But perhaps the safest assumption is that as political cover-ups and obstruction of justice capers go, even Richard Nixon, who failed miserably at both, would be appalled at the amateurish dog and pony show being staged by donald trump in his effort at stymieing the criminal and counter-intelligence investigations of his "administration's" possible ties to Russia.
From the incredulous Devin Nunez debacle to the incredible spectacle of a presidential press secretary literally hiding in the bushes, what we've seen thus far of trump's coverup and obstruction of justice campaign seems so devoid of both expertise and finesse that it's starting to look like a purposeful attempt at occupational suicide. Could this be trump's way of providing a fascinatingly illustrative, step-by-step guide to getting run out of office -- the "art of the impeachment" if you will?
It's difficult to ascertain how a bumbling tragic-comedy of such biblical proportions could be interpreted as anything less. The degree of chaos and incompetence in the execution of trump's cover-up campaign should raise questions about whether Steve Bannon's anarchistic "deconstruction of the administrative state" ethos now permeates the very presidential administration Bannon himself helped create to carry out that task. Indeed, from trump on down, it's vividly clear: there's no one remotely capable of running -- if necessary -- the kind of effective, low-visibility cover up and obstruction of justice operation needed to prevent the removal of trump from office.
As a result, trump now faces the possibility that former FBI Director James Comey's testimony before a congressional panel scheduled for June 8, could be the turning point that establishes the beginning of the end of trump's floundering "presidency."
'...does not know what knowing is.'
At this point, perhaps rather than continue to pursue a dopey effort at forestalling the inevitable, Team Trump may want to have their boss hammer out an agreement with impending President Mike Pence for a pre-emptive pardon. Should be a cinch, right? After all, "Tricky Dick" -- despite seeing over 40 officials of his administration either indicted or sent to jail for their part in the Watergate affair -- was able to work out such an agreement with Gerald Ford and avoid prison time. Therefore, negotiating a pardon from Pence should be easy work for a "big league" deal-artist such as trump,
But just in case the supposedly uber-pious Pence blanches at the idea of a pardon, a fairly decent Plan B could be ramming a hastily-drawn-up sentencing reform bill through the GOP-controlled House and Senate; something that would reduce the maximum time in a federal prison which could be imposed on a former commander-in-chief. But the key here is to get it done in time for trump to sign it into law.
A legislative maneuver of such audacity by this particular "president" is hardly unthinkable. It would just add another episode in the hideously bizarre daily reality show made of the nation's highest office by a "president" who is so frighteningly incompetent and terribly corrupt that he has America's allies calling for regime change.
Apparently, so too are many Americans. With a recent poll showing support for trump nearly equivalent to the level of support for his impeachment, I guess the question for trump is what can be done to give him some basis of hope for surviving removal from office? Certainly, a staff shuffle, which at this writing appears to be on the horizon, makes about as much sense as re-arranging the eggs in your carton in order to get them to fry better.
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