A President and his administration are ultimately judged by their accomplishments. As this administration has little to show so far and is likely facing diplomatic catastrophes, I think it will become obvious how poorly it is serving the public. A recession, as a matter of a normal business cycle, or more likely, induced by poor policies, would be the clincher. Naturally it would be helpful if the media would follow these threads. Even more helpful to the public welfare would be an early departure caused by the all-to-obvious scandalous behavior of Mr. Trump and his cronies. In the absence of a smoking gun of some sort, we will have to rely on his incompetence to become inescapably obvious.
8
No, the CIA didn't kill John Kennedy. No, the moon landings were not faked. No, Barack Obama was not born in Kenya. And no, Donald Trump's campaign had nothing to do with Russia.
That became clear long ago. Robert Mueller doesn't seem to care. His hunt (for witches?) seems to have no end but to throw his weight around and punish people for unrelated sins. Tomas de Torquemada would be proud.
13
Of course Frank Bruni wants Mueller’s witch hunt shut down. Mueller is very close to being forced to announce that President Trump is innocent of all the lies, slander and petty slurs hurled at him. The Democrat/media freak out would show Middle America what insane fanatics the Democrats are. Plus, ending the witch hunt now allows the Democrats to retain the crazy collusion delusion. Finally, the witch hunt has revealed crimes the Democrats want kept secret, namely their illegal spying on the Trump campaign
13
We may forget this one thing concerning politics: we deserve what we get. It will run its course. Take a longggg nap.
6
One thing that the Mueller investigation has made abundantly clear is that none of us, not one, have any expectation of privacy. The government is slowly being drug out of the swamp for us to see. We have had no privacy. Trump using a 'secure phone' is a joke...there is no such thing.
Recently I had to place new passwords and security questions on my account. I laughed at the phone operator, and said we both know no one accesses our personal information through passwords anymore. This like a TSA putdown..just theater. She laughed and said yes, but put your password in the system please.
'
8
From the outside looking in, there seems to be a certain myopia among the American media, including a kind of tacit agreement that if only Mueller reports and ‘the system’ rediscovers its ethics and integrity, the entire Trump nightmare will go away and life can return to normal. But look at history; look at the incredible damage already done (to the rest of the world to some extent, but mostly to the United States of America). It’s already too late. America’s standing in the world is forever damaged; the trust America once widely enjoyed globally is severely lessened; the trade and diplomatic pacts that have served America well are strained and evolving without your input (in some cases without your input wanted anymore); your best allies have been insulted and alienated; your worst enemies courted; and no nation can rely on America’s word for any longer than it takes to type the next tweet. Meanwhile, America is either unable or unwilling to provide its own citizens with the safety and security they need via a more sane approach to firearms, health care, and more, especially the amelioration of extreme racism. America is very close to being, if it isn’t already, a failed state. It’s not being made ‘great again.’ It’s going the other way. It’s sad; it’s disturbing; and somehow it’s America’s collective doing, nobody else’s. I hope it works out , but I’m not optimistic.
34
That wonderful center part of the on line version of the NYT should be dedicated to a daily roster of what the administration is doing: a list and bio of the judicial appointments, what the members of his cabinet are doing every day, and everyday the the daily appointments of the president (just the list, no comment necessary: we know that when he says 'executive time' he is watching TV)and where he goes. You can figure out a way to rotate it, move it, superimpose and return. NO need for comment. Just information, bare and scary.
15
Mr. Bruni, can you imagine what you would have said if Trump had used the IRS to harass political opponents, if Trump's AG would have announced that he will not enforce certain laws that he does not like, If Trump's administration would blatantly lie about the murder of an American ambassador to avoid doubts about its claims of subduing terror or if Trump would implement policies which would result in 5 new wars and over half a million civilian fatalities?
9
I'm feeling more and more that the only way we'll get rid of Trump is to vote him out in 2020. Mueller would have to uncover a slam-dunk indictable offense, and Trump will fight it all the way to the SCOTUS, underhandedly stacked by Mitch McConnell. Impeachment, if even that's possible, means nothing if the Senate doesn't vote to remove, which it won't. What most troubles me is that Trump didn't do this alone, and removing him still leaves us in the clutches of shadowy mega-donors, their GOPuppet Congress and millions of voters who have shown they have no opposition to being under the thumb of a dictator. This could easily happen again.
16
I voted for Gore in 2000. Kerry in 2004. Obama in 2008 and 2012. Clinton in 2016. This whole Mueller thing has me voting for Trump in 2020. I'm looking forward to it.
8
I hope Mr.Bruni will get over his case of the "vapors," soon and settle down. Mueller and his team are being meticulous and they are turning over every stone. This stuff takes time. Nuff said.
18
I believe that Mueller is doing a proper job and dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's. I also believe that given the complexity of Trump's level of corruption, that it will take longer to get to having a semi complete picture of this professional scam artist's criminal endeavors. That he and his campaign colluded with the Russians, I have absolutely no doubts.
13
Mr. Bruni. Mueller has not made one public statement since he was appointed and I can recall only 1 statement from anyone involved in the investigation - which was done to tamp down some wild rumors. Mueller and his team are also not leakers. So ... if you want to blame somebody for focussing on the Mueller investigation instead of the daily dastardly deeds of the Administration, blame cable news, particularly left/center cable news. And you should 'praise' the president for gaslighting and misleading and manipulating the press and his non-supporters to keep our eye off the ball.
5
Winning - that's all I hear and see everywhere I look in this great country and the world. With the 24/7 negative press coverage from the MSM, President Trump is still far ahead of where Obama was at the same stage of his presidency, with nothing but positive press coverage.
Don't believe it's happening? Ask the dems how the ebbing of the "Blue tide" feels.
November Mid terms? Winning, never gets old.
Thank you President Trump
5
The next President should,on day one, issue an executive order declaring that the Trump Presidency is null and void. Any and all orders, laws and actions taken by Trump and his administration are hereby rescinded. We can pretend none of this nightmare ever happened.
11
In most other circumstances, with seemingly unlimited resources, Mr. Mueller would be fired by now. A year! A year with almost nothing to show for it except indictments of campaign advisers that will not touch the President or impede his ability to move forward.
As for stacking the judiciary, your comments are laughable as if that has not been the objective of every President.
Finally, there have been other Presidents that believed in a smaller centralized government, meaning smaller staffs and smaller budgets. Thomas Jefferson comes to mind.
Before you dismiss Trump as a vulgar, I might suggest that you look into candidate Jefferson's salacious comments and smearing of his opponent, John Adams. But those two Presidents can't be important because they didn't live in your lifetime.
3
Sorry frank, buck up. You should really fear an unraveling autocrat of a president who in a most Nixonian way is doing anything to obfuscate the truth, crush the free press, attack any critic or holder of opposing views,. You should fear a president who governs, or should I say reigns by threat.
The relatively short period of quiet investigation by Mueller has already unearthed so many truly disloyal and illegal acts by so many in the Trump world, to stop it now would deny us all the truth, Did Trump knowingly approve of and encourage these actors.
The truth, if Trump is exonerated will at least allow the American people to know that the president did not do the worst. As for what he did in fact, we will judge.
Trump started this madness by firing Comey and trying to create an intelligence/doj loyal to him above country.
Now we just have to wait for the result.
8
Mueller is doing his job. The news media is not—in particular those on the networks.
They collude with Trump by reporting his often heinous utterances and Twitters not as abberant and destructive requiring vigorous journalistic correction, but as the regular news of the day. In doing so, they normalize his actions and his daily pathological lying by offering no context whatsoever.
Reporters and most of the White House Correspondent can’t bring themselves to call him a liar or even use the word “lie” to describe what he blatantly foists on the world almost daily.
The Congress is not doing it’s job no matter how corrosive, dictatorial, and alarming his actions are. The law makers we elected to work on our behalf, seem to have forgotten about us. They are silent allowing Trump to do and say what was once unimaginable.
No matter how vile his vengeful comments are about those in this country he looks down upon, there is no heartfelt, and vociferous expressions of outrage. His vicious stereotyping must wait for history to judge.
Most Democrats, Republicans, independents, Conservatives, and liberals alike seem cowed into submission by this man wholly unqualified to be President; and has the potential, if cornered, to start a war as his latest P. R. ploy.
Those in Congress seem not to have a clue as to the consequences of their inaction. Can’t they see that allowing Trump to run roughshod over our country does not bode well for their electability?
13
I think somehow that Robert Mueller would be perfectly happy going about his day without having 95% of media coverage breathing down his neck. That can't be healthy, and it's not his fault. There are other stories. Lots of them!
6
Wild horses couldn't force Trump to fire Mueller now.
Reuters is reporting the mid-terms 10-point advantage by a generic Democrat has evaporated in one month, with the generic Republican ahead for the first time, why?
The court of public opinion is rendering its verdict.
It's a witch hunt.
5
The people you should be calling out and be scared about is the Republican Congress.
They are sacrificing our nation's security for personal gain.
The media world needs to step up and make this a bigger deal---and name names, on a repeated bases.
9
If I commit a felony would the Feds have a tough time deciding whether I was guilty or "just a dunce"?
Why should Don Jr (or Senior) get a free pass?
7
I get that you don't like President Trump, Frank. But let me ask, do you think it's possible that the Obama-led FBI targeted the Trump campaign for political purposes? That they conducted surveillance hoping to get something on him? Do you think it's possible, in other words, that the powers of that august agency were perverted and abused in the furtherance of political goals, as opposed to, say, fighting crime? And finally, do you think it's possible that the abuse of power extends well beyond the FBI, and probably includes several other agencies and also includes your hero, Barak himself?
See, this is not really about Trump anymore. Other than, had he NOT been elected, the creepiness of those in power would NOT have been revealed. Think about that, Frank. Had he not been elected, the elites would have prevailed, self-satisfied, congratulating themselves on their cleverness, and laughing at the little people who would be none the wiser.
It's not about President Trump anymore. Let go of your disdain for the man, Frank. Just for a second, say. Widen your gaze.
7
Ever see that classic film, "The African Queen"? (it's the name of a BOAT, by the way. Not a person.)
In one crucial scene, the Queen is stuck. Hopelessly. In some reedy backwater of the river down which they've been indefatigably sailing. Aiming for a large lake (don't remember the name--sorry!). Hoping to blow up a World War I German gunboat.
Exhausted, the loving couple fall asleep. Mission over. Apparently.
And it begins to rain. The skies darken. Down comes the deluge. . . .
. .floating our African Queen OUT of her wretched backwater. Into that huge African lake. (And yes--they DO succeed in blowing up the Louisa.)
I read your piece, Mr. Bruni--and THAT scene came irresistibly to mind.
"The truth is great and shall prevail," wrote some Victorian poet). And we need truth right now. Desperately.
Your points are dismally well-taken. We ARE growing inured--hardened to the spectacle of never-ending lies and evasions. Financial misdoings and shenanigans--the Lord above knows what they are.
I am waiting--I am PRAYING--for the rainstorm to come. From Mr. Mueller. From whoever. 'Cause, like the African Queen. . . . .
. . .it's our NATION--the United States of America--now stuck in an incredibly filthy little backwater of mud, choking grasses, crocodiles.
Lord, send us RAIN. Or in the words o another Victorian poet:
"MINE, oh Thou Lord of life--send my roots RAIN!"
We need rain right now.
LOTS of rain.
12
People, Bruni just gives his opinion, like all op-ed writers. If any of you want to stop venting like the op-ed writers on both sides and DO something, become an activist in whatever time you can spare. Noam Chomsky always says "They", the ruling class, "rules with OUR(emphasis mine) permission".
We have the numbers, they have the wealth and power and own Congress and 5 of the members of the SCOTUS. Both parties have chosen to ignore us and do the bidding of less than 200 donors that finance 90% of campaigns. Read the statistics on wealth distribution in 2017. Top1%-35.5%
Top 10%-75% Top 20%-87.5% of all US wealth. This was done deliberately by changing the tax code to distribute wealth even more to those ho do not need it.
Your life is fine, why be an activist? But in 2008 millions of lives blew up overnight because of bi-partisan deregulation. The crooked bankers are doing better than ever. Once again bi-partisan votes just deregulated Dodds-Frank, which was mild and barely applied to begin with, after RECORD profits for those who just got again less oversight.
Get out the vote, strike, boycott, sit-in, occupy, protest, only mass movements yank back power from ruling classes. Let Mueller be, take his necessary time, and vote Dem, at least they are fact based and not totalitarian as Republicans.
The economy will collapse again because the politicians are spineless, they are afraid of their donors, they do not care about the rest of us. Read critiques of the system itself.
13
Mueller could prove tomorrow in chapter and verse that Trump had or has illegal ties to the Russians or even to the Mafia and it wouldn't make any difference in today's America. Too many who have no regard for facts or the truth will continue to believe that Trump is simply a victim of the "witch hunt" he so frequently complains about on Twitter. Plus the gutless, self-serving, power-mongering Republicans ( minus Jeff Flake) in Congress will never cross Trump, no matter what he does or says. The only way out of Trump's swamp is to vote Trump and his Congressional minions out
of office.
5
Mr. Bruni, I share your sentiment, but not your villain. The villain of your piece is not Robert Muller. It is the newspapers and other media outlets who have *decide* to give us all Trump/Mueller all the time, who live and breathe speculation conveyed as news, to keep their readers and watchers on edge.
Talk to your editors and producers. Urge them to restore balance (I don't mean liberal versus conservative) to choices of news and opinion topics that are presented. Don't report every Trump tweet on the front page or on cable "Breaking News". Reduce the incidence of speculative reports; increase the fraction of "hard" news.
148
We have to wait until December to deal with the eleemosynary clause, which is a more serious violation. Presumably we have to change Congress so they care about the constitution. We may be in a nuclear war by then.
Gas prices are going up. That’s something I’m not hearing the mainstream media talk about.
6
It is better for the planet with rising gas prices.
1
Mr Bruni, I both understand and appreciate where you are coming from, but you must also understand that Americans like myself are capable of multitasking. We can follow the labyrinth of the Mueller investigation with the daily assault on our government agencies, our social safety nets and now, most alarmingly, the rule of law and the constitution itself.
And here's the issue I have with this opinion piece: there is nothing holding back the media from screaming about Scott Pruitt or the flagrant disregard of the emoluments clause except the fear of losing access to the White House. And, there is nothing to stop Congress from exercising its purpose as a check and balance to the executive branch, except the lack of will of the lobby and billionaire bought GOP to do their jobs.
And there lies the problem. Not Robert Mueller, not his investigation. Our fourth estate and our own government has let us down.
29
90% of President Trump’s media coverage is negative. Last week CNN tweeted an image of President Trump in crosshairs. The media lied through their teeth about President Trump’s animals comment. We The People are sick and tired of the lying Fake News media’s unprecedented and obvious bias, and you want more?
3
You're suggesting that President Trump's tweets contain classified information - the only way his cell phone is comparable to the Secretary of State's private email server on which official State business was conducted - and he's supposed to be the one with the double standard? Too funny.
11
So he only uses his cell phone to tweet?
It isn't Mueller who is scaring me, it is Donald Trump. I am terrified by Trump's ability to break all the rules and destroy everything that most of us consider good about the US -- especially the rule of law.
Yes, all the things you point out aren't getting the level of scrutiny they deserve, but those are just more examples of Trump's slash and burn tactics where democracy is concerned.
It isn't Mueller or Pruitt or the lack of security. It is Trump, Trump, Trump that is scaring me.
17
Didn't Bruni read this paper yesterday? China has been buying off the corporate Robber Barons and the media that then buy off our political class for decades! How else could the mass-murder one party dictatorship that is China been allowed to take 7 million US jobs, and 100% added tariff blocked US products, and got theirs into the US scot-free for decades but by "influencing" bribing the US political class? The Chinese author of the article yesterday described whatever Russia did as ham fisted and miniscule by comparison. But Russia doing a thousandth of what Israelis, the Irish and every other nation that has a big immigrant ethnic presence does in the USA to "influence" our elections is bizarrely declared to be some super evil monstrosity precisely because Trump at least pretends to want to stop the slave-labor using gravy train that our Robber Baron elites have been on for 40 years. You know their using 100's of millions of slave laborers overseas and so insuring that murderous dictatorships stay in power in nations like China, and importing 10's of millions of desperate foreigners into the USA to kill wages and to be used as domestic slaves by our business owner nobility here as well.
2
Wasn't it Bill Clinton who accepted illegal campaign contributions from Chinese officials? Or was that some other Democrat? I guess foreign influence in elections was okay then, but not now? The "rules" keep changing
5
Time and again we've seen things such as Mr. Mueller's investigation thrown up demanding attention, whilst something far more damaging in the long run is taking place. Out of the spotlight, in the shadows, then we suddenly find out about whatever it was and it's too late. Politics may never have been totally honest, but the intensity to which its become a series of illusions would make David Copperfield look like a rank amateur.
Transparency and statesmanship? Do these even exist anymore?
5
Mueller is not the source of the distraction. Trump rarely says anything not composed in a way that does not end up making him the subject of subsequent discussion. The mass media ends up spending so much time on him that other issues are not given so much attention with the exception of highly sensational ones.
9
You speak the truth. Focus on what President Trump is doing, not what he might have done. Our newscasters are letting us down.
7
Mr. Bruni, there is nothing shameless about delegitimizing an investigation that was established with unverified opposition research that was funded by the subject's political opponent and misrepresented to the approving authority. This investigation further deligitimizes itself with each new revelation... from enormous FBI & DOJ conflicts of interest, proven FBI investigator & attorney partisan motives (see texts), the unjustifiably limitless scope of the investigation and so much additional misconduct being unearthed that it's difficult to keep track of.
Having said that, I am encouraged to see some evidence of objectivity on your part in your statement that "he could be entirely innocent of soliciting...". I hope that more of your readers will someday acquire the discipline and maturity to see the crimes that they have been overlooking in this investigation and on the part of their unsuccessful 2016 candidate. That would at least be a good start.
10
What a shame so many of our countrymen are witless, venal, easily duped lemmings.
15
As we daily see evidence of Trump's malfeasance on many fronts, I am appalled that his base continues to support him.
Just yesterday, a neighbor told me he'd never vote for a Democrat, though he declined to say why. He is representative of Trump's base, a older white man with limited education. He does not like to read and he and his wife watch Fox News. No matter the seriousness of issues that another neighbor offered him as reason to reconsider his stance, he stood firm.
This is what we are up against. While I wouldn't seriously suggest that only educated should vote, there are times when I dream of finding a way to educate the masses who make their decisions based on biased information from one primary source.
Trump bamboozles such people with his imitation of their anger, while they fail to recognize that he has no solutions, only ways to gut our institutions and pollute our judiciary as well as our environment.
15
I 100% agree, while also 100% disagreeing. Math is not my strong suit.
In terms of how these things go, the Mueller investigation is proceeding very rapidly. He has obviously been meticulous and methodical, and nailing down real "proof" in a case just takes time.
And, there's simply no way around the fact that this HAS to be investigated.
But, the court of public opinion does play a part. The OJ trial is the prime example of a slam-dunk that went so beyond the constraints of time, and level of proof with which it set itself, that the prosecutors became their own worst enemy.
So, to re-focus the debate, even putting issues with Russia completely to the side, trump is guilty MANY times over. Any rational government process would have taken harsh action a months ago already. Obstruction of justice; undermining credibility of the press; undermining faith in our intelligence services, he's done things that I believe are blatantly treasonous.
The bottom line should be, the public's opinion is irrelevant in the end. Right is right, and wrong is wrong. Whether people disagree or not has no importance. The arguments are solid, and can be backed by facts.
6
If you truly believe that right is right, shouldn't it apply equally to both parties?
Obstruction of justice (destroying subpoenaed evidence - hard drives)
Undermining credibility of the press (leaking a fake dossier)
Undermining faith in our intelligent services (use intelligence sources to undermine political opponents)
Looks like you think Hillary has committed treason.... lock her up.
5
Anyone... and I do mean ANYONE at the New York Times calling Trump a "raving hypocrite" is being... well.... a raving hypocrite. You're the ones who have been giving Clinton a pass on her misuse of technology all along. The irony is spectacular!
11
"Robert Mueller, You’re Starting to Scare Me."
In a separate article, NYT asks "How the Mueller investigation could play Out for Trump."
Aren't these short-sighted questions ?
Let's look at the precedence the intelligence agencies have set.
- Trump: They had a spy in the opposition campaign. No matter what the justification is, this is plain wrong.
- Manafort: They kicked down his house the door, apparently with little probably cause.
- Kelly: They hold him for perjury, which is questionable because agents including Comey do not believe he lied.
- Cohen: They break into his office with little regard to attorney-client privileged information.
Many are disconcerted by a larger question-- "What does it cost America, just to get back at Trump for winning the election ?"
12
Incorrectly wrote Kelly, it should be Flynn.
There is one way out of the Trump mess - find a candidate and a message that can win the electoral college in 2020. Better start working on it now....
8
What happens as these investigations drag out is more evidence disappears and more witnesses grow forgetful.
2
I guess I am in the minority, but the Mueller-led probe has to end . I think it is clear that the Russians took advantage of social media in attempts to swing the presidential election, and based on reports that Trump will not be indited on conspiracy charges.
When I look at election interference, however, I am more alarmed with the influence of partisan news organizations; there is no doubt after only a couple minutes of watching/reading where Fox News, Drudge, MSNBC, CNN, (or the NYTimes for that matter based on editorial content) stand politically and these organizations carry far more influence. Some should not be identified as news at all, and like the World Wrestling Foundation be forced to change their name to "entertainment."
I don't study politics, but what about Super Pacts, and our lobbyist system as a corporations-for-hire to try to swing political outcome (foreign and domestic customers welcome!$$$)? What the Russians attempted to do pales in comparison making this investigation somewhat hypocritical. If anything, The Russians provided a blueprint for future US politicians to manipulate social media in order to win an election.
5
Everybody, the most important issue facing the Democratic Party and our country is the upcoming midterm election. Take control of the Congress and then let’s go from there.
12
You are absolutely right.
1
Let Mueller do his job without interference, but do not hope that he can save us from Trump or his misguided policies. In the very unlikely event that Trump were to be removed from office before his term ends, we would have Pence, another lier and hypocrite, whose policies are as misguided as Trump's.
Only voters can save this country, if they come out in masses to defeat Republicans and elect patriots who will keep this administration in check until a new president gets elected.
6
i thought the same thing six months ago, not so much because the fickle public attention wanders but because while we wait for the thoroughgoing investigation and complete catalog of Donald's crimes, he is still in control of the country, the media, the dialogue and the military and, to great extent, the Congress.
Donald establishes the agenda and he's deftly redirecting it away from him and onto the people who have been dogging him since the day he took office.
When is it Mueller time?
1
I'm afraid there'll be no Mueller time. At this point, without anything significant being leaked in 18 months of investigation (and there are always leaks,) there's no outcome that's going to lead to impeachment. I know that's what most of you Dems have been sold, but like almost every other narrative maintained by mainstream media, it's a distraction being fueled by Trump himself. Oh and you DID Occupy Government btw...., that's what led to all this mess.
1
The overwrought "author" of this piece is putting on quite a show grasping at straws. And not a word of it does anything beyond bringing aid and comfort to America's enemies.
2
News Flash to Frank Bruni... the American people appear to be happy with the job President Trump is doing. I know you don't hear this in the Manhattan liberal echo chamber, but you should be aware of the things the President is getting done.
I think you are aware, but they don't line up with your Leftist ideology, so you say dumb things like.."...it still would not make Trump a good president".
Imagine have 24/7 negative stories written about you, and still accomplishing your campaign promises, and making more and more people approve of the job you are doing.
I am an evangelical conservative, and I do not approve of certain things President Trump has done in his personal life. But liberals do not understand is that people like me are willing to forgive President Trump, and recognize his abilities as a leader.
8
That is the truth. I'm not happy with some of Trump's personal choices but I'm very happy with the job he has done as president. My initial support for Trump was based on "better than Hillary", but I've been pleasantly surprised by his initiatives.
8
The American people are happy with Trump? REALLY? Then, why has his approval rating never been at or above 50% Last time I looked ( within the last few days) it peaked at....42% Is that the best he's doing?
...And, which echo chamber are YOU listening to?
3
The press is squarely at fault here. Instead of zeroing in on every little tweet, burb, and outrageous thing President Trump offers up, it should keep focused on the true stories that are there.
Remember what folks said about Trump during the election? That liberals were focused about what he said (outrage!!), but conservatives were focused on what he meant (getting conservative judges!!).
Trump is the master marketeer, he will throw thousands of outrageous tweets our way in hopes of distracting from the truth. He will create false facts by repeating (re-tweeting) them endlessly. His constant barrage of accusations, deflections, falsehoods create a narrative that the press cannot keep up with.
The press really needs to grow up, understand the new age we are in, understand how social media is used to manipulate, in rapid fire mode, the public opinion, and take a stand. Focus on the important!
No reporter or opinion writer or pundit will be remembered for getting side-tracked by 17,987 tweets. Focus on the truly newsworthy stories.
Having said that, I still don't see collusion. I see inexperience followed by bluster on behalf of the President and his campaign / staff.
What if Trump did not collude and deceive, but simply was an inexperienced fool who bumbled his way into the presidency, and through it... ?
4
Democrats should be scared. President Trump is playing 3D chess while you're playing checkers. He's got you utterly stupefied.
And I for one find it hilarious. A real change from the smug, wooden, clueless Obama.
11
I worry that Robert Mueller is playing by the old rules. He's plugging away at his investigation, a la Ken Starr, because that's how these things are done. If you read James Comey's book, he made the same mistake. He didn't realize how how deplorable Trump was. Meanwhile, Trump is destroying Americans' faith in the FBI, the courts, anyone he feels like badmouthing as a way to make us doubt everything they say and do.
It's like the French and the Polish people thinking that the Maginot line and the cavalry could hold back the Nazi blitzkrieg. This is a new kind of war on democracy.
Of course, we know that Mueller,a former FBI chief, must be appalled by what Trump is doing. Right now, he seems to be our only hope.
5
Many people in these comments don’t know what “collusion” means ... there will be MANY crimes subserved under this wrapping ... it only describes generically the web of relationships and their intent ...
4
"What if he passes it? That won’t make him a successful president, a fit leader or even a decent human being."
Trump is truly an indecent example of a human being. More and more, day after day, we see the worst - a raving hypocrite, indeed!
2
Mr. Bruni, what is stopping any reporter from covering this administration in exactly the way that you've described? Does your editorial board insist that you dissect every rumor that surfaces about Mr. Muller's investigation? Mr. Muller certainly has been very disciplined about letting his actions speak, why couldn't the media do the same? He will let us know when he has something that's worth reporting. Be disciplined, cover what you think should be important for the American people, ignore the lies and innuendo emanating from the White House and the Capitol. Isn't that what "All the news that's fit to print" stands for?
10
Reading the phone "article" shows that it is basically nothing. And of course this president is not likely to do anything the way Obama did he got elected partially because of that. I am quite aware of his progress in nominating judges, it is happening way too slowly for my tastes, the senate should be working six days a week 10 hours per day until all nominees are voted upon. The progress in the various administration areas is also known to me, also way too slow for my tastes. The state department improvements had massive coverage here. Apparently some are ignorant and uninformed, but have a job creating articles here.
1
What State Department?
5
"ya gotta know when to hold 'em
know when to fold 'em
know when to walk away
know when to run"
It's time now for Dems to run.
7
Oddly, you contribute to the cause for which your opinion piece attempts to challenge when you suggest the hypocrisy of lackadaisical use of unsecured technology (cell phones) lies only on one side. The truth is that the sin of hypocrisy lies with both sides of this particular issue. Ridiculing cell phones and defending cavalier email use is just as hypocritical.
1
Mr. Bruni makes some very good points. But perhaps the answer is that it's not Mueller or all the other sins of Trump and company, it must be both/and. State Attorneys General must increase their investigations into dubious Trump ventures. Lawsuits must be filed against those harmed by the EPA, Interior, FCC and so on. And when it comes down to brass tacks, if we all need to rally at the local Federal Building once a week, count me in.
4
Lawsuits, lawsuits, lawsuits, forever in the venue-shopping capital of the world.
What we need now is less hand-wringing by columnists over Trump’s outrageousness and a more intense spotlight on his enablers in Congress. Individually. By name: Their hypocrisies. Obstructions. Mix of self-serving silences and lies. Their subversion of constituents’ needs and of the laws and norms and values that have come to define us as Americans. A twenty-first century version of public stocks, if you will.
There are 237 Republican House members and 51 in the Senate. Is there even a handful — literally 5 members — that has publicly disapproved, let alone denounced, Trump’s malfeasance or his assault on the US more than a couple of times? It’s said a majority of (unnamed) GOP lawmakers dislike the president. They have strength in numbers, hundreds to one — so why don’t they use their power in a way that mirrors their beliefs? “Leakers” and “anonymous sources” help; but voters need to know all of those who have their back.
Republicans are fabulous story tellers. Collectively, they deserve a Nobel Prize in Spin. With the media’s help, let them create a new narrative, one that prepares their voters for the end of Trump’s single-term presidency. Tell incremental truths. Or fabrications.Then repeat. And repeat again and again. It’s what Republicans do best. Do it for the party, for the voters, for America. Just do it, before the Trump curse takes all of us down.
6
Not a one of them gives a hoot what anyone from outside their district cares about unless they bring a bundle of campaign cash.
3
"prove how corrupt the Trump Administration and the Republican Congress is" I believe we are about find out just how corrupt the Obama administration was.
6
Even if Obama's administration was corrupt; and even at it's worst, it would still pale by comparison to the level of corruption of that of Trump's.
5
WOW! Talk about blaming the victim! When Mueller was appointed Newt Gingrich said the Democrats would be upset because it would take partisanship out of the investigation. (Insert definition of irony here.)
Mueller was lauded by both sides for being a combat veteran, the AG on 9/11, an unblemished career.
The problem is the MSM attitude that every Trump tweet, every Trump physical movement must be covered start to finish.
What, exactly, is stopping the media from spending more time on Trump's unsecure cell phone or Zinke or Pruitt?
Answer: It is the MSM's narcotic addiction to Trump. We saw it in 2016. It has continued with the MSM using the fig leaf he is the president and the president is by default newsworthy.
And what irony that an op-ed columnist for the nation's Newspaper of Record should be lamenting that other news is not receiving sufficient coverage.
8
Mr. Bruni appropriately asks, Were it not for the protracted Mueller investigation, what Trump atrocity would we be focusing on now? But who is we? If "we" is the mainstream media, then we is he.
While I do not believe that the remaining major newspapers and network outlets tell outright falsehoods, I do believe they reflect a bias in the selection of what to report and what to omit, what to emphasize and what to elide. Their focus on Russian collusion to the exclusion of much else is one reflection of this. That is on the media, not on Mr. Mueller.
It is all, however, largely irrelevant. A sitting president cannot be indicted, the Democrats will not win both House and Senate, and absent that control, impeachment and conviction are an impossibility, no matter what Mr. Mueller finds.
2
Yep, the so called "people's house" which is nothing but an auctioneer of influence itself, is the only check on the most blatant influence peddler of them all.
2
I remember I once asked an attorney friend of mine how long to expect a major government investigation like this to take? He said, imagine the longest period of time it could take, and multiply by 20. This is necessarily a hugely far reaching investigation, perhaps the most complicated and most important investigation in our nation's history. Though my friend is exaggerating, It's going to take a long time.
It's not Mueller's fault, we have a hugely cumbersome justice system. Personally I think the 25th amendment should be further explored. As George Will said, "There's no one better to demonstrate the precarious nature of the cult of the presidency than Donald Trump."
2
Justice is almost invariably too stale to be worth the trouble, when it gets around to happening at all, in this continental shakedown playground.
Mr. Bruni, it does seem that Mr. Mueller's investigation is bogging down, and the longer it goes on, the more time Mr. Trump has to cast all manner of aspersions about the justice system.
At this point, Mr. Mueller had better have something big and convincing about Mr. Trump. Vague or weak connections won't do. Mr. Trump has a strong, unshakable base of populist (if not fanatical) support. And he is able to illicit sympathy from them and even beyond. If I read the Zeitgeist, it's not fashionable to be overly vocal against Mr. Trump. Many overlook or forgive his policy shifts and contradictions and easily give him a pass, even on factual errors.
The Democrats do not have a lock by any means on taking the house, and they need that to leverage any possibility of carrying through on Mr. Mueller's findings, whatever they may be.
We're in a dangerous time, now, when things could shift in any number of directions. Mr. Trump is tenacious. This is the man who insisted against all evidence that Mr. Obama was born in Africa. And a lot of his followers still believe that. With the potential of that kind of mind set, anything could happen. And just might.
2
People across the whole political spectrum think the US judicial system is too slow to be of relevance to real people's lives.
2
Mr. Mueller is responsible for accumulating the "facts". He isn't responsible for what, if any, occurs once the facts are known. "Only" collusion? Perhaps, collusion may not be a crime but what is important is how the American voter responds to the report. I hope the report will be delivered quickly, that it be comprehensive and factual.
I have no doubt that Mueller is proceeding as quickly as possible, but the investigation seems to keep widening due to the almost never ending list of corrupt characters that Trump has surrounded himself with. Mueller must be overwhelmed.
My biggest regret is that for every day the investigation continues, Trump gets to remain President. So even he he is guilty, by the time he is brought to justice he may have served most of his Presidency.
2
I am beginning to accept the fact that is what the white America wants. If not, how can the GOP let this go on? We now know there are many more white nationalist than we thought. And these trump enablers primary object is to protect their identity and their way of life at all cost. Nothing is sacred anymore and they are willing to keep selling not only their souls but their future generations' as well. Not sure how we arrived here but it is a very sad state. Just like the NRA doesn't care about who dies as long as they have their assault rifles, trump enablers don't care about anything but keeping everything white at all cost. Nevetheless, they will be sorely be disappointed once the entire US wakes up from this nightmare.
3
I find Mr. Bruni's assumptions to be pretty thin. So he thinks if Mueller wasn't around then Scott Pruitt will suddenly become the primary concern of Red-blooded Americans.?? Or perhaps appointments to the federal judiciary will move front and center, or the goings on at HUD..?? Wrong, Wrong, & wrong.. The fact is that most people are primarily concerned with what goes on in their day to day lives; they tend to leave the governance of the country to those they elected to govern. -- Is this really the best Democrats have to offer: complaining about Scott Pruitt and Ryan Zinke.? Trust me, you're not gonna reach many people with that message.
4
I agree with the diagnosis, I don't necessarily agree with the cause. Is this really Mueller's job? His eventual conclusions will certainly be more varied than Russian collusion, yes or no.
Where are the leaders of the Democratic party in all this?
Where is the group of key senators or house members whose job it is to explain, confront, and dispute Trump and his henchman at every turn with passion equal to the dangers and challenges we face as a nation? I know who they are, why aren't we hearing from them. If Schumer and Pelosi won't relinquish leadership roles let them lead from behind the scenes. Let's hear from some Democrats, every day, every week, who have fire in their bellies.
3
It looks to me like Trump will avoid getting nailed by Mueller. The crimes have not materialized and probably won't. Moreover, it's hard to imagine the Senate voting to convict by a two-thirds margin, no matter what.
Because so many people wanted to believe collusion and what was unlikely, there'll be a price to pay. First, Trump will "win" the high profile Mueller challenge and be more popular than ever with his base, improving his electoral prospects for 2020. Second, Trump has gotten a lot done policy-wise and will continue to while people remain distracted with the Mueller business. And, third, the Democratic Party has set itself in opposition to Trump and let Trump define the issues rather than developing a policy agenda that can garner national support in the 2018 and 2020 elections.
The whole collusion/obstruction Mueller thing is beginning to look like a monumental backfire. The sooner it ends, the better.
7
it is very unlikely that collusion during the campaign attributed to trump will be proven. while some of his advisors and surrogates will be indicted for it, he will escape and no doubt trumpet his innocence to the heavens. what i am hoping for is an indictment for money laundering and other financial crimes related to trump's use of oligarch money to fund his various projects.
6
In other words Frank is saying - I don't like Trump, therefore Mueller has to find something what would make Trump impeachable.
6
Given how circumspect Mr. Mueller is being I really have no concrete idea of the full extent of his knowledge regarding Trump, the Trump campaign and hangerons, and their dealings with Russia. Neither does Mr. Bruni.
3
Everything this sorry crew discovers is leaked within minutes. There nothing they have but process ''crimes'' like forgetting a phone call.
We're glad to see the Dems see no problem with having spies planted within their campaigns from now on.
4
Sounds like Mr Bruni is looking for an out on the investigation before Mueller announces that he has found no wrongdoing on the part of Donald Trump, which is exactly what many people expect will happen, including many who do not support Trump.
There may be some legitimate grounds for the investigation, to clear the air, to maintain confidence in the electoral process, but this legitimacy is corrupted to a degree by the obviously partisan and politically motivated support for the inquiry coming from the left, which gives credibility to Trump's claim of a "witch hunt".
Bruni hates Donald Trump, that is obvious, perhaps more passionately than anyone else writing for the NYT. He makes good points from time to time, but one must always remember that he will say nothing about Trump that is not a criticism. His column is comfort food for other haters, doing just as right wing talk radio does for its listeners, telling them what they want to hear.
5
Do you sincerely believe it's likely that there was "no wrongdoing" on the part of Trump, who admitted to obstruction of justice on national television when he said he fired Comey "because of the Russia thing"? What would you be saying if it was Hilary Clinton in Trump's shoes, Hilary Clinton who was using the office of the presidency to enrich her family, Hilary Clinton's child who took a meeting with a foreign agent who promised to deliver "dirt" on Trump, and Hilary's child responded, "If it's true, I love it." Do you seriously intend to sit here with a straight face and tell me you wouldn't be screaming "Lock her up!"?
4
I have enjoyed your take on the news for years, but you've gone off the deep end here, Frank. Mueller is investigating serious crimes that endanger our national security. That doesn't preclude anyone addressing any of the other myriad issues with this so-called administration and the corrupt GOP. Why would the ongoing work of the Mueller investigation prevent us from addressing emoluments, constant lying, Scott Pruitt's continuing corruption, or anything else? The fact that never in our history have we seen an administration so enmeshed in criminality, misinformation, and corruption does not mean addressing the issues is a zero-sum game.
Maybe you should take a vacation?
6
The press seems to be trying to atone for giving Trump all that free coverage during the election and giving him the benefit of the doubt most of the time he said and did "unprecedented" things (aka "lied", among other things). They're doing so by doing wall-to-wall coverage of Mueller investigation activities.
Covering those things is important, but all of the other stuff (judge stacking, revoking critical regulations, decimating federal departments, etc.) might actually do more total harm to America than the bright shiny objects that grab all the attention. Can we at least get 1 hour out of every 24 that goes in depth on the other stuff? I think Americans that haven't been getting those stories will be appalled.
7
With all due respect, get this paper to start covering all of these things and bring the news of these awful cabinet heads and what they’re doing to light.
That is important for the American people.
I’d love it if all the MSM collectively said “We’re not going bother you daily with Trump’s legal problems. We are not going to respond to every tweet. We will continue to investigate and report any updates every other day.
Because we feel there are stories currently that deserve to be brought to the American people.”
Robert Mueller never said to Giuliani he’d be done by Sept 1st.
It is not the fault of the FBI that they had information Russia was trying to rig our elections and when they investigated, it all led to those surrounding Trump.
I’m sure the FBI didn’t want this leading to the highest levels of government but it did regardless of Trumps ridiculous allegations of a witch hunt.
Because the general understanding of the term “witch hunt” infers there is no evidence. There’s plenty here.
6
I think that Mr. Bruni is suffering from the same things I am. He, so many other Americans and our institutions of our government are suffering through insult after injury. Watching all this is torture, perhaps almost as bad as the agony of being water boarded for over two years now. If, as I hope, our country survives, so will I but I will have changed, as if surviving an almost fatal plane crash.
5
I do so agree. It's all Trump, all the time. Collusion with Russia, hush money for strippers, financial shenanigans galore from everyone connected with him and on and on and on. He, the consummate narcissist, is no doubt reveling in this 24 hour exposure but there are critical problems with all government departments from the EPA to HUD to the Interior department to the Education department to the almost nonexistent Consumer Affairs Department. The zealots and/or dolts that Trump put in place to run these departments are either hopelessly incompetent ( Dr. Carson, Ms DeVos) or are actively trying to dismantle the departments that they are tasked with overseeing (Mnuchin, Pruitt,Zinke). In order to allow Americans to focus on the myriad of other important concerns perhaps the media should treat Trump like some outlets treat mass murderers - avoid mentioning his name except when absolutely necessary and don't report on every idiotic tweet.
3
And beyond all this hate and obstruction directed at him, President Trump is succeeding beyond anyone's imagination - and that is what drives the Left insane.
5
Oh Oh, the Trump\Russia delusional leftists are starting to figure out their fantasy of impeaching President Trump with lies and innuendo is not going to work. Dang, I was hoping they would continue to embarrass themselves with their endless hatred and ankle biting.
I mean, come on ! aren't we all interested in lies about Russian Hookers, naughty things said in a locker room decades ago, and consensual sex between the President and a porn star a decade or so ago ??? well, aren't we ? NOPE.
It sells papers though, especially to the hating deranged left. Is there anything......Any Thing you dolts can report on that isn't "get Trump, get Trump, get Trump ?? There are other things going on, in at least some of our worlds.
hating, deranged, snowflake fake news salesmen. Your behavior guarantees a second Trump term. Thank you.
4
And YOU are starting to scare ME, Mr. Bruni! If you are right, which I have my doubts, we are all in real trouble.
However, I think the nature of these type of investigations are that they are long, drawn out - and when investigating the POTUS - necessarily thorough.
This is a far reaching investigation and it does have a lot of moving parts, but when nothing less than the future of our country is at stake, Mueller needs to err on the side of caution. So hurrying to end it because you and others are getting ancy, or to affect the Mid-terms, or any other reasons than that he is satisfied with his results and ready to indict, does not serve you or the country well. Patience, patience, my dear man!
3
None of this would be an issue if the Electoral College had performed its prescribed duties.
2
The electoral college, also known as affirmative action for white folks, performed its duties exactly as prescribed. The problem is that we have an electoral college.
5
The EC is supposed to refuse a vote for someone unqualified to hold the office of president. I cannot imagine anyone more unfit than Trump.
Mr. Bruni, I can’t help but notice you’re putting the weight of proving this Administration’s misdeeds on Mr. Mueller, when in fact you are conveniently letting our GOP-led Congress off the hook. The number of impeachable offenses is in the stratosphere and we’re only a year and a half into this Presidency. Mueller has one job and one job only: to prove foreign interference as aides and abetted by Trump and his staff. But we should all be thoroughly disgusted by the blatant party over country blinders our elected officials have donned, potentially enabling the destruction of our democracy bit by bit. Where is the oversight? The checks and balances? There is none, and THAT’s what should make you scared.
14
The delay is likely due to the depth he must trudge to uproot all of Elmer Fudd’s human persona’s evil deeds. Also, he might be acting out of a sense of not wasting his teams effort. If he ended his investigation today he’ll literally be placing all his hard worn diligence in the hands of the silly Republican run government that wouldn’t dare act on his findings. I think he’s waiting for the mid-terms to make known his findings in hopes the Democrats win back control.
6
Is it not your job to explain and enlighten the readers of these pages regarding these matters?
Don't be so cowardly and just do your jobs. If. some people are confused and or somehow conflicted then perhaps you should look at your prior work here.
If you cannot meet that awesome responsibilty then maybe you are in the wrong line of work.
1
"Mueller’s journey down certain tributaries strikes even some observers who aren’t Trump partisans as invasive and punitive."
Ya think?
I'm no Trump fan, but I certainly think that if there had been collusion, Mueller would have found it long ago. Either that or Trump and his cronies are geniuses at hiding it, and that can't possibly be true. Enough already. Let it go, close it down.
5
Why do you think everything this investigation has found has been revealed? Considering how other investigations have worked, that seems rather unlikely to me. More likely, the truth is, neither you or I know what the investigation has found, so you don't really know if it's "enough already" or not. The investigation doesn't exist to feed people's lust for instant gratification and, therefore, should take as long as it needs to.
4
How about you blame your paper and the corporate media for not focusing on other critical issues. Mueller is doing his job and taking his time to make sure justice is served and the truth discovered and doesn't have to kowtow to your timeline. You and the rest of the media elites need to stop being distracted by Trump's ridiculous tweets and right wing assault on our justice system and focus your attention on the numerous corruptions and scandals in this despotic administration.
10
Best post I've read here. Well said, Arthur!
“One could go mad trying to prove that Donald Trump Jr. tried to collude with the Russians or the Saudis or the Emiratis, as opposed to being a dunce.”
Wait a minute. Why is that an either/or proposition? Trump can be a dunce trying to collude with the Russians or the Saudis. In fact, given everything I know about Trump from the last 3-4 decades and especially what we're finding out now, I pretty much KNOW he's both.
8
Sorry Charlie. The Dems and their propaganda MSM made this bed and they have to lie [no pun intended] in it. This nonsense is like a "Twilight Zone" episode where the pompous, evil, sneaky, guy gets his comeuppance. (I mean the Dems/MSM, not Trump, who's the hero of the episode.) Splendid!
7
If Trump is the hero, it definitely IS an episode of The Twilight Zone.
3
"He [T. A. Frank of Vanity Fair] argued that a recently revealed meeting in the summer of 2016 between Donald Trump Jr. and an emissary for two Arab princes only muddies the waters of a possible Russia-Trump partnership, adding, “One could go mad trying to prove that Donald Trump Jr. tried to collude with the Russians or the Saudis or the Emiratis, as opposed to being a dunce.”"
Actually, Bruni misunderstands.
The fact that there are now TWO known meetings at Trump Tower between Donald Trump Jr and foreigners, even those from different countries, is indicative of a "pattern of behavior." Evidence of a patter of behavior is admissible in a court of law.
52 U.S. Code § 30121 - Contributions and donations by foreign nationals
(a) PROHIBITION It shall be unlawful for—
(1) a foreign national, directly or indirectly, to make—
(A) a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State, or local election;
... or
(2) a person to solicit, accept, or receive a contribution or donation described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) from a foreign national.
These meetings were evidently violations of the law, because they were about foreigners doing things in a US election, and Donald Jr was interested in getting their help.
9
Frank, it's the Congress...turn your attention to the Congress.
Start with McConnell.
then do a piece on Gingrich to remind everyone where this
mentality began....
9
Some serious sour grapes here in the admission that the Mueller investigation may not show any Russia collusion. Bruni's points here are that even if there is nothing from the Russia collusion investigation, there are a lot of other things that Bruno doesn't like about Trump. He implies, I think, that some of these other perceived wrong-doings should get Trump. He needs top come to grips with the fact that, when the Mueller investigation is over, its over. The focus going forward will be investigating the FBI, the CIA, and members of Obama's inner circle who participated in spying on the Trump campaign for Clinton's benefit. Does anyone believe that the 30,000 missing Clinton emails were about yoga and grandchildren? No, of course not. They contained emails about the Trump campaign and would expose the spying the Obama administration had done.
9
Wow. Millions of us do believe that the e-mail "scandal" is a partisan scheme devised by Republicans to smear Hillary Clinton and keep her out of the White House. Everything you claim is conjecture and innuendo, without a shred of supporting evidence.
Please. Y'all think this is a "witch hunt"? The Republican right-wing media machine was and still is busy cooperating with the Trump perpetual population manipulation campaign. His whole organization is nothing but PR, hot air, and corruption.
5
I suspect Mueller will never prove Trump has any money crimes with the Russians. As to collusion or obstruction, the GOP will never impeach for either of those. This Democrat says time to end Mueller probe. We are stuck with Trump until 2020.
3
funny stuff - let's face it, only worrying now about the Mueller investigation because it's become apparent that it is KILLING the chances of a Blue Wave in November. The longer that investigation drags, the more it avoids fairplay investigating the Clinton campaign's own Russia/election tampering, the more it ignores the malfeasance of Obama's CIA/FBI, the more it hurts Democrats in the polls. So now, yes, we start hearing calls from the left that the investigation is a problem.
6
The American People know the media routinely lies about our great and honest President Trump. We also know the Mueller witch hunt is nothing more than a coup attempt. The left spied on President Trump (worse than Watergate!) during the campaign and will commit any crime to undo a free and fair election.
5
Larry,
I can only hope you made your post here with tremendous irony.
4
Mr Bruni, - Well reasoned article. I'm no Trump partisan, but the anti Trump hyper partisanship of some is clouding their logic when reading your article. Trump is right when he says the Mueller investigation is a distraction. It is so for all sides in this fight.
4
I urge all decent Americans to remain indoors on the blessed day Mueller is forced to give up his witch hunt. President Trump will be fully vindicated, the investigation into Democrat spying will be bearing fruit, and the collective explosion of leftist heads will probably blot out the Sun for several days
6
The New York Times is now reporting that Jared Kushner passed the FBI background check and has been granted a permanent security clearance. This means he passed the FBI background check. Among other things, it also means he is not suspected of colluding with Russian to influence the 2016 election, or of money laundering or tax evasion. Since he was a participant in the Trump Tower meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, it also indicates no unlawful collusion occurred at the meeting.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/23/us/politics/jared-kushner-security-cl...
6
Another win for our great President! He is unstoppable!
4
Obstruction of justice is a slam-dunk. Collusion? Trump is a compulsive liar, unreliable and vastly corrupt. Trump doesn't collude, he's a weapon, a trasher. By helping him get elected Putin has done an enormous amount of damage to America, more damage than he could have done by getting sanctions lifted or keeping America from interfering in the Ukraine. But Mueller won't get a tape of Trump and Putin making plans. Trump doesn't do plans. Trump Jr could be convicted of collusion, he tried his best to collude with Russia on 2 separate occasions. Putting him on trial might send Trump Sr around the bend - but he has access to nukes and the GOP is a Trump Cult.
Obstruction of Justice - and get to it before the GOP and Trump's base are totally brainwashed.
1
Mr. Bruni's article itself uses uncivil language and is a sophomoric ad hominem attack on President Trump.
9
Bruni asks a very revealing question: What would we [that is, Bruni, the NYT, the Democrats, and more broadly the liberals] be doing if it were not for the appointment of the special counsel? Indeed, that’s the whole point. All of you, Mr. Bruni, would have nothing to do. That’s to say, you would not be thinking about the problem of growth that plagues this country and the rest of the world (you have all the answers to this problem given half a century ago if not before), or immigration (it is not a problem for you: just let those who will support the Democrats without any restrictions), or the Middle East (you probably would side with Hamas and continue bleeding Israel for an indefinite future). Indeed, Mr. Bruni, you would have nothing to do. Why? Because you have no new ideas and, consequently, there is nothing you can do. Moreover, you and your paper have all the answers—all of them old—and you are not interested in any discussion that would include new and innovative approaches and proposals. That’s where you are during one of the most dynamic centuries that humanity is experiencing now. You are not fit to lead this society and your op-ed proves it.
7
As a centrist Democrat, might I suggest a "Third Way." The free press should stop putting out breathless headlines every morning and evening, and ignore the Mueller investigation until the special counsel gives us a final report. Your op-ed suggests that Mueller is giving a press conference every day.
The reason that the other stories of malfeasance involving the administration (Ryan Zinke, Scott Pruitt et al) is that you guys -- the press -- suck all the oxygen out of the room with breathless wall-to-wall coverage of the Mueller investigation.
And while we're at it, stop treating every Trump tweet as breathless breaking news. The one thing a bullying narcissist fears the most is when people ignore him.
5
Yesterday, I read Michelle Goldberg's opinion and put the very large and very profitable "The Media Entertainment for Devil Advocacy Industry" on the right side of my bookshelf.
Today, I read Frank Bruni's opinion and made the larger / more profitable "The Media Entertainment for Devil Tracking Industry" my left bookend.
These ever-growing bookends are squeezing out 'books'.
Ms Goldberg and Mr Bruni performed the same service: To point out that the free press ERUPTED to address a contagion and now we have huge flows of hot lava at both ends of our island.
But give the devil his due, it is Trump and his follow-up media arms WHO BREAK ALL of the norms of clarity, truthfulness, and AMOUNT. Think about that, when we wonder about WHERE this volume of (a) push-back and (b) push-back of the push-back - ACTUALLY ORIGINATED.
Our free press is supposed to address issues, and God knows Trump has issues, so let's heed the advice of Ms Goldberg and Mr Bruni and not get overwhelmed nor discouraged by the bookends.
Let's keep our free and clear heads AND ADAPT. The 'book' is there, right in front of us.
1
Mr. Bruni, you seem to be blaming Mr. Mueller for not controlling the media narrative. Are you suggesting that he change his work to suit the media? Perhaps the media should instead change its coverage to suit the moment. Let this good man do his work with the integrity it deserves and the time it requires. If there is a problem with media coverage, perhaps you're criticism would best be directed at media executives and editors, and at yourself.
9
If only columnists held the view that prolonged investigations were a distraction when they concerned Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. You do recall these went on for years and hampered good policy? In their cases, it turned out they were not guilty of what they were accused of—the scandals were demonstrated to be fake and purely politically motivated.
In this case, Trump brought all of this on himself. There would be no special prosecutor if Trump hadn’t fired Comey and given contradictory reasons. In fact he brings more and more suspicion upon himself every time he opens his mouth with new contradictions and admissions or denials.
Yes, he and his cronies are doing great harm to our government, politics and society. That is not the fault of Mueller’s highly successful investigation, which has brought more indictments and guilty pleas in a shorter time than any other special prosecutor.
6
Frank, much as I agree with your many insights in your many articles, I think in this case you're getting scared because you hoped (and perhaps still hope) that Mueller will be America's savior. He isn't. He is a brilliant and prudent lawyer who will do his job better than almost anyone. But bear in mind the words "his job." It doesn't include "savior." Nor even "daddy." He isn't going to make everything right. After he has completed his investigation and made his report, the people will have to rescue themselves from the insanity that has overwhelmed us.
8
This poll is a huge problem, and explains to some degree why the needle of Trump's job approval rating barely moves, regardless of the drumbeat of unsavory (at best) information that continues to come out. "A CBS News poll several weeks ago showed that fewer Americans believed Mueller’s investigation to be legitimate (44 percent) than to be politically driven (53 percent)."
1
Mr. Bruni: buy a nice, thick book to read while waiting for the pot to boil. That's what I'm doing. To suggest that an investigation should be rushed because certain people are becoming restless, or bored, or "scared" (as you say you're becoming) flies in the face of the entire investigative process. Don't blame the "slows" on Mueller. Blame them on Trump, whose web of deceit appears - more and more - to be so broad and deep as to raise any rational person's gorge. The extent and nature of that web may well keep Mr. Mueller busy for a very long time. That's how a proper system of justice works: be sure you firmly have justice on your side, *then* level the accusations.
5
The Mueller witch hunt was started to investigate the crazy collusion delusion. It was known on day 1 that there never was any collusion, 100% of the evidence proves there was no collusion. The witch hunt should have been shut down on day 2
7
Larry or trump
Indictments and lying about their contact with Russian officials and setting up back channel communications means that yes there was collusion but as we see hard to prove intent. Don Jr did collude and trump did obstruct justice and yes there is evidence of both. We will see if the 1% is above the law and weather democracy and justice is dead.
3
no evidence of collusion. both campaigns meet with the Russians. It is a witch hunt!
Mr. Bruni, the entire Russian collusion narrative was a media created hoax. Your opinion piece suggests your hatred for Trump remains regardless where the facts lead.
8
The pure hate that fuels the left is sad.
3
Mr. Mueller is doing his job. If he had more in the way of protection and if Trump was told by more in his own party to shut up and work instead of lie, extort, gut, etc., this would be less of the center ring of the Trump circus. Your article is a good reminder to every citizen who's not Mr. Mueller to keep on pressure about the other issues. Trump likes attention away from them - the guttings, the extortions, the scandals, the hypocrisies.
2
The Times and other responsible members of the media need to keep their own perspective. This would mean fewer 'breathless headlines" and more front page reporting on the many ways the Trump administration is undermining the United States.
10
It appears your annoyance should be with the media, since the vast majority of what Robert Mueller knows though his investigation is either unknown to the press and public, or when revealed, has led to numerous indictments. In typical fashion, cable news is serving us only conjecture and opinion. Please don't fall victim to their ratings tactics; rather, be the beacon of light our country needs, now more than ever.
5
I write a blog title Slowly Boiled Frog and that is what many of us have become. It is the sheer onslaught of information that is creating a massive distraction. Slowly boiled we fail to appreciate our imminent peril.
10% of this malignant governance would be enough to impeach a Democrat.
At some point people need to jump out of the pot. Otherwise our country, our society and our standing in the world are in deep peril.
7
Seriously? Did anyone really think we were going to get covictable evidence on "collusion" (a journalistic term, not a legal one BTW). It's pretty clear that some in the campaign (and, I believe, Trump) coordinated with foreign entities to manipulate the outcome of the election but, as you say, that's difficult to prove. Trump is clearly guilty of obstruction, but so what? The real investigation has always been (IMHO) about financial ties and money laundering. He's been openly doing business with crooks, mobsters and Russians for decades. It's all about the money. And Trump, I believe, will be found guilty. When? Who knows. Polls on what the American people believe will become irrelevant when Trump is named as an unindicted coconspirator to various financial crimes (of course the cultists won't believe, no matter the evidence). Even then, probably nothing will happen until Trump (hopefully!) loses the 2020 election... Maybe he'll get impeached, but I doubt - in today's political world - the Senate will convict. Lastly, Mueller cannot control the Trump Porn Industry of the 24 hour new machine... Might as well hope sharks will stop participating in feeding frenzies. Mueller's process is not the problem. It is the mind numbing speculation by media on every minuscule revelation that is worrisome. At least Democrats that are running this year got the memo: Leave Trump alone and focus on Democratic values and what we can do for the American people.
5
You believe things for which there is no evidence whatsoever. It was high time that you realized this aspect of your mental processes. To thine own self be true.
5
You have no data ...
2
Plenty of data (or evidence) ... That doesn't mean one could get a conviction. Mueller already has several indictments and a few guilty pleas. Trump has openly obstructed (he admitted to an improper motive for firing Comey on TV!) and threatened to obstruct an ongoing investigation repeatedly (BTW the subject of an inquiry CANNOT define its parameters). All of these were self inflicted wounds on his part... But, really, I have no hope of convincing you two with facts. That's why, ultimately Trump will probably have to lose an election to go away. But, believe me, unless he can get a pardon AND no one decides to pursue him in state courts, he faces real jeopardy when he leaves office. These guys have been operating in NYC where the rules of the game around "real estate" are pretty shady. Maybe the worst thing that could have happened to Trump was getting elected, moving him into the bigger game that Mueller understands so well.
Frank, every media outlet decides what it reports and the prominence it gives to those stories. It is the media that has decided to breathlessly covered the Mueller investigation ad nauseum. For cable News, it is cheaper to have a panel of talking heads opine about the latest non-development or rumor than to do actual, original reporting. For CNN, MSNBC, Fox, their loyal viewers are also getting what they want in their chosen echo chamber. The newspaper has actually done some excellent original work recently covering Weinstein, the wasteful spending of the MTA and the disgrace that is the affordable housing system in NYC.
4
The only way to avoid voting for hypocrites, is to not vote. Only in the eyes of tribal partisans are the violations of the other party more egregious.
1
As a Hollywood uber celeb'recently reflected in words to this effect 'We have to decide when we take to the ramparts.' and you just know things are getting serious when liberal reasonable types, take their 'resist' movement to the extremes of: 'aux barricades, citoyens!'.
But as Herbert Marcuse argued we must be intolerant of the intolerant. But surely that extends to both sides.The US is currently riven with hatred, indeed a fractured society, but let's not be a party pooper for it appears to be too much fun to ridicule, to condemn, or even just to jeer: Psychologists would tern such behaviour ' exhilerants,' Yet hardly a week passes without a mob assembling to excoriate President Trump, to add fuel the online mobs never disperse. Will the day come in the US when people start talking about things they like rather than the people they loath.
2
Collusion is only one aspect of the unsuitability of Donald Trump as president of the United States.
Besides possibly being a traitor and cheating in the election, Trump is incompetent, a bad manager, a conman, a liar, cheat, money launderer, divisive, racist, corrupt, irrational, partisan, capricious, criminal, etc., the worst traits of all people wrapped up in one and certainly not a what a leader of a country should be.
Trump is destroying America and turning this country into a mere banana republic. The sooner he is removed the lesser the damage. He is totally wrong for the office and should be removed. It is beyond collusion.
6
The NFL has just banned kneeling during the National Anthem! Yet another victory for President Trump and America! Democrats, keep focusing on your crazy collusion delusion while President Trump keeps on winning!! MAGA! MAGA!!!!
3
You media types started this when you let Trump get away with the 'birther' nonsense, without challenging him for proof. You lapped it all up good-humoredly as if it was OK. Behold what you unleashed. Now every time he cries 'wolf' the DOJ, FBI, Nunes, Grady, Congress and media tremble helplessly. There is still no challenge for proof, or any kind of pushback. Instead the DOJ and FBI acquiesce to his bleats.
4
There is already enough publicly known information to conclude there absolutely was collusion between the Russians and the Trump campaign. There is also enough publicly known about obstruction of justice to know there is a viable case there. What we do not know yet, but may well find out if if there is also bribery involved with foreign nations as well as 20 years of money laundering which most people in New York take as a given.
3
I've always been luke warm on your columns but this one has sent me to the frozen zone.Back off from Mueller.Look at all the plea deals,indictments….one dude is in jail as we speak.It's going to take time to tie up all trump's offenses in a neat little unassailable package as there is so much to work with.So no more columns like this blockhead.
5
Another balanced opinion piece.
Good god, all that the NYT has focused on for the last year plus has been the Russia investigation. Now that it's not going their way, Bruni complains about coverage?
You can't make this stuff up.
4
Bruni has written a surprisingly shallow opinion. Mueller is the model of how to conduct an investigation, with no leaks and no publicity, just quiet and methodical work.
How can Bruni blame Mueller for the media then ignoring other important stories? The media, including the NYTimes, have willingly narrowed their focus. Somewhere in the editorial process in the NYTimes, editorial decisions are being made to ignore a whole range of stories, both political, environmental, and otherwise. This is when I wish the NYTimes had not eliminated the Public Editor, who would have made those internal decision-makers uncomfortable by asking these questions.
5
That’s all we need: an undermining voice on the left, questioning whether it is worthwhile to get to the bottom of things. If it’s a matter of expressing impatience with the length of an investigation, I can understand that, but I think mirroring the concerns of the trump camp does no one any good. After all, it’s not mueller’s fault if trump’s conspirators range across several countries. Your wishing otherwise is just wishing, and thinking that way obviously can’t be the basis of an investigation (“oh we can’t go there because it will muddy the waters!”). Take heart. The actual facts are not going to be that murky! We may not have a clear view of them right now, but the outlines of greed and corruption are visible through the mud.
6
Mr. Bruni, even though I often agree with you on this one I have to say that you and the American people, at least those of us who genuinely care about the truth, must remain patient especially in the face of the family crime boss and his lackeys' relentless attempts to discredit Mueller and his investigation. As others have stated, prior similar investigations have taken much longer than a single year, and given the shady corrupt characters involved, there is a great deal of smoke and already we are seeing hints of fires which in time I suspect will eventually engulf the entire Trump edifice. So kindly ignore the GOP sideshow and take some calming breaths and remember the words of the incomparable Yogi Berra who famously said: " it's not over til it's over".
3
This line of thinking--that Mueller is distracting us--is itself a distraction. The very fact that this author could reel off each of the other pressing issues (and I absolutely agree that all of the ones he enumerates should be on our worry list) clarifies why this is a canard.
Despite claims to the contrary, we really CAN keep our eye on more than one ball. The press and electorate can both see the critical importance of the Mueller investigation AND take note of the numerous sidebar crimes and misdemeanors. The very fact that this journalist toys with the notion that we can't is part of the problem.
2
It could take a long time to unravel a criminal enterprise that continues to reveal new avenues of interest for Mr. Mueller almost on a weekly basis. We had Manafort, Gates, Flynn. Now we have Cohen, Broidy, Freidman. Rest assured there will be more players. As much as we might like to see the investigation enter the prosecutorial stage, the unabridged scope needs to come to light. This hubris and attack on our country from within must be met and a full reckoning served. Trump is not so much a politician as he is a maniacal beast.
4
We do not know what Robert S. Mueller III is up to exactly. Mr. Bruni's opinion piece is more about impatience than anything else. The press keeps coming up with new tidbits, only to find out that Mr. Mueller already knows about them and has already questioned the persons involved. He's building a stable of flippers and slowly crossing every "t" and dotting every "i" in his case. One of these days — I also hope sooner rather than later — Mr. Mueller and his extremely capable staff will walk up to a microphone and show us what they have put together. I predict that it will be formidable. People close to Trump will go to jail. Trump himself? I don't know.
4
I agree with you, Bruni, about the lack of attention to what The New Yorker reported. I'd like to see much more "above the fold" reporting on what this administration is doing on the home front. I fear the damage being done to women's rights, the environment, the health and safety of seniors, and the future economy is a disaster we won't recover from soon. Even Trump's supporters are going to be hurt, and I wish they could see that.
1
As President, Trump should be ENTIRELY clear of collusion. How low our standards are set. As soon as the word "collusion" came to be the operative word, as opposed to the word "conspiracy", I thought we had lost the the goal, anyway. And that has been the operative word from the get-go.
The determination of whether the President is innocent of collusion is really just a political determination, as opposed to a determination of criminality. The best way to get to the root of this is to have the Democrats take the Congress, and put the facts through the impeachment process. So Vote, people!
4
Let's have Donald Trump and Hillary do exctly the same thing and see what terms a dedicated propagandistuses in each case.
Hillary Clinton uses a gov't cellphone which was apparently hacked repeatedly by foreign governments. Here at the Times, of course, that was perfectly alright, end of story.
Trunp does the same thing and NOW he's careless and maybe a fool forusing an off-the-shelf phone.
Wait! Off-the-shelf pops up here again, doesn't it?
YES! Hillary refused to use gov't email because she knew she would be receiving bribery proposals as government and businesses overseas compeed to pay her the most money.
Her off-the-shelf email server told all its secerts to at least five foreign governments, it is believed.
2
Yeah, we're all anxious, Frank... this go-nowhere piece didn't help...
4
Why should Trump have to be guilty of anything? Mr. Mueller please overthrow him!
Come on, Frank.
Don’t hold back. Really tell us how much you hate Trump.
1
The Manafort case should be taken to trial simply because the Trump dirt would be front page news every day.
Jesus, Frank, you must have been a wreck during Hillary's tenure, using her unofficial, unsecured Blackberry on Russia trips, etc. Must be outraged over her non-pros for gross negligence handling classified info.
5
The negative news cycle around all things Trump is, in general, exhausting. In general, the investigation into Trump's collusion with Russia has been going on long before the actual election. If nothing has been found out two years, I doubt anything will be now. It gets murkier in the methods being used trying to hit associates with other crimes to make them sing about collusion in hopes of getting a charge dropped for other offenses. It's looking more like blackmail, which will beg the question later, are they singing because of actual collusion or just to get out of going to jail for these other charges being levied against them?
I love the last sentence in this column. But the problem is 85% of Republicans and, in 2016, approx 60 million voters seem “ok” with what is in plain sight. So only a smoking gun from the shadows will do.
1
Please take your own advice and stop writing about it then or about him. Write about what is going on in the sidelines. Your intelligent writing brings so much clarity to so many. Start a new drumbeat of one and be the first to start the push for the media going in a new direction.
2
If he media has been sidetracked from examining all the other Trump scandals, whose fault is that? Mueller has leaked almost nothing. The leaks have been from Trump partisans shouting "witch hunt", or from releases of plea bargain agreements by Trump cronies.
The "MSM" needs to focus on the other scandals and not be diverted. But of course, that will just be further sign of the media's anti-Trump bias.
2
As I see it: Trump was more interested in getting funding from foreign governments and making money from his campaign than trying to win. Practically everyone in the Campaign had contacts or ties to Russia for the sole purpose of enriching themselves. Russia had "dirt" on Trump. Once he was elected (the most unbelievable mystery of my lifetime) his emphasis was on covering his misdeeds and those of Jr., Kushner, and others as well as using the presidency to enrichment himself. Mueller has handled Trump with kid gloves, at least according to reports from Trump's lawyers. There is no place in the constitution that prohibits a sitting president from being indicted. Presidents are not above the law. If Mueller simply sends a report to a Republican Congress his investigation will be for naught, a waste of time and money. If we are to have faith in our justice department than Trump will need to be treated like every other criminal.
2
So, not surprisingly, in the eyes of the "resistance," it doesn't matter if Trump didn't collude with the Russians or even that it was wasn't a crime if he had. It doesn't matter b/c the presumption from the getgo was that crimes - doesn't matter what - were committed. And Bruni's surprised that many Americans think it is politically motivated? It should be every American. In its expanded form, it was never a legitimate investigation.
At least the part that resulted in the indictment of 13 Russians - presuming it is based on facts (we only know what we are told), was legitimate. Unfortunately, we can't touch them and it too is likely a complete waste.
This article is a good example why Ds and Rs, liberals and conservatives, are bad for our country. It has nothing to do with elections or fairness. They just demand that those they don't like get out of office and/or be prosecuted (I know otherwise normal people who admit that they would not be unhappy with assassination). There is no difference in tactics or strategy for those chanting "lock her up" and the "resistance." There's no real difference between the Whitewater and the Russian investigations.
Unfortunately, these two parties and ideologies aren't going anywhere, and they will likely keep nominating the wrong people for office. No wonder I haven't voted for president since 2008.
Bruni is right the longer this investigation goes on the more Trump and his associates are controlling the narrative.
What have the headlines screamed for over a week now...the spy who infiltrated the Trump campaign, thats taken over all the media's talking points just like Trump wants.
Mueller must if he has indictments he is holding back for whatever reason...make them public to recapture the narrative.
1
This is an interesting theory that Mueller should not pursue all the criminal wrongdoing he uncovers because, essentially, the American people have far to short attention spans to be able to keep in mind all of the various threads. It is, sadly, probably true, and suggests that Trump has a winning formula in his effort to break so many led at once that he overwhelms American’s’ capacity to be outraged and so will likely end up getting away with all of it. Add in America’s deeply ingrained culture of impunity for powerful people and you are probably pointing in the right direction that the facts, once again will turn out not to matter because Americans aren’t really capable of following all these threads at once
Sadly, I wish you weren’t correct in your diagnosis, but you probably are.
3
In a rational world, the Mueller (investigation) would be acknowledged the charade it is - a red herring major media driven diversion, the radical left assault on the American judicial system, the weaponizing of intelligence agencies, by the utterly corrupt obama regime spying on political opponents, i.e., GOP/Trump candidacy. This is perhaps the greatest government sponsored criminal assault on America in history. Thinking people now understandably fear the government. The criminal conspiracy is vast, complicated, an existential threat to our democracy. We are shaken. We are afraid. If you're not, you should be..
5
Wow - parallel universes. The connection with Russia is clear. There have been several indictments already. We know Russia made every attempt to sway the election to Trump and Trump refuses to enforce sanctions. He has a past (paying off woman) that makes him extremely susceptible to blackmail. He fired the man investigating him. He has enriched himself and family since taking office often through nefarious connection to foreign strongmen and international figures. He refuses to have his phone surveyed. He lies as naturally as he breathes. He has known connections to Russian mob figures and has financial dealings in his past that would make even the most naive raise an eyebrow and he actively attacks the press and the institutions of government - and that is just the 1% of the tip of the proverbial iceberg we can see. And you dear man worry that we are not frightened by our attempts to control and mitigate the damage wrought by this thug - Wow.
1
Wow.....specifics please. What did Russia get in return for the "blackmail". When did DOJ magically migrate out of the executive branch so that the President wouldn't have the constitutional authority to fire Comey? He has a "past"....yawn, so does everyone in DC. Let me give you some advice....take a break from the fever swamp, learn to love your country again. Then you might start to ask real questions, like how did this whole farcical investigation begin? Or maybe.....how comfortable am I with Presidents using our nation's intelligence agencies to target political opponents. These are the real threats to our democracy.
Reaching the end of our collective ropes regarding the sinister convoluted mob-like unscrupulous mess that invaded our government and that's infecting our national blood stream, it's important to have a Linus-like security blanket to hang onto. Mahatma Gandhi provides a cognitive one: "When I despair, I remember that all through history...there have been tyrants...and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.”
4
Mr. Bruni,
In today's day and age it seems every media outlet has picked a side, the premise of we report the news with clear and independent thinking has gone by the wayside. Unfortunately the NYT has been swept up in this new style of reporting as well. I hope your bold and important article is the beginning of the way back to what reporting should be before we had "pundits" screaming at each other on cable TV. Well done to you and the NYT.
I am sure whatever evidence Special Counsel, Robert Mueller has already must be very substantial considering there are so many criminal whistle-blowers who were in Trump's inner circle.In the process of gaining more evidence or being thorough, so that it is incontrovertible we risk losing evidence and investigation which will certainly be shut-down. People are losing patience and interest. And November is too far off. Restarting a whole new investigation would mean starting from scratch and going nowhere. Therefore presenting the evidence to a grand jury and going public with Rod Rosentein's blessing has become imperative. Then I'm sure the public will take care of the rest.
Trump didn't collude. In my opinion, his total lack of morality allowed this situation. Russia wanted to affect the election and in Trump they found perfect tool, he was vulnerable because of his finances and they steered the campaign his way. In addition, the venal GOP sat by and wated because of its nefarious goals.
Now, Trump properties will pop up to house the Russian kleptocrats, Russians will continue to have a place to launder their ill-gotten loot in Trumpland and the GOP will be in hog-heaven
spreading its poison.
The key is the American people. Will they stand for it? Will they see that their country is being taken hostage by gangsters and will they even care that they are being bilked.
