So far, Trump sets the record for surviving scandal. What other presidential candidate, for example, would be able continue after paying out $25 million to settle a fraud claim? And what president would shrug off having to pay $300l in hush money to a porn star just before the election? Trump has done both and much more.
Some have argued that Trump has not and will not be seriously damaged by repeatedly getting caught laying. That his communication style is actually effective!
That is a scary thought – that some sort of weird charisma “trumps” basic decency and veracity.
Of course,there are indications from state elections that the opposite is true.Dems have won elections that no one thought they could and closed the gap across the board. And the big test will come in November — assuming that Trump wills till be around. Until then, we watch the spectacle unfold – scandal after scandal.
The most recent fraud claim against Trump comes out of New York from the state AG – that Trump used his Trump charitable foundation like an ATM. The AG has brought a civil suit in New York state court (which Trump has no power to stop), as well as referrals to the IRS and FEC to look into potential criminal violations.
What you need to know — if the claims have merit, and the defendant were not the sitting president — the IRS would likely pursue criminal charges. We will find out if they do so here.
That would make this scandal potentially worse than Trump’s fraudulent Trump University mess. And so whatever “magic” Trump can conjure will be needed.
And what is this magic? The magic boils down to using shock and surprise to leave people guessing whether he can actually pull something amazing out of a hat. So he suggests re-writing the security map of the world. It is called anchoring. He insults our allies and embraces our adversaries. He invites the North Korean dictator to a summit. He imposes tariffs and starts trade wards. He separates mothers form children at the border. He gives the impression of hyperactivity and if any of the above can be spun as a triumph, he relentless spins. But stripping this all down to the essentials, Trump needs deal.s
As a negotiator, I see a huge problem here. When the other side knows that you need something, and they have no incentive to help you, the DON’T give it to you. They ask, “what will you give me in exchange – and it better be good?”In other words, Trump, the supposedly great negotiator, has put himself in a weak negotiating position.
Trump will do his best to cover this up. But at the end of the day, we will learn how much of the store he gave away for his own political survival.
That is what all this boils down to.
