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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsEugene Robinson: Don't be fooled. Giuliani has a strategy.
In terms of his legal skills, I think its clear that Giuliani has lost a step. Or two. One day he maintained there was no possible election-law violation, the next day he made a circumstantial case that there indeed was a violation. Decades ago, when he was busting up the New York mob, he never would have made such a rookie mistake.
But I also believe his satisfaction with his media blitz is genuine. Following the FBI seizure of Cohens files, the whole truth of the Daniels payment and any others was likely to come out anyway. Giuliani preemptively offered several versions of that truth, allowing Trumps supporters to choose the one they find least appalling.
Giuliani is obfuscating, not clarifying. Hes making it harder to know even what the president claims, let alone what the truth might be. As a legal strategy, this would be insane. But its really a political strategy.
Congress poses the only serious threat to Trump, in the form of impeachment. If the presidents loyal base can be flimflammed into thinking this is all a big witch hunt, Republican lawmakers will stay in line. At least for now.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dont-be-fooled-giuliani-has-a-strategy/2018/05/07/9795eb06-5227-11e8-9c91-7dab596e8252_story.html
Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)I see little evidence to dispute this statement.
themaguffin
(3,825 posts)sharedvalues
(6,916 posts)Masha Gessen has discussed how this is Putins strategy: present multiple versions of every story so that Russians feel they have to rely on Putin for the truth.
http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2017/05/13/the-autocrats-language/
Thats why our real media is so important and we cant let the GOP propaganda machine confuse us with lies.
Response to sharedvalues (Reply #2)
RestoreAmerica2020 This message was self-deleted by its author.
OrlandoDem1
(73 posts)The message ought to be that someone needs to stand up to Trump. Someone needs to hold him accountable and Congressional Republicans refuse. Put them on the defensive and force them to defend Trump, making them look like stooges who wont stand up to a dictator, or hold him accountable and anger his base.
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2018/01/31/nancy-pelosi-donald-trump-russian-sanctions-sot.cnn
https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2018/04/10/chuck-schumer-senate-floor-trump-mueller-warning-bts.cnn
Link to tweet
?lang=en
Orsino
(37,428 posts)Both may be shallow enough to think that they must be winning something or Rudy wouldn't keep getting on camera. As for Trump, he just didn't want Daniels' side getting all the airplay. He needs to see that his team is out there fighting for him, and for the moment that's enough.
It won't last.
Girard442
(6,066 posts)Not entirely true, since Trump's family and business holdings are subject to prosecution and civil litigation inside and outside of the United States. Still, the only court Mueller can really win in is the court of public opinion.
Not pretty, but it's hard to see it any other way.
dreamland
(964 posts)Although everything seems to be running amok with Rudy, this strategy seems to be working for his party members. Whether it is by accident or by design, They are looking for excuses and scapegoats. Eventually, they will find the narrative that works best for themselves.
ieoeja2
(10 posts)He makes it sound like Cohen was on retainer. He paid Daniels out of his retainer. And he paid several other women over the course of decades starting long before Trump even considered running for President. All of this would make it standard procedure unrelated specifically to the campaign and therefore completely legal.
As a former prosecutor Giuliani appears to know what he is doing. Politically it has poor optics. But legally he appears to be dotting the j's and crossing the q's.
Merlot
(9,696 posts)Nitram
(22,776 posts)Giuliani is just getting the most out his day in the sun. Enjoy your 15 minutes, Rudy.
duforsure
(11,885 posts)Ghouliani promoted BS by repeating the lies for trump, he broke no campaign finance laws, which he did, and he repeated the lie trump wanted to to talk to Mueller which I don't believe for a second, and Rudy went out to repeat the lies for trump . He just couldn't stop talking and has no ability to limit what he now says on tv. He's not all there anymore. Maybe drinking or drugging. Nothing would be a surprise from these people anymore that trump picks. Corruption running wild.
Javaman
(62,510 posts)I think the "mob buster" days of ghouliani's past are long since gone.
not only do I think ghouliani is phoning it in, I don't believe has a good connection.
Cosmocat
(14,561 posts)The battle for 45 is keeping the Rs in congress under his boot, to provide cover for the next three years, then win reelection.
Justice will not hit him as long as his home address is 1600 Pa.
Eyeball_Kid
(7,430 posts)yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)Answer: "The base doesn't give a shit, keep dismantling our government and calling people names."
We just have to remain outraged enough to get up off our asses!