Justice can only be served via the ballot box, and that may already be compromised.
Only the American people can change things.
2
My dear Mr. Bruni,
Please get a grip. Your article echoes Fox News. It also seems as if hiring Giuliani, catalyst of chaos, is already paying some dividends for Team 45. Giuliani is now and forever irrelevant and without integrity. No one should jump at his dog whistling. Instead, have a closer look at the reactions of 45 at every new twist and turn uncovered by Mueller.
Mueller The Methodical is taking "so much time" (only a week or two beyond a year now) because the network of 45's entanglements are tremendously thick and deep.
4
We should be worrying more about the lack of moral compass among GOP lawmakers and Trump's cult of worshipers. He has term limits. They don't.
1
How about bribery and extortion?
1
Mr. Bruni, I am a great fan of yours. I find myself in agreement with the opinions you express on most of the issues. This is one of those rare exceptions.
Instead of applauding Mr. Mueller for the thoroughness with which he is doing his job, you have joined Mr. Trump and his ilk in ridiculing it. It is his emphasis on thoroughness and his “journey down certain tributaries” and his “crawl[ing]” and “sprawl[ing]” that has led to the indictments of many in the Trump camp for the wrongs they did that are only peripheral to the main wrong he is investigating.
Don’t you agree with me that it was the crawling and sprawling done by Watergate and Whitewater investigators that led, respectively, to the resignation of President Richard Nixon and impeachment of President Bill Clinton?
But for “Mueller’s journey down certain tributaries,” we wouldn’t have known that there are also other countries, not just Russia, that were interested in meddling in our election and helping Trump win it; and that the Trump campaign was interested in taking that help.
You are right: “Trump’s storytelling has takers.” Deplorably, his storytelling gets more credibility when the stories – most of them lies – he tells are repeated by propagandists masquerading as media mavens, like the many who work on Fox News and the Wall Street Journal editorial page.
So, Mr. Bruni, please let Mr. Mueller do his job. What he has exposed so far is only the tip of the iceberg.
5
Frank, calm down. Nobody knows except Mueller what the investigation has produced, is producing, and (probably) will produce. Leave that to the professionals.
Meanwhile, you professional journalists should do the stuff you complain about falling off the consciousness: thrash Pruitt at every opportunity (lord knows, he gives us a lot of them). Point out all the ambassadors who have resigned because this administration cares nothing about international relationships. The greed, the graft, the lies, the mendaciousness, the sheer cruddiness of this administration -- go get em! We have to have faith that good people are doing their jobs, and justice will prevail if we all DO our jobs. Stay the course. Do your job.
5
What about money laundering, racketeering, conspiracy, treason, tax evasion, ethical violations, and many more?
2
How about Mueller just release Trumps taxes. Let America see who this criminal is???
5
Dear Mr Bruni,
Can you pass on your concerns to the NY Times that more headlines should be on the gutting of our democratic institutions than Mueller's Investigation All the time even when there is nothing new to report?
Today's headlines speculating on the potential outcome of a Mueller's investigation is the perfect example.
3
What truly frightens and, yes, angers me is the outright arrogance, accompanied by ignorance, of Trump, his family, his aides and appointees, and his supporters. I think it is altogether possible he and they truly think Trump has done no wrong, They don't understand what all the fuss is about so he and they see him as being persecuted. All this lying and manipulation, all the conflicts of interest, all the expediency (the end justifies the means) and disregard for ethics, the utter cynicism and hypocrisy of it all, the fact Trump is excoriating the media and purging the government so that there is no one to speak truth to power--no one among his supporters see nothing wrong in this? He hires no experts, only toadies. His aides protect him as he protects himself from news that may upset him. Mueller investigation aside, this is all frightening! And arrogant.
3
As a nation, we tuned out long ago. Care for the feta compli salad?
Your fear is unfounded and plays into the anti-Mueller narrative. As a lawyer, I have seen grand jury investigations of a single target last as many as 3 years. We are barely into year two of the most complex criminal investigation in US history. Mueller isn’t and shouldn’t be looking at polls. Electoral politics this November will help clarify what kind of a country we are. In the meantime take a deep breath. In Mueller we trust.
4
Mr. Bruni,
Here's what I don't get. There are people focusing on the issues - Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Elizabeth Warren. And what do I read about them? That they are too polarizing.
Why aren't people like you giving thoughtful interviews to Trump's harshest critics in Congress? Why hasn't the media been able to effectively convey the extent to which Trump stayed profitable by taking advantage of bankruptcy laws and illegal contributions to his "foundation", and the fact that he continues to hide his tax returns so that we have no idea of the extent to which he and his family are personally profiting from the Presidency? How come his supporters still think Hillary is the most dishonest politician ever? Why has Trump been able to get away with his outrageous lies about Obama, the Clinton foundation and the Comey investigation into her emails?
Trump goes on offense, and Republicans play along, and the journalists then blame the targets of those attacks for somehow giving grounds for the attack - i.e. a 10 minute meeting between Loretta Lynch and Bill Clinton on a tarmac somehow cast a shadow on an investigation.
It is clear that Trump's supporters have a vested interest in believing he is as successful as he claims to be. But the fact that they want to ignore the evidence doesn't mean you shouldn't be attempting to strip away the lies and expose Trump for who he is.
10
A exceptionally well thought out and concisely stated comment. I wish I existed in proximity of you and others who have the intelligence, values and world view required to think in rational, ethical terms. Sadly not so but I certainly wish you well. Beware the bottom feeders, they seem to be omipresent.
2
"[Trump] knows that if he sets the bar at incontrovertible evidence of him and Putin huddled over a Hillary Clinton voodoo doll, he just might clear it."
Thanks, Frank Bruni, I needed that!
We have become desensitized regarding our President's behavior. There is too much focus on the President's behavior versus the policies being employed by his Administration. I think that most people understand who this President is and less about the poor decisions being made by his Administration. Please focus more on the various policy decisions (i.e. environmental, budget, military, health care, etc.). These are the issues that I think the average person is not aware of and needs to be educated by the New York Times journalists.
4
I've read that the highly principled and respected special counsel Mueller loved serving in the Marines and wanted to make the military a career. How is that possible when he served during the Vietnam War? Was he blind to America's illegal and immoral invasionl. It suggests he is a very flawed male.
"There’s a Catch-22 to these special-counsel extravaganzas: ... in order to be thorough, they risk becoming unwieldy..."
What about *this* Catch 22: in order to be thorough, they risk letting traitors, who they KNOW to be Russian agents, continue their treasonous activity, unabated, for God knows how long?
We have every reason to believe that Trump and his goons are agents of *at least* one foreign power. Mueller and his team certainly have proof of all of this. Is Mueller going to investigate ad infinitum? Does Trump inoculate himself by continuing to commit crimes Mueller will have to investigate? These traitors are doing irreparable damage to the Republic and the world EVERY DAY. It needs to stop ASAP.
2
Conman Trump's divide and conquer-- keep them distracted from the truth with constant LIES strategy-- is directly from his evil mentor, Roy Cohn's playbook. Unfortunately for US many people including those in media (who ought to know better) are caught up in the conman's shiny things side show and miss the forest for these rotten 'trees'.
False equivalency in the guise of "balanced reporting" helped deliver Trump's electoral college victory. The endless coverage of Hillary's emails and server outweighed reporting on trump's LIES, tax return refusal, sexual harassment, etc., etc.
This error of false equivalency is being repeated when Democratic leaders AND the reality based media do not clearly, forcefully and repeatedly refute Trump and his factually challenged enablers like devious Devin "know nothing" Nunes and other CONservative's claims of "witch hunt" and needing to investigate the FBI and Muller's team.
It beggars belief and is appalling that more than 1/3 of the voting age public still support Trump and think he's doing a good job. P T Barnum got it right when he declared "there's a sucker born every minute."
Or as H L Mencken put it, "No one ever went broke underestimating the Intelligence of the American public." This is what Republicans have counted on for more than thirty years.
VOTE Them OUT if you care about OUR Country and your children's future.
2
Yes the investigation is starting to look like a big nothingburger. They charged a few small fry with peripheral things so I guess Robert Mueller can claim it wasn’t a totally wasted effort. Ironically it will probably help President Trumps approval rating since most people will see him as vindicated.
4
Too funny! Bruni sees the writing on the wall - Trump/Russia is a false narrative.
4
I once heard a member of South Africa's highest court say that if S.A.'s president attempted to do something really stupid the court has the authority to override him. They no longer argue about the purity of the heart of the state because they remember how utterly corrupt SA was from top to bottom under Apartheid. Your, and every other American's, problem, Bruni, is that you are still refusing to acknowledge that America is a corrupt state, NOW. What your article strongly implies, but won't admit, is that our system of justice is too weak to take the time to throughly investigate the president. That's the problem! Not Trump. Look at the crazy things Trump can do WITHOUT accountability BECAUSE our system is so arrogantly designed as to put one person in charge! Pardons of convicted criminals; an entire nation worried whether ONE man will get us into a nuclear war; highly destructive and disruptive trade wars; etc. That's not the one crazy man's problem; that's our problem; we allow that. All this cutesy pseudo-intellectual parsing, effectively, of Trump's hair, is going to be our undoing. We lack courage as a people and are offended by nothing. There should have been a coast-to-coast national strike long ago. How hard does your head have to hit the bloody ground (reality) before you realize you've fallen off the horse!
3
Long before Trump came on the scene, President Obama had led us into an undeclared war with Russia. He was driving the Russian people to economic ruin, trying to force Putin to return Crimea to Ukraine. Journalists such as Pat Buchanan and John McLaughlin pointed out the dangers. Crimea was not going to be returned. Putin had many counter-options against Obama, e.g. intervention in Syria. Trump recognized this reality, and has been vilified for it. Trump's formal speeches on the subject have been carefully and elegantly phrased. Did Eisenhower "collude" with Stalin during WWII? Of course not! As an English person, I am forever grateful to the Red Army who died in hundreds of thousands against our common enemy.
I agree with you to the extenst that the Times and other media outlets should be focusing more on these other outrages. I want to see the conclusion of Mueller's investigation, but I also want more exposure of the very disturbing things being done by Trump's appointees. Trump admitted to Leslie Stahl that he tries tries to distract by his "fake news" claims and attacks on the media. This get reported, while policies that tear apart the very fabric of our democracy do not get the attention deserved. Trump is a showman, and he is using this to his advantage. Unfortunately, tabloid type reporting and rhetoric are very attractive to many people, as opposed to less sensational reporting. Trump's attacks on Mueller also are merely an attempt to discredit him, and per the poll you cite appears to be working. I do hope Mr. Mueller wraps this up soon, and we see what his findings are.
3
More dumb idle chatter. This man wants to see results. Blame Clinton's defeat on Russians. Nothing is mentioned of the Never Trump FBI cabal to whitewash Hillary Clinton's obvious egregious activities as Sec of State and her use of her own email server that allowed 1000s of secure emails to fall into Russian hands. How on earth this could be passed over is beyond me. These guys would rather focus on a bogus accusations that the Russians had hacked Clinton's personal email and the DNC. This obsession with getting Putin even to point of ruining their professional reputations. Trump is outrageously corrupt and the NYTs has tried without success to implicate the Putin gov't.
Mr. Bruni,
Take a breath and take a look at what has been sacrificed.
We have Russians as preferential visitors, businessmen, "bankers" for the tRump elite. The affiliation was well coordinated by Vlad and his henchmen. Well done!
There were many "coincidences" that cannot be explained. And a small incidence of obstruction of justice.
Now, it is our job to undo the wrongs, and let democracy flourish again.
As the Washington Post claims..."Democracy dies in darkness".
2
More Mueller and Stormy Daniels please! It's really hurting Trump's approval ratings as America becomes more and more interested in both topics!
1
That CBS poll must be flawed. Are there others showing the same result? How did so many come to believe the Trump lies? What happened to swing them? It's appalling.
2
My advice is to ignore Trump except for what he and his fellow GOP are doing to our country behind the scenes while Trump tweets get crazier and crazier as each day brings him and others closer and closer to the crux of the Mueller investigation.
Trump is the screaming reason why all presidential elects should undergo a psychiatric examination as far as competency to govern a country of 325M Americans, with a majority that Trump ignores or outright hates. All presidents should also undergo 6 month mental health evaluations to determine if they are still fit.
Trump has already worked hard to make enemies of our allies and if a poll is taken many of them think he is not only unfit for the job, but unstable and mentally unhealthy as well.
Mueller, and his extremely qualified staff, on the other hand, go into work each day to do their job for their country and its citizens.
Trump, on the other hand, starts each day with a crazy or nasty tweet, and then proceeds to work for himself, the accumulation of more billions for Trump Holdings, holds a meeting with Kushner as far as who is the next foreign power seeking to pay for his influence and 'good will', ignores his daily intelligence briefings, and then Fox 'news' guides his decisions impacting a nation.
Mr. Bruni, take heart, America has more people, especially women and minorities, running for political office than in the past decade. Justice will be served on a platter by either Mueller and/or the American people.
2
To paraphrase most of the commenters:
"The investigation is a good thing only if it results in the outcome I desire."
2
So, let me get this straight and try to cut through the noise. If you or I were completely innocent of any charges against us, would we be attempting to derail an investigation? I don't think so. I'd sit back, relax and let nature take it's course, because I had nothing to hide.
So, let's hope Mr. Mueller takes his time and carves out all the rot. Likely to be plenty.
4
The only real path open to Trump to legitimize himself would have been for him to win a run-off election he called himself. I'm not sorry he blew the opportunity.
2
Mr. Bruni, I share all of your fears and I, too, notice every terrifying thing that this administration is doing. I fear the GOP as much as I do Trump because they are enabling and encouraging all that he does. I fear FOX News because the lies they spew only entrench their viewer's beliefs and feed the crazy deep state conspiracy idea. I fear Russia, who will endeavor to undermine the midterms and the 2020 election. Lastly, I fear some of my fellow Americans because they no longer know or believe the truth, thanks to FOX and Trump, and a deluded populace is very dangerous to our democracy.
3
Don't be so afraid - Trump and the Republicans just saved Connecticut from certain financial ruin this year. No, the state won't be sharing any of the tax windfall with you but at least it won't go further into debt.
1
Chriva, CT's debt is the least of my worries, so I remain afraid.
Frank, you are part of the media that coddled Trump and that same media has been pushing the Distraction of Trump because it is easy news for the corporate owned decimated news teams of this country. Don't let the "Journalists" research the policy changes regressing us to the 50's and 60's when media bosses can have a cub reporter just list all the Tweets. Were I.F. Stone alive we might see some real news instead of the Presidential version of Kardashian's at home.
2
Frank Bruni concludes with: "He could be entirely innocent of soliciting or welcoming Russian help and he’d still be a proudly offensive, gleefully divisive, woefully unprepared plutocrat with no moral compass beyond his own aggrandizement."
Indeed. Many of Trump's own voters think he is innocent of Russian collusion (BTW, that is not a crime). And many also believe he is what Bruni says he is, at least a bit. But all agree that he wasn't Hillary Clinton, he wasn't Barack Obama, and he was able to win the White House.
And, all in all, he is doing what he said he was going to do. And what other candidate has done that.
4
I would say you nailed it, Mr. Bruni. Trump scares the bejesus out of me because he IS a despicable human and is encouraging the worst of America to ride roughshod over what is good and decent about America. But I also believe that we need Mueller to do his job as perfectly as possible, leaving no stone unturned and having a finely-woven cloth at the end so that there is no doubt that Trump and his henchmen have violated the law. All the other stuff scares me too - it will take decades to repair the damage. But the current version of the GOP must be utterly destroyed such that it cannot rise again and only Mueller - and the voters - have the power to do that. America is so much better that we appear to be right now.
2
Didn't the handling of the HRC emailgate scandal show us how seriously the rules on technology security for critical information are taken?
Or does it only matter if it's Trump?
1
Yeah, Frank. The majority is always right. 53% of those polled believe the investigation is politically motivated. Let's shut it down so we don't unsettle a populace that has the focus and discernment of a fruit fly crawling out of a glass of wine.
The charlatan in chief is ripping the heart and soul out of this country, abetted by a republican congress and administration that shouldn't be able to look its collective face in the mirror.
The extent of criminality, deception, and avarice that Mueller & Co are tasked to pursue around this rat pack is unprecedented. I am thankful they have the skill and stomach for it. I can only offer my thanks. And patience.
3
A couple of things still puzzle me about the collusion angle. First, we know Trump campaign officials met with Russians about dirt on Hillary. So foreigners may be providing info without being paid, so that may be considered illegal campaign contributions. Presumably Trump can just pay them, no? Isn't it the way it is handled if you accept illegal campaign donation - you just pay it back?
Second, Fusion GPS also got info from Russians about Trump. Just because it goes through a consulting firm, does it mean it's okay to get opposition research from Russians? Or is it because these Russians were approached by Steele (or his associates), whereas the Trump Russians approached the Trump campaign?
Now if it was shown that it is Russian govt, and not just Russians, how does it change the picture? The Russian govt could be behind either of the info channels.
In the reading the end state scenarios for Trump, it would seem to me that Nixon scenario (unindicted co-conspirator) would be helpful for nailing Trump and / or his co-conspirators . First, it would formally define members of conspiracy. Second, it would offer a legal argument for why Trump cannot pardon members of the conspiracy (another avenue to obstruction).
1
Based on the public evidence so far, the strongest argument for Trump's impeachment is his massive conflicts of interests, not only within America, but in foreign countries such as Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, India, the Philippines, etc. The massive extent of his foreign conflicts are clear violation of the emoluments clause.
The fact that while Trump was running for President in late 2015 and early 2016 he was seeking permission form Putin to build a Trump Tower near the Kremlin should, by itself, be sufficient grounds for impeachment.
The fact that after China recently agreed to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in a development in Asia that included a Trump development Trump greatly softened his policy against ZTE, a Chinese electronics company that violated our sanctions against Iran and North Korea -- and has been selling electronics that spy on America -- that should, by itself, be sufficient grounds for impeachment.
I don't know if these conflicts of interest, except for those involving Russia, are within Muller's authorization to investigate, but all of Trump's conflicts should be investigated, and they are all grounds for impeachment.
4
The US Congress is obviously an influence-peddling operation too.
1
Yes, yes, and yes! Congress is full of influence peddlers who are doing exactly the same thing that Trump is doing. That's why all of these "businessmen" want to go into politics, and why they argue that the government should be "run like a business." These guys literally see politics as the path to making more money for themselves and their buddies. There is not an ounce of integrity in any of them; they spend their days making deals with each other or with lobbyists.
Any thought of "public service" does not occur to them. They are there to serve themselves and their coterie of rich friends.
And that is why they are so eager to protect Trump; if Trump can get away with it, they can, too. Trump has turned the entire world into a candy store that he and his "run the governemnt like a business" buddies will loot to their hearts' content.
1
The Democratic politicians love the Russian collusion investigation because it is the smokescreen distraction they need. It lets them off the hook.
Otherwise they would have to wage a state by state struggle for a $15 hour minimum wage, labor organizing reform, free college tuition and other badly needed social reforms that their voter base desires--but which would offend the rich corporate donors whom these Democratic politicians exist to serve.
The working class, particularly the young workers, are beginning to understand how the capitalists control both parties. Using social media, they will transform the Democrats into a Socialist Party.
6
Donald Trump can confidentially claim "no collusion" because, in fact, there is no such federal crime. Mueller and his team must prove conspiracy, which carries a high burden of proof. Pursuing financial crimes offers an easier road to charges against the president.
7
As long as Trump arrived independently at the conclusion the US should be broken up, he is legally colluding with Putin. Congress has to judge it treason and impeach him for it to get rid of him.
2
I'm glad Bruni mentioned something most media is happy to give a pass and worse yet are sometimes willing to celebrate the "appointment of conservative judges".
appointing an individual who could not get the get single recommendation by the bar, is not an accomplishment it's an attack on the Judiciary as a nonpartisan Institution.
Yes Republicans celebrate this but they deserve to be shamed for this desire, not treated as an accomplishment.
5
Trump is appointing judges to exile some interests to Limbo.
Appointing republican leaning judges is an impeachable offense!
Mueller's obligation is to follow the evidence where it leads and level any charges, if any, when it's time to level them, through one of the channels available to him and R Rosenstein. It's up to the rest of us to fight our political battles on the merits.
If the Dems, Independents, Greens or whoever can't beat DJT in a fair fight (which is not at all assured, but that's another discussion), then they don't deserve to govern. Trump's presidency is a monstrosity. So come up with better policies and better ways to describe them and you should be a shoo-in. If not...we get the government we deserve.
4
Mueller may be straight-arrow, but no one can deny that this investigation is a cash cow for him and his team. It is also a cash cow for news outlets such as yours, because it gives you all something to write about, apparently endlessly.
These types of investigations cost taxpayers millions of dollars. The public has been conditioned by all the Republican goose chases to expect nothing in return, just as we have been conditioned to accept perpetual governmental inaction on dire, life threatening issues, like gun control, climate change, and inequality. Our daily sweat finances all these lawyers and politicians, media moguls and anchors, who rake in our money and ultimately do nothing but perpetuate the status quo.
Trump's evil is plain to see for anyone with a brain. Your last paragraph says it all: "While we (by this, I assume you mean mainstream pundits?) obsess over what may be hidden in the shadows, all of that is in plain sight."
5
For the last six months I have been playing with the idea that Mueller is Donald's best buddy, that the investigation is just what Mr Bruni fears - a smokescreen that hides the real ugly that is going on.
It would suit a dual purpose, first of all any GOP-negative headline would have to fight for space with the latest Trumpoversy. Second, those who could fight Trump, Pruitt and all the others that attempts to tear down both the 'united' and 'state' part of United States will sit still and quiet in the boat, waiting for the Mueller report to conclude and with that, the problems to go away.
So they, we, wait. "Any day now!"
But the report might never come. Or it will come in a form that takes another investigation to sort it out. Four years goes fast. Then another four.
3
"What would we be focusing on right now?"
We'd be focusing on whatever bug the media has up its... nose. Our focus now is determined by the media, of which Bruni is a part, and which chooses what to emphasize. And it has chosen Mueller's investigation. The rest of us don't get to choose the coverage, we get to choose only whether to tune in or tune out.
The headlines are full of mainly speculation. Instead of reporting, "Mueller's still at it. We'll let you know if there is any news," "reporters" speculate about the possibility (not the actuality) of this or that "development," or this or that new rumor, or this or about the sinister significance of no news.
Look, I'm a certified Trump despiser, but it's time for somebody to study what the media, not Trump, is doing to our democracy. Mr. Bruni should be complaining to the people who are publishing him.
4
Trump has defined the national conversation since his famous declaration of candidacy for the Republican nomination. No news except mass murder gets more coverage by the mass media. It’s because viewers are more likely to watch the news when it’s about people acting outrageously bad than when it’s about things that actually will affect how they can live in the future. Important issues appeal to the higher brain functions while bad behaviors mostly acts on people’s hormones, no effort required.
5
The energy being spent in pinning hopes on Mueller or knitting pink hats begins to grate. We wouldn't need all this wheel spinning if the same people now moaning had actually voted in 2010, 2014, and 2016. I begin to think George Will has a point: we're stuck with Trump for the duration, and we need to take our medicine and learn our lesson.
2
The US federal judiciary will be infected for decades.
If legitimate news is being obfuscated by the focus on the Mueller investigation, it is totally in keeping with how the press/media reported during the 2016 election. Ratings, clicks, & money making have degraded our news sources.
3
Mr. Bruni, I'd like to briefly echo the sentiments of Jean and Steel Magnolia...and many others, I imagine. As a citizen I have kept abreast of the many many published stories about Trump misdeeds in a broad range of respected media outlets. There is clearly smoke AND fire here. And there. And there. And there. I would expect the NYT to be counseling patience as Mueller tries to properly cover a lot of ground which IS properly within his province as laid out in his original Justice Dept. assignment. I would also expect the NYT to spend more time covering the many other problematic moves made by this "administration" if you can call it that, and spend much less time editorializing about the inner workings of Mueller's team, something you don't have access to. You have plenty of work to do on matters you DO have access to.
354
Thank you, agree and well said!
23
Yes, the press must expand the readers's
information. It failed us in the 2016 election putting
Trump daily on the front page with his false news !
30
Misdeeds to you, improvements to other.
2
It is important for our democracy that Mr. Mueller continues his work until he is satisfied that he has uncovered all criminals in this tangled web. Are we willing to miss some of them who would prefer to dismantle our government and bring about the type of government that would be authoritarian? The stakes are too high to not expose all of the criminals and put an end to their efforts.
