Senators Move to Block Trump From Ousting Attorney General Jeff Sessions - Polidicks

[QUOTE]WASHINGTON—Senate Republicans on Thursday moved to block every path President Donald Trump might try to use to fire and replace Attorney General Jeff Session s, a step they worry would disrupt the independence of the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. Sending the most powerful signal yet that Mr. Trump should back away from such action, the senators said they would try to thwart him through legislation, control of the calendar and the chamber’s parliamentary rules. And, unlike in the health-care and tax debates, Democratic senators are aligning with them in an effort designed not only to protect Mr. Sessions, but also to shield the work being done by special prosecutor Robert Mueller, who was appointed by the Justice Department to examine Moscow’s actions last year and whether the Trump campaign colluded with it. Russia and the president have denied any collusion. The chamber voted 98-2 Thursday night on legislation that would impose new sanctions on Russia in response to its election meddling. Mr. Trump hasn’t said whether he would sign the legislation, which includes a provision that would block him from lifting the sanctions unilaterally, which prior presidents have had the power to do. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, asked Thursday to allay Republican lawmakers’ concerns about the president firing Mr. Sessions, reiterated her comments from a day earlier that the president was “disappointed” in Mr. Sessions. The president in tweets has also called his onetime ally “weak.” In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Mr. Sessions called the criticism “kind of hurtful” but said he was committed to stay on the job. “He has had a lot of criticisms, and he’s steadfastly determined to get his job done, and he wants all of us to do our jobs, and that’s what I intend to do,” he said. In the interview with Fox’s Tucker Carlson, which aired Thursday evening, Mr. Sessions said that he would leave if asked to by Mr. Trump, and that he thought he made the “right decision” in removing himself from the Russia investigation. “I understand his feelings about it, because this has been a big distraction for him,” Mr. Sessions said when asked about his recusal. “I am confident I made the right decision, the decision that is consistent for the rule of law,” he added. Lawmakers are concerned that if Mr. Trump fires Mr. Sessions—who recused himself from the Moscow probe because he was a leading surrogate for the Trump campaign and had an undisclosed meeting with the Russian ambassador—the president would then replace him with someone willing to fire Mr. Mueller. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) told reporters Thursday that he would introduce a bill next week that would curtail the power of the president to fire a special counsel under some circumstances without approval from a federal judge. Democrats are expected to sign onto the legislation, including Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.), who is working with Mr. Graham to craft it. According to a January report from the U.S. intelligence agencies, Russia’s interference was directed from the highest levels of its government. Its tactics included infiltrating and leaking information from party committees and political strategists; and disseminating through social media and other outlets negative stories about Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and positive ones about Mr. Trump, the report said.[/QUOTE] [URL="https://www.wsj.com/articles/senators-move-to-block-trump-from-ousting-attorney-general-jeff-sessions-1501197597?mod=e2twp"]https://www.wsj.com/articles/senators-move-to-block-trump-from-ousting-attorney-general-jeff-sessions-1501197597?mod=e2twp[/URL]

Fire him already Make even your colleagues hate you

You know things are terrible when the American Democrats have to defend a racist authoritarian like Sessions in order to get to the bottom of the Russia-Trump scandal.

[QUOTE=BlackMageMari;52516571]You know things are terrible when the American Democrats have to defend a racist authoritarian like Sessions in order to get to the bottom of the Russia-Trump scandal.[/QUOTE] Politics makes strange bedfellows.

[QUOTE=IKTM;52516608]Politics makes strange bedfellows.[/QUOTE] At least they are doing something bipartisan for once.

Checks and balances. [i]Checks and balances.[/i]

He's trying to commit suicide but the democrats won't let him do it lol.

Senate is doing good, however the House Judiciary Did something fucking stupid, They are screaming at the DOJ to appoint a second Special Console to investigate, Obama, Hillary, Lynch, and Comey, Okay, to be fair if they are investigating the NSA for it's abuses, fine, but at this point, They were legally in the clear to investigate Trump. So yeah, ...but Hilary.

