• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Bob Woodward’s new book reveals a ‘nervous breakdown’ of Trump’s presidency

Mycroft said:
Why should Mueller care?
Click to expand...

From the accounts in WAPO, it has the ring of truth.
Woodward is generally pretty reliable. Unlike Bernstein.
From the excerpts I read it sounds a lot like Howie Kurtz's book but with more of the nasty stuff added.

If there was anything Mueller would be interested in I suspect WAPO would have mentioned it.
The closest things was ...
"John Dowd was convinced that President Trump would commit perjury if he talked to special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. So, on Jan. 27, the president’s then-personal attorney staged a practice session to try to make his point.
In the White House residence, Dowd peppered Trump with questions about the Russia investigation, provoking stumbles, contradictions and lies until the president eventually lost his cool.
“This thing’s a goddamn hoax,” Trump erupted at the start of a 30-minute rant that finished with him saying, “I don’t really want to testify.”"
Click to expand...
and
The book vividly recounts the ongoing debate between Trump and his lawyers about whether the president would sit for an interview with Mueller. On March 5, Dowd and Trump attorney Jay Sekulow met in Mueller’s office with the special counsel and his deputy, James Quarles, where Dowd and Sekulow reenacted Trump’s January practice session.
Woodward’s book recounts the debate between Trump and his lawyers, including John Dowd, regarding whether the president will sit for an interview with special counsel Robert. S. Mueller III. (Richard Drew/AP)
Dowd then explained to Mueller and Quarles why he was trying to keep the president from testifying: “I’m not going to sit there and let him look like an idiot. And you publish that transcript, because everything leaks in Washington, and the guys overseas are going to say, ‘I told you he was an idiot. I told you he was a goddamn dumbbell. What are we dealing with this idiot for?’ ”
“John, I understand,” Mueller replied, according to Woodward.
Click to expand...

But that just shows that Mueller was aware that an interview with him and Trump was seen as too risky.
 
ultmd said:
The following quotes from the beginning and the end of the WaPo article pretty much sums it up, in terms of whether (or not) this presidency has been one big criminal enterprise:

"Later that month, Dowd told Trump: “Don’t testify. It’s either that or an orange jumpsuit.”

But Trump, concerned about the optics of a president refusing to testify and convinced that he could handle Mueller’s questions, had by then decided otherwise.

“I’ll be a real good witness,” Trump told Dowd, according to Woodward.

“You are not a good witness,” Dowd replied. “Mr. President, I’m afraid I just can’t help you.”

The next morning, Dowd resigned
.

John Dowd was convinced that President Trump would commit perjury if he talked to special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. So, on Jan. 27, the president’s then-personal attorney staged a practice session to try to make his point.

In the White House residence, Dowd peppered Trump with questions about the Russia investigation, provoking stumbles, contradictions and lies until the president eventually lost his cool.

“This thing’s a goddamn hoax,” Trump erupted at the start of a 30-minute rant that finished with him saying, “I don’t really want to testify.”
Click to expand...

That must be why Dowd said the day he resigned how much he loved the president.

Read it here: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/mar/22/john-dowd-donald-trump-mueller-resigns
When Dowd confirms the above Woodward claim, you'll have a point.
 
Mycroft said:
You are a day late and a dollar short and your comment is now irrelevant.

A member gave me a tip on how to access WaPo. I've read the article. I've commented based on what I've read.
Click to expand...

Would you copy and paste it, and be so kind as to P/M it to me?
 
bubbabgone said:
From the accounts in WAPO, it has the ring of truth.
Woodward is generally pretty reliable. Unlike Bernstein.
From the excerpts I read it sounds a lot like Howie Kurtz's book but with more of the nasty stuff added.

If there was anything Mueller would be interested in I suspect WAPO would have mentioned it.
The closest things was ...

and


But that just shows that Mueller was aware that an interview with him and Trump was seen as too risky.
Click to expand...

None of this is news. Heck, Rudy has said he won't recommend Trump sit for an interview...for various reasons. Surely Mueller knows this?

But FreedomFromAll implies this is something for Mueller to investigate. Why?
 
Mycroft said:
I wonder...having read a large portion of that article...has any contention in that article been corroborated by a named source?

I don't care if Woodward is the result of the second coming of Jesus Christ. Without named sources, his book is nothing more than a book of rumors.
Click to expand...

Yes.

Even the excerpt I read named a half dozen names. Nice try but waaaay desperate. Bob Woodward has won not one, but TWO Pulitzer prizes. A psychotic liar is not going to dent Woodward's armor. I mean you had to lie to have something to say, it's not like anyone is going to believe you.
 
Fearandloathing said:
Yes.

Even the excerpt I read named a half dozen names. Nice try but waaaay desperate. Bob Woodward has won not one, but TWO Pulitzer prizes. A psychotic liar is not going to dent Woodward's armor. I mean you had to lie to have something to say, it's not like anyone is going to believe you.
Click to expand...

Please give me a quote. Maybe I missed it.
 
Mycroft said:
Perhaps you can present something that indicates these rumors are actually facts?
Click to expand...
Well see when the book comes out, I'm sure more than a few will be publicly verified.

But the problem here is you are so quick condemn the book as "rumour". Not all facts can immediately be "proven", but that doesn't mean they are not factual. That why we evaluate the author or other source making the claim.

I don't believe it has ever been proven that Trump slept with Stormy Daniels and paid her off. But we all know he did. To think otherwise would be incredulous. And that's the point I'm making with Woodward's book. Your asking us to defy credulity, here.
 
