The Trump/Putin summit predictions thread

[The_Animus]

Republicans won't allow interpreter from Trump, Putin meeting to be subpoenad

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/19/trump-russia-putin-interpreter-subpoena-732359

Chairman Devin Nunes initially declined to recognize Adam Schiff’s motion before recessing the panel for about 20 minutes. When it reconvened, the committee voted along party lines, 11-6, to table Schiff’s attempt to bring the interpreter before the committee.

 

[Beelzebuddy]

McCain, who is a gentleman and a patriot, spoke loud and clear about this travesty of a summit. Many others also did so. I hope many more will follow their example.

McCain is dying. Everyone else who spoke up is retired or retiring. Like every scandal this administration has seen, I find myself asking "is this it? Will THIS be the point where he loses support?" And like every scandal, the fact that everyone in the GOP is upset but will only say so when anonymously quoted tells me "no, this is not it. These a-holes really would prefer Russia running the country if it means they get to keep their seat."

 

[The Don]

McCain, who is a gentleman and a patriot, spoke loud and clear about this travesty of a summit. Many others also did so. I hope many more will follow their example.

But all of those who spoke out are not planning to be reelected.

I'm confident that none will follow their action until speaking out against President Trump isn't a surefire way to being primaried. These are career politicians who aren't going to risk their career for anything as trifling as personal conviction, principles or the good of the country.

 

[Minoosh]

I just sent a correction to CNN, let's see if it works (and you can tell me if I am wrong as well).

Graham: Trump won't meet Putin in private again

Context: He says he does not support calling on the interpreter to testify for Congress, because doing so would make it the last one-on-one with presidents and foreign leaders. (A chilling effect, I think). He thinks there is times when one-on-ones would be needed.

In addition he says he doesn't care what they talk about, but lawmakers, DOD etc. must be told about any agreements that are reached that will call for U.S. action (sending more troops to Syria, for example).

I keep an eye on Graham because publicly he hardly ever criticizes Trump anymore, hoping IMO to protect his influence (if any) on Trump. But privately I think he hates Trump. Attacks on McCain probably have him seething inside. And he's also probably livid that Russia says it's ready to implement "security measures" while Trump's own DOD etc. is apparently in the dark about. I'm not sure Trump is even cogent enough to say what he's agreed to.

So there have to be further meetings with and Mattis, Pompeo etc. in the loop so they can tell what the hell was agreed to. At which point their support of Trump may plummet.

 

[ponderingturtle]

I just sent a correction to CNN, let's see if it works (and you can tell me if I am wrong as well).

Yea but that is because he gave Putin is personal phone number, no need to go through all those formal talks and crap just to have Putin tell him what to do.

Totally fits the pattern

https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/23/politics/donald-trump-cell-phone/index.html

 

[Stacyhs]

McCain, who is a gentleman and a patriot, spoke loud and clear about this travesty of a summit. Many others also did so. I hope many more will follow their example.

I agree regarding McCain. He is one of those rare and endangered moderate Republicans in Congress. A few, not "many", others did speak up. The majority of Republicans stayed quiet...at least in public. But others, like Portman and Rubio, have publicly supported Trump's ridiculous lie about meaning to say "wouldn't". Lindsey Graham bought the "no" response nonsense that Sarah Sanders gave.

 

[Minoosh]

I'm confident that none will follow their action until speaking out against President Trump isn't a surefire way to being primaried. These are career politicians who aren't going to risk their career for anything as trifling as personal conviction, principles or the good of the country.

.

There may come a time when the fact that they didn't speak out will hurt their career just as much a being primaried.

When it's announced what they agreed to, there may be opposition from Republicans. According to Putin, Trump might have agreed to cooperate militarily in Syria; take joint measures against North Korea, do something together to make Israel more secure etc. The EU isn't terribly worried because they know Trump usually doesn't follow up on commitments.

Also, the part about having Russian investigators help in the investigation of the 12 indicted Russians was in exchange for allowing Russia to interview/interrogate the former ambassador and his pal.

It's even possible that the agreements will look like treason - putting the interests of Russia ahead of America's.

 

[ponderingturtle]

I agree regarding McCain. He is one of those rare and endangered moderate Republicans in Congress. A few, not "many", others did speak up. The majority of Republicans stayed quiet...at least in public. But others, like Portman and Rubio, have publicly supported Trump's ridiculous lie about meaning to say "wouldn't". Lindsey Graham bought the "no" response nonsense that Sarah Sanders gave.

Please McCain has never been a moderate republican in terms of policy or voting. He just has a sliver of backbone left. He only ever talked a game at being a moderate, it never fit with his actual behavior.

 

[The Don]

.

