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Congressional Republicans mostly, when they’re asked about it in public, don’t think Donald Trump should fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller. But they’re not planning to do anything to stop him. Even the two Republicans who have co-sponsored bills that would protect Mueller don’t see any urgency.
“I don’t feel an urgent need to pass that law until you show me a reason Mr. Mueller’s in jeopardy,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who has co-authored one of the bills. “I don’t think anybody in their right mind in the White House would think about replacing Mr. Mueller.”
Without getting into a big debate about what “anybody in their right mind in the White House” means … can we agree that Trump has not shown the greatest level of good sense in his firings? And has Lindsey Graham met the United States Senate? If it’s not time to start trying to pass that law until Mueller is in jeopardy—something we’d only find out when news of his firing breaks abruptly after Trump has a temper tantrum—how quickly is Graham imagining the law could make its way through the Senate and the House?
Duly noted; Lindsey Graham signed on to a bill protecting Mueller’s independence not because he wanted to protect Mueller’s independence but because it was a good look for a media audience.
Graham is not the only Republican with an inflated sense of Trump’s ability to restrain himself from firing people even when it’s a terrible idea that will lead to massive blowback:
“He’s not gonna be fired by the president,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). Asked why he seemed so certain, Hatch said, “Because I know him, he knows that’d be a stupid move, as far as I’m concerned.”
You know Donald Trump and you think that him knowing that firing someone would be a stupid move is a guarantee that he won’t fire that person? Quick, someone go sell a few of these Republicans shares in a gold mine on Jupiter’s fourth moon. They just might be gullible enough to buy, if their comments on Trump and Mueller are any guide. Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing to protect Mueller.
P.S. Want to start beating Republicans right now? Chip in $1 to each of these nine Daily Kos-endorsed Democrats running on the ballot this November.