*** Official Politics Shitposting Thread ***

[BananaStand]

Here's another possibility: Manafort is looking for leniency from the courts. He also knows Trump is fucked one way or another, and won't be pardoning anyone by the time this is over. So his Plan A (get a pardon) is a bust; he's moving to Plan B (give up Trump).

I simply don't believe that getting a pardon was ever Manafort's plan A, plan H, plan X, or plan BBBHTYQQ77X-53Y.

Just the optics of that could be enough to ruin Trump's chances in 2020. And Manfort is too old to wait to 2024. And even if he wasn't...Trump is also pretty old and probably gets 10,000 death threats a day. I wouldn't bank on that guy living another 6 years. I don't see any plausible angle where Manafort would decide that it's a viable plan to try and play for a pardon. It's really a silly notion.

The only grumblings on this subject at all have been WILD media speculation regarding Trump's tweet. He said that Manafort was being treated unfairly, etc etc etc. And the lefties are now ASSUMING that means that Trump is considering a pardon. Cuz pretending is fun I guess.

And you say "give up Trump".....HOW?

Manafort worked for Trump for about 5 minutes. what could he possibly know?

He was at the Trump Tower meeting with Jr and the Russian lawyer. It seems that everybody already knows what happened there. It's not a crime. and Trump wasn't even there.

It's also alleged in the Steele dossier that Manafort personally brokered the deal with Putin's agents to hack the DNC and Podesta in return for favorable treatment of Russian interests. It's also alleged that Carter Paige was in the room with him. Carter Paige spent a year under an FBI microscope and isn't even charged with speeding. What could Manafort possibly have to say?

[Poopadoop]

I simply don't believe that getting a pardon was ever Manafort's plan A, plan H, plan X, or plan BBBHTYQQ77X-53Y.

Just the optics of that could be enough to ruin Trump's chances in 2020. And Manfort is too old to wait to 2024.

Not sure where you get 2024 from. Worst-case, Manafort under Plan A would only have to sit in prison till the day after election day 2020. Seems preferable to the rest of his life.

[BananaStand]

Not sure where you get 2024 from. Worst-case, Manafort under Plan A would only have to sit in prison till the day after election day 2020. Seems preferable to the rest of his life.

Please re-join reality.

If that's what Trump did the day after re-inauguration, he'd effectively torpedo any legislative agenda he could possibly have. No congressman would ever associate with any idea Trump ever has after that.

[Poopadoop]

If that's what Trump did the day after re-inauguration, he'd effectively torpedo any legislative agenda he could possibly have. No congressman would ever associate with any idea Trump ever has after that.

If only I had a dollar for every time someone said "no-one could ever support Trump after this" and yet every R in the house and senate who wasn't about to retire/quit supported him, I'd be a few years closer to retirement.

Also, don't forget he's going to at least lose the House in the midterms and so he's not going to be able to do anything legislative anyways, and the rest of his hopefully short presidency will be him rage-tweeting about witch hunts at 2 a.m.

[BananaStand]

If only I had a dollar for every time someone said "no-one could ever support Trump after this" and yet every R in the house and senate who wasn't about to retire/quit supported him, I'd be a few years closer to retirement.

I can't disagree with you there. But there has to be a limit. Validating the Russia inquiry would probably cross that line.

I mean, if what you're saying is true, why not do it now? He could just issue a pardon for Manafort, Pops, Flynn, and Gates today. Then he could turn to Mueller and say "Alight Bobby, you're out of witnesses."

Also, don't forget he's going to at least lose the House in the midterms and so he's not going to be able to do anything legislative anyways,

It's a win-win for Trump. If he doesn't lose the house (which is possible) then he has a cooperating congress for the rest of this term. If he does lose the house, and can't do anything legislatively he'll just do what he wants anyway. You see, there used to be this guy named Barry who wasn't real great at making friends and influencing people. So he just did all kinds of somersaults through the law and imposed his will through Executive Orders.

When Trump basically pulls out the Treasure checkbook and pays for the wall, just remember WHY he can get away with it.

[Poopadoop]

If what you're saying is true, why not do it now? He could just issue a pardon for Manafort, Pops, Flynn, and Gates today. Then he could turn to Mueller and say "Alight Bobby, you're out of witnesses.".

Because he knows it will cost him politically in the midterms? At least, his staff have managed to convince him of that. He probably wants to pardon all of them really.

When Trump basically pulls out the Treasure checkbook and pays for the wall, just remember WHY he can get away with it.

Yeah, that's not how it works. He can't just do whatever he wants by EO.

[BananaStand]

Yeah, that's not how it works. He can't just do whatever he wants by EO.

Sounds like a wager to me