3
Mr. Bruni, regardless of the investigation's outcome, I'm truly afraid the worst damage has already been done Trump and likely the Russians. A Democracy cannot exist without a broad consensus that the electoral process is honest and the legitimacy of its core institutions broadly accepted. Even during Bush v. Gore, though many were unhappy with the result, that result was accepted the process was accepted. Trump, Republicans and Russians have chipped away at that part of the bedrock for years. We now see the result. Without a broadly held sense that elections are reasonably fair, you cannot have a democracy. Most authoritarians love the Russian model, and it appears that they're well on their way to implementing it here. Even if there is a "Blue Wave" in November, about a third of this country will never accept that it was an honest election. That third is also armed to the teeth. This won't end well.
4
What about all these side deals for his businesses and those of his kids. He is using the United States government as a bargaining tool to raise funds and benefit his businesses.
In a side note... CBS this morning reported that North Korea is starting work on what they hope will be a "World Class Beach Resort" on their coastline. Wonder how much of Trump's "negotiations" are involved with this?
3
I’d be perfectly fine with Mueller indicting Don Jr, Jared, Ivanka and the cloud of crooks that surround Trump. At the end of the day, Frank Bruni needs to leave it up the the American people on what to do with Mueller and Trump, and 2018 and 2020 will loom large. Bruni sounds like another shrill type of NYT columnist, who has no experience in the real world outside of the Yale alumni club that their journos all occupy. Trust the American people to figure it out. Maybe they were right in 2016 to elect a dark money chasing, ignoramus, corrupt idiot—because that is where the media and culture are now.
It's like some kind of invasion -- these billionaires, dictators and GOP in cahoots - to take over America!
6
This article is following its own "Catch 22." To keep the issue alive that Trump is not to be trusted this Paper is constantly adding potential facts and figures attempting to be more convincing thus becoming too detailed in never ending arguments and possible facts and figures. This has been going on way too long now to be informative and interesting. The New York Times' constant effort to crash Trump has backfired big time. Not very smart.
3
All Trump's other misdeeds, vis-a-vis wholesale governmental malfeasance, pay-for-play, self-enrichment, sexual harassment, etc., should be front and center, and they are to anyone paying attention. Unfortunately, few of us seem to be. Trump is America's karma for indifference and laziness.
8
After Mueller is done, Trump will miss him.
1
This is exactly true, it's obvious... how corrupt Trump and his family are.
3
“One could go mad trying to prove that Donald Trump Jr. tried to collude with the Russians or the Saudis or the Emiratis, as opposed to being a dunce.” Or he could be both a dunce AND guilty of collusion. The two statuses are not mutually exclusive. A survey of the occupants of any penitentiary will demonstrate that criminals are generally not too bright.
4
Mueller is fighting a war following the “Geneva Conventions”. Trump is fighting the war like Assad in Syria...poison gas and all. Will the good guys win? It is looking increasingly like the answer is “no”, which is really a tragedy for our country.
3
The collateral nefariousness and unsavory opportunists are part of the problem. Ross Douthat's column suggests that this is exactly what we should be focusing on to unseat Trump--the sleaze and the grift--rather than the Russia activity.
No one likes corruption, and it's what he promised to end. But many see the Russia investigation as, if not a witch hunt, an attempt to nullify the election. This is a narrative that Trump-Fox have spun, and it has taken hold on the right. Hillary assists the narrative whenever she surfaces. I wish her well, but its clear she remains a political target and a dog-whistle to certain people. It would benefit Democrats if she would retreat from the spotlight even more than she has.
3
I get your worries Frank !
But trump is like a disease in this America and infecting others who comes to contact with him.
Bobby Mueller is poised, regal, focused is our only hope to get away from this killer infection.
Go and get him Bobby !
2
Unfortunately, your analysis is so right. Trump is the smoke screen/enabler for the GOP as they strip the USA of anything that was good. Mueller's investigation will end to late to save us from these monsters and the dumb and bad will inherit the earth or whatever is left of it.
7
I vote for the full on, most aggressive approach against DJT.
Gather materials prep the report and starting soon after the November midterms I will support an indictment of DJT.
This will keep him tied up in proceedings and ultimately into the Supreme Court most likely.
Want to keep a maniac off the roads?.. keep him tied up in traffic court all day!
DJT will do far less damage to this country if he knows he is being barraged 24x7 until he leaves office.
Vote in November!
6
The incidents that people point to two incidents as evidence of unlawful collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia. One is the Trump Tower meeting and the other George Papadopoulos’ attempt to set up meetings with Russians purported to have thousands of incriminating Hillary Clinton emails. The irony is that these two incident tend to indicate no collusion occurred.
If the Trump campaign and Moscow were coconspirators, why would Donald Trump Jr., Paul Manafort, and Jared Kushner meet with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya at Trump Tower—of all places—in June 2016? Why would the meeting be necessary? If you were involved in a covert operation with Russian operatives, would you parade your Russian contact and her interpreter through the lobby of Trump Tower? On her way out, Veselnitskaya was introduced to Ivanka Trump as she stepped off the elevator. This wasn’t cloak and dagger stuff.
If the Trump campaign and the Kremlin were coconspirators, why was Papadopoulos in June 2016 still trying—unsuccessfully—to set up meeting with Russians purported to have thousands of incriminating Hillary Clinton emails? Of course, no one believes the emails ever existed. If they if they did exist, why didn’t the Russian release them? But assuming they did, why wasn’t the FBI trying to find out what Hillary did that was incriminating?
1
Without collusion there were plenty of violations of campaign finance, money laundering, pay to play and on and on. More than enough criminal activity that it was caught by the Justice Department.Enough that all Americans should want to end this administration.
2
So far, only the Bernie Sanders campaign has been fined for campaign finance violations. It paid a $14,000 fine for accepting campaign donations from an Australian labor union. Trump hasn’t been charge with money laundering or “on and on.”
To me it's pretty obvious that Trump and his co-horts are guilty. The idea that it's just collusion is a not important. I believe that it's a tip of the iceberg. It is the same thing as a prosecutor who investigates a mob boss for say murder but finds evidence of tax evasion, racketeering, illegal drugs, guns, etc. Mueller knows that even if he can't get direct evidence of collusion tied direct to Trump (just like mob bosses use a hit man to commit murder) that he's guilty because those under him are guilty and evidence is there.
Besides what a short memory folks have in the GOP !! hypocrites all !! BENGAZI? remember how long that took? and there was no real there there. What did they want to find Hillary guilty of exactly? They ended up running with the emails and they still are. GIVE ME A BREAK!
4
One thing stands out in this drawn out process. Trump is doing everything possible to stall, cover up, disparage Mueller, the FBI, our whole Intelligence corps, and every party germane to the investigation. This is pure and simple "obstruction of justice." Something is there and "someone" is trying desperately to hide it.
4
If one were inclined to be whipsawed by contradictory punditry, Linda Blair's 180 degree head turn would seem normal. There's plenty of contradiction (and advice) going around, but rarely from the same pundit! Recently you take your colleagues in the press to task for concentrating too heavily on the bottomless pit of TrumpWorld, but now you suggest that Trump's polar - Mueller - is caught up in the same maelstrom of minutiae.
This is a situation where you *can* have it both ways, but consider this as a possibility. Far from Whitewater clumsily stumbling its way to Monica Lewinsky, it appears - more and more - that Trump's fingerprints are on every piece of silverware in the drawer, every ruby in the jewelry case.
A cry to "wrap up the investigation" is a whimper for Mueller to ignore side paths and forks in Trump's road that have the potential to reveal that the U.S. really did elect a (hopefully) non-lethal mobster. No detective or prosecutor charged with investigating a single crime would ignore the discovery of others during the investigative process.
"Follow it wherever it leads" is the proper watchword, That's how a bungled burglary at the Watergate ultimately led to a clear path of impeachment, and Whitewater led to an actual impeachment. Both investigations followed markedly unexpected paths from the outset, so it's hard to see why Mueller's investigation should be wrapped up in the interests of just "getting it behind us".
4
The comments here prove that the Mueller witch hunt is nothing but a coup by the fascist left to overthrow a fairly elected president. The American People see the left’s temper tantrum coup for what it is, and are disgusted and angry!
4
With the hardening of the GOP to protect their own party over the country and with the desensitizing effects of all the lies and unethical actions from the WH, I'm feeling just like the author.
Look at the primary in Texas few weeks ago: 1.5M GOP voters turned out vs. 1M DEM voters. Where are the DEM? sitting at home waiting for Mr. Mueller to handcuff Trump?
NOTHING, NOTHING is under your, the voters', control right now wrt Mr. Mueller investigation or the behavior of the WH+GOP.
The ONLY control you have is what you can do now: get more people out to vote the GOP out of power.
Yes, do hope that you can win a lottery, but don't bank on it and quit your job.
3
Mr Osnos' recent article in the New Yorker about how civil servants who are long-established and professional - i.e: impartial enough to serve under both Republican and Democratic administrations - are being shifted into meaningless jobs if not forced out altogether was truly disturbing. I considered joining PeaceCorps in the past couple months, but the very idea of serving as a PR rep for the current administration is precisely what kept me from volunteering.
As far as our current Congressmen and WH admin go, they are perfectly happy with the duration of Mueller's investigation because ultimately, even if they are voted later this year, everyone will still make a pretty good buck due to the ridiculous changes this administration has already made. Don't expect for a moment for Congress to impeach Trump - even should it largely become Democratic in a few months - because there is still plenty payback. That's the saddest part of our government, and it will likely continue for several more years at the very least.
2
You're absolutely right that much more attention should be paid to the ongoing corruption in this administration. Rather than draining the swamp, Trump and his ilk epitomize the swamp. He has been dumping raw sewage into it, and it's being overlooked because of the outsized attention paid to the Mueller investigation.
Let Mueller do his job, and wait for his report. There's no need for reporters to be trying to ferret out details of what's going on behind the scenes. We can find out later. Meanwhile, let's pay attention to the damage that Trump and his ilk are inflicting on us right now.
6
Bruni, You present hard logic forged into a strong argument. But it’s not the panting, simplistic view that the rest of the media are feeding us. Please continue to present your case for the slim chance we may regain our powers of reasoning and our binocular vision.
2
While the Democrats focus on some crazy collusion fantasy that never happened, the economy continues to boom, North Korea whines, President Trump adds victory after victory and his poll numbers soar higher and higher! And the vaunted Blue Wave is now a tiny trickle!
1
Mueller needs to do a good job and that takes time. The Special Counsel knows what he is doing. He is competent and courageous. He is a combat veteran, he knows battle. More importantly, he is staying quiet as he proceeds. But because of how Mueller has conducted the investigation the President is not just having to defend against Mueller. Trump's greater problem is that he is now fighting on many fronts. His exposure grows with every passing day. The clock is ticking and this will not end well for Trump.
1
I think the majority of Americans still realize how inept, self-serving and corrupt Donald Trump and his administration are, but short of voting in the midterms and using Mueller's investigation to hobble or impeach him, we have no ideas of what to do about Trump between now and November, 2020. To some extent we are tuning him out, because, helpless to stop it, the whole business is profoundly depressing. I'm one of them. But rest assured that I intend to vote in every election, and I intend to vote against every Republican on the ballot. My disgust hasn't dampened my resolve in any way, and I am hopeful that there are millions of Americans in exactly the same boat.
4
Time to calm down....
The scope of the Mueller investigation is broad. As noted in the one page 5/17/17 order by Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein, Mueller is tasked to conduct a United States law enforcement investigation of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and any Russian (or other foreign) interference in the election, including exploring any possible links or coordination between Trump’s campaign and the Russian government, "and any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation."
That's alot to cover. A Lot.
Mueller's investigation is moving very quickly, according to many experts familiar with how these investigations work. The Special Counsel has publicly initiated criminal proceedings against 19 people—five U.S. nationals, 13 Russian nationals, and one Dutch national—and three Russian organizations, using two different federal grand juries to issue indictments (one in DC; one in VA).
And Mueller is not a grandstander - his voice, and members of his team's voices, are not being heard in the press, as the investigation with all of its complexities continues on.
Let Mueller And His Team Continue On Its Path.
4
I agree with every word in this piece. It's a disheartening time.
1
Trump's willingness to fabricate everything out of nothing is clear disdain for reason. It is about power and smiting your enemies, and everyone is an enemy unless proven subservient.
This is how dictators have arisen and seized control since the beginnings of civilization. The more Trump lashes out, the more certain it is that our freedoms are moving from a right to an illusion.
Republicans in Congress are whipped, with their tails between their legs. We are reminded daily that Mueller and most the staff in Justice and the FBI identify as Republicans too.
We would be foolish to think that when Trump acts against Mueller and decimates the upper echelons, that the remaining rank and file with their mortgages and families will act any different than Congressional leadership.
3
Beautifully written but very, very scary in that it reflects exactly the same thoughts and feelings that have been building in me for weeks.
It's like standing next to an enormous balloon that is being filled with ever-increasing amounts of air, swelling and expanding way past the capacity you would expect it to have, and then just standing there with face screwed up, teeth clenched, and fingers in ears as dreadful apprehension awaiting the massive blow-out expands at the same exponential rate.
Watching trump preen and crow more and more as the days go by is grotesque. Watching his base swell in their relentlessly ignorant outrage and pride is sickening. And contemplating the myriad new rabbit holes being dug on a daily basis is chilling.
The gaslight is getting much too bright!
Please get it done and out there, Mr. Mueller, please!
3
Mr. Bruni, you are right in being scared of the Robert Mueller investigation of the Russian influence on the 2016 US election. Mr. Mueller changed the thrust of the investigation to potential collusion of Mr.Trump with the Russians apparently without having authority to do so. A federal judge said Special Counsel Robert Mueller should not have “unfettered power” in probing ties between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia, and accused Mueller of using criminal cases to pressure Trump’s allies to turn against him. In short, Mr. Mueller lost the veneer of 'independent' Special Counsel and exposed himself as ordinary sleuth in a politically motivated Witch Hunt to get Trump impeached. Fat chance of that!
43
He has all the authority he needs and the comment that he doesn't is false.
65
Mr. Durand, you assert that " Mr. Mueller changed the thrust of the investigation to potential collusion of Mr.Trump with the Russians apparently without having authority to do so. " Actually your claim if patently false. A federal court in DC ruled last week that transactions of Paul Manafort from 2006-7 fall within the ambit of Mueller's authority. What you are referring to is a federal judge in Virginia questioning a prosecutor for the gov't. That judge has yet to rule. This is hardly a witch hunt! At least 14 people have been indicted and/or plead guilty including Trump's top foreign advisor and first national security adviser and his campaign manager. how is that a witch hunt!
61
Tulvio, the Special Prosecutor is empowered, indeed he is charged, with pursuing *any* criminality he uncovers in the course of his investigation of Russia's role in the election. Given what has transpired thus far, it is quite likely that much will be revealed that the American electorate has a right to know.
47
“One could go mad trying to prove that Donald Trump Jr. tried to collude with the Russians or the Saudis or the Emiratis, as opposed to being a dunce.”
come on now--- this constant criticism of Trump's children: Had Hilary won and Chelsea begun a career in politics, her socializing with world leaders would have been considered charming by the NYT; same with the Obama girls. You biases are so obvious. Your Elite Left biases are why Trump won, it's the foundation of the surge of "authoritarian populism" in America.
2
You miss the point! Hillary would never have hired her own family!
And never mind that Trump's children are selfish criminals.
1
I suspect that collusion and obstruction my just be the tip of the proverbial iceberg. It appears that poll numbers are taken far too seriously these days, as well. So, I'm not scared by Mueller's investigation and question what the point of this article is about?
2
Trump may be a plutocrat with no moral compass but he has got our economy humming again with low unemployment and our enemies know where they stand. Furthermore, he has no use for political correctness. I,for one, am happy that he is president and Not Hi.lary.
5
@George Fisher: The economy has been "humming along" for the past nine years on a steadily upward trajectory, so Trump is just riding on Obama's coattails, as usual.
Trump's election and the one-party takeover of all 3 branches of government pleased a lot of powerful Republicans whose businesses are now booming. Texas suddenly started getting - and taking - a lot more federal money to fund all kinds of right-wing, anti-environmental projects. They are building more freeways here, making room for more gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs to pollute air and congest cities.
Of course, that is AOK with the Texas fossil fuel industry, as gas prices are now at the highest they've been in years. The CEOs are raking in the extra money the rest of us are paying at the gas pump. American car companies have all suddenly dialed back their plans to produce less polluting cars. Now they want to put plenty of giant polluters onto the myriad highways being built out into myriad new cookie-cutter suburbs. Texas cities are turning into Los Angeles: sprawling, bloated, polluted, drowning in traffic.
Whoo-hoo. If this is what economic growth looks like, count me out. No money for public schools or teachers, no money for healthcare, no money for the arts or higher education, no money for public transportation or the national parks, no money for Social Security, Medicaid, or Medicare -- but plenty of money for CEOs, pollution, right-wing activism, political campaigns, and right-wing media brainwashing!
2
Small point: If you're going to high-five DJT for his lack of political correctness then I'm sure you were not one of the Repubs who took to their fainting couch after the White House Correspondents' Dinner...correct?
1
Imagine if we all got scared fighting for LGBT marriage equality, Mr. Bruni? Hard to believe that fight for equality went on for centuries and was won in all places the Supreme Court. That fight was scary but well worth it because it was about equality.The stakes of the Trump investigation are even bigger since it involves democracy and rule of law. Trump has had a lot of practice conning people, committing crimes and not paying the price. He has a life time of practice. This time the Trump con may actually involve Congress and is as serious as it gets. I am not scared but focused. More than ever focused on the Trump administration and their unethical and criminal behavior than if Trump had just co-operated with Mueller. This investigation maybe longer than we would have imagined because the con or crimes are the biggest that has ever been pulled off but by the end of the Trump investigation the light of democracy maybe saved.
6
We all need to take a deep breath and settle in for the end game. Trump is a vile and wicked man and Mueller is doing everything by the book to make sure there is no escape hatch. This a 15 round heavyweight fight and we are probably in round 8 or 9. Whatever the outcome the country's fate is in our hands. Vote Nov 6th.
10
Remember the movie "Groundhog Day"? It was an amusing film with an unusual plot device. There was a slapstick element of the frustration and angst of the main character as he couldn't escape the loop until he figured out how to use the loop. Still he was caught until he was saved by love. Schmatz but loveable. Now our whole country is stuck in a loop, in Groundhog day, every day, no relief in sight unless we vote in Democrats, who are out of favor now. We are tearing our country apart and we wake up every day to the same destruction. Your are right Mueller can't fix us, we have to fix ourselves. We may not be able to find our way out until we discover love. Love or our country, love of our laws, love of our fellow Americans. Now we are wallowing in the stew caused by the incompetent, mean spirited plutocrat out for his own aggrandizement. Good lord I'm unhappy.
3
I am worn out. I fear Trump is winning. I am weary and worried and disgusted at Republicans in Congress who are enabling this lunatic. Mueller cannot work fast enough to stop the increasing damage to our institutions and the fabric of our society. "Hotels in North Korea" -- Kim actually SAID that! What has happened to us?
6
"Mueller and Russia, Russia and Mueller: This is the drumbeat, sometimes deafening and often drowning out all else." Okay then, stop playing the drums. Try something called investigative journalism for a change.
5
The thing is, Mueller was brought in to investigate the Russian connection. All these indictments he is bringing over taxes and possible Stormy Daniels payments, that is not part of it.
4
The last paragraph says it all. What if Trump wasn't smart enough to collude with Russia and is simply a semi-honest businessman and charismatic liar? What if he is not a calculating racist but simply longs for the 1950s, when life for folks like him was even better? What if his ideas about law and order, immigration, women, etc are based on life in the 1950s? (Except the lack of guns.) Because of his crudeness, people ascribe all kinds of things to him that may not be true. If we can all agree that his behavior is unacceptable, whatever his motives, that would be a start.
3
The one solution remains: Vote Democrat in November. Without Democrats controlling Congress we will get at least two more years of this, no matter whether Trump or Pence is President.
6
"dual set of rules — proper ones that apply to others and nonexistent ones that let him and his clan do as they please — and it puts the lie to his supposed horror over Hillary Clinton’s sloppy email habits."
Read that again, and write another paragraph about dual sets of rules. I don't recall your outrage over Clinton's.
3
It's about time for another public sign from Mueller that progress is being made. We've gotten those from time to time in the form of indictments (notably Manafort and Flynn) and the search warrants served on Michael Cohen, but those of us who believe in the investigation need a morale boost, and those opposed to it need a reminder that Mueller is watching and coming for them too.
2
The vendetta against Trump is very obvious, Hillary’s fingers and Obama’s residuals all over the place because they lost big time an election they suppose not to loose .... the word “Russia”... will never ever be mentioned if Hillary had win the elections... please dems and liberals get over it...
5
Trump IS an idiot but he is also cunning and manipulative. He has a lifetime of experience in working people and getting away with questionable behavior. What makes him an idiot is his complete unwillingness to learn anything substantive especially if it doesn't fit into his very narrow and rigid view of the world.
It's probably a mistake for people to be counting on the Mueller investigation to solve the problems we face as a result of the administration's actions, non-actions, and malfeasance. Mueller's final report may help us better understand much of what went on during the 2016 election but it won't be a magic bullet that somehow solves the myriad problems we're facing as a result of the election.
The only way out of this is through the hard work involved in citizen action, voting people out of office and holding the media to a higher standard regarding coverage of what the administration and Congress are doing -- or not doing as the case may be.
8
Good. Now liberals are more divided!
4
Bruni: "He (Trump) could be entirely innocent of soliciting or welcoming Russian help..." Really, Mr. Bruni? Really? You say this after you have written column after column assuring your readers that Trump must be guilty of colluding with the Russians in attempting to defeat Hillary Clinton while neither you nor any of your like-minded pundits and reporters have offered any probative evidence whatsoever, evidence that would be admissible in a court proceeding, that would establish that these allegations against Trump are true?
Trump's character, while deplorable, does not justify the McCarthyism-like campaign you and your fellow pundits and reporters from the fourth estate unleashed against him. The very moment Wikileaks published the damning and accurate information about Hillary Clinton's speeches to the Wall Street bankers, that the the DNC had secretly undertaken efforts to undercut Bernie Sanders campaign, and so much more, John Podesta immediately shifted the spotlight: "The Russians did this for Trump!" - not the truth of what actually happened: "Hillary botched her own election campaign." And just as quickly you and your ilk in the news media took up the cudgels of pressing this claim against Trump unceasingly in every way possible - without evidence to prove it - until today when, at long last and for the first time, you say, "He could be entirely innocent of soliciting or welcoming Russian help"..? Give us a break. Shame on all of you.
4
It is the fault of the media who aspire to a billion clicks on their stories and the rapid fire finger pointing action of the news shows that is to blame for Americans not hearing enough about these things. I've been worried about the Court long before the election, noting that it is the courts that rule our lives as the arbiter of the Constitution. But the news media -- local and national -- refuse to cover the courts because they don't know how without a bad/good guy juxtaposition.
There are experts that can speak to these things, but the ratings and click-bait goals of the news media give us Mueller, Stormy, et al.
I think we'll live through this -- but barely.
6
I hold The NYT in the highest regard. You make several good points. Especially relevant is your concern that the constant reporting on the Mueller investigation serves as cover for the
Damage Trump is doing to all agencies of government. While true, it is too important to downplay.
However, I would like to see more featured reporting by The NYT outlining The specific changes Trump and just as important CONGRESS are making that are dismantling environmental protections, consumer laws, etc. that are contrary to the interest of America and its average citizens.
Trump supporters have already made up their minds.....no collusion. As we wait for Muellers investigation to run its course please help educate us as to how he and The Republicans
Are destroying those parts of the government that we, including most Trump, supporters value.
10
Mr. Bruni is right. How did we get from "Russia collusion" to "Stormy Daniels?" Because there isn't any collusion to be found or you need a microscope to find it. Donald Trump is like a racetrack rabbit that his political detractors keep chasing around in circles, exhausting themselves and accomplishing nothing. Let's get the political discussion back on topics that matter: tax policy, trade policy, regulation policy, immigration policy, foreign policy. Only Republicans are working on these topics now as Democrats just keep chasing the Trump "rabbit" around in circles.
2
As the Right correctly points out, Liberals are totally obsessed with th e Russia probe, they aren't. in the same way that CNN and the rest of the media gave air to Trump's smoldering campaign by endlessly rebroadcasting his every twitch and belch, the are similarly giving too much air to the Russia probe. The answer is not to blame Mueller but to focus on what else is really going on under Trump. Shooting bear cubs in their dens, abrogating treaties to spite his predecessor, appointing ideologues to the federal courts, tax policy scamming, breaking promises to the people who elected him, upending trade policy to no one's benefit... There is plenty to focus on besides Mueller and Stormy Daniels, if the media is willing to print it.
I still ask myself how this publication can run a three part series on the financial entanglements of China's political elite but has yet to publish an extensive probe on the corrupt clown show that is running DC. Maybe there is still hope?
5
Your nervous feelings on this investigation are not that justice will be served, but that your political ideologies won't be served by it? All of the diversions about the Judiciary (which the Dems and Harry Reid enabled assuming they) were winning the election and selecting the judges and the manipulating of the investigation (remember back to President Obama telling the nation and his DOJ in the middle of an investigation that Hillary would be found innocent) are just aiming for a political objective of this investigation and have nothing to do with waiting for the findings.
3
I wish the Dems would be as vocal as the Republicans in pushing back on Trumpś outrageous lies. How despairing to suspect that a president could so lack the moral fiber and integrity it takes to be a good leader, and no amount of repetitions or redundant tweets can change that. I wish more people had considered Trump´s many lawsuits (some 2500???) and nefarious past before they voted for him. Heś no more than a common thug with a whole host of thug connections.
In light of this article it appears even more despairing that such a low liar like Trump may not be held accountable for breaking the law. The only comfort is in knowing that no matter what one day he will have to answer to a higher power.
Worst of all are the cowering Republicans who have lost their ability to walk the moral high ground and do whatś right for the country rather than what they perceive to be good for themselves- they should call Trump out on his many lies! They are so compromised they have become nothing more than a pathetic lot of enablers.
4
This column is Exhibit A for how Trump's behavior is being "normalized" through the sheer quantity of the media's ratings-focused, endless obsession with his every thought and word.
We are so beaten down now with the Trump coverage that we are starting to tune out. This, of course, is the strategy of Trump and his many media allies.
With his outsized media megaphone and fog machine, he can simply shout down, obfuscate and ultimately evade and outlast any charges that our beleaguered legal system can make, with all its quaint notions of confidentiality and due process.
It's just another sad development in our ongoing transition from a liberal democracy to a strongman, personality-cult, authoritarian, corporate oligarchy.
4
When there is on an ongoing crime spree shouldn't the first step be to take the main perpetrator out of circulation by any legal means available immediately?
3
Robert Mueller will press on with or without the constant media coverage. His final analysis will be the same. It is time for the press to focus on things within the administration that are not Russia focused. We need to start shining a light on the other democracy-busting activities of this administration and some of their harmful policy decisions.
3
I disagree with you Mr Bruni. Mueller just got a Cohen (Trump's lawyer) associate to cooperate with his investigation. Says to me the focus is narrowing to Trump himself rather than his associates. I believe there is obstruction of justice, and it's the low hanging fruit. Mueller is following the conspiracy trail and Trumps connection with the Russian underworld is widening his investigation. When it does become public, the case will be so air tight Congress will have no choice but to indict.
4
The Senate is paying attention to what Trump and his cronies are up to, and the media is paying attention to goings-on in the Senate.
If the Mueller investigation weren't going on, Trump wouldn't be running so scared. And the Current Occupant would have even more time to devote to ruining the country.
Trust the process, Mr. Bruni. Remember to breathe. Don't pay much attention to the polls; remember how wrong they were in 2016? And maybe take a break from watching television news for day or two, when you need a break.
Spend your time encouraging the Democrats to craft a cohesive message to present to skeptical voters in November.
Hang in there! We're all in this together. The investigation will probably end early next year, and Trump will be gone by 2020.
Thank you for all that you do for your readers. I hope we'll convince you that all is not lost.
3
I can only say that perhaps we do not deserve the system of government that we have. It requires a vigilant, knowledgeable and decent people.
4
Well you better get used to the fact that Robert Mueller may be our only hope. Bernie took out the leading Democrat,the most popular Democrat we had, and now we are dependent on Republicans to get us out of this mess. No Democrat in the land has any say now, thank you very much Bernie. Bernie gave Republicans credibility by strongly criticizing Hillary from the left. My falsely tying her to the banks. The Republicans, and the Russians, and others all aided Bernie and his campaign against Hillary. He was told by his campaign that he was infiltrated by Republicans and others but because it helped him he said nothing. Now he wants to run again.
3
Would the Russia investigation's duration be a source of frustration if Trump admin didn't constantly shout about it being a politicized witch hunt that's gone on for too long? Watergate was longer and a much less complex matter to investigate.
3
Yes, Frank, I see what you mean.
How about getting the Trump tribe to cool it for one week, then ask Mueller, please, could you give a progress report! Say, by Labor Day? (Take ur pick: obstruction or soliciting foreign intervention in our election!)
That way there’ll be time for turning the electorate’s attention to that host of ethical outrages we’ve ignored!
The chief advantage of having this report would be to clear the air of impeachment talk at Mid-terms. That way Democrats can concentrate on policy, so long pushed out of the news of the day!
Agree entirely it's what Trump is doing in plain sight that is most obnoxious... but a big part of that plain sight damage is Trump's attempts to wreak havoc on the rule of law, by systematic attacks institutions and the law that protect it.
Skewering him for these attacks is essential to preserving the Republic, in your colleague Roger Cohen's word.
Put aside the horrifically nasty policies across the swathe of federal agencies - if he can use the Justice Department, the FBI, and the courts to attack his opponents and his critics, it's Katy bar the door on the health of the Republic.
Free and fair elections - maybe; degradation of the environment for private profit, possible; self enrichment by the ruling junta, very likely; preserving constitutional rights from racist, xenophobic attack, in mortal peril.
We must blow up this perception he is spreading, that he is a king, even for a few years, and not subject to the law. Everything else depends on it.
3
A solution to our Trump problem [modest]
All 320,000,000 Americans contribute $10.00 per head to a fund which could total 3.2 Billion dollars.
Wealthy patriots are encouraged to contribute more than $10.00.
The fund is then given to Donald Trump. By accepting this money Trump agrees to resign from the presidency.
This shortcut to the fulfillment of Trump's cleptocratic plan would be tax free.
It's just so crazy it might work.
2
End the Mueller witch hunt and let freedom ring!
3
If that happens, the Dems will have to elucidate their plan to fix the high employment and low taxes.
.
Mayor Bloomberg thinks poor people should pay higher taxes to change their unhealthy ways.
.
After that, I don't know what the Dems would do. Neither does anyone else. And if Mueller keeps going, no further thought is necessary.
1
Sometimes I feel the same way. Then I realize that Mr. Mueller is an honorable man and believe that he would wrap up this thing if he thought he was going down the rabbit hole. He is onto something, but it is so nefarious and wide-ranging that it is taking a long time to pull all the tangled threads apart.
Sadly, even if Mr. Mueller and his team lay out an extraordinarily thorough set of facts pointing to criminal actions, forty-five's minions will look the other way, or change the narrative. That is scary.
3
Mueller and the Democrats are in sheer panic mode as reality sinks in. Mueller has nothing on our great President Trump! Mueller doesn’t even have anything on the Russians he indicted, which is why he’s scrambling to delay, delay, delay handing over his “evidence”. Mueller indicted a Russian company that didn’t even exist!
4
I share Mr. Bruini's opinion. The longer this goes we become complacent. Oh, God, another "breaking news" story. A check of the television ratings of the big 4 MSNBC shows, between 4pm and 9pm, pacific time, might indicate a weariness on the subject. I, for one, am listening less and less as time goes by. As a human being my tolerance for"breaking news" is wearing thin. Let's hope Mueller ends this quick and ends this presidency. Vote in November to drain the swamp.
1
There are a few echoes of Trump in Bruni's OP-EP. This investigation is not long as Trump, his cronies and Bruni claim. It is only a bit more than a year old and has already garnered more than a handful of pleas and criminal acts. Bruni's lament that in the end Trump may be found innocent of collusion with the Russians is reminiscent of Trump's own 'NO COLLUSION' tweets. There is reason to believe that a rather full picture of Trump's obscruction, collusion, corruption, tax evasion, money laundering, etc., will the result of the Special Counsel's work. Pruitt will not escape some of the the consequences of his unethical behavior and neither will Jared or Don Jr.. Mueller and his team are peeling away at the criminality and destruction of democratic principles and institutions. That Trump is conning numbers of Republicans at the same time is understandable. Mueller, the free press, the FBI and most of the American people have the upper hand. Trump and his cronies will be revealed and we will then have the challenging job of rebuilding our democracy.
3
Perhaps rather than share your investigation fatigue -- which is contagious -- with the Times readership, it would be better to summarize the long list of indictments, plea bargains and subpoenas that have already come out of the investigation. Whether or not Mueller ever proves "collusion" (actually, the crime is conspiracy), there is so much already-established wrongdoing that it's implausible that the Trump inner circle -- and likely Trump himself -- will emerge without criminal charges.
3
Frank Bruni has a point that American's with their distressingly short-term memories will grow weary of a prolonged investigation and the likelihood of it having sufficient results to prove high crimes and misdemeanors will lessen. Bruni's larger point which worries me intensely is that Trump is likely to be 'guilty' of numerous other crimes and misdemeanors that should be honestly investigated for abuse of power, emoluments abuses and more, not to mention his apparent development of public policy not in the best interest of the nation but in the best interest of Donald Trump. Democracy is alarmingly fragile and our nation's democratic values are under ruthless and continual siege by this President and his merry band of henchmen and hench-women. The Republican majority aides and abets the endless assault on the rule of law, at least when it is applied to Donald Trump. Terrifying and sad. I am not accustomed to living in a nation that has become the laughingstock of the world. That said, carry on Mr. Muller. You are a beacon of hope in a swamp of lies and abuses of Presidential power.
3
The recent Evan Osnos article in the New Yorker that Mr. Bruni refers to is the most compelling, shocking, and disheartening compilation to date of this administration’s consequential outrages. Bruni is right that it hasn’t garnered the attention it deserves. Highly recommended.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/05/21/trump-vs-the-deep-state
4
The Electoral College won the election period sad!
2
How sad for the Democrats that the law and the Constitution were followed.
2
Raskolnikov and Porfiry, 21st Century version. But yes, please shine some light on the actions of this billionaire cabal. Remember, their puppet just wrote an opinion allowing employers to limit their employees' right to sue. The little folks get squished further.
2
So, what is the point of a major journalist in a major paper complaining that there is too much media focus on the Mueller investigation?
If you think it's too much, and you think it's important to report on other things, why waste precious column space talking about it some more?
Why not drop the subject and write about what you think is important? Because that would be a simple solution that does not involve any sly, underhanded attacks - disguised as "questions" - on the investigation itself.
3
Mr. Brun, in the absence of the "collusion" issue, another one of the infinite Trump atrocities would predominate the media causing much the same effect. The guy has so many to choose from!
Yes, many of us hang our hopes on the Mueller investigation of his possible conspiracies with the Russian and other governments. It seems the best way to get rid of him since about a third of the voting public will support him regardless of what he does. And that includes many members of our Congress.
To be sure, he is breaking all kinds of laws. But, being a traitor is the most heinous of all. The Russian hacking to influence our 2016 election was an act of war. Therefore, traitor/treason are appropriate labels.
Here's a thought though. Maybe the media needs to develop a new formula for news coverage. What if media organizations divided up all the major categories of this multitude of unethical or potentially criminal behavior and made those their second focus for news coverage? There are more than enough media organizations to ensure that several cover each category ensuring comprehensive coverage and healthy competition. Think outside the box.
1
You mean that more Americans would notice the things they elected him to do, i.e. appointing conservative justices to the courts, curbing the administrative/government contractor state.
There is just as much of an argument that the Mueller investigation is distracting people from actual accomplishments of the administration.
2
Is the really scary thing the possibility that there were national entities other than Russia, so called "allies", involved in clandestine discussions with the Trump campaign? Yes, indeed, as Mr. Bruni suggests, let's all hurry along now.
Frank, have patience, I think Mueller knows what he is doing.
8
Get the tax returns.
9
Leone Baxter and Clem Whittaker, the public relations firm hired by the American Medical Association to subterfuge the establishment of National Health Care Insurance during Roosevelt's and Truman terms said, "The American people don't want to be educated, they want to be entertained."
Thus the advantage and impact of the short Fox-News-Worthy headline of Trump calling for an investigation of the investigators, over the long thoughtful arduous task of trying to uncover the truth.
Another reason the GOP fights public education. [We don't pay you to think, we pay you to work. Believe what we tell you, work, and keep your mouth shut. Who needs a liberal arts college education anyway!]
4
Sadly, Whittaker and Baxter hailed from the great state of California. They got their start taking down Upton Sinclair in the 1934 governor's race. Earl Warren tried to get health care for his constituents in California in the 1940s, but W and B defeated that as well.
1
Frank, We can't know for certain yet, but there are significant evidence and testimony that indicates the not only did Putin interfere in the 2018 Presidential Election... he was consciously aided and abetted by Donald Trump and his top staff in this endeavor. TREASON is scary... but if the American Democracy is going to survive, EVERY Citizen has the right to know the facts, or the important facts. I believe that the majority of voting citizens in this country... voters aligning with ALL Political Parties... as well as most Republican, Democratic and Independent Senators and Congressional Representatives DO WANT TO KNOW THE FACTS.
Robert Mueller and his staff aren't sitting in some back room swilling whiskey and playing poker. They are tirelessly working to sort through the testimony of many. The complexities and potential ramifications of this Investigation's report reach deep and wide. So you feel uncomfortable? Welcome to the club. The wellbeing of the American Democracy has been seriously threatened. And potentially for what? Trump's name on a hotel in Moscow? The Censure of some Prostitutes peeing on a bed in a hotel in Moscow? Oil Oligarchs controlling world markets while Trump exclaims there is no such thing as Climate Change? Yes, these are dark times but if we are going to establish light ALL OF US NEED TO KNOW THE TRUTH. My advice to you. Think of our duty to coming generations and GROW UP.
7
Aw, Frank, you have been scaring me for years. However, I look past your shortcomings and skip your column. Ah, I feel much better.
2
The collusion aspect of this investigation pivots on Russia's attempts to interfere with our elections. However, Mueller is not the one who is constantly talking about collusion. That seems to bee the Republians' job, and also the main defensive technique of tRump. We also have misuse of campaign funds, revelation of state secrets, tax evasion, tax fraud, abuse of power, violation of the emoluments rules, etc., etc., etc. It's certainly not just about collusion with foreign countries. Lousy headline, and lousy premise. Frank, you know better.
5
Trump used what we now call his base to get him elected. They share nothing in common except their lunkhead attitudes about non-whites. His middle and lower income followers, other than a small tax hand out, won't benefit from his policies. Nonetheless he will persevere. I fear that no matter what Mueller's final report contains and no matter what conclusion any reasonable, thoughtful American will make of it, his base will still support him. And that base is what, 40 million strong? In their heart of hearts many of his base realize the Country and their own lives will not really be improved by this presidency and if anything, degraded. But this is sports and people never change teams.
2
Other than possible collusion, what's left? Well, there's his: (1) self-enrichment; (2) erosion of faith in government; (3) weakening of our global alliances; (4) fly-by-night ethical standards; (5) demonstrable, state-sponsored lying*; (6) unambiguous bigotry, rhetorically AND in policy (and his tacit approval of such bigotry in others); (7) calls to have the DOJ to protect his own personal interests and attack his personal enemies*; (8) appointment of manifestly unqualified (and in some cases blatantly corrupt) personnel to run federal agencies; (9) grossly negligent signing of Executive Orders he does not understand (that is how Steve Bannon wound up on the National Security Council); (10) obstructing a legal investigation into his own campaign (similar to resisting an arrest warrant because you've declared yourself innocent)*; (11) suborning perjury and/or witness tampering by publicly musing about pardons for legally indicted allies likely to be called upon to testify about him*; (13) advocacy of group punishment (families of terrorists); (14) advocacy of torture; (15) seeking the means to punish protected speech (see, e.g., proposed Amazon penalties, NFL tax penalties, antitrust investigation of CNN parent, and state-sponsored calls for boycotts against private entities that fall out of favor with him or his family); and, of course (16) BLATANT use of an aerosol spray tan product in a manner other than as intended by the manufacturer.
*See Nixon impeachment articles
4
And Trump is on record last year as saying, in so many words, that he can do whatever he wants with the DOJ.
Wrong!
1
The Trump campaign was so bumbling and chaotic that it's hard to imagine they conceived of an evil master plan to collude with Russia. More likely, there were meetings and interactions that didn't meet the standard of legality, but still fell short of what's defined as collusion. What's fascinating about the Mueller investigation to me is that it brings to light the vast grift machine that's always been there, undergirding politics and business in the US, where money launderers, tax evaders, and corrupt personalities of all sorts have free reign to defraud hard-working middle and working class Americans. We all knew it's been happening, and if Mueller takes him down for tax fraud instead of collusion, it's fine by me. Eventually, we will all see those tax returns, and they won't be pretty.
8
I share your concern, Mr. Bruni. Each and every day, for all 487 days that Trump has been occupying the Oval Office, I awaken to the news of another outrage - if not committed by him, then by someone in his cabinet, or by one soulless aide or advisor.
I wish that Mr. Mueller could simply prove Trump to be the illegitimate president we know him to be, saving us from another day of this insanity, but as I know he should be, Mueller is focused on the mission. Lord, I hope he succeeds, and more than that, I pray for the American people to come to its collective senses and vote in the fall to elect people who will vote for their country, not their party, and remove this imposter from the highest office in the land.
5
Hope, and $4.50, will get you a latte at Starbucks. Get beyond hope,,, fight obfuscation by the Trump team with focus. Choose a few chilling reminders of the sleaziness of the senior Republican sycophants, and put those reminders on a closely monitored shelf. Choose one government department, and track shifts in emphasis.
But most importantly, get beyond emotions, and into actions.
Turn the old bromide "when all is said and done, a lot more is said than done", into a falsehood.
DO SOMETHING! Leave hopelessness to foreigners like me!!!
1
To many, it seems Mueller has a duty to remove at all costs this President. This is a species of coup. In banana republics, they remove by force--- we do this.
I dislike Trump, but this process is what is scary.
6
Damage to the environment, education, public health, trust in government, impartial justice, critical alliances, national security, a competent core of civil servants, fair tax policy, voting rights, respect for science, bipartisan comity, respectful debate, and fiscal integrity. Destruction of trillions in precious social capital. In his dreams, an adversary of our country could not hope for more.
Members of the President’s team have pleaded guilty or face credible charges of major felonies, and Russian interference in the 2016 election has been proved beyond reasonable doubt. The attempt to obstruct justice is obvious except to those willfully blind to it.
The Republicans in Congress have allowed without comment or opposition transgressions unthinkable just two years ago, with depressing unanimity.
I really don’t care about “collusion “; quite probably the President has forgotten whatever his minions told him about Russia, so speaks from his heart when he denies it.
I care about my beloved America. My country has my “hopes and prayers”.
— from a centrist ex-Republican, founder of a company that created 60 American jobs with good benefits, and did it without tax breaks, subsidies, or no-bid contracts.
2
Jeez, don't you read the NY Times? I'd guess you get the paper for free.
If you did, you'd notice that Mueller is investigating money laundering, illegal foreign contributions to the Trump campaign, and obstruction of justice, to name a few possible charges.
There are obviously non-criminal issues with the President's behavior, too. Clearly Trump is incapable, for example, of understanding the Iran deal, and the thought of him actually negotiating nuclear disarmament with Kim Jong Un is actually laughable -- neither he nor any of his cabinet even understands the issues.
And there are gray areas: was Trump taking a bribe when he rescinded the sanctions against ZTE immediately before China funded a huge project with Trump properties involved? Is he taking bribes when foreign dignitaries stay in his DC hotel? Is Kushner soliciting bribes by trying to get countries with diplomatic business with the US to fund his stupid 666 Fifth Avenue building?
The real issue, and this isn't Mueller's job to fix, is that the entire Republican party has become too spineless to stand up to obvious corruption by the President and his advisors. They, and nearly all of the rest of the "conservative" movement will do anything to keep power and get their precious tax cuts, even if they sell out the rule of law in the process.
But I suspect that it is easier to dump on Mueller than for a so called moderate Opinion columnist to call out the Republicans' behavior.
2
At this point the major impact of the Mueller investigation has been to bolster Trump's approval ratings as well as raise (unfounded) suspicions of 'a deep state conspiracy'. Good grief when will these moron traditionalist politicians ever learn - it's Trump and the same old tired tactics will not work.
2
Interesting analysis of the situation. However, my thoughts have gone in the direction of: why is so much media attention paid to Trump and especially to his tweets? Any word, no matter how foul, out of his mouth or thumbs, is immediately jumped on by the media. This is what he wants - ATTENTION. Ignoring him and focusing on the other sectors you cite would be more beneficial to the public.
4
Cogent observations. Important information. Broadminded and thoughtful in every possible way. I concur with you, Bruni.
But...what are the headlines in today's edition? Hypothetical hunches about what Mueller might do. Insightful conclusions that Mueller might find Trump guilty, or that ge might mot. In other words: mucky, clueless drivel. Were the Opinion writers given the Front Page at NYT we might have something.
Trump is deranged but even he can smell the Mueller coffee and the stronger the aroma gets the more desperate he is for a get out of jail card. I can tell the orange crook one thing - his salvation won't be found in this latest Fake News tweet-storm about FBI spies in his camp or be delivered via his water boy cuck Devin Nunes. No. The only hope he has is to come clean and beg for a way out that avoids the can for him and crime family.
1
Mr. Bruni, please breathe, deeply. We are all eager for Mr. Mueller to finish his work, but as investigations go, this one seems to be moving at rocket speed.
And yes, all those other terrible things are happening, but Mr. Mueller's absence would not have stopped them. Nothing will stop them but the midterms and/or the results of his investigation.
2
It is up to the press and the media outlets to put the spotlight where it should be instead of down the rabbit hole of collusion. It is a fact that Trump hired criminals to run his campaign. Now there is both criminal and immoral behavior in the government and many good laws and practices are being eviscerated. This is the story day after day and it should be duly covered.
2
The kleptocracy that passes for the current administration coupled with the amateur hour/apprentice in training that describes the cabinet secretaries (Mattis is the exception) makes for a terrifying situation with regard to our constitutional solvency.
The Mueller investigation will take the lions share of reporting which does not remove the multiple levels of damage being done by this crowd of grifters, con artists and incompetents in the executive branch.
An interesting question is what happens after this crowd is removed by Congress or the voting public? Will the destruction be permanent? If not, how long before credibility is restored?
4
I appreciate this article. I have emailed MSNBC & CNN to stop putting giant pictures of trump on the screen, while the announcer pic is small on the right side of the screen. In addition, I told these news organizations that I'm sick of the the same panel of guests talking about impeachment, Muller etc. Also included in the email was the need for these stations to talk about other things -like pruitt, what's happening to the environment, what's happening in Mississippi where the state is threatening to kill Medicard and through residents in nursing homes out. Where will they go and how inhuman this action is to the elderly. The media is definitely not helping defend democracy and is just fixated on Cohen, etc. I have now limmitted my viewing of cable news programs. PS I'm also sick of these corporate cable news fixated on every tweet trump tweets.
7
Mr. Donald Trump is an innocent man. Until he is proven guilty. That is simply the law. Mr. Mueller is simply doing his job as has been apponted to him. He is meticulous and thorough which is required and exemplary. There can be no deadline and no timeline as it is unknown even by he and his team as to what and who might turn up and require investigation. What is occuring is simply normal and easily anticipated from the outset. The fact that he resists pressure in any direction is to his credit. The rest is emotion, opinion, second guessing and noise.
1
Okay, I’ll ask it. Is “collusion” a crime? All candidates did it and do it. The ugly truth is that smearing opponents wins elections. Yes, Trump had even shadier than usual people in his corner, but there had better be more to this than collusion. This investigation should result in either impeachment and conviction for real criminal activity as decided by rule of law (not public opinion), or absolution for Trump.
Great article, pretty much ripped off from things Noam Chomsky's been saying for a while
2
Of course we already know that Trump is a terrible president. Unfortunately, he can't be removed from office because of it. That's why we're all fixated on Mueller, and some of us are glad to see him taking his time: in the hopes that his investigation will produce the kind of evidence that even Congress won't be able to ignore.
5
Some nights, I force myself to watch a few minutes of Laura Ingram's show on Fox news. As her necklace with gold cross sparkles, she tells us how aggrieved she is by Trump's shabby treatment. My point is, your observations are spot on. I too am afraid that the public is starting to believe "witch hunt" and ignore the irreparable damage Trump and his minions are doing to the country while we all focus on golden showers, porn stars, and Michael Cohen's taxi medallions.
4
Mr. Mueller is playing with the cards he was dealt. The pieces of the very complex puzzle he needs to put together relate not only to the acts of the current Occupant, but also to those of a multitude of the Occupant's cohorts. And they concern events that took place over decades and which, in some instances, are continuing into the present. There's no working around or short-cutting this task, because the various pieces of the puzzle are inter-connected. Despite all this, Mr. Mueller has lived up to his reputation of moving quickly and efficiently, and has secured multiple indictments, confessions, and the cooperation of key witnesses in record time. Mueller properly performs his job without regard to whether his work prevents headlines that might otherwise appear as to the multitude of other deficiencies of the current administration. And in so doing he follows the dictates and ethical commands of his profession, which is to represent the interests of his "client", the people of the United States, in the matter he was assigned, and not other interests. With due respect for the shining and elucidating columns you regularly produce, Mr. Bruni, your second-guessing of Mr. Mueller's conduct here is unwarranted and not useful.
