WaPo: Mueller now investigating whether Trump obstructed justice

[GeorgiaModerate]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/special-counsel-is-investigating-trump-for-possible-obstruction-of-justice/2017/06/14/9ce02506-5131-11e7-b064-828ba60fbb98_story.html

[GeorgiaModerate]

Just noticed this in the story:

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I wonder if they've gotten Trump's tax returns yet.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Trump refusing to run for a second term as the GOP implodes is highly probable.

I've been saying this for months. It's in everyone's best interests, and a necessity for Trumpism to survive as the replacement of Reaganism.

IF Trump implodes, the GOP will spend the next couple of decades in the wilderness searching for an identity...it won't become the party of Trumpism

Which is why Trump needs to stand down after a term with his dignity in tact to prevent that implosion.

That train has already left the station.

[GeorgiaModerate]

And the reverse is true.  The hang em high crowd is no better.

[edit] Hey, I did a "both sides do it" line.....unknowingly!  

Actually I suppose that is true - we are all impatient. However my point still stands about the lengthiness of federal investigations spanning multiple countries and involving a foreign power like Russia, let alone our own executive administration. It's a little bit ridiculous for people to expect this investigation to be wrapped up in the same span of time as an two-bit local drug dealing case.

Very true.  Watergate took over a year, and that was exceptionally fast for this kind of investigation.

Although it amuses that a pro-Trump friend of mine kept telling me last year that if I voted for Clinton, the President would be under investigation almost from the beginning.  He was right!

[GeorgiaModerate]

The thing is this - Trump scored a massive own goal on himself. It's unlikely there's a smoking gun of Russian collusion, but obstruction is a tough rap to beat.

I think this is likely true.  I doubt that Trump personally colluded with the Russians (let's be honest -- he doesn't even collude with his own staff), although it's conceivable that some of his associates did.  But the obstruction part seems likely based on what we've seen so far.

This is yet another parallel with Watergate.  It's never been established whether Nixon ordered or even knew about the burglary ahead of time.  It was the coverup that got him.

[GeorgiaModerate]

So if Trump get's indicted and then convicted, would he be forced to resign because he would have a criminal record and go to jail?

Can he get removed from office without actually being impeached by congress?

2nd one first: there is one other unlikely path besides impeachment.  The 25th Amendment provides a mechanism for the VP and Cabinet to declare the President incapable of carrying out his duties.  This would be complicated and messy.  Otherwise, the only method is impeachment (by a majority of the House) and then conviction (by 2/3 of the Senate). 

1st one: it's generally accepted that a sitting President can't be indicted or prosecuted until after he leaves office (although this isn't completely established; it would take the Supreme Court to definitely settle it).

[GeorgiaModerate]

What if Mueller determines Trump did obstruct justice? It all still has to go through the Republican congress right?

If they chose not to act on Mueller's conclusion, how do yo guys think the country would react?

well, nothing happens before midterms...house could flip but dem are still going to lose seats...

...so i guess lame-duck president till 2020.

If Mueller releases a truly damning report before the midterms and Congress does nothing with it, then I think Dems will flip the House decisively (at least 50 seats) and the Senate as well.  This is probably the only development that could flip the Senate.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Mueller responds to the charge that he is involved in a witch hunt

There is no need for Mueller to respond to "witch hunt" malarkey accusations.
He is a professional mature adult who has an important task assigned to him. Very busy man.

On the other hand, we can leave the "witch hunt" childish games to say ..... a narcissistic orange-haired clown, for example. Someone who hides out at a golf course every weekend, who has no serious matters to contend with on a daily basis.
Each task assigned, as described above, to each person fits perfectly ..... doesn't it ?

The GOP has been using the same recycled arguments for over 50 years

Fifty years ago (and indeed sixty five years ago when the witch hunt against McCarthy was going on) there was no alternative to the Liberal media. It was difficult for Nixon to get across the message that he was being subject to a set up and a witch hunt when he could only get the message across via left leaning outlets like the Washington Post or NBC who were supporting the witch hunt.

Holy f-ing sh*t are you saying watergate was a witch hunt?!

Well, based on the wording of his comment, he thinks there was a witch hunt against Joseph McCarthy as well.  To me this looks like obvious trolling, although I suppose it could just be a very different world view.