plea that Flynn had suffered enough and he’d like to see him not investigated further. Comey also testified Trump fully endorsed investigating potential Russian interference with the election.

    More than a month later, on March 20, Comey privately assured Congress that Trump was not under personal investigation, so it appears he did not see Trump’s plea on behalf of Flynn as potential obstruction.

    Ten days later, Comey once again assured Trump he was not under personal investigation.

    Now we learn that reportedly Mueller is investigating Trump for possible obstruction because he fired Comey which led to Trump’s appointee appointing Mueller as Special Counsel? This is insane.

    McCarthy had another fine piece today pointing out that Rosenstein could legally limit the scope of Mueller’s investigation. I had not read the documents in question before but he makes a strong case for that being the right thing to do (though he also shows too much respect for Mueller and his motivations for my taste).

    Yes, he’s pretty good on this but he is afflicted with the NR disease of pulling back from anything that would smack of any kind of endorsement of Trump.

    Actually I think that makes his recent analyses even more powerful. This isn’t about whether you like Trump or not. I don’t. But what’s going on is outrageous.

    This whole thing shows how weak and pathetic the GOP leaders are and why they have to go — they let their party be taken over so easily and all they do is carp from the sidelines rather than do something to help the country. I’m glad some are stepping up but it beggars the imagination as to how they can actually expend a lot more effort against Trump than they ever did — in real terms that matter — on Obama and Pelosi and Reid and the media. Most of them even helped the media’s lying narratives.

    Check Paul Ryan’s bank account.  The lot of them are criminals.  Anyone challenging the gravy train gets the force of government against them.

    • #16
  17. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    DocJay (View Comment):

    Larry Koler (View Comment):

    Gumby Mark (View Comment):

    Larry Koler (View Comment):

    Gumby Mark (View Comment):
    This whole thing has gotten surreal. As Andrew McCarthy points out today at NRO there is no there there.

    On February 14, Comey met with Trump. Comey assured Trump he was not under personal investigation. It was at this meeting that Trump made his plea that Flynn had suffered enough and he’d like to see him not investigated further. Comey also testified Trump fully endorsed investigating potential Russian interference with the election.

    More than a month later, on March 20, Comey privately assured Congress that Trump was not under personal investigation, so it appears he did not see Trump’s plea on behalf of Flynn as potential obstruction.

    Ten days later, Comey once again assured Trump he was not under personal investigation.

    Now we learn that reportedly Mueller is investigating Trump for possible obstruction because he fired Comey which led to Trump’s appointee appointing Mueller as Special Counsel? This is insane.

    McCarthy had another fine piece today pointing out that Rosenstein could legally limit the scope of Mueller’s investigation. I had not read the documents in question before but he makes a strong case for that being the right thing to do (though he also shows too much respect for Mueller and his motivations for my taste).

    Yes, he’s pretty good on this but he is afflicted with the NR disease of pulling back from anything that would smack of any kind of endorsement of Trump.

    Actually I think that makes his recent analyses even more powerful. This isn’t about whether you like Trump or not. I don’t. But what’s going on is outrageous.

    This whole thing shows how weak and pathetic the GOP leaders are and why they have to go — they let their party be taken over so easily and all they do is carp from the sidelines rather than do something to help the country. I’m glad some are stepping up but it beggars the imagination as to how they can actually expend a lot more effort against Trump than they ever did — in real terms that matter — on Obama and Pelosi and Reid and the media. Most of them even helped the media’s lying narratives.

    Check Paul Ryan’s bank account. The lot of them are criminals. Anyone challenging the gravy train gets the force of government against them.

    And Comey’s book deal. Will they make their money back — not necessary, it’s the left taking care of one of their own. His name is mud now and so is the FBI’s reputation because of him. He has to turn to the left for any support.

    • #17
  18. DocJay Inactive
    DocJay
    @DocJay

    The GOP leaders need to scream in unison against this potentially  treasonous situation.  So far we’ve seen very few standing up.  Why ? Because it’s Trump and he’s not one of them.  They are chicken.

    The GOP will never get a chance like this again and they are failing America. Failing.

    • #18
  19. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    DocJay (View Comment):
    The GOP leaders need to scream in unison against this potentially treasonous situation. So far we’ve seen very few standing up. Why ? Because it’s Trump and he’s not one of them. They are chicken.

    The GOP will never get a chance like this again and they are failing America. Failing.

    You’ll remember that no one came to Scooter Libby’s aid either. GWB didn’t even pardon him — yet, he would have been well justified in doing so.

    They are cowed into submission by the left and paid handsomely in the Faustian bargain they have entered into. They are incompetent and should step down over the next few elections and help raise up real leaders who love the country more than their own personal wealth.

    • #19
  20. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    DocJay (View Comment):
    The GOP leaders need to scream in unison against this potentially treasonous situation. So far we’ve seen very few standing up. Why ? Because it’s Trump and he’s not one of them. They are chicken.

