I’ve been pondering the extent to which all of the players in this game were true believers, which were wilfully blind, and which were just opportunists, and the chance that they’ll flip and provide evidence against trump.
Sidney Powell I cast as a true believer. Hugo Chavez, Italian satellites, Chinese thermostats and the whole caboodle. She’s pretty universally acknowledged as a loony crackpot even among the ruby red Right. She’ll go to her grave believing she was right and would never turn on trump.
Rudy is not quite as far along the true believer spectrum, but close to true believer with a hearty dash of willfully blind. He doesn’t want to hear anything that contradicts his view of the election, but i really think at the heart of it he’s just doubling down because he believes that he’s already sunk so much energy into it that to back down now would be embarrassing. Might possibly offer some small concessions or evidence to keep himself out of jail if offered that deal, but wouldn’t really change his mind.
John Eastman, true believer that his interpretation of the Constitutional role of the Vice President was worth running up the flagpole to see who salutes, but realistic enough to say that it would probably get thrown out of court. Opportunistic in that he believed the stunt was worth the risk anyway. He thinks he merely provided a legal theory and will probably defend his right to do so. I doubt he’ll have much to add to the prosecution’s knowledge, but won’t have any problem trumpeting what he said, why he said it, and what reception he received.
Jeffrey Clark, opportunist all the way. Maybe a molecule of true believer. He wanted to be head of the DOJ and his attempted election stunts were all in service of that end. Chances of flipping, 50/50. I think his opportunistic streak will lead him to think there could be rewards in the future for standing his ground now.
Kenneth Chesebro, total opportunist. He was employed by the campaign and planned to do whatever it took to help his guy stay in the White House. Supposedly a ringleader in the fake electors scheme. Will totally flip on anyone and everyone.
And trump himself? A misbegotten sludge of the worst of all three. A true believer who was wilfully blind, opportunistc, and dismissive of the chance of failure or repercussions. Oppotunistic is his middle name and his mantra. Who knows what his damaged mind and narcissistic ego will do? I mean, blame everyone else, of course, bleat that he was 100% perfect and right, certainly. But take a plea of it will keep him out of jail? I just don’t see it.
