Trump's two reality shows
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Trump speaking at World Economic Forum. Photo: Xinhua/Xu Jinquan via Getty Images
Imagine a world without Twitter and "Fox & Friends." Imagine a more restrained President Trump, like we saw onstage in Davos — sans the impulsive and offensive rants against Muslims, immigrants and women.
Be smart: Everything from the 2018 elections to potential impeachment proceedings will be determined by the clash of the two Trump shows.
We might be talking about a resurgent Golden Age for America:
- Record low unemployment.
- Economic growth here and abroad.
- Economic optimism so strong that Democrats feel better about the economy than they did during the Obama years.
- Employers handing out bonuses, pay raises and new benefits, thanks to a new spirit of America First for our economy.
- Companies bringing back jobs and money too long parked overseas.
- Bank forecasters say a robust 4% growth is possible.
Alas, the other Trump show runs just as hot, often blotting out the other: Special counsel Robert Mueller is picking up more and more evidence of obstruction, with the case looking increasingly ominous — and broad — for POTUS.
- "At least half a dozen times, President Trump by his actions has invited scrutiny for possible obstruction of justice in the Russia probe." (L.A. Times)
- "Congressional Democrats ... demanded that lawmakers act to protect ... Mueller ... after revelations President Trump sought to oust him." (WashPost)
- Sen. Mark Warner, vice chairman of Senate Intelligence: "[F]iring the Special Counsel is a red line that the President cannot cross."
- "[T]here is likely little that Mueller doesn’t already know about events in the White House. More than 20 White House employees have given interviews to the special counsel's team."(AP)
- Jeffrey Toobin, for The New Yorker: "Trump’s position looks perilous ... The portrait is of a President using every resource at his disposal to shut down an investigation — of Trump himself. And now it has become clear that Trump’s own White House counsel rebelled at the President’s rationale for his actions."
