RussiaGate--Full of Holes--Presents a Perilous Path for Democrats

RussiaGate - Taibbi.jpg

Russiagate ... full of holes!

But the Russiagate allegations did inspire creation of the Mueller investigation. However, Mueller's once-completed report has a fate of distribution still uncertain. Mueller is tasked with delivering his final report to the Department of Justice, where Trump likely will claim executive privilege and do his utmost to not release it publicly. Invariably portions will eventually leak, thus creating public pressure for its full release.

I suspect the report will show little that is substantive about Russia, but a lot will come out about Trump's other indiscretions and those of his cohorts. I surmise a lot will get reported on matters which should have been media investigated and reported before, during and shortly after Trump announced for the presidency.

Trump pretty much got a free media ride until after his nomination became certain. Only then did the media begin to present his mobside, shady business deals and sexual improprieties into the public's consumption. By then, however, it was too late to halt his mo-mo. He unexpectedly defeated Clinton and it's been misery ever since!

If Trump somehow is able to survive the serious side issues resulting from the Mueller Report, his political operatives will relentlessly, and successfully, use Russiagate to counter-attack both the Democrats and the media. He will gain traction from such attacks.

It seems clear RussiaGate was meant to accomplish at least the following seven objectives: 1) Destroy the messenger -- deflect the content to what Wikileaks released by labeling and condemning Russia as the messenger. 2) Provide an excuse and cover for Clinton's highly embarrassing 1.2 billion dollar loss to a tv celebrity. 3) Provide an excuse for the media to not acknowledge its role building up Trump before, during and after he announced. 4) Provide a distraction away from the kind of campaign rigging and collusion that existed between Clinton and the DNC. 5) Keep the potential of Clinton's future political viability alive -- like her husband once was, she, too, could become a "comeback kid" who could claim she was robbed of the presidency. 6) Use Russiagate as an opening to investigate Trump on multiple fronts. 7) Use the issue as a wedge to push policy against Russia in general. The Inside-The-Beltway political operatives believed they could fly many balloons on one string

Sadly, the leadership of the Democratic Party made a grave tactical error by strongly pushing Russiagate, utilizing McCarthyism in the process. Any standard or typical centrist-like Democratic candidate will suffer the consequence if Trump remains viable to run again. Only Bernie Sanders, who has very strong appeal to Independent voters--and who also didn't play the Russiagate card--will be able to defeat Trump if he is still viable to run for a second term.