1. Recognize that Donald Trump is politically one of your greatest assets. His downfall may not be far off. At some point the Republicans will both respond to it and hasten it by repudiating him.He will then become a wasting asset. Keep his shady associations in the public mind but particularly concentrate on his political associations. The Russian end will have a media life of its own but you need to nail Pence, McConnell and Nunes to Trump even as they all back sharply away.
2. Develop a giant interactive cartoon captioned ‘ SWAMP. He said he’d drain it but he just wanted to be the biggest hippo in it.’ Depicting Trump as a hippo shouldn’t be difficult for a cartoonist.I suggest a rear view with head turned to reveal the Trump face.Surround the central character with all the other shady characters in the Trump story and their linkages. Click on, say, McConnell for a pop-up linking him to the NRA and Russian money – would that be 3 steps to Putin? Click on Pence …... this brings me to Pence.
3. Anyone who might become President is a legitimate target for investigation. Anyone chosen by Trump/Manafort is a legitimate target for suspicion. Congressional investigation should follow. You will be accused of political motivation. Reply that when there’s a pathway which might lead either to a President Pence or to a President Pelosi then investigation of character and behavior is legitimate. Remark that Trump’s defenders are ready to shovel blame onto the crooks around him thus conceding that there are crooks around him. Pence is one of those around him. Remember that the Republicans will industriously dig for dirt on Pelosi, probably have been for years.After all they’ve been digging through Clinton e-mails for years, (when they find the one with the spelling mistake the world will come to an end). It’s legitimate to try to time and influence events so that Pelosi slips into slots vacated by Pence/Trump.
4. Don’t worry about whether to impeach or not. Continue the fact-gathering process, it’s useful in itself. If it leads to the point where enough Republicans will support an indictment, all well and good. But it’s OK to win on points rather than by a knockout, even if not quite as satisfying.
5. Don’t be put off by allegations that you are simply pursuing political advantage. Reply that there is a swamp to be investigated and this is a rare occasion when duty, pleasure and political satisfaction combine. Make it clear that if any Democrat becomes embroiled in the widening circle of investigation then they should be treated just like a Republican. Be prepared for the possibility that a Democrat might get embroiled.
6. Anticipate Republican defections from the Trump cause and call for them. Thus if you call for a particular Republican in Congress to repudiate the President then when they do it you will get some credit and they will get less than they hoped for. Generally prod the Republicans to do what they could ultimately be forced to do – ditch McConnell, override the Presidential veto to reopen Government or whatever.
7. Be prepared for Republican counter-strokes, some of which may be outrageous. They will change policies and jettison people. Make sure you’ve already called for these actions. When they adopt your policies and claim to have originated them don’t be caught off-balance, be prepared with the facts ready. When they ask Robert Mueller to be their 2020 presidential candidate don’t be outraged at their hypocrisy. Be prepared – politely suggest he ditches much of the last 40 years of Republican right-wing policy drift and increasing political crookedness. By then you will have won the argument.
8. Good luck.