I have a theory as to what happened at the intelligence committee on Wednesday.

[RDANGELO]

All of the people on the panel have concluded that Trump is mentally incapable of being president, and that they want it to be kept a secret for national security reasons, which is why it would be classified. When the President approached them in an attempt to influence the investigation, it had no affect because they have all agreed to ignore him. They did not want to have to explain that to the committee in an open session. Perhaps they are talking to the leaders of congress and higher ups in the administration about invoking the 25th amendment.

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

1. Interesting, but I can't buy it.

How could they possibly hope to keep secret, what is so glaringly obvious to those with the capability of rubbing 2 brain cells together and getting a spark. No question mark, meant to be rhetorical.

[gordianot]

2. Do not think so, the GOP is flush with Russian money.

Trump set them up, if he were to go by due process everyone would find out the depths of his mental illness. At this point a sudden terminal physical ailment is the most likely way to rid this pestilence.

[Wellstone ruled]

3. When Ryan and McConnell

ram through their Corporate Sponsors Legislation,then and only then will Trump and Pence go by by. Fact is,it will take another Democratic President two full terms to make a dent in their damage. We have seen this video before.

[sharedvalues]

4. Yes, everyone thinks that except the GOP

Career civil servants and Democrats believe that.

Only those that receive money from the Koches, Adelson, and big-corporate PACs -- the GOP politicians who are purchased by the wealthy -- want to keep DJT.

[MedusaX]

5. Well, that may be how KGOP will spin it... but clearly whatever was presented in closed session was

Along The same lines as what ever was shared with Grassley & DiFi a while back...

Something
that left no question
as to the validity of the assertion
that there are
Insurgents
in the White House.....

[wishstar]

6. No doubt Coats and Rodgers know Trump's actions constitute obstruction of justice

I have a slightly different theory, since I don't think Trump's mental status has yet reached level of incompetence required for 25 th amendment to be feasible, however he has committed an impeachable offense of obstructing justice and the unpredictable reactions of Trump and his supporters as this situation unfolds could definitely threaten our national security.

Coats is a well-respected intelligent politician and lawyer and not considered overly partisan. He stated in his confirmation hearing and at other times that he fully supports the Russian investigation and would fully cooperate in providing all information requested by the investigatory committees. He has also stated that he was strong enough to deal with Trump.

So it was shocking and revealing that Coats refused to answer. He and Rodgers would have readily answered if Trump had NOT asked them to try to influence Comey regarding Flynn/Russian investigation. So we know Trump did ask them to intervene. They did not deny the essential facts in the Washington Post story.

The seriousness of Trump committing an impeachable offense by attempting to shut down Flynn investigation with Comey, Coats and Rodgers creates a crisis situation for the country that they probably fear the country is not prepared yet to face without concrete evidence of wrongdoing from Mueller investigation, so they are stalling and only willing to discuss in closed session.

Repubs like Paul Ryan are making lame excuses for Trump by pretending he didn't know any better- in order to delay inevitable reckoning over the seriousness of Trump's obvious obstruction of justice. But as more details are revealed about Trump's attempted interference, covering up and lying, it is just a matter of time before pressure will be extreme for impeachment or his resignation. Mueller is quickly hiring top notch investigators and prosecutors, with grand juries issuing subpoenas and speeding up the investigations in order to nail down some criminal offenses ASAP, since just leaks and innuendo and contradictory allegations are not sufficient for American public to accept seriousness of what has occurred and for politicians to take action.

[dmr]

7. I tend to agree, I also think they are playing it close to the chest so

they not tip their hand to the Russians, China and/or other adversaries.

There could also be other considerations concerning White House staff, Trump family members, or even former campaign members (opportunists) we no longer hear about like Rudy & Newt (doubtful, but would be so juicy!).

OK, I'm rambling, & doubt all that involves Coats, & friends.

I just wish I could be a fly on the wall at Mueller's headquarters. And, I also wish I could be on the jury.

[Sadie5]

8. Sorry to disagree about Coats but...

As far as I know he is buddy buddy with Pence and another hard core Christian. He has been in GOP politics a good many years and votes only along party lines.He knew exactly what Trump has been up to and so did Pence.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. Certainly there are people who believe that

or mutter about it amongst themselves, but it is a minor sideshow to the rest of the circus.

Attempts to squelch any investigation by suppressing free speech and right to assemble or protest
seemed a possible path in February, but right now the whole thing is spinning beyond their control
with the criminal investigations and the manner in which the whole world is working against Trump
and the satire being thrown at him by our media culture.

With the modern communication systems we have, you can't squelch much. This is not 1930s Germany.

[Blue_Roses]

10. Very possible

Especially in these crazy times.