    The GOP will never get a chance like this again and they are failing America. Failing.

    The GOP or the Dems could care less about America and Americans, all they care about is their own power and wealth.  What is happening can only happen if the party in power wills it.  They want Trump’s head more so than the Dems and they are going to assist the Dems in removing him in some fatal fantasy that they will be able to ride the whirlwind.

    • #20
  21. Ontheleftcoast Inactive
    Ontheleftcoast
    @Ontheleftcoast

    RightAngles (View Comment):
    I’m sure Sessions belatedly realizes he should never have recused himself. Trump needs to get rid of Mueller yesterday and have a press conference clearly and unapologetically saying why.

    He needs to, but after Comey that’s probably politically impossible. The only way to get rid of Mueller now is for another branch of government to do it.

    • #21
  22. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    Ontheleftcoast (View Comment):

    RightAngles (View Comment):
    I’m sure Sessions belatedly realizes he should never have recused himself. Trump needs to get rid of Mueller yesterday and have a press conference clearly and unapologetically saying why.

    He needs to, but after Comey that’s probably politically impossible. The only way to get rid of Mueller now is for another branch of government to do it.

    I wonder why Congress can’t investigate Mueller.

    However, I still think the president should do it and do it now. Take the heat. Don’t even give Rosenstein the chance to refuse to fire Mueller. First fire Rosenstein and then order Mueller to be fire — in that order. Rosenstein is part of this and Trump can show his thinking clearly if he fires Rosenstein first.

    • #22
  23. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    DocJay (View Comment):
    The GOP leaders need to scream in unison against this potentially treasonous situation. So far we’ve seen very few standing up. Why ? Because it’s Trump and he’s not one of them. They are chicken.

    The GOP will never get a chance like this again and they are failing America. Failing.

    This was  their last chance with me.

    • #23
  24. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    It is just astounding to me how differently the AG’s of the two party’s act and are “covered” by the press. Why is it that there is never a Special Counsel appointed during a democrat administration, with obviously more corruption going on ………..

    • #24
  25. genferei Member
    genferei
    @genferei

    It seems clear to me that having a reputation in Washington DC means nothing. Sessions has a great reputation – but gets played by shyster Comey – who had a great reputation – into appointing Mueller, who has a great reputation. But Comey’s obeisance to the Clinton machine was in the public domain, as is Mueller’s history of prosecutorial abuse. All these folks are such nakedly ambitious so-and-so’s I fear for the republic when a critical mass of the population (justifiably) loses faith in every part of government.

    • #25
  26. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    Kozak (View Comment):

    DocJay (View Comment):
    The GOP leaders need to scream in unison against this potentially treasonous situation. So far we’ve seen very few standing up. Why ? Because it’s Trump and he’s not one of them. They are chicken.

    The GOP will never get a chance like this again and they are failing America. Failing.

    This was their last chance with me.

    See my update on above. Louie Gohmert agrees with me on this.

    • #26
  27. Valiuth Member
    Valiuth
    @Valiuth

    Yes, why not goad Trump into another ill thought through firing of a justice department official over what is now widely believed to be an investigation of his conduct. Nothing bad can come of that. Firing Comey lead to Muller and Trump actually being investigated. If he fires Muller I think his odds of being impeached sky rocket. If you are actually innocent shouldn’t you actually start acting like it?

    • #27
  28. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Larry Koler (View Comment):
    See my update on above. Louie Gohmert agrees with me on this.

    Trump should do a public announcement on the conflict/recusal point the Gregg Jarrett is raising.  Get some other legal opinion on it, but if it’s as cut and dried as he says, call on Mueller to resign.  And call him a partisan if he refuses.  Call the whole thing illegitimate.  Then you start to have public support to fire people.

    • #28
  29. cdor Member
    cdor
    @cdor

    Hoyacon (View Comment):
    Just for the sake of discussion, who appointed Rosenstein?

    Wasn’t he the acting and already seated deputy AG who took over the Russia whooey because Sessions recused himself from that investigation (so called)? Was he appointed by Obama or was he there previously? That is probably what you’re asking. He is another of the DC impeccably honorable unimpeachable straight shooters who happen to be Democrats and who behave like Democrats once in a position of higher power…but maybe I am being tooo harsh.

    • #29
  30. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    cdor (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):
    Just for the sake of discussion, who appointed Rosenstein?

    Wasn’t he the acting and already seated deputy AG who took over the Russia whooey because Sessions recused himself from that investigation (so called)? Was he appointed by Obama or was he there previously? That is probably what you’re asking. He is another of the DC impeccably honorable unimpeachable straight shooters who happen to be Democrats and who behave like Democrats once in a position of higher power…but maybe I am being tooo harsh.

    Deputy AGs serve at the pleasure of the president. He needs to be fired — he’s part of this whole thing.

    • #30
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