Republicans “secretly” study their coming hell

[Pokeabear]

https://www.axios.com/2018-midterm-...ons-180abf7b-0de8-4670-ae8a-2e6da123c584.html

Jonathan Swan1 hour ago
Scoop: Republicans secretly study their coming hell

Illustration: Lazaro Gamio/Axios
Congressional Republicans are getting ready for hell. Axios has obtained a spreadsheet that's circulated through Republican circles on and off Capitol Hill — including at least one leadership office — that meticulously previews the investigations Democrats will likely launch if they flip the House.

Why this matters: Publicly, House Republicans are putting on a brave face about the midterms. But privately, they are scrambling to prepare for the worst. This document, which catalogs requests Democrats have already made, is part of that effort.

It has churned Republican stomachs. Here are some of the probes it predicts:

• President Trump’s tax returns
• Trump family businesses — and whether they comply with the Constitution's emoluments clause, including the Chinese trademark grant to the Trump Organization
• Trump's dealings with Russia, including the president's preparation for his meeting with Vladimir Putin
• The payment to Stephanie Clifford — a.k.a. Stormy Daniels
• James Comey's firing
• Trump's firing of U.S. attorneys
• Trump's proposed transgender ban for the military
• Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's business dealings
• White House staff's personal email use
• Cabinet secretary travel, office expenses, and other misused perks
• Discussion of classified information at Mar-a-Lago
• Jared Kushner's ethics law compliance
• Dismissal of members of the EPA board of scientific counselors
• The travel ban
• Family separation policy
• Hurricane response in Puerto Rico
• Election security and hacking attempts
• White House security clearances

The spreadsheet — which I'm told originated in a senior House Republican office — catalogs more than 100 formal requests from House Democrats this Congress, spanning nearly every committee.

• The spreadsheet includes requests for administration officials to be grilled by committee staff, requests for hearings to obtain sworn testimony, efforts to seize communications about controversial policies and personnel decisions, and subpoena threats.
• These demands would turn the Trump White House into a 24/7 legal defense operation.

The bottom line: Thanks to their control of Congress, Republicans have blocked most of the Democrats’ investigative requests. But if the House flips, the GOP loses its power to stymie. Lawyers close to the White House tell me the Trump administration is nowhere near prepared for the investigatory onslaught that awaits them, and they consider it among the greatest threats to his presidency

 

[long-duc-dong]

https://www.axios.com/2018-midterm-...ons-180abf7b-0de8-4670-ae8a-2e6da123c584.html

Jonathan Swan1 hour ago
Scoop: Republicans secretly study their coming hell

Illustration: Lazaro Gamio/Axios
Congressional Republicans are getting ready for hell. Axios has obtained a spreadsheet that's circulated through Republican circles on and off Capitol Hill — including at least one leadership office — that meticulously previews the investigations Democrats will likely launch if they flip the House.

Why this matters: Publicly, House Republicans are putting on a brave face about the midterms. But privately, they are scrambling to prepare for the worst. This document, which catalogs requests Democrats have already made, is part of that effort.

It has churned Republican stomachs. Here are some of the probes it predicts:

• President Trump’s tax returns
• Trump family businesses — and whether they comply with the Constitution's emoluments clause, including the Chinese trademark grant to the Trump Organization
• Trump's dealings with Russia, including the president's preparation for his meeting with Vladimir Putin
• The payment to Stephanie Clifford — a.k.a. Stormy Daniels
• James Comey's firing
• Trump's firing of U.S. attorneys
• Trump's proposed transgender ban for the military
• Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's business dealings
• White House staff's personal email use
• Cabinet secretary travel, office expenses, and other misused perks
• Discussion of classified information at Mar-a-Lago
• Jared Kushner's ethics law compliance
• Dismissal of members of the EPA board of scientific counselors
• The travel ban
• Family separation policy
• Hurricane response in Puerto Rico
• Election security and hacking attempts
• White House security clearances

The spreadsheet — which I'm told originated in a senior House Republican office — catalogs more than 100 formal requests from House Democrats this Congress, spanning nearly every committee.

• The spreadsheet includes requests for administration officials to be grilled by committee staff, requests for hearings to obtain sworn testimony, efforts to seize communications about controversial policies and personnel decisions, and subpoena threats.
• These demands would turn the Trump White House into a 24/7 legal defense operation.

The bottom line: Thanks to their control of Congress, Republicans have blocked most of the Democrats’ investigative requests. But if the House flips, the GOP loses its power to stymie. Lawyers close to the White House tell me the Trump administration is nowhere near prepared for the investigatory onslaught that awaits them, and they consider it among the greatest threats to his presidency

 

[wyomingosualum]

https://www.axios.com/2018-midterm-...ons-180abf7b-0de8-4670-ae8a-2e6da123c584.html

Jonathan Swan1 hour ago
Scoop: Republicans secretly study their coming hell

Illustration: Lazaro Gamio/Axios
Congressional Republicans are getting ready for hell. Axios has obtained a spreadsheet that's circulated through Republican circles on and off Capitol Hill — including at least one leadership office — that meticulously previews the investigations Democrats will likely launch if they flip the House.

Why this matters: Publicly, House Republicans are putting on a brave face about the midterms. But privately, they are scrambling to prepare for the worst. This document, which catalogs requests Democrats have already made, is part of that effort.

It has churned Republican stomachs. Here are some of the probes it predicts:

• President Trump’s tax returns
• Trump family businesses — and whether they comply with the Constitution's emoluments clause, including the Chinese trademark grant to the Trump Organization
• Trump's dealings with Russia, including the president's preparation for his meeting with Vladimir Putin
• The payment to Stephanie Clifford — a.k.a. Stormy Daniels
• James Comey's firing
• Trump's firing of U.S. attorneys
• Trump's proposed transgender ban for the military
• Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's business dealings
• White House staff's personal email use
• Cabinet secretary travel, office expenses, and other misused perks
• Discussion of classified information at Mar-a-Lago
• Jared Kushner's ethics law compliance
• Dismissal of members of the EPA board of scientific counselors
• The travel ban
• Family separation policy
• Hurricane response in Puerto Rico
• Election security and hacking attempts
• White House security clearances

The spreadsheet — which I'm told originated in a senior House Republican office — catalogs more than 100 formal requests from House Democrats this Congress, spanning nearly every committee.

• The spreadsheet includes requests for administration officials to be grilled by committee staff, requests for hearings to obtain sworn testimony, efforts to seize communications about controversial policies and personnel decisions, and subpoena threats.
• These demands would turn the Trump White House into a 24/7 legal defense operation.

The bottom line: Thanks to their control of Congress, Republicans have blocked most of the Democrats’ investigative requests. But if the House flips, the GOP loses its power to stymie. Lawyers close to the White House tell me the Trump administration is nowhere near prepared for the investigatory onslaught that awaits them, and they consider it among the greatest threats to his presidency

 

[squeak]

Congrats Dems, you get Pence...an actual conservative.

 

[osu_orangestreak]

Let this sink in

Adam Schiff intel committee chairman

Adam Schiff with power of subpoena.

 

[poke2001]

Let this sink in

Adam Schiff intel committee chairman

Adam Schiff with power of subpoena.

And after 2 years, it would flip right back.

 

[JimmyBob]

Let this sink in

Adam Schiff intel committee chairman

Adam Schiff with power of subpoena.

 

[windriverrange]

Have no idea if true or not, but kind of reminds me of that dumb ass Harry “shut off my treadmill” Reid running the nuclear option through Congress and was told this will come back to bit you imbeciles.

 

[aix_xpert]

Have no idea if true or not, but kind of reminds me of that dumb ass Harry “shut off my treadmill” Reid running the nuclear option through Congress and was told this will come back to bit you imbeciles.

Will be interesting the precedents that will be set regarding presidential scrutiny. But if it leads to cleaner candidates (from both parties) in the future, then maybe (unknowingly) Trump will help clean up the swamp.

 

[CowboyUp]

Let this sink in

Adam Schiff intel committee chairman

Adam Schiff with power of subpoena.

IF dems get the gavel (BIG IF)...Elijah Cummings likely would have some questions...

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-elijah-cummings-trump_us_5b805b25e4b0cd327dfc9502

 

[Been Jammin]

And after 2 years, it would flip right back.

Interesting thought. Just curious about why you think this.

Do you believe that, if the House flips, it is only due to temporary lib outrage over Trump, and that things will settle back down to "normal" two years later ("normal" being GOP controlled Congress).?

Or, do you believe that the country is so divided and polarized that this is what we should expect in the future...flip flopping of which party is in power every 2 years, as the party out of power mobilizes and does what is needed to regain power?

Or, something else?

 

[poke2001]

Interesting thought. Just curious about why you think this.

Do you believe that, if the House flips, it is only due to temporary lib outrage over Trump, and that things will settle back down to "normal" two years later ("normal" being GOP controlled Congress).?

Or, do you believe that the country is so divided and polarized that this is what we should expect in the future...flip flopping of which party is in power every 2 years, as the party out of power mobilizes and does what is needed to regain power?

Or, something else?

I think if libs gain control of the house they won’t be able to control themselves and will go overboard with TDS. Nothing will be accomplished but the people that sent Trump to the whitehouse will turn out in full force in 2020 and not only re-elect him, but will swing the House back to republicans.

 

[aix_xpert]

I think if libs gain control of the house they won’t be able to control themselves and will go overboard with TDS. Nothing will be accomplished but the people that sent Trump to the whitehouse will turn out in full force in 2020 and not only re-elect him, but will swing the House back to republicans.

I agree here. This has all the trappings of the Dems winning the battle (mid-terms) yet losing the war (Presidency). If they come in and start pushing legislative changes and agenda items, then they'll have a shot, but if their 2 years is just obstructionism, investigations, lawsuits, etc., then Trump (like Obama in 2012) will be a two-term president.

 

[Been Jammin]

f they come in and start pushing legislative changes and agenda items

I don't think it is realistic to expect them to do much of anything along these lines. Trump will undercut anything they try to accomplish. If the Dems turn the House over, we can expect 2 more years of futility for everyone. JMO.

As to Trump getting reelected... I think it will depend greatly on who the Dems put forth to run against him.

I am also not convinced he will run again. I know it appears that he definitely will, but I can see him getting fed up with all the BS and opting to go back to enjoying himself rather than spending 4 more years of daily frustration.

 

[Pokeabear]

Admiral McRaven will run, as either someone’s VP or the nominee himself.

 

[Ostatedchi]

What I'm looking for in the next two years...

Repubs keep the Senate and RBG die and we get one more supreme court nominee with no way for the Dems to stop it.

The Trump presidency would be a yuge success if that happens. As it is with two supremems it would just be a success.

 

[Been Jammin]

What I'm looking for in the next two years...

Repubs keep the Senate and RBG die and we get one more supreme court nominee with no way for the Dems to stop it.

The Trump presidency would be a yuge success if that happens. As it is with two supremems it would just be a success.

Wishing death on a Supreme Court Justice? Come on dude.

 

[ctrawick]

Wishing death on a Supreme Court Justice? Come on dude.

I heard she wants to retire and become a professional wine taster. I hope she is successful.

 

[Ostatedchi]

Wishing death on a Supreme Court Justice? Come on dude.

Show me where I wished for her death. I said I'm looking for it in the next 2 years. You are projecting words that weren't typed.

 

[Medic007]

Wishing death on a Supreme Court Justice? Come on dude.

 

[JimmyBob]

Wishing death on a Supreme Court Justice? Come on dude.

Jeezus.

 

[HighStickHarry]

Show me where I wished for her death. I said I'm looking for it in the next 2 years. You are projecting words that weren't typed.

That’s a liberal staple. They know what you mean. You don’t know what you mean. Dog whistles.

It’s how a woman reads emails. They interject their own emotion and inflections to turn the message more combative than it should be.

 

[Headhunter]

Dems might take the house then people will realize how f'd up they are just like the last time they had power and got wiped out in 2010.

We were told in 2008 Republicans were done for generations then the Dems got wiped out at every level nationally. They'll f it up again if people are stupid enough to put their socialists butt's back in.

 

[poke2001]

I don't think it is realistic to expect them to do much of anything along these lines. Trump will undercut anything they try to accomplish. If the Dems turn the House over, we can expect 2 more years of futility for everyone. JMO.

As to Trump getting reelected... I think it will depend greatly on who the Dems put forth to run against him.

I am also not convinced he will run again. I know it appears that he definitely will, but I can see him getting fed up with all the BS and opting to go back to enjoying himself rather than spending 4 more years of daily frustration.

If the Dems push a legislative agenda only to be blocked by Rs in the Senate or Trump (not sure how Trump would be involved since it wouldn’t get out of Senate), Dems would likely take over Senate, minimum, and likely President. If Dems come in and put their full TDS on display, they lose, Rs take back the house, gain in the senate, and Trump is there for 8 years.

It’s pretty simple...

 

[Ostate4life]

If the Dems push a legislative agenda only to be blocked by Rs in the Senate or Trump (not sure how Trump would be involved since it wouldn’t get out of Senate), Dems would likely take over Senate, minimum, and likely President. If Dems come in and put their full TDS on display, they lose, Rs take back the house, gain in the senate, and Trump is there for 8 years.

It’s pretty simple...

I’m not sure the dems will have a united legislative agenda if a lot of the new faces are socialists. The Berkeley wing vs the traditional wing war of the Democratic Party fight is very real and would become very visible if they take the house back.

The one uniting factor for both wings would be TDS and I personally think that is a losing strategy for them everywhere outside the coasts.