# A Thread for the Mueller Investigation Results and Outcomes (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 28, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093 "2017-10-28T20:14:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 195
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3882 "2018-04-14T22:53:11Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I got ninja’d (by a good 12-18 hours) on the latest Cohen scoop. > > Whether it impacts Trump’s poll numbers is one thing, but even if it doesn’t, this has to be pretty demoralizing to Trump and those close to him. I wonder if this investigation is now beginning to get to the point where it’s moving too fast for Trump’s allies to keep up. The real toll the investigation has taken is not so much in terms of poll numbers, but it must be taking a serious toll in terms of having anyone even remotely competent wanting to work in the White House. And that, in time, will have a very real cost for the president and his supporters. Unfortunately, in time the unwillingness of anyone even remotely competent to work in the Trump administration will have a real cost for us all. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3883 "2018-04-14T22:57:12Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > … the least significant thing possible to “get” him for, almost certainly not even illegal, but it would make it impossible for the blowjob-condemners to continue to excuse him. Don’t bet on that. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3884 "2018-04-14T22:59:21Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > Unfortunately, in time the unwillingness of anyone even remotely competent to work in the Trump administration will have a real cost for us all. I think it’s a good thing. It shows that SOME people out there still have some scruples. Also, imagine the damage they can do, if someone actually knows what they are doing. Maybe the gross incompetence is what protects us at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3885 "2018-04-15T00:41:15Z")
The other point that I’ve seen mentioned is that staffers in the White House may not be able to talk to Trump or give him advice about the Cohen thing, because his relationship with Cohen is not Government related. They work for the President on the federal payroll, not for Donald Trump, businessman. His dealings with Cohen are likely all personal. Plus self-preservation, of course. Who wants to get dragged into Trump World just as the Feds are sniffing around? That means Trump is increasingly isolated in the White House, on an issue that has potentially a major impact on his presidency. ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3886 "2018-04-15T01:20:52Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Maybe the gross incompetence is what protects us at this point. Yeah…That great [“Malevolence Tempered by Incompetence”](https://lawfareblog.com/malevolence-tempered-incompetence-trumps-horrifying-executive-order-refugees-and-visas) description. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3887 "2018-04-15T01:52:44Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Trump may or may not know if there was a tape, but the fact that he’s worried there might be one simply confirms the incident really did happen. It would be the least significant thing possible to “get” him for, almost certainly not even illegal, but it would make it impossible for the blowjob-condemners to continue to excuse him. As Seth Meyers pointed out on his show recently, if a tape didn’t exist, Trump would have no reason to say anything other than “what are you talking about?” His responses to the suggestion that it’s real are the equivalent of a wife asking her husband if he’s cheating on her, and the husband answering, “it would really suck if you found out about that.” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3888 "2018-04-15T05:37:34Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > …the blowjob-condemners to continue to excuse him. Have they formed a political action group? Can we get a volunteer to go to a meeting and report back? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3889 "2018-04-15T05:42:56Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Have they formed a political action group? Can we get a volunteer to go to a meeting and report back? Would that be an oral report? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3890 "2018-04-15T06:40:30Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > I’m guessing that the Cohen thing and the Russia thing are not separate things. There are probably Cohen things that have nothing to do with Russia, and Russia things that have nothing to do with Cohen, but I’d wager that the Venn diagram has substantial overlap. It shows how smart Mueller is. By setting up a second front, even if Trump fires him the New York investigation will go on during the resulting firestorm. It seems to be unclear if the people in NY could get fired, but if they were for investigating Cohen someone could write up an indictment of Trump the next day. Trump thinks he is smart but the FBI and prosecutors are outmaneuvering him like crazy. Bet he wishes he said no comment about the question on him and Stormy Daniels. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2018, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3891 "2018-04-15T13:43:22Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > It shows how smart Mueller is. By setting up a second front, even if Trump fires him the New York investigation will go on during the resulting firestorm. It seems to be unclear if the people in NY could get fired, but if they were for investigating Cohen someone could write up an indictment of Trump the next day. > Trump thinks he is smart but the FBI and prosecutors are outmaneuvering him like crazy. > Bet he wishes he said no comment about the question on him and Stormy Daniels. I have been somewhat surprised that he hasn’t made a move on Jeff Sessions and/or Rod Rosenstein yet. He’s obviously thought about it but for whatever reason avoided pulling the trigger. I suspect that this might also be why he wants to be around fewer “experts” and wants fewer “adults in the room” and instead would rather surround himself with people who reinforce his instincts. I agree: Mueller has opened up a second front on Trump and it makes his situation more desperate. But if we’ve learned anything over the past few years it’s that Trump doesn’t typically back down; he lashes out like a cornered, wounded lion. And right now he’s fighting for his survival and the survival of his family enterprise. Comey was right: he is like a crime family boss in a lot of ways. And he plays by his own rules. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3892 "2018-04-15T14:33:36Z")