Mycroft said:
None of this is news. Heck, Rudy has said he won't recommend Trump sit for an interview...for various reasons. Surely Mueller knows this?

But FreedomFromAll implies this is something for Mueller to investigate. Why?
Click to expand...
Right, it's not news.
What might be news is that Mueller was that the Trump perceived it as a perjury trap and told him (Mueller) so.
But it beats me why Mueller would want to investigate something he already was told first hand.

I'm more interested in reading what else is in the book outside of what the WAPO printed, which was all negative.
 
Fearandloathing said:
Yes.

Even the excerpt I read named a half dozen names. Nice try but waaaay desperate. Bob Woodward has won not one, but TWO Pulitzer prizes. A psychotic liar is not going to dent Woodward's armor. I mean you had to lie to have something to say, it's not like anyone is going to believe you.
Click to expand...
It's Fear & Loathing! Long time no see, stranger.

Hope all is well ...
 
Mycroft said:
Please give me a quote. Maybe I missed it.
Click to expand...



You missed more than the quote. Do you own ****ing homework....."woodward, trump, book" 5.7 million hits. Lotys of quotes there...or is your religion so weak you're terrified to look?

I say the latter.


Only morons back morons.....read the book!
 
If Dems had the House they would force Mattis to testify and ask him if Trum ordered him to assassinate Assad. Once this is confirmed we can move on to impeaching him.

Of course, Republicans won't do their job. They're fine with letting an unstable lunatic run the country.
 
Chomsky said:
It's Fear & Loathing! Long time no see, stranger.

Hope all is well ...
Click to expand...



Actually, spent the summer in what has to be the grandest, happiest days of my life. I am retired, healthy, comfortable financially, living in the best country in the world, the "most livable city in the world and the best neighborhood in that city. What the **** could I complain about?

How about you? Good times?


ooh, sorry I asked.
 
Chomsky said:
Well see when the book comes out, I'm sure more than a few will be publicly verified.

But the problem here is you are so quick condemn the book as "rumour". Not all facts can immediately be "proven", but that doesn't mean they are not factual. That why we evaluate the author or other source making the claim.

I don't believe it has ever been proven that Trump slept with Stormy Daniels and paid her off. But we all know he did. To think otherwise would be incredulous. And that's the point I'm making with Woodward's book. Your asking us to defy credulity, here.
Click to expand...

Did he ask Kelly about his statements? Did he ask Mattis about his statements? Why didn't Woodward verify any of his rumors BEFORE putting them in a book?
 
bubbabgone said:
Right, it's not news.
What might be news is that Mueller was that the Trump perceived it as a perjury trap and told him (Mueller) so.
But it beats me why Mueller would want to investigate something he already was told first hand.

I'm more interested in reading what else is in the book outside of what the WAPO printed, which was all negative.
Click to expand...

You raise a good point. Perhaps Woodward actually put some positive stuff in his book. If it is rumors, I'll judge it as I've judged the negative stuff.
 
Fearandloathing said:
You missed more than the quote. Do you own ****ing homework....."woodward, trump, book" 5.7 million hits. Lotys of quotes there...or is your religion so weak you're terrified to look?

I say the latter.


Only morons back morons.....read the book!
Click to expand...

I'm only asking you to support your own contention. If you can't...or won't...then your contention is worthless.
 
trixare4kids said:
Thank you, I can now read those sites that have paywalls.
Hell would have to freeze over before I give biased/negative Trump news sites like the NY Times and WA Post a nickel of my money.
Click to expand...
"I must read their content, but I'll die before giving them money!"

Sent from my LG-H910 using Tapatalk
 
Fearandloathing said:
Actually, spent the summer in what has to be the grandest, happiest days of my life. I am retired, healthy, comfortable financially, living in the best country in the world, the "most livable city in the world and the best neighborhood in that city. What the **** could I complain about?

How about you? Good times?


ooh, sorry I asked.
Click to expand...
Good enough! :thumbs:

And whatever is less than good, I roll with. I always been pretty good at rolling with changes, just like the old REO Speedwagon tune.

Glad to hear your health is fine. I'm personally a bit (cautiously) stoked lately thinking of November 6th, and feeling pretty good about it at the moment.
 
Mycroft said:
Did he ask Kelly about his statements? Did he ask Mattis about his statements? Why didn't Woodward verify any of his rumors BEFORE putting them in a book?
Click to expand...
I know nothing about your claims, but when the book comes out I'm willing to look at the specifics in more detail, drawing harder conclusions. But at this point I'm inclined to see Woodward's Book as predominately factual, unless/until proven wrong.
 
Mycroft said:
There should be a forum rule against using WaPo links. You know...the paywall and all.

Especially when the OP refuses to link even a little bit of the article.
Click to expand...

It's a fascinating, terrifying, and unsurprising article. The WaPo is also an indispensable news source. I encourage everyone to subscribe to it.
 
Mycroft said:
I wonder...having read a large portion of that article...has any contention in that article been corroborated by a named source?

I don't care if Woodward is the result of the second coming of Jesus Christ. Without named sources, his book is nothing more than a book of rumors.
Click to expand...

Well, no. That's not how journalism works no matter how psychotically 45's supporters pretend that reality and facts are matters of opinion.
 
Cardinal said:
They remove the papers from his desk and he forgets what he wanted to do. That's how they prevent disaster 85% of the time.

As I was reading the article I couldn't help but wonder if publishing it would eliminate that as a viable strategy. Or is trump just so far gone that it simply doesn't matter?
Click to expand...

The "stable genius" can be distracted with a Skittle. Thank goodness better Americans will continue to confuse and undermine him from within his own dysfunctional administration.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom