# 99% of Trump's Popularity is SESSIONS--and Trump Knows It **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 27, 2017, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292 "2017-07-27T23:16:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/81 "2017-07-28T23:26:28Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > 99% of Trump’s Popularity is SESSIONS–and Trump Knows It > > Sessions’ work, of course, as Attorney General—not Sessions as a person. > > This has become crystal clear in the eight days since Trump started attacking Sessions and trying to get him to quit—trying to get him to quit so that the coward Trump wouldn’t have to fire him. Because if the coward Trump fired Sessions, the entire world would see that most of Trump’s so-called base wants nothing to do with a Trump who fires their REAL hero: Jeff Sessions. > > …Sessions is doing what Trump’s voters elected Trump to do. If Sessions is gone, Trump’s 36% approval rating will plummet. > > Two days ago, Trump held a rally that filled a 6000-seat venue in Youngstown, Ohio (and boasted that it was a “record”–!). But if he fires Sessions, Trump won’t even be able to fill a meeting room at a Holiday Inn. > > Trump knows it. He knows that 99% of his popularity is in actuality the popularity of what Sessions is doing. He knows that if he fires Sessions—no matter how much he hates Sessions or is frustrated by Sessions or feels Sessions is disloyal—Trump knows that if he gives in to his impulses and fires Sessions, his presidency will be over. He will have no base. He will be just a guy waiting for the impeachment process to run its course. **(Post shortened and duly noted as required)** What an interesting opinion piece. Do you have any evidence that 99% of Trump’s popularity is because of/due to SESSIONS? Do you have any evidence that, according to you, “If Sessions is gone, Trump’s 36% approval rating will plummet”? Do you have any evidence that, “if he fires Sessions, Trump won’t even be able to fill a meeting room at a Holiday Inn”? Do you have any evidence that Trump will fire, or intends to fire, Sessions? Your suggestions/opinions sound as if they came from some kind of Democrat party/collectives talking points. Or possibly a list of some Democrat’s wish list? Or maybe they’re just “feelings”? ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/82 "2017-07-28T23:37:34Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > **(Post shortened and duly noted as required)** > > What an interesting opinion piece. Do you have any evidence that 99% of Trump’s popularity is because of/due to SESSIONS? > > Do you have any evidence that, according to you, “If Sessions is gone, Trump’s 36% approval rating will plummet”? > > Do you have any evidence that, “if he fires Sessions, Trump won’t even be able to fill a meeting room at a Holiday Inn”? > > Do you have any evidence that Trump will fire, or intends to fire, Sessions? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/83 "2017-07-29T03:26:52Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > The Senate has to confirm the Deputy AG appointee too. So if they sensed these shenanigans, and I kind of think they would, they could hold that up instead. Isn’t the Solicitor General third in line? Or let’s go to the first person in line who is not subject to Senate confirmation. Say he is 9th in line. This is the procedure: 1. Fire 9th guy in line. 2. Replace 9th guy with lackey 3. Fire guys #1 through #8. 4. Lackey becomes “acting” AG. 5. Acting AG fires Mueller. 6. President never submits a new name to be confirmed as AG. Others have said that Congress could only allow a named AG to fire the special prosecutor or else Congress itself would gain that power. Surely any procedure that entrusts Congress with an executive branch function would have to be unconstitutional, no? ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/84 "2017-07-29T10:57:32Z")
> [@SingleMalt](#): > > I saw that interview, and my impression was that Mr. Weiner was being a bit overgenerous in his assessment. At the moment, Rosenstein is the only one who can fire Mueller, since Sessions has recused, and, under current federal regulations, only for cause. > > [More here.](http://www.factcheck.org/2017/06/can-trump-fire-mueller/) > > Money quote: > > "Because Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the investigation, the decision to appoint a special counsel fell to Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein. In his order making the appointment, Rosenstein cited federal regulations issued by the attorney general in 1999, 28 C.F.R. § 600.4-600.10. The rules were drafted in the wake of the Kenneth Starr investigation of President Bill Clinton. > > According to those regulations, a special counsel “may be disciplined or removed from office only by the personal action of the Attorney General” (or in this case, the acting attorney general). And Rosenstein can’t just do it on a whim, either. According to the regulation, special counsel can only be removed “for misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, conflict of interest, or for other good cause, including violation of Departmental policies.” Trump will likely fire people, one after another in rapid-fire succession, until he gets his henchman. But there’s another possibility: Trump ignores the regulation and says “See you in court.” Yes, he’d lose, but in the meantime, he’d probably disrupt the flow of things if nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/85 "2017-07-29T13:11:53Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Trump will likely fire people, one after another in rapid-fire succession, until he gets his henchman. But there’s another possibility: Trump ignores the regulation and says “See you in court.” Yes, he’d lose, but in the meantime, he’d probably disrupt the flow of things if nothing else. But, again, here is where I have a disconnect. A federal regulation is an executive branch directive regarding how to implement a statute. By constitutional definition, the President IS the executive branch. There is nothing a subordinate can do that he cannot undo, or at least should not be. By custom, the executive branch has grown to mammoth proportions and the President is usually not involved in most things. But there is no reason he cannot be. This is similar to the “Trump is leaking classified information!” cries. He decides what is confidential. We have three distinct separate branches of power in this country. I have talked often about judicial overreach intruding on the legislature. This seems to be the legislature invading on the executive. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/86 "2017-07-29T13:14:54Z")
> [@Corry\_El](#): > > It’s good for conservatives Trump nominated Gorsuch, good he has some actual conservatives in his cabinet, not so good he can’t provide any leadership on legislation because he’s so clueless on all policy issues and constantly shooting himself in the foot. But Trump is _NOT_ a conservative himself. And that matters. I guess you missed my post that Trump is doing more to advance the conservative agenda than most politicians who have been Republicans all their lives. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/87 "2017-07-29T17:46:59Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Isn’t the Solicitor General third in line? Or let’s go to the first person in line who is not subject to Senate confirmation. Say he is 9th in line. This is the procedure: > > 1. Fire 9th guy in line. > 2. Replace 9th guy with lackey > 3. Fire guys #1 through #8. > 4. Lackey becomes “acting” AG. > 5. Acting AG fires Mueller. > 6. President never submits a new name to be confirmed as AG. > > Others have said that Congress could only allow a named AG to fire the special prosecutor or else Congress itself would gain that power. Surely any procedure that entrusts Congress with an executive branch function would have to be unconstitutional, no? I didn’t see anyone suggest Congress would gain that power, unless you’re referring to elucidator’s initial “I heard some guy” post. Looking at what that guy actually said was that there were federal regulations protecting Mueller. I suppose Trump could order those regs changed and go on a firing spree. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/88 "2017-07-29T18:05:57Z")
Thinking about it though, if Congress was outraged enough, there’s a couple of simple counter punches they could do. They could make positions 9-20 Senate confirmable or more likely they could reinstate some version of the Independent Counsel legislation and appoint Mueller. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/89 "2017-07-29T22:41:25Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Thinking about it though, if Congress was outraged enough, there’s a couple of simple counter punches they could do. They could make positions 9-20 Senate confirmable or more likely they could reinstate some version of the Independent Counsel legislation and appoint Mueller. Good Lord man, he can’t begin to fill the Offices he has responsibility for now: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-administration-appointee-tracker/database/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-administration-appointee-tracker/database/) > [@](#): > > Of 575 key positions requiring Senate confirmation… > 357–No nominee > 3–Awaiting nomination > 165–Formally nominated > 50–Confirmed ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/90 "2017-07-30T00:47:57Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Also, do you have a cite for this? From what I see, his approval rating is [more like 40%](https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_trump_job_approval-6179.html) 538 has the aggregated polls today at 38.4%. But that doesn’t show the nuance – the people who disapprove of him _strongly_ disapprove, and his "strongly approve\* ratings are sinking faster than his general approval rating. That is, a majority of people really hate him, and his rabid base is losing members. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/91 "2017-07-30T01:28:57Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > 538 has the aggregated polls today at 38.4%. But that doesn’t show the nuance – the people who disapprove of him _strongly_ disapprove, and his "strongly approve\* ratings are sinking faster than his general approval rating. That is, a majority of people really hate him, and his rabid base is losing members. Your link says 39.7%. But maybe things changed in the last hour. Not sure, though, if it makes sense to quibble about a ~1.5% difference. (38.4% vs 40% or 39.7%). All of those numbers could fairly be called “40%”. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/92 "2017-07-30T05:03:00Z")
And behold the liberal bias of media! Not a one of these so-called “objective” samples take into account the millions of illegal voters for HRC! No matter how much proof you got, how loud you yell, they pretend it isn’t so! ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/93 "2017-07-30T07:41:35Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Your link says 39.7%. But maybe things changed in the last hour. > > Not sure, though, if it makes sense to quibble about a ~1.5% difference. (38.4% vs 40% or 39.7%). All of those numbers could fairly be called “40%”. I’m pretty sure you mean HurricaneDitka’s link says 39.7%. That’s the only link in the post by Ulfreida you quoted. It goes to RealClearPolitics and they do indeed show the President at 39.7%. Ulfreida didn’t include a link to 538, as you can see below: > [@Ulfreida](#): > > > [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > > > Also, do you have a cite for this? From what I see, his approval rating is [more like 40%](https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_trump_job_approval-6179.html) > > 538 has the aggregated polls today at 38.4%. But that doesn’t show the nuance – the people who disapprove of him _strongly_ disapprove, and his "strongly approve\* ratings are sinking faster than his general approval rating. That is, a majority of people really hate him, and his rabid base is losing members. However, if she/he had included a link it probably would have gone [here on the 538 website.](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/?ex_cid=rrpromo) They do show their aggregated polls have the President at 38.4%. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/94 "2017-07-30T19:46:30Z")