Picturing Trump storming about the White House shouting “Will no one rid me of this meddlesome Mueller?!?” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3893 "2018-04-15T14:38:23Z")
I don’t understand Trump’s concern. Surely McConnell’s told him by now that he has nothing to fear from a Republican congress’s reaction to this investigation. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2018, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3894 "2018-04-15T15:11:39Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > I don’t understand Trump’s concern. Surely McConnell’s told him by now that he has nothing to fear from a Republican congress’s reaction to this investigation. I guess he remembers what happened when he fired Comey. With his approval rating numbers now finally back to 45-50% (depending on the poll), maybe he’s a little hesitant to pull the trigger. Then again, maybe this is about the time when he feels confident enough to do just that. Impossible to know what’s rolling through his head at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3895 "2018-04-15T15:37:51Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I guess he remembers what happened when he fired Comey. With his approval rating numbers now finally back to 45-50% (depending on the poll), maybe he’s a little hesitant to pull the trigger. Then again, maybe this is about the time when he feels confident enough to do just that. Impossible to know what’s rolling through his head at this point. I imagine only tumbleweeds ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3896 "2018-04-15T15:48:46Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Picturing Trump storming about the White House shouting “Will no one rid me of this meddlesome Mueller?!?” That would require the fat orange idiot to have read a book. It’s more like him shuffling around the White House mumbling: “No collusion… Witch hunt… You’re the puppet…” ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3897 "2018-04-15T15:56:07Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > I imagine only tumbleweeds [I imagine something like this.](https://tenor.com/view/homer-simpson-brain-simpsons-gif-5567042) ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3898 "2018-04-15T22:05:58Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > As Seth Meyers pointed out on his show recently, if a tape didn’t exist, Trump would have no reason to say anything other than “what are you talking about?” > > His responses to the suggestion that it’s real are the equivalent of a wife asking her husband if he’s cheating on her, and the husband answering, “it would really suck if you found out about that.” I always found Trump’s non-denial denial of “the pee pee tape” in this interview very odd. His phrasing, his excuses, the “weasel words”… From the interview with Ainsley Earhardt: “It’s made up. Never existed. Never happened,” Trump continued, speaking specifically about the unverified report regarding the prostitutes. “And the reason I say that so strongly because nothing is ever going to show up. There’s never going to be a tape that shows up. There’s never going to be anything that shows up. Now, I would be very embarrassed if a tape actually showed up, saying something like that. It would be double embarrassed because I’m saying there is no tape. There is no event. I was never even in that room for that period of time.” > **[Trump offers odd denial of pee-pee-gate: 'I was never even in that room for...](https://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/trump-offers-odd-denial-of-pee-pee-gate-i-was-never-even-in-that-room-for-that-period-of-time/)** > > Donald Trump went into further detail about the unverified report that he hired prostitutes in Russia to urinate on a bed President Barack Obama once slept in. "It's fake news. It's all fake news," an animated Trump told Fox News's Ainsley Earhardt... ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3899 "2018-04-15T22:13:56Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > With his approval rating numbers now finally back to 45-50% (depending on the poll), maybe he’s a little hesitant to pull the trigger. He [wishes](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/?ex_cid=rrpromo). Rasmussen has been fairly reliably skewed for years, you really do need a composite model like this to get a better feel for where any politician sits. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3900 "2018-04-15T22:29:15Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Actually, I think Cohen’s slip-up may have been more along the lines of arrogance, in a _“burner phones are for common criminals; I have attorney-client privilege”_ kind of way Arrogance and lack of smarts are not mutually exclusive. > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > The other point that I’ve seen mentioned is that staffers in the White House may not be able to talk to Trump or give him advice about the Cohen thing, because his relationship with Cohen is not Government related. This is meaningless, basically. Trump never let anyone give him meaningful advice or listened to anyone, ever. Well, no one other than Steve Douche-y, of course. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/3901 "2018-04-16T00:37:04Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > I always found Trump’s non-denial denial of “the pee pee tape” in this interview very odd. His phrasing, his excuses, the “weasel words”… > … Meh, he ALWAYS speaks using weasel words and con-man phrasing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=194) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=196)