I am an optimistic person by nature. I have been criticized for being too optimistic about how soon the Trump crisis (as I think history will refer to it) will end. So I might be wrong here. I will make my case and you can see what you think.
My “exhibits” are all drawn from diaries on Daily Kos that were published April 11, 2018 — one day after the FBI no-knock raid of Trump personal lawyer Michael Cohen. Combined, they all suggest a change is happening with Republicans.
I hold no illusions that it’s based in actual principle more than career considerations and other forms of self-interest. The raid was a bold move on Mueller’s part, a show of strength. Republicans respond to strong moves, force of will. That’s how they got Trump in the first place.
But it is still a positive development towards saving American democracy from Trump.
Emphases added, my notes in [square brackets].
Exhibit A
Unnamed Republican Congressman Goes Off in Unhinged Rant: ‘We might as well impeach the *******’ (Jen Hayden, 8:24 AM EST)
And is quoted anonymously by a conservative, i.e. Republican, blogger.
“But dammit he's taking us all down with him. We are well and truly f**ked in November… He's just a f**king idiot who thinks he's winning when people are b*tching about him. He really does see the world as ratings and attention. [Finally he got it!]… But if we get to summer and most of the primaries are over, they just might pull the trigger if the President fires Mueller. The sh*t will hit the fan if that happens and I'd vote to impeach him myself. Most of us would, I think... If we're going to lose because of him, we might as well impeach the motherf**ker.”
Exhibit B
Senators release revised bipartisan bill to protect Mueller, but GOP leadership still a hurdle (Kerry Eleveld, 12:30 PM EST)
It went from zero movement whatsoever for months, to a little movement:
A group of four senators who had originally written two separate versions of a bill that would provide added protections for special counsel Robert Mueller against dismissal have now combined efforts to produce one bill.
Then suddenly much faster movement.
(Tweet by Frank Thorp V of NBC News:
Spox for Senate Judiciary Cmte Chair @ChuckGrassley says he wants to place the Tillis-Coons-Graham-Booker bill to protect the Special Counsel on the Committee’s agenda for tomorrow’s markup.
Waiting to get all Senators on Cmte to sign off.)
BTW: sign the petition.
Exhibit C
Right on Paul Ryan's heels, another House Republican bails—and his Florida seat could be winnable (Daily Kos Elections, 12:43 PM EST)
Now, the dude known as the other Dennis Ross also gets to be remembered as the other Republican who retired on April 11, making him the record-smashing 39th member of the House GOP caucus to bail this year.
While some Repubs are changing their minds, others are just plain fleeing. Maybe it’s not just Mueller’s investigation scaring them away, but the entire Trump clusterfuck. I suspect, however, Mueller’s a factor.
Exhibit D
Trolling Trump? 'Rule of Law' Republicans Run Ad Defending Mueller - During Fox And Friends in DC (News Corpse, 3:45 PM EST)
All of a sudden there is this website (source of the diary image)... www.ruleoflawrepublicans.com.
It’s meant to look like a movement — called “Republicans for the Rule of Law.” It has pro-Mueller and anti-firing-Mueller quotes from GOP heavies including the soon-to-be-gone Paul Ryan. It has a video presenting Mueller as a paragon of humanity, even referring to his stellar Vietnam service, and urging you to call your Congresscrittur and tell them to protect him (as of this writing, it has 61K views, so they’re promoting it):
It has a ‘Don’t Fire Mueller’ petition. (Have any Republicans left who are reasonable enough to have remained your friends? Send it to them!) The Rule of Law Repubs have a YouTube channel, founded March 21—but two of the three ads there, including one invoking Ronald Reagan (“Without law there can be no freedom”) were posted yesterday.
I rest my case, for now. In updates to this diary, I will add more exhibits as I, or you in the comments, see them.
—
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Thursday, Apr 12, 2018 · 9:41:26 AM +00:00 · Karen Wehrstein
More than one commenter suggested that Paul Ryan’s imminent departure is worth mention separate from the mass exodus of GOP representatives (Exhibit C). So…
Exhibit E
Republicans face 'nightmare scenario' as Ryan flees Trump's sinking ship (Kerry Eleveld, 7:45 PM EST)
Almost certainly, he senses impending doom—whether that's restricted to the GOP's increasingly grim chances of retaining House control this November or an inkling that Trump's about to do something catastrophic in relation to the Russia probe.
But no matter what his motivation, Ryan's exit has totally upended whatever strategy House Republicans had heading into the midterms. His early waving of the white flag [now separating into points to emphasize the magnitude of the damage, as is detailed in the diary:]
1) is not only totally demoralizing to the caucus, it also
2) depresses his fundraising prospects over the coming months and
3) touches off a scramble to replace him in the midst of a decisive—and perhaps even defining—election cycle.
Thanks, Paul, by contributing to the saving of America by removing your loathsome self from the action.
Thursday, Apr 12, 2018 · 12:09:20 PM +00:00 · Karen Wehrstein
From demolade in the comments:
So, while I am totally hoping you are right on this, I want to remind everyone to be prepared to hit the streets if Mueller OR Rosenstein is fired.
If you all have not done so already, please go to MoveOn, Mueller Rapid Response, put in your zip code and find the nearest rally site. There are over 800 locations across all 50 states now.
Thanks to all of you who already have signed up! And, if there’s not one in your area, you can start one—just sign up as a host and post where you want people to gather. There are materials, information, signs, etc. on the MoveOn site.
Also, you can text ALERT to 663866 and get a notification if this happens.