[QUOTE=Itsjustguy;52516659]Checks and balances. [i]Checks and balances.[/i][/QUOTE] ya but where was this ~5 months ago? oh ya they were dead certain they'd be rolling around in ACA money, dishing out tax cuts, and making it rain with a 1 Tn infastructure bill, except none of that happened and he's only made himself more unpopular as time goes on

It's really pathetic when you have to do bi-partisan babysitting for the president so he doesn't just tear everything down. It seems like every even mildly reasonable person in Washington of any political leaning wants him to just shut up for 5 seconds. It's not even "He is doing that thing from the other political side! We, on this political side™, must stop him." It's just "Oh my fucking god what is he doing now, quit it."

Trump is becoming increasingly afraid of Meuller, and his only path to stop him is through firing Sessions. His only reason for having to fire Sessions is that (despite being a walking garbage bag of a human being) Sessions made the appropriate legal decision to recuse himself from matters relating to the investigation. Trump seeks to install somebody who will aggressively obstruct the investigation, and who may even attempt to fire Meuller. That cannot be allowed to happen under any circumstances whatsoever. If Trump moves to make it a reality, he and his cronies [I]must[/I] be immediately removed from power. We are looking tyranny in the face in this administration.

[media]https://twitter.com/JohnJHarwood/status/891046384870281216[/media] [media]https://twitter.com/JohnJHarwood/status/891049674580402177[/media]

This is less "defend Sessions" and more "don't violate constitutional norms further, you dingus" [editline]28th July 2017[/editline] At least for the democrats, I'm sure republicans agree wholeheartedly with Sessions' agenda

[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;52517176]Trump is becoming increasingly afraid of Meuller, and his only path to stop him is through firing Sessions. His only reason for having to fire Sessions is that (despite being a walking garbage bag of a human being) Sessions made the appropriate legal decision to recuse himself from matters relating to the investigation. Trump seeks to install somebody who will aggressively obstruct the investigation, and who may even attempt to fire Meuller. That cannot be allowed to happen under any circumstances whatsoever. If Trump moves to make it a reality, he and his cronies [I]must[/I] be immediately removed from power. We are looking tyranny in the face in this administration.[/QUOTE] the clock is also ticking, if that bill for the special prosecutor gets moving in congress his door might be closing

[QUOTE=OmniConsUme;52517180][media]https://twitter.com/JohnJHarwood/status/891046384870281216[/media] [media]https://twitter.com/JohnJHarwood/status/891049674580402177[/media][/QUOTE] trump is going to become the biggest shitpost america has ever done isnt he

[QUOTE=OmniConsUme;52517180][media]https://twitter.com/JohnJHarwood/status/891046384870281216[/media][/QUOTE] who tf do i cheer for

[QUOTE=Zukriuchen;52517339]who tf do i cheer for[/QUOTE] Bernie

[QUOTE=OmniConsUme;52517180][media]https://twitter.com/JohnJHarwood/status/891046384870281216[/media] [media]https://twitter.com/JohnJHarwood/status/891049674580402177[/media][/QUOTE] oh fuck if trump fractures the republican party just in time for the midterm elections i'm going to LAUGH holy christ they were already looking bad for them, if this occurs it's going to be a long fucking road for republicans

[QUOTE=ForgottenKane;52517385]oh fuck if trump fractures the republican party just in time for the midterm elections i'm going to LAUGH holy christ they were already looking bad for them, if this occurs it's going to be a long fucking road for republicans[/QUOTE] better for everyone in that case

[QUOTE=ForgottenKane;52517385]oh fuck if trump fractures the republican party just in time for the midterm elections i'm going to LAUGH holy christ they were already looking bad for them, if this occurs it's going to be a long fucking road for republicans[/QUOTE] So we've been trying to stop these two monstrosities to no avail, only for them to try and destroy each other in the end isn't this the plot to Godzilla 2014?

If the GOP reaps what they sowed and gets fucked away for several elections to come 2017 will truly be the year of the "political long walk off a short cliff". Oh [i]please, please, please[/i]

[QUOTE=The Rifleman;52517352]Bernie[/QUOTE] That's a funny way of saying Jeb.

