I thought Trump finally met his match in Robert Mueller, a man committed to the rule of law who could not be bribed, extorted or intimidated by Trump or Russia.  The media presented Mueller as a morally upright, if low key, by the book guy.  We had high hopes for the Mueller probe.  But the “good” guy proved a victim of his own “goodness”. He thought that Trump would be bound by some version of the rule of law. A grievous error.  Instead, Trump refused to allow government officials to testify, wouldn’t appear in person, subverted the AG’s office, bullied the GOP into a not just sham but non-existent trial.  Mueller didn’t release his report directly to the public so we got our first distorted taste of the report from Trump’s AG. In any statement about the probe or his findings, he parsed his words almost to the point of silence.  He had one job for two years and he blew it.

Why does the media persist in underestimating Trump’s desperation and overestimating the patriotism of the Republican-led Congress? First, Trump has no recourse but to fire Mueller or create a distraction of epic proportion. Left alone Mueller will present indisputable evidence of collusion, obstruction and criminal acts from money laundering to treason (aiding our enemy in interfering in our election). Whatever “constitutional crisis” that may result pales beside the personal crisis for Trump that will result if Mueller is allowed to conclude the investigation. Second, the GOP has given zero indication (the occasional mild outrage and faint criticism aside) that they will not follow Trump over the hills and through the dales. In fact, the GOP’s new message is that a Democratic-controlled Congress means impeachment therefore we should vote Republican in November. If you were an immoral egomaniac facing public humiliation, criminal charges and financial ruin, what would you do to hide your crimes? Fire Mueller well before November. Hope Putin rescues you yet again by interfering in November’s elections. Then count on the GOP to shield you from impeachment.