4
I didn’t care for this column. I’ve heard many people express similar sentiments, but with very few specifics. You state that “certain tribultaries” Mueller has begun investigating make you nervous and strike you as possible overstepping, but you don’t mention any of them. And everything else you’ve written is complaining about what Trump is doing while this long investigation is taking place. Well, we knew the investigation would be long (it’s been very efficient, according to the folks at 538), and we knew Trump would try to sully its credibility. None of those things suggests to me that Mueller is not doing his job with the utmost skill and integrity, which is exactly what everyone said he would do.
10
It really doesn't matter what Frank and voters think about Mueller. That investigation is in the criminal justice world and it will produce justice which sends Trump and his ilk to prison for treason and other crimes. So to Frank I say relax and understand that Trump's treason is paramount at this juncture.
3
This corruption did not begin, nor will it end with Mr. Trump. The storyline is just now beginning to loop back to the UAE and that odd glowing orb meeting so early in the administration. Plus the dustup with Qatar, which was started by - false information. Add to that Bannon's strategic exit of the US (good idea knowing what he knows) to work his magic in Europe. Just when European solidarity with the US is at a weak point over the Iran withdrawal as well as the embassy move (plus numerous other issues). So, a nice crack in NATO. No doubt the NK work will further polarize folks. Mr. Putin has one simple plan that appears to work well. Sow division. One can easily see how well that worked here during the summer of 'hate'.
2
Putin can taste revenge for the US breaking up the USSR on the Afghan anvil in the Graveyard of Empires.
I overheard my Republican leaning husband comment to a full-on Republican friend of his that what we have right now “is all just noise.” Perhaps if the media, with a few notable exceptions such as the NYT and the WAPO, were to focus less on the continuous ‘breaking news’ in the Mueller investigation and more on the daily assaults on our democracy wrought by this administration we would succeed in convincing some of the more moderate Republicans that there’s more than just noise out there.
5
Trump is all noise all of the time. And most of it is the same sort of projection his whole flock believes the rest of the world does even worse than they do.
What "assaults on democracy?" Please name one.
There’s nothing stopping the press from reporting on the nefarious doings of this administration. If they choose to concentrate on the daily collusion drama, you can’t blame Mueller. We need to know more about how our democracy is being dismantled, and it’s up to the press to report on it. If they don’t, you can’t yell about your first amendment rights being curtailed.
7
There never was anything approaching real democracy under a system that randomly disenfranchises people for congregating in cities.
Thank you, Mr. Bruni, for voicing a major league concern I have had for some time: that we are losing sight of the real danger in the fog of the special counsel investigation.
Donald Trump has positioned himself above the law, and anyone who thinks he will abide by a subpoena, an impeachment conviction in the Senate, or any other lawful attempts to remove him from office is living in a fairy tale.
He will defy any court order or Senate ruling. He will not step down. He will use the military to prop himself up and remain in charge. He has nothing to lose. The Emoluments Clause in the Constitution? No problem.
Egregious misuse of presidential pardoning power? No problem.
Corruption in his Cabinet? No problem.
I didn't realize how thin the Constitution was until Donald Trump raised his right hand and swore an oath to protect it.
4
It took just over 2 years from the Watergate break-in to finish off Richard Nixon. This case is every bit as complex, and is being conducted under the foot of a defiant Congress. This case is going to take two years to finish, too. The trouble with investigations is that they typically lack "smoking gun" evidence, and so they require each lead to be run down. We're all going to have to wait. As for Congress, they have two interests. One, protect the President, and two, protect themselves. Its the second one that may be generating the most interest in the evidence being gathered. Congress needs to know if they should cut and run. They can't wait until Mueller submits his findings and brings indictments. They need to know how bad it is now. We, The People can and should wait for the denouement.
4
The same "weapon" that was used to de-legitimize the American press over the past 20 years has aimed its sights on Mueller and the American institutions that enable his investigation. One by one the pillars of accountability and fairness are crumbling under the weight of our partisanship.
We talk about Nixon. This is nothing like Nixon. Trump is going to skate ladies and gentlemen. Bruni sees the writing on the wall. Bill Maher sees the writing on the wall. Every month I'm heartbroken at the tepid response of congressional leaders, department heads and public figures. I'm disturbed at the shifting poll numbers in favor of Trump's job performance, at the expense of democratic norms. I'm equally disturbed and terrified at the democrat party's flat-lining poll numbers in the midterms. It might be time to feel despair. To understand we might already be in the 5 stages of grief of American democracy as we knew it.
Lets not forget the American census trick that's being pulled right now, the stacking of judges, the denial of a supreme court pick to a previous sitting president and the direct assault on the American justice system.
In 2016 one party was knocked out, and doesn't realize it yet. We're facing a stacked midterm that favors republicans. By the time we can use our voice again, it will be silenced, because we lost this partisan game. And the American public seems to be willing to squander all the gifts men and women died fighting for for the past 300 years to win it.
5
You have no idea what Mueller had or what path he is on. And if Mueller doesn't get the Trump/Kushner Crime Family, the NY AG will....for money laundering. Don't forget Michael Cohen who is going to flip and flap.
5
so Fox News had gotten to Mr. Bruni. Collusion is another way of saying treason. There are laws which separate the Presidency from foreign governments, and these law are there for a reason. The Russian are doing what is expected of them. The danger is when our President worked with foreign governments is not acceptable. Its surprising you hint that its ok.
2
Mueller knew on Day 1 of his witch hunt that there never was any collusion. His witch hunt should have been shut down that afternoon
4
People that are morally outraged by Trump look to Mueller for moral balance, and it makes them feel better to focus on the investigation. But the investigation is taking forever, and Trump has the stage to himself every day. Some people think Trump wants this to drag on as long as possible so he can play victim. I agree with the writer that the whole thing distracts from Trump's many other flaws. Maybe Democrats are wising up to this. They need to develop opposing voices to Trump, beyond the House and Senate Intelligence committee members.
3
Perhaps the best reason nada--Obama and Rice and Comey and Lynch won't have to testify under oath as to why they were spying on American citizens for Hillary's DNC Politburo run for the White House.
2
Simple solution: Cover it all. But what the NY Times ought not to cover is all the supposition, what-if's, and rumors that have flooded the Special Council's investigation. For example, just about anything Rudy Giuliani says can be ignored. He's a gas bag just looking to distract anyone and all from serious news.
Cover the important news and leave the raging headline stuff to the tabloids. Believe me, your readership will thank you.
4
The out-of-control, lawless, illegal, endless witch hunt by an army of Trump-hating Hillary-loving Democrats with a limitless budget, limitless power and no accountability petrifies all Americans and lovers of freedom everywhere.
3
If we as a nation aren't able to be patient and wait for the final report, then boo on us. If we react to every headline and treat this investigation in the same context we do for TV shows like "24" where something significant happens each week or the ratings go down, then shame on us. If we think that the Trump show is realty TV where no matter what he does it has no bearing on our stature as a great coountry, then we better hope that we can hold on to some vestige of a national identity to leverage when this moron eventually leaves office....
5
Frank, I'm sorry Robert Mueller is starting to scare you, but the fact that he has seemed to have scared the Bejeezes out of the president, is a good enough trade off for me.
9
“But the more some of us learn, the harder it gets to take each breathless headline seriously.”
There's the problem. Maybe the press should let Mueller investigate and stop trying to second guess what each revelation means. Determining what all this stuff, meetings, etc., means and how it fits into the information already collected Is what Mueller is charged to do. Then the press could make the real scary news the center of attention. We could do without the press 's after-the-fact mea culpas.Just cover the important stuff and wait for the real deal news from the Mueller work. Arrests, indictments, sure, but keep reporting what damage this administration is doing. Put Pruitt's crimes and now the dismantling of Dodd-Frank and what the destruction of the Consumer Protection Agency all mean for us, the citizens. Our protections from toxins in our air and water and food are being stripped away. And more. Editors need to exercise better judgment about what to emphasize. Put the trashy news about Trump, Jr.'s meetings, etc. down the page/screen.
4
The media obsession with the Mueller investigation is at fault. As far as I can tell no one on the Mueller team has done anything to seek publicity. We know little about what he's actually uncovered, but that doesn't stop the pundits from endless speculation and spin. Let him do his work.
2
This is the man who took down the mafia. I think he knows what he's doing and how to be thorough without letting things become unwieldy. He is sifting through years upon layers upon years of corruption, criminality, treason. That takes time.
6
Lede should be: obstruction, obstruction, obstruction. That what will get him, it seems fairly obvious to me, and in conversation with my congressman (D) he said that's the only thing that would move him to impeach.
3
Mueller has it all.
His report will be one of the most important documents in the history of the country reflecting the seriousness of its effort and purpose. In some ways it will also be a cautionary tale about the fragile nature of democracy. Mueller knows what's at stake and he's going to get it right.
The GOP will be forced to defend the indefensible. Why do you think someone as craven and ambitious as Paul Ryan is bailing? Along with the Trump Organization, the GOP is the other criminal enterprise which needs to be vanquished for the good of the country and promulgation of democracy.
4
Keep in mind, Watergate took about 26 months to unfold, and despite the hindsight revisions, it wasn't in some enlightened bipartisan era -- there were many of the same scenarios playing out. After Nixon resigned, there was a poll showing 23% still supported him and thought he got a raw deal.
Patience. Let's see how this unfolds. Trump is a crook. Those that believe that already do and those that do not or do not care likely will not change their opionions. Let's wait for the facts to come out and see where we go from there.
Living this in real time requires a zen-like patience. It can be challenging. I very much agree with Mr. Bruni in that we SHOULD most definately being focusing on Pruitt and his sheenangians, and Zinke, and Devos, etc., and let Mueller do his thing.
The truth is coming.
5
The 53% who believe Mueller’s investigation is politically motivated is a tribute to Trump’s squeaky wheel. Bored Americans need to be constantly entertained and Mueller hasn’t said much let alone tried to amuse us.
2
Where o where are the Dems? So silent. So not able to grab a headline or spotlight. I realize they are mouses faced with an elephant or horse in the hospital as the comedian John Mulaney describes it. But where's the creativity? Some boldness? Some smart ideas? Are you saving your powder for the fall election season? Are you just cowed? Too much a part of an inert system? I hope the new House members in Jan 2019 aren't so cowed and quiet...
3
This is really dumb. Mueller isn't the issue. It's the corruption at the heart of Trump's administration, not his pursue of any wrongdoing. And if anyone can document and prosecute it, Mueller can. Bruni is falling for the Trump campaign against him.
3
Mueller doesn’t care what you think.
5
YOU are scaring me, Frank. You are now bolstering Trump, and that scares me. Stop it, please, stop it.
6
Imagine Bernie without Hillary's DNC Politburo underhanded attacks. Imagine the DNC without a deeply flawed criminal and extortionist at the top of the ticket.
Then imagine a White House back in the hands of the cultural Marxists, no Mueller and no potential Obama, Rice, Comey, Lynch going to Leavenworth.
Coulda happened. So sad.
3
"huddled over a Hillary Clinton voodoo doll..." That is excessive but now that Hillary Clinton has been mentioned, let's investigate the sleazy funding of the "think tank" which came up with the collaboration theory.
3
Speaking of a dual set of rules, why hasn’t the press updated viewers/readers on Mueller’s track record? Revisit Mueller’s behavior and statements to the press during his EIGHT year investigation of the Anthrax scare (5 deaths). Results: No indictments, one suicide (of Dr. Bruce Edward Ivins, a “suspect” never charged, who was harassed by Mueller in what the FBI jokingly called “bumper locking”). In addition, Mueller destroyed another man’s life (Dr. Steven Hatfill), who was investigated for SIX years, never charged, then dropped.
According to the Los Angeles Times (LAT) in 2008, "FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III told reporters: 'I do not apologize for any aspect of the investigation that was undertaken over the years.’ Mueller said it would be 'erroneous to say there were mistakes.’” Definition of hubris. Could we see some righteous indignation from the press over the person they claim is a model of integrity? Nowadays, “speaking truth to power” depends on who is in power. Refer to The Atlantic magazine’s 2010 article, titled “The Wrong Man.” https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/05/the-wrong-man/308019/
3
It's hardly Mueller's fault that your newspaper, and most other media outlets, are failing to lead with the important news you mention. Whose choice is it to lead with Mueller practically every day (when you're not profiling school shooters, thus helping to cause more school shootings)? Where's the front-page NYT headline screaming 'Trump uses unsecure phone' ? I seem to remember several about Hillary's e-mails.
The 'serious' media are acting irresponsibly on so many levels. But hey, clicks.
6
Don’t blame Robert Mueller. He’s not drowning out other news of Trump and Company’s corruption and incompetence by banging the collusion drum. Blame the media. Start with your bosses at the New York Times. Maybe if they printed fewer articles on the Roseanne Reboot or How to Do Your Laundry we would see more coverage of more important topics.
6
Trump's lifelong mistreatment of women, from his wives to his girlfriends to strangers whose bodies he's grabbed in nightclubs, at tennis events and thrusting himself on reporters visiting Mar-A-Lago, among many many examples. Donald Trump hates women. His first wife accused him of rape in a sworn court affidavit. Secondarily, he's insulted and taunted numerous women for various 'offenses,' including saying anything negative about him or not 'living up to' his disgusting standards of female perfection. And of course there are his openly sexualized comments about his daughter, Ivanka. If not for the likely inherited money, Ivanka would probably have put a wide berth between herself and her leering trashy father. All of this is so revolting and shows such a lack of class and human decency that if not for the likelihood of Trump colluding with Russia in a traitorous embrace, I'd pick his lifelong habit of attempting to sully innocent women who get anywhere near him. Gross! Unbelievably gross!
4
Frank Bruni if you want answers as to how ridiculous this castigation of Trump has become you have only to look in the mirror.
3
Mr. Bruni, the cataclysm that is the Trump presidency is a creation of the GOP and it can only be cured by voting them all out of office whether Mueller succeeds or not. Americans need to solve this problem, with or without his help. In your rush to criticise Mueller, you've completely lost sight of who is actually responsible for ending the Trump tragedy.
3
I doubt Mr. Bruni you have time to read let alone respond to all these email comments (last count 967 of them!). I watch Don Lemon every night and appreciate your insightful comments when you're on the program.
Perhaps, the greatest threat to our democratic way of life is not so much Trump and the irresponsible and enabling Republicans who place winning above morals, it's the people who attend Trump's carnival type rallies and simply nod their head in approval of every bit of nonsense that comes out of his mouth. They in the words of one of the fanatics in his crowd simply put it "We don't care!"
2
As long as Trump is enabled by his fellow Republicans in Congress the harder it will be to get rid of him. In Nixon’s time they eventually jumped ship but these traitors have overwhelmingly stayed with him.
2
Wait...what? I thought we were concerned about Trump being an exsitential threat to democracy? Now he's just "a proudly offensive, gleefully divisive, woefully unprepared plutocrat with no moral compass?" Apparently the heart of The Resistance's primary charge against DJT is that they simply don't like him.
2
Frank you scare me. Your newspaper spent how many years on Hillary Clinton's emails ? How many front page above the fold stories on emails? How many Benghazi investigations. How many years did Ken Starr and his predecessors spend on investigating the Clintons?
How about this Frank - tell your colleague Haberman to lay off writing endless breathless stories about Trump's tweets. You think we should focus on other things - I agree. So why not have a 48 hour NYT moratorium on Donald Trump. And then let's try this - try only one story on each Trump issue. You and the NYT helped elect Trump because Hillary Clinton was an easy target. Trump not so much - because then as now he continues to play you and the media.
5
Actually, this paper acted as a campaign surrogate for Clinton during the election...
2
Mr. Bruni, you're right, alas. Evan Osnos' New Yorker article is shocking to read, and a clear indication that #45 and cohorts are carrying out "the deconstruction of the administrative state" that Steve Bannon bragged about when he was in Trump's cabinet. The lust for authoritarian government among the GOP congress and its enabling voters is clearly destroying this country.
2
Mueller's process is legal, not political.
Your last 3 paragraphs are spot on. But it's been that way since very early on. And the lack of media attention on the other chicanery....tune into CNN or MSNBC every night, and it's panel after panel parsing the same stuff, over and over. Russia. Porn star. Porn star. Russia.
If the White House can be reliably counted on to lie to you half the time, maybe some enterprise reporting outside the press room is in order. Instead, we focus our attention on the lies and tweets, accidentally giving them currency.
The press, NYT included, is not doing their job because they are distracted. Instead, they are all just making sure they have a ringside seat at the wildfire, but they are waiting for the Big Bang that may not come because the fire has sucked all the oxygen from the room.
Physician, heal thyself.
4
Here's what scares me Mr. Bruni. The fact that enough people voted for Hillary Clinton thereby giving her a majority in the popular vote while Trump won the Electoral college vote. We knew that Trump wasn't real presidential material and voted accordingly. But the Electoral College failed in its duty to protect us from having an incompetent fool in the White House because it simply gave him the votes.
Mueller doesn't frighten me. It's what's going to happen when Trump is caught and Congress, if it's still GOP run, won't do. This is no longer about who won the vote. It's about the dishonesty, lack of integrity, and complete lack of honor in the GOP because they now have the power. That frightens me.
11
Hey Dems, Keep blaming that Hillary lost on collusion. See how it works out for you.
2
Many of us have worried about this incessant criminalizing of political differences for years. But wait, Bruni wants us to focus on Trump's use of an unsecure cell-phone?! If only he had been half as worried about an entire server network used to subvert protocol and the law and collaborate in a self serving manner with the Clinton Foundation.You see? This is why no one trusts the NYTimes. It's all the news that fits (the narrative) and nothing else. Crying shame, but this is what you get when theatre critics write about politics.
2
The NYT has abandoned all journalistic integrity in their attempt to lead "the resistance" and to "get" Trump. The latest example is that according to the NYT, spying is no longer spying, it is now "information gathering". So this column is like the fox berating the wolf for eating all the chickens. Give me a break.
5
You’re preaching to the choir. It’s obvious from the comments that NYTimes readers are not reflective of the greater congregation. Your sermon of damnation is growing stale.
4
I don’t agree to this analysis for a New York Minute.
I had the displeasure of hearing the same argument from none other than the bizarre hate-radio jock John Bachelor and Trump apologist Steven F Cohen.
They both claim to know all the evidence, facts and
intent of Mr. Mueller, and that this investigation is not only a left-wing witch-hunt but a huge distraction. They use the same argument that is exaggerated here but take it even further by stating
that all this “hoopla” is creating a Second Cold War
and is bringing us closer to a nuclear war with Russia. Soon we will all be hiding under our desk,
reading the New York Times paper edition, and living on rations.
2
We’ve been hearing that now for...nearly a year and a half. Keep at it soothsayer
Robert Mueller isn’t working alone. He’s being assisted by legions of leakers, who’ve exposed Trump and his cronies as destructive, petty backstabbers, by investigative journalists (hello Maggie Haberman) whose anonymous contacts whisper true stories in their ears, by professional FBI investigators who have learned to dislike Trump even more sharply than they once disliked Hillary, by a couple of actual spies like Steele, by an adult-film star and some beauty queens, and by sleazy Trump associates ready to cut a deal with the nearest prosecutor and plead guilty to “lesser charges” so they won’t have to sit in jail for half a century.
What have they, together, all taught us? That Donald Trump and his family have been cheating tenants, stiffing contractors, sucking money out of charities, laundering money with the help of lawyers and banks around the world, seeking bribes, taking bribes, and fixing their coiffures for the cameras over years and years. And years and years.
What’s most surprising about all his? That this little mob of coiffed grifters did not realize the spotlight would be much hotter and stronger if they all got involved in national politics and tried to rule the USA for profit.
DUMMIES.
Too late to back out now ...
3
I have heard of no leaks, ZERO, from the Mueller team. On the other hand we have numerous proven leaks from the White House and the Republicans in Congress.
1
I fear you may have drunk the Kool aid. Be patient. This catstraphoc mess we are in is beyond anything we have experienced.
1
We sent Robert Mueller on a CostCo run. Since, we have been checking the fridge every minute. Let's tidy up the rest of the house instead of fretting - there is stuff out of place almost everywhere.
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It sounds like Frank Bruni is getting tired of the Mueller investigation. As an opinion writer, there is nothing preventing him from examining the gutting of government agencies.
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Monica-gate took five long years from start to finish. We're only at the beginning of year two with Mueller. Republicans can start crying foul in four years, not before. Until then they need to be reminded that they were quite happy to let Ken Starr go from Whitewater to Vince Foster to Paula Jones to Monica Lewinsky, where they ultimately landed.
3
And how long was Congress investigating Hillary? Not long enough it seems - they now want to investigate her some more.
Ha... The narrative that Trump voters are simpleton's is especially ironic considering the panic expressed in this comment section regarding the implosion of the Mueller probe. It seems liberals are the witless dupes "buying" into the fake news story of Russian Collusion. This begs the question how many other fake narratives are being peddled towards the gullible left? The blue wave this November is more apt to be a continuation of the red wave and continued success by the Trump administration (see: the economy) by consequence may forever reduce the progressive movement to a obscure footnote in future history textbooks.
Winning never gets old...
2
Frank Bruni, you are scaring me! For years, Trump used his beauty pageants to boost business interests abroad. A 2013 contest, in Moscow, may also have helped give him the Presidency. Read the article in the New Yorker "Trump's Miss Universe Gambit." Robert Mueller is our only hope. Don't pull a Rudy Guillani on us.
2
I think you underestimate the power of the American people to grasp complex issues. I believe a majority recognize that every action taken by this administration is rooted in corruption and is separate and apart from the treason committed by the trump family and his campaign. Therefore, I think that if we can overcome the corrupt interference that will take place in the 2018 elections and install democrats in a congressional majority, you will see investigations into all of the corruption, the judges, and the SCOTUS. You will see congress recommend for the first time the impeachment of certain judges and one sitting SC Justice.
1
Mr Bruni just recounted the Wizard of Oz and what Trump is doing behind the curtain.
If Trump and gang skates, then this has set the bar to a new low for our government. America will be no better than a Banana Republic of corruption & sleaze.
2
"And he knows that if Americans are fixated on collusion, they aren’t concentrating on much else. That’s good for him and terrible for the country."
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Frank, you are soooooo right. What is going on in the rest of the country? More people than ever are working. People under 40 are about to find out what inflation is. Mayor Bloomberg wants to raise taxes on the poor, so they stop their self destructive ways and live longer.
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President Evil wants another tax cut. We'll find out the details closer to November. A bunch of Democrats won primaries in state elections. Good news, right? What were they running on? The same things House Democrats are running, of course. What are House Democrats running on? Uuuuuhhh.
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Thinking back to 2010, the year of the "Old White Male", the Tea Party was growing and exploded on to the scene at the beginning of the summer. It did not slow down. I'm looking for that Democrat Blue Wave? Aaaaand, there is great calm to report.
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The FBI IG report will be out soon. It will report on the Hillary email investigation. If she had never used that private server for yoga and grandmother stuff, we might not be here today. If A. Wiener hadn't been sexting teenage girls... If Huma hadn't backed up Hillary's emails to Carlos Danger's porn machine....
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The last 18 months all we've heard about is Trump, Russia, White House staff turmoil, Cohen, Stormy, Alec Baldwin, tax cuts for the rich....
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I will now invoke the spirit of Cher, "If I could turn back time..."
This investigation has taken one year; Whitewater took four. What's your hurry? Relax, watch the ship sink in dirty waters and all the Republican rats scurry away as fast as they can. This wicked mark on American history is not going away soon or without much suffering. So be it.
If a madman President can circumvent justice then we deserve all we get. No, we must stand for something bigger than ourselves. If this corrupt, traitor, liar-in-chief tries to destroy the American system and we let him: shame on us all.
4
Equating Trump's lower frequency of his (state-approved/implemented) cell phone security reviews with Hillary's willful avoidance of submitting work-related emails to any government oversight (even after she'd been caught and ordered to by the Feds!) is hilariously context-blind.
It also makes this closing sentence even more deliciously ironic:
"While we obsess over what may be hidden in the shadows, all of that is in plain sight."
2
The press is plenty complicit in this off-kilter focus. Yes, Osnos's column didn't get enough attention, but weren't you focused on Trump's latest "squirrel!" instead?
Stop playing along every time the Bloviator in Chief trots out another distraction. Act rather react. Swampers shouldn't get away with rampant destruction. But they do and will if you don't make real news front and center.
1
Sometimes ... one has to do one's job - even if one wishes the rules were different.
I think that's the case with Robt Mueller. In the "court of public opinion," roughly Mr. Bruni's bailiwick, you can be as quick as your keyboarding and the internet are - which means that irresponsible people ... including the President can tweet whatever the heck they feel like.
But to indict someone, obviously you need to build a case. It's both slow and a little un-pretty, but to get to someone even at DJT JUNIOR's level, you have to nail tiny fish, small fish, etc. ... and even those know that "running out the clock" may be a fine option for them. (That and being "pardoned" as their Plan B makes me wonder how/why Mike's taxi partner folded as quickly as he did.)
Yes, one school of thought will be that Mr. Mueller can't or won't even go so far as point an accusatory finger at POTUS, but to me he looks [thank the Lord] as dogged (in a good way) as Preet, ... and maybe, he'll find a smoking gun with Donald's prints on it!
Meanwhile, it's way too pat to say that 35 or 40% of the voters tuned out en route. Most of them - REALLY - can't or don't read, and Fox doesn't report the news the way the NYT does.
There ARE millions of "swing voters," and most of them have seen more than enough "smoke" and have enough common sense to know that Donald=Lucifer. I predict that most of THEM will vote Democratic in the fall.
3
As I read it, you are asking Mr. Mueller to do YOUR job along with his own. He is neck deep in the thorough investigation of an administration slavishly committed to Trump's profit and our loss. That takes time, obviously. That his work habits are slow and that Mr. Mueller seems to run a tight ship are aspects of merit rather than disdain.
That President Trump runs an administration whose work habits, morals, and ethical considerations are the polar opposite of the Mueller work is something deserving your thorough concentration and illumination and, indeed, disdain.
Do your own work, Mr. Bruni, and do it with increased purpose and fervor. We citizens need it; we deserve it; we are listening.
3
If there wasn't something new under every rock turned over, there would not be much to investigate. That is what is scary. I do agree that the Trump scandal-an-hour pushes other noteworthy news off the front page, but none of the other scandalous stroy subjects have the nuclear codes.
2
A worthwhile column and hopefully a catalyst for Mueller. Remember: a recent presidential election showed us that far too many Americans cannot rub their stomach and pat their head at the same time.
It's hard to see what is happening right in front of your own eyes, especially when you are focused upon confirming your own spin.
2
Trump is very similar to another New York City superb survivor - the cockroach. Nasty, but almost impossible to get rid of. Robert Mueller is a certified American hero of impeccable credentials. We are lucky he is on the job. We have to wait for his conclusions and take it from there. The next step, if he fails, is the ballot box. Not matter how it happens, Trump will not go quietly into the night.
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So far Trump is smart and or lucky in all things political.I agree that without irrefutable evidence that will lead to impeachment the Mueller investigation will end up being a distraction which is as likely to help Trump as not.
1
With 860 comments already posted, maybe somebody has made this point and if so, sorry about that. But here's my question: can you point to a single thing Mueller's shop has said or done to propel the Mueller/Russia mania you're concerned about? Yes, he's indicted people but that's called doing his job. Anything else? Nothing I can see.
Which leaves me with the conclusion you're falling for the Trump ploy of repeatedly claiming the investigation is "fake", is taking "too long", is resulting in nothing, is politically motivated, and on and on ad nauseum.
I happen to agree that the obsession with the investigation and Russian interference is overwrought and overdone and that there are far more important issues on which to attack this administration---like all his broken promises to the people he ostensibly (and falsely) championed. So Trump is thrilled to bleat about Mueller/Russia all the time because otherwise folks might tumble to what a complete and dangerous fraud he really is.
So please do all your readers a favor---stop playing along with and amplifying the idea the path of the Mueller investigation is anything people should be focusing on.
Yet.
6
So Mr. Bruni joins so many of the chattering class by demonstrating he has the attention span of a gnat.
Wish the members of our 4th Estate had a much deeper understanding of US history, quit insisting that every problem be solved within a single news cycle, ready for 6 pm Eastern time news casts.
1
Thanks to Jim Comey and the russians, he stoled the election.He got elected,not by the American people but the electoral college.
He did steal the election, so why is he whining about spies?
2
Frank. It's much worse than you think. It's not just the obsession with collusion on the left. The left has become a pitchforked mob so consumed with rage and hatred for Trump that they can no longer see clearly or think straight. I'm gay, a Democrat, lived in Manhattan for 40 years and disliked Trump since the early 80's. But I haven't lost my senses. I'm watching the left have a massive nervous breakdown right in front of my eyes.
2
Robert Mueller is just doing his job, laboring in silence, while Trump and his stooges in the media continue to repeat his chaos day after day after day. I wish you would do your job as well as Mueller, report what is important and stop being part of the Trump echo chamber. I only want to hear what Mueller has to say when he is done instead of being force to endure the none stop proclamations of innocence and condemnation of the justice department by some one who has been accused of nothing by anyone but himself.
3
Hypocrisy can be maddening, but this article reminds once again that the other choice was just another brand of it. When we think of Trump being cavalier about an unsecured cell phone, we feel outrage, but why just at Trump? While being angry that he raked HRC over a similar failing, we lose the point that she indeed did have a similar failing, and her supporters expected us to look past that. If anyone acted on actual principle, neither would have been acceptable. But in politics, it is not principles that are the objective. It is more and more clear that among the connected and powerful, we have a shame culture in which all that really matters is how much you can make stick to your opponent, not what rule of law or moral standard is at stake. Inside tribal bubbles, the frustration comes from not nailing the other guy for something both sides do, but outside tribal bubbles, the frustration is that we cannot find anyone who cares about principles equitably applied. The saving grace may be that most Americans are not caught in the tribalism of the parties and their enablers in the media. Common sense still prevails. Why should those who defended sexual abuse with notions like "bimbo eruptions" be taken seriously when they cry wolf over Access Hollywood tapes? If we can't vote for hypocrites, then it is not likely we can vote at all.
Watergate took well over two years. There was a presidential election in the middle of it. Hillary Clinton was investigated non stop for 25 years, They still want to investigate her. Pretty much for nothing. Bill Clinton investigated just about the whole time he was in. The Monica Lewinsky baloney took like 3 years. ... Mueller has been at it a little over a year. And this case is way more complicated and deep. The financial dealings go back years. Every where you look with these guys there's Russians. To me the hacking of the election is the simple part. Proving that the Trump people guided and let the Russians in is hard. And showing that the only ones that would loan him money when no one else would is probably difficult. We see that Cohen yesterday was meeting with the Rich Russians trying to sell them ideas and being paid retainer type fees. Nothing illegal in itself, but more connections. Let Mueller do his thing, leave him alone and let him do it right. I think the media wants an item to headline. They probably feel like they are owed something, some tidbit. And the Republicans are scared of what he will come up with.
4
Patience is such a lost virtue in our society.
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Mr. Bruni, you have obviously fallen victim to the very rants and raves of "witch hunt" that you have bemoaned. It's not Mueller's job to pay attention to populist polls and to make appropriate corrections. It is his job to follow his investigations to the end, regardless of time.
We (by we, I mean all those that hold the foundation ideals of our country sacred) need to stand strong in support of Mueller regardless of opposition opinion. After all it is only our nation that we are at risk of losing,
1
Mr. Bruni is correct that the obsession with Mueller, Trump and Russia do distract from the other terrible aspects of his presidency, such as Scott Pruitt, the Interior Dept, etc.
But we can't be blamed for focusing on the tumor and worrying about the metastases later. If we don't extract the tumor, we will never control the metastases. I don't want to shift my focus for now. And there is no doubt this is all weighing on Trump, despite his incessant whining about witches and spies. I want the press to keep it up!
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If there is no there..there then why are taxpayers still picking up the tab for this frivolous pursuit?
Time to get over the loss Democrats and be a part of progress with the republican administration instead of clinging to your accusations and conspiracy theories.
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The fault, dear media, lies not in the public but in yourselves, that you have put the emphasis on petty scandal over bad policy, and have been doing that since joined Trump in obsessing over crowd size on day 1.
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60 minutes did a story on Google last Sunday showing Obama colluding (?) with its CEO. The WSJ today has a story connecting IsrealI intelegence company with Anallytica. Am I wrong saying there's not much difference between the two parties? Aren't they both corrupt? All I have to do is look right in front of me?
I can accept Russian intelligence trying to influence our election. They're doing their job but not the courts, the FBI and our own intelegence agencies? Shouldn't we sanction our own government? We are doing so to the Russians.
I sometimes go back to something that Mark Cuban said..."Donald Trump is not smart enough to collude with the Russians"...or what Trump's son said about his father who was attacked as a racist..."the only color my father cares about is green".
But then I am heartened by something that Laurence Tribe (Harvard Constitutional scholar ) said... “conduct needn’t be criminal under any federal statute in order for that conduct to form part of an impeachable offense.” ...“the relevant impeachable offense would be conspiracy with a hostile foreign power to manipulate an American presidential election to favor oneself or one’s party. "
Grifter..YES, morallly bankrupt...YES, pathological liar...YES, lack of remorse, shame, or guilt...YES. and finally...conspiracy to commit fraud against the American electorate..ABSOLUTELY YES!
1
Yes, Trump is taking advantage of this distraction to continue to bring down the republic. I don't understand the media's lack of attention to a feckless and corrupt congress.
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Thank you. Could we all (including the press) lower the reporting intensity on Trump's malfeasance and try to see what else is going on?
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I continue to be impressed that the dialogue from all quarters, pro- and anti-Trump and Trump himself, seemingly reflects a common conclusion, namely that Trump is guilty (pick the charge(s)). The principal difference is that one group thinks he should be prosecuted for his offenses(s), the other that he should be "protected" from prosecution, irrespective of malfeasances.
In short, few, if any, argue that Trump is legally clean. Trump himself daily makes that position appear untenable .
1
Absolutely right on the nail-head. The other side of this coin is that we really don't know what Mueller is going to say or write. As it should be,, this is an investigation in secret; ALL the media hype for 15 months has been PURE SPECULATION because we know NOTHING of what has been found. Certainly King Don the First is happy that all the rest of his shenanigans are small potatoes compared to what Mueller may have found, but here in the midst of his insane, reckless and ill-inofrmed "leadership," patience remains the best medicine.
Finally, I am reading the kind of analysis and insight one might expect from observers of this White House, this Trump. While Rome burns or is liberated, Collusion wipes out all other events worthy of more serious coverage. Finally someone with a Platform has lifted the curtain a bit. I happen to think some of the changes being made are for the betterment of the Nation, but I would be more certain or perhaps change my views if reasoned coverage of the other issues were happening. But no, it is Trump, Russia, collusion, and repeat, repeat, repeat. We need strong voices, liberal and conservative examining the other issues and right now that isn't happening.
It is refreshing to take serious matters with a bit or a lot of humor. Even more so if the substance of the issues is put on the table. I wish I could use some humor in answering the big question: Does the democratic electoral system still produce the best results?l
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We could probably debate "best results".
An electoral system that ensures that government bureaucrats are regularly exposed to the light of day?
That the natural collusion of bureaucrats and special interests are summarily uprooted on a expected and predictable horizon?
Imagine for a moment that Robert Mueller was never pressed into service as a special counsel and wasn’t a household name.
I might be naive or missing something, but isn't it
"the press" who has made Mueller a household name? Isn't it the press who decides what will get the most attention and so focuses on that? Mueller headlines bombard all forms of news (print and screen) every day. To the point where even those of us who are hungry for news and information are growing weary. The press has a responsibility to cover the news, but in the era of Trump they are taking their lead from Trump himself and going for the sensational rather than the informative. That is why I reach farther and farther from the mainstream to find out what is going on in the world.
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Just read some of the comments here. The leftists don't care that there is no evidence, in their minds there is tons of it.
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The press travelled down this path way before Trump arrived on the scene. If anything, Trump is the product of the media, not the source.
No evidence of what?
There's a bigger problem, and no one seems to be dealing with it. The most likely hard evidence of "collusion" that we might find, but haven't yet, is that Trump campaign operatives fed Russians information that made their propaganda operation effective. Russian-controlled social media trolls and such were targeted in a way that probably required American assistance. We also know that Trump was happy to take advantage of Russia's hack into the Clinton/DNC emails, and it looks like Trump may have been tipped off in advance of the releases of that info.
Let's accept all of that as true. Now what? We have charged some Russians, but probably will never be able to prosecute them. Most of what the Russians did to spread fake news on the internet, they can (and will) do next time through Americans in a way that won't violate any US laws. Trump people say not everything we call "collusion" is actually a crime -- and they are right in at least some cases.
Clapper now says the Russians swayed the election. But not by altering vote counts -- rather, by distributing propaganda that voters believed. However, there is not a doggone thing we can do about that! We have no mechanism to invalidate an election based on a belief that voters were influenced by false, misleading or inflammatory propaganda -- either foreign OR domestically sourced. The 1st Amendment prohibits pre-publication approval of political speech. Voters believed the propaganda. That's hard to prevent.
rich fantasy life there FJP. There is no hard evidence of collusion except in your fantasies. And, you don't the Russians have a pretty good idea of how social media works, how our elections work, how campaigns work?
This is a really good article- that is until morning comes and it’s found out that Mr Mueller has leveled serious charges against Trump. Which is -in all likelihood -where we are headed. If we aren’t headed here, forget coming this far just to round up a couple Trump aides and Cohen (which any legal institution in this nation could have pursued on its own behalf). No, what we are in the midst of now is epic. How can I be so sure? Because Trump himself is such an epic fail- not fail in the sense of his not being a leader, fail in the sense of his lies, his arrogance, his greed, his hatred, his pettiness. Yeah we’ve seen other presidents with a problem or two. This one? Category 5, threat level Red! The real issue really isn’t one about Trump. The real issue is really one about America. The question is, does America have what it takes morally to take down a man/child who in no way represents the good things this nation upholds as number one- things like: integrity, valor, honor, humility, growth, love family and country and fear of God. No, what we have so far from America is not America first but party loyalty first. Although party loyalty can be a good thing, it is only good when it brings to bear on the nation those items we uphold as most favorable. There is nothing favorable about Trump. The question is, is there anything favorable about the American people.
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Trump is a distraction attracting attention while the Republican party tries, step by step, to destroy what remains of our democracy.
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Except the United States is a Constitutional Republic.
Not one thing that you mentioned on which you would rather be focusing, are impeachable offenses. Neither is Collusion with Russia, lol. But still, it begs the question, do most anti-Trumpers, like Frank Bruni, really want him eviscerated based on anything other than the fact that they do not like him? You need to not only worry about the Collusion story going too long, but also Trump derangement syndrome going on too long. Most Americans who don't want to reside in their emotions and feelings, and want to work hard and get through their days, are getting tired of everyone hating someone who has done literally nothing beyond the pale. So the only ones who look foolish are those who keep complaining how bad he is.
2
All we are hearing about is what has been leaked and then put in the headlines. The headlines are often about discoveries Mueller has made months ago. Mueller has been thorough and methodical, and he learned more in a few months than the Bengazi "investigation" learned in seven years. I'm sorry, but I have more confidence in Mueller's ability to establish what is factual and relevant than I even have in the New York Times.
2
President Trump's win was the nemesis to liberal hubris, and anyone would have thought that liberals would have wised up. But, no; what is clear from the insight offered by Mr. Bruni's opinion piece is that liberals, by opening an inquisition into the Trump campaign and presidency, have doubled down on their hubris.
Expect the nemesis that follows to be double, as well.
1
Frank Bruni: since Mueller has only spoken through actions, and not said anything, I don't know how he can scare you.
Government of the people, by the people, for the people, was always limited to the intended definition of "people." We all read our own, (unauthorized after all) hoped-for defintion that we badly want to include ourselves...but the framers never meant us, only themselves, and "peers" as well meant what they saw as themselves (the few, the wealthy, the elites, not the entirety of the colonists, just their elites).
Has Mr Trump done anything right? Is there any good in this man? After reading the headlines, opinions, news expose's, and articles about this evil man, I wonder how he is still allowed to function. According to the media this mans is the Anti-Christ incarnate. The more the media claims the less they can actually prove. If it looks like a witch hunt, sounds like a witch hunt, and smells like a witch hunt... maybe, just maybe it IS a witch hunt. Can we please get on with the business of fixing this broken country and turn our efforts and money toward more productive endeavors? PLEASE? People are starving and living on the streets and you want to vilify and persecute the president. How much more time and money will we waste on this inane and useless misuse of public funds. As for the media, you guys need to get a life. Find a stranded kitten or flooded basement to report. Enough already... Move on! We still suffer gender bias, racial inequality, etc. etc... You don't need to look very hard to find a worthy cause. Get Over It!
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Since Mueller and his team has done such a good job of playing their cards close to the vest, we don't know how much information they have investigated. But we do know that they have already issued indictments and have several guilty pleas and some cooperation. We also know that an group of people with a wide variety of special expertise is working on this.
I think our nation has become so impatient to learn everything "now" and solve everything ASAP, but that isn't a realistic expectation given Russia's massive meddling in our 2016 election.
Trump's also a master of distraction and a master of chaos, leaving everyone who's paying attention dizzy and unable to keep up. Trump is also lying about our law enforcement officials and it's sad that a significant number of Americans are willing to believe his lies. To me, the scariest part is that truth doesn't seem to matter anymore.
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That Trump has been able to manipulate so many people into believing his every word just shows that many humans aren't that bright, that they aren't capable of rational, logical thought unencumbered by emotions (or feelings) of fear, hate, and desire. Fear and hatred of The Other. Desire for a Return to a status quo that aligns with their view of the world, and that holds to account those they believe have wronged them. Trump is a laughable failure at so many of the basic tasks of being a human being. But as a con artist, he has few peers in the American history of which I'm aware. He is the Bernie Madoff of our national politics.
3
Point taken. The longer the Mueller investigation goes on, the more it becomes necessary to deliver something really big. What if there isn't a huge thing there? Isn't what we know at this moment outrageous enough?
The Russians tried to hijack the American presidential election. They were wildly successful in planting impressions to millions of voters that Hillary Clinton was a criminal (on her good days) and something far worse behind the scenes. The Russians ginned up fake rallies. They got real people, American citizens, to go out and demonstrate and helped push the "Lock her up!" effort into the Republican mainstream. I could go on...
Trump and company welcomed the help. What we don't know is how much they welcomed it and what they did in return. It almost doesn't matter because we have the public disaster of an American president going all kissy face with an ugly, murderous dictator. Case closed.
We need a years long investigation? There had better be some startling new facts behind that curtain.
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"While we obsess over what may be hidden in the shadows, all of [what has actually happened] is in plain sight." (Pardon the edit.)
The herd has grown to be anxious specimens having evolved to getting whatever is on their minds rapidly. Walking cocoons looking down at the latest best cellphone, occasionally bumping into others, privately avoiding terra firma as much as possible.
Wanting paint to dry faster does not end well, but someone's likely working on it. Artists are all around us. Intending does not dominate. Time will.
Don’t fix what’s not broken. I recently turned 70 and am just observing.
Your comparison falls completely flat on its face. The Mueller investigation has been ongoing for a little more than a year, which is a short time especially in light of its complexity. But, you must know that, right? Did you also complain about the many chapters of the Benghazi investigation? Have you really swallowed the republican line that Mueller is taking too long? What are you thinking?
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Mr. Bruni - Mueller has released nothing to this point - as well he should not. While I admire your fevered rendition of Trump's greatest hits - Mueller has said and released nothing.
Your rousing 'to the pitchforks and torches' carries all the gravitas that I have come to expect - I reiterate - Mueller has said and released nothing.
And that is in his job description.
2
Trump is nothing if not a mobster, a wannabe-tyrant like his financier and handler Putin. And he is so clearly guilty -- betrayed by his own desperation, even his own words -- that we are definitely headed for a conflict of unprecedented magnitude. We are in the run-up to that looming, inevitable political apocalypse. Trump and his extended crime family, political co-conspirators and hired legal assassins will stop at nothing to escape justice and keep their lucrative scam going. Their appetites are insatiable and they are unburdened by concerns beyond personal enrichment. They have already demonstrated contempt for the "rule of law" in innumerable ways and this is just the beginning: faced with immanent exposure, indictments, trials, financial confiscations and prison time, Trump and minions will burn down the government and the culture itself to obscure their culpability as arsonists and thieves. It's the strategy of a malignant mobster, and it is certain to be executed.
Mueller and his case would be caught in that conflagration and rendered moot if Trump and family decide it's time to set off the bombs they are capable of exploding and are surely preparing.
Mueller may not have the time to finish a full, wide-ranging investigation that finds ALL the crimes of the Trump crime family. So I will be satisfied if he proceeds with indictments and presents evidence while there is time. The storm, reflected in Trump's squint, is gathering.
What a load of nonsense - the media represented by you is focusing on Trump - Mueller is silent - Trump is manipulating you. You are swooning at the thought of a Nobel prize for a non-event, your articles are what-ifs and not facts, your endless patter to please Trump - and now this. Time to Unsubscribe the Times.
1
I agree, Trump’s political misdeeds have done far more harm than any law-breaking he may have been guilty of. But it’s the latter, if brought to light and proved, that might hasten the day of his demission.
1
Excellent analysis. It opened my eyes to another way at looking at this mess and yes it scares me. Trump scares me. Mark Meadows, unfortunately my representative, scares me. And yes we should be shining a light on what other awful things are going on in this country. I feel like going back and re-watching the wedding.
2
Blame your paper and other media (CNN) for the Mueller drumbeat. You wanted it SO bad, and you got it. So when he announces there was no collusion, and you’re as angry and frustrated as the day after the election, know this was on you and the rest of the “resistance.”
1
This laughingstock of an Administration and the only serious question facing Americans today boils down to one thing, and one thing only; are Republicans and Trump supporters loyal to Trump the man, or the Constitution? Because if you say you're a Trump supporter, you've unmasked your treason, and no further discussion is needed. While I hope for a blowout in November, I don't count on one, because the American electorate has been showing their stupidity for over 25 years now, on both the Right and the Left. No one, especially not a proven coward and traitor like 5 deferment bone spurs Trump, is above the Constitution and the rule of law. Everything else is dressing.
3
Surely Bruni knows the "tributaries" of Mueller's journey find the fishing is good everywhere. It continues to baffle me how those who side with or are GOP believers allow their servitude to overcome their real duties as followers of the Constitution. Bafflement is overcome when thinking back to their fervid outrage over Hillary and Bill ad nauseum, Obama and healthcare, their refusal to allow legislation to be heard on the floor has led to the fog of Mueller's investigation. Yet those of us who want this president out want the ouster to have the strongest possible rationale for same. I'm ready for this to be over, but I believe Mueller's judgment must be sterling.
1
So much hand wringing! Look at the metrics of criminal charges, guilty pleas, and plea bargains of those who orbited closely to the administration and you'll see is a fast moving investigation. And this is EXCLUDING Mr. Cohen.
Also, the utter lack of leaks or chatter from the investigation tells me that not only are they are professional and serious, but they consider it grave.
2
Trump needs to be removed by any means necessary. Any.
1
The Mueller investigation is not a popularity contest to win over support for what is now a criminal investigation with guilty plea deals and one conviction so far. All criminal investigations take time to collect all the bits and pieces to ensure that an innocent person is no convicted. To write half baked articles to provoke a reaction is a disservice to the law abiding citizens of this country.
Mr. F.B should concentrate in writing articles that are within his style of being funny, witty, entertaining, and let deeper articles to more seasoned writers and contributors.
1
Please do consider, Mr. Bruni, that all the colluding forces undermining Mueller's investigation of Trump, Russian and underworld malfeasance would be united full bore on undermining the presidency of Hillary Clinton had she not been cheated out of the presidency by such combined forces.
2
I think part of the analysis is missing. On today's front page the Times offers a very thorough explication of "what comes next." As good as it is, it too misses a very likely end game.
I agree with those who comment that Mueller knows what he's doing. The breadth of the investigation, which worries Bruni, is the strength of the investigation. The interconnecting pieces - Manafort, Ukraine, Trump Tower meetings, Cohen, Nader, deals in Moscow, collusion, obstruction, porn stars, illegal campaign contributions, Papadopolous, Carter Page and more - tell of a web of corruption unprecedented in American history. Some of it is illegal, some unethical, some just stupid, but all of a piece.
The scenario omitted in the Times summary is a Nixon-like end game. I believe it is likely that Mueller, perhaps accompanied by Congressional leaders, will privately confront Trump with the overwhelming weight of the evidence against him and his corrupt family. This will be the ultimate plea bargain. Resign or face the music.
Mueller must despise Trump. He is everything Mueller is not. But Mueller loves the country and recognizes the danger Trump presents to our democracy. He would let him off the hook to spare us. I think this is, in fact, the most likely outcome. Trump can resign in shame, but not in prison or