[QUOTE=ForgottenKane;52517385]oh fuck if trump fractures the republican party just in time for the midterm elections i'm going to LAUGH holy christ they were already looking bad for them, if this occurs it's going to be a long fucking road for republicans[/QUOTE] tricky dick 2, the swampaning

[QUOTE=ForgottenKane;52517385]oh fuck if trump fractures the republican party just in time for the midterm elections i'm going to LAUGH holy christ they were already looking bad for them, if this occurs it's going to be a long fucking road for republicans[/QUOTE] A few months ago I'd call you delusional if you said that the 2018 midterms would be a blue wash, but it's starting to look more and more like it will be. Historically, when a president is unpopular, the midterms are dominated by the opposing party. Trump's succeeded in becoming wildly unpopular... in his honeymoon period. He'll continue to plummet in popularity, [I]especially[/I] if he remains unhinged on Twitter and the GOP splits with him. Trump was an enormous gamble for the GOP, and I think they genuinely thought it paid off - but if this disconnect between the executive and the party leadership widens, it'll [I]fuck the Republicans up[/I]. Considering how dangerously close the recent special elections have been, even with GOP candidates significantly outspending Democratic ones, the GOP has to be in full-on panic mode. If this split worsens, they're going to have trouble. One, they need to mobilize their base - but they have full control of the government and there's no Hillary/Obama to propagandize against. Two, their opposition's base is [I]unbelievably[/I] mobilized against them, and I expect super high turnouts in the midterms. 538 has some great discussion about midterm predictions, even if they're a bit early since campaigning hasn't really begun yet. But I'm expecting the GOP to hold the Senate and lose the House - though if Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Dean Heller (R-NV) lose out in the Senate, we'd get a 48(2)/50 split D(I)/R, which would be interesting. Only really expected Heller, though - Dems gained in NV and he only won by 46% last election. There's just a whole lot of concerning shit for the GOP right now, and splitting with Trump could either be the death knell for their 2018 hopes or the saving grace, depending on how long Trump fanaticism lasts. This could sign the end of Trump, though, if the GOP revs up anti-Trump propaganda to try to save their party's image. Either way, imo, totally fucks them for midterms and all but guarantees a Dem house majority.

[QUOTE=OmniConsUme;52517180] [media]https://twitter.com/JohnJHarwood/status/891049674580402177[/media][/QUOTE] But isn't that a dictatorship?

[QUOTE=Popularvote;52517751]But isn't that a dictatorship?[/QUOTE] Nah, it's more like if an independent candidate won an election, but in this case it's an unstable lunatic who has earned the ire of just about every rational person on the planet

[QUOTE=The_J_Hat;52517756]Nah, it's more like if an independent candidate won an election, but in this case it's an unstable lunatic who has earned the ire of just about every rational person on the planet[/QUOTE] I feel like "independent white house" doesn't mean so much that he has ideals that don't fit traditional Republican and Democratic ideals, and more that Trump doesn't want to be beholden to the GOP in the House and Senate.

[QUOTE=The Vman;52517816]I feel like "independent white house" doesn't mean so much that he has ideals that don't fit traditional Republican and Democratic ideals, and more that Trump doesn't want to be beholden to the GOP in the House and Senate.[/QUOTE] Good ol' Trump, expecting loyalty and offering none.

[QUOTE=.Isak.;52517707]A few months ago I'd call you delusional if you said that the 2018 midterms would be a blue wash, but it's starting to look more and more like it will be. Historically, when a president is unpopular, the midterms are dominated by the opposing party. Trump's succeeded in becoming wildly unpopular... in his honeymoon period. He'll continue to plummet in popularity, [I]especially[/I] if he remains unhinged on Twitter and the GOP splits with him. Trump was an enormous gamble for the GOP, and I think they genuinely thought it paid off - but if this disconnect between the executive and the party leadership widens, it'll [I]fuck the Republicans up[/I].[/QUOTE] The difficulty in making predictions is that Trump's presidency is literally without historical precedent for how bad it is. It's impossible to say with reasonable certainty that his ratings now will be the same or lower by 2020. I personally find it not difficult to imagine a scenario where the GOP does well in the midterms and they accomplish some key goals that start bringing his approval up to the point where he could compete with the whatever the Democrats are running in 2020. That being said, the fact that his ratings are this low at a time when he should be seeing the highest approval puts him way behind. [QUOTE=OmniConsUme;52517180]Loading Tweet... [URL]https://twitter.com/JohnJHarwood/status/891046384870281216[/URL] Loading Tweet... [URL]https://twitter.com/JohnJHarwood/status/891049674580402177[/URL] [/QUOTE] Just something to keep in mind when you read things like this is that it could either just be Priebus or his staffs view or perspective of things, or outright disinformation. They know that the idea of a rift between the president and the party is extremely appealing to Trump's numerous critics, so could be seeking to leverage that.