There may come a time when the fact that they didn't speak out will hurt their career just as much a being primaried.

Maybe, but no time soon

When it's announced what they agreed to, there may be opposition from Republicans. According to Putin, Trump might have agreed to cooperate militarily in Syria; take joint measures against North Korea, do something together to make Israel more secure etc. The EU isn't terribly worried because they know Trump usually doesn't follow up on commitments.

I doubt it, they'll find a way to spin it the same way they found "wouldn't" as a way of providing plausible denaibilty.

Also, the part about having Russian investigators help in the investigation of the 12 indicted Russians was in exchange for allowing Russia to interview/interrogate the former ambassador and his pal.

It's even possible that the agreements will look like treason - putting the interests of Russia ahead of America's.

....again, they'll find a way to spin it.

 

[Minoosh]

Yea but that is because he gave Putin is personal phone number, no need to go through all those formal talks and crap just to have Putin tell him what to do.

Totally fits the pattern

https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/23/politics/donald-trump-cell-phone/index.html

They can Skype, if they want to stare into each other's eyes. Maybe U.S. intelligence will hack those calls. Illegal I'm sure, but they may they get kompromat of their own.

 

[lobosrul5]

Please McCain has never been a moderate republican in terms of policy or voting. He just has a sliver of backbone left. He only ever talked a game at being a moderate, it never fit with his actual behavior.

He's definitely not a moderate. He does, however, have an independent mind. He went against his own party in trying to institute campaign finance reform. Oh and he's against torture. If that's all it takes to be considered a moderate then we're in trouble.

 

[Minoosh]

Please McCain has never been a moderate republican in terms of policy or voting. He just has a sliver of backbone left. He only ever talked a game at being a moderate, it never fit with his actual behavior.

He was good on immigration, and there was that "no" vote on "skinny repeal." He also backed campaign finance reform, though that's probably been dismantled.

 

[The Don]

He's definitely not a moderate. He does, however, have an independent mind. He went against his own party in trying to institute campaign finance reform. Oh and he's against torture. If that's all it takes to be considered a moderate then we're in trouble.

That's all it takes to be called a RINO these days.

 

[Minoosh]

Maybe, but no time soon

IMO, it could have an effect as early as the midterms. Depends on what the next 3 months bring.

 

[Venom]

Trump is probably not at as good at image management as Putin. Donald Trump has a certain schtick that plays to a certain demographic, and he's currently riding high on a public mood that inflates his appeal. But I doubt he could present the appearance of no collusion even if there were no collusion.

Putin, on the other hand, I'm pretty sure could make collusion appear real, even when it wasn't. Especially to people who are already convinced that the collusion is real, and are already looking for signs of its existence.

You think that Vladimir isn't creating this impression on purpose?

This is my view exactly. Putin appears to be feeding the collusion crowd intentionally.

 

[ponderingturtle]

He's definitely not a moderate. He does, however, have an independent mind. He went against his own party in trying to institute campaign finance reform. Oh and he's against torture. If that's all it takes to be considered a moderate then we're in trouble.

Not enough against it to get anything done about it, certainly not enough to have blocked other legislation to do anything about it.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Maybe, but no time soon

I doubt it, they'll find a way to spin it the same way they found "wouldn't" as a way of providing plausible denaibilty.

....again, they'll find a way to spin it.

Given it's so bloody obvious Trump's take-backs are BS, one can only conclude that the Republicans who accept said take-backs are really just doing the same thing Trump is, gaslighting their constituents.

IOW they welcome the Trump excuses and are happy to use excuses themselves.

 

[ponderingturtle]

He was good on immigration, and there was that "no" vote on "skinny repeal." He also backed campaign finance reform, though that's probably been dismantled.

Please republicans could only get half of their member in the house to vote on the immigration bill, Immigration was never an issue that defined any party until Trump.

 

[Minoosh]

Trump has come out against giving Russian investigators access to the ambassador and other dude. Sanders said it was discussed but not agreed to, but who knows what Trump really said? In the press conference he called Putin's proposed help investigating 12 Russians "an incredible offer," but left out that this would be in exchange for serving up 2 Americans for interrogation.

Trump may have *NO IDEA* what he agreed to.

Maybe Russia Today will tell us.

98-2, Senate against allowing access.

 

[aleCcowaN]

The majority of Republicans stayed quiet...at least in public. But others, like Portman and Rubio, have publicly supported Trump's ridiculous lie about meaning to say "wouldn't". Lindsey Graham bought the "no" response nonsense that Sarah Sanders gave.

I expect anything from that Rubio dude. I wonder what's the take of that slug, Cruz, on this matter. Is he, as usual, waiting to see what's the wind direction?