Cui Bono? That's the question.

[MineralMan]

Who stands to benefit the most from exposing Donald Trump and, perhaps, forcing a resignation? Who stands to escape scot-free from any consequences of giving that op-ed to the New York Times.

The answer is simple: Mike Pence, the Vice-President.

Donald Trump can summarily fire anyone else in his cabinet, and do so instantly and publicly. The Vice-President cannot be fired. The only means of removing him from office is impeachment and removal by Congress.

So, Pence has absolutely nothing to lose by handing over an op-ed to the New York Times. On the contrary, he has a great deal to gain. If Trump goes, he will become President. Now, there's an incentive!

Since Pence has trouble acting on his own, he probably consulted with Mother Pence on this. Very likely, she has ideas for decorating the White House in her own style. I'm sure she would be encouraging if Mikey wanted to blow the whistle on that adulterous, coarse Donald Trump.

Anyhow, all things being equal, look to see who benefits from the op-ed. Cui Bono?

[Zoonart]

1. Pence believes that he is chosen by GOD...

DOG help us.

Be careful what you wish for, Mikey. I'm sure Mr. Mueller has a couple of questions for you too.

[MineralMan]

2. Yes, I believe he does believe that.

That, in itself, is very frightening. I believe, however, that he could be defeated easily in 2020.

[Zoonart]

5. Agreed, MM.

Pence would be the lamest of lame ducks.

[brooklynite]

3. Cui was Sony Bono's other kid, right?

[CTyankee]

4. I just posted a similar post!

I like yours better, tho...

[MineralMan]

6. Oops. Sorry.

Well, I guess there's room for both. I'll go find yours.

[CTyankee]

8. Interesting. Both of us using "cui bono."

[MineralMan]

9. It's a pretty common Latinate legal term.

Always on the tip of my tongue.

[ProudLib72]

7. Rump stands to benefit from the op-ed being exposed as a fake

So I think that the story is elaborate bullshittery. This is an attempt to sink the "failing NYT" and demonstrate that the "liberal media" is indeed "fake".

[Hekate]

10. Kick

[DeminPennswoods]

11. Thinking the op-ed was a group effort

thus ensuring plausible deniability for all contributors and was co-ordinated through Pence's office with one of Pence's speechwriters editing and pulling all the contributions into a cohesive op-ed.

It's diabolical, but Pence is pretty ambitious. The op-ed submitter knows the op-ed will drive Trump even crazier, show everyone just how nuts Trump is and perhaps expedite Trump's removal from office.

[MineralMan]

12. That's possible, I suppose.

I tend to opt for the simplest solution, though. Occam's Razor, more or less.

[DeminPennswoods]

13. VP seems to be the "action officer"

wrt to invoking the 25th amendment. Pence definitely has the incentive to drum up support for that. The op-ed certainly is getting through to normally disengaged Americans. If the polls turn further against Trump, so will the GOP congresscritters change their political calculus.

As I said, it's diabolical, but the question remains if Pence is capable of thinking up such an elegant scheme.

[MineralMan]

14. Pence is quiet, but not stupid.

He also has his own outside advisors.

[DeminPennswoods]

15. Like Madame Defarge

nt