Whatever the number is, it doesn’t seem to be rising. Here’s my thesis, nutshell-style: [ul] [li]Trump attracted the core of his base by making remarks about Mexicans and Muslims and women and blacks that a particular type of person hadn’t heard from a mainstream candidate before; this core became correspondingly devoted to Trump.[/li][li]But once Trump was elected, that core expected more than just words.[/li][li]Trump turned out to be one of the luckiest people on Earth in that Jeff Sessions existed, had long-term friends in the Senate, and wanted to work for him. In Jeff Sessions Trump found something that the odds were against him finding: a man of core-pleasing policy ambitions who had a chance of being confirmed. Because any person with Sessions’ beliefs and intentions who was not a long-term Senator _had no chance of being confirmed_.[/li][li]Because of Sessions’ ongoing fulfillment of the core’s wishes, Trump has retained the core’s devotion.[/li][li]Trump has no idea that the core remains devoted to him mainly because of what Sessions has been doing and continues to do.[/li][li]If Trump either fires Sessions or moves sessions to DHS (where Sessions won’t be able to accomplish all he’s accomplishing now), Trump’s approval ratings will suffer markedly.[/li][/ul] …That’s it. That’s the thesis. It all hangs on the good luck Trump had: that Sessions held the beliefs he does and yet was a long-time Senator with many friends in the Senate. If not for that, impeachment proceedings would have begun months ago, because no one in Congress would have feared for their seats—the Core would be filled with disgust at Trump for his inaction and empty words (because the AG would be someone much less racist, er, ‘anti-immigrant hardliner’). The Core would be perfectly happy to see Trump gone, either through trial by the Senate or through voluntary resignation. Shorter version: Trump is nothing without Sessions. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/95 "2017-07-30T22:35:25Z")
Can Sessions be moved without another confirmation? ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/96 "2017-07-30T22:48:00Z")
I _believe_ Sessions would have to be confirmed as Homeland Security Secretary–but I can’t find, er, confirmation. The entire topic of ‘switching Cabinet posts’ is resisting my powers of search at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/97 "2017-07-30T23:08:13Z")
[quote=“Sherrerd, post:94, topic:792292”] [li]Trump has no idea that the core remains devoted to him mainly because of what Sessions has been doing and continues to do.[/li][/QUOTE] The question here in this thread is whether anybody else in the world thinks this is true besides you. Nobody has said yes yet. I don’t believe anybody will. However, you did make a testable proposition: that Trump’s approval rating will “suffer markedly” if Sessions is fired or even moved. So we can check back at a later date and see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/98 "2017-07-30T23:21:53Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The question here in this thread is whether anybody else in the world thinks this is true besides you. Nobody has said yes yet. I don’t believe anybody will. Just most of the right wing media, is all. [Conservative Media Outlets Warn Trump to Not Mess with Sessions](http://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-sessions-conservative-media-trump-2017-7). ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/99 "2017-07-30T23:50:20Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Can Sessions be moved without another confirmation? Yes, but only if Trump does it while the Senate is in recess he can use recess appointments to both appoint Sessions to Homeland Security and appoint a new AG. The downside is both officeholders would have their terms expire with the 115th Congress (ie until January 3rd, 2019), but Trump doesn’t think in the long term. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292/100 "2017-07-31T00:46:25Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Yes, but only if Trump does it while the Senate is in recess he can use recess appointments to both appoint Sessions to Homeland Security and appoint a new AG. The downside is both officeholders would have their terms expire with the 115th Congress (ie until January 3rd, 2019), but Trump doesn’t think in the long term. Trump may not get that chance: > [@](#): > > Senate Democrats are warning they will block President Trump from trying to bypass the confirmation process by firing Attorney General Jeff Sessions and appointing a successor during the August recess. > > “Let me state for the record now, before this scheme gains wings, Democrats will never go along with the recess appointment if that situation arises,” Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday, amid speculation about Sessions’s future in the administration. > > He added that Democrats “have some tools in our toolbox” to block Trump from a recess appointment, which would allow the president to bypass what would likely be a contentious confirmation fight. … [http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/343643-senate-dems-warn-they-will-block-recess-appointments](http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/343643-senate-dems-warn-they-will-block-recess-appointments) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-of-trumps-popularity-is-sessions-and-trump-knows-it/792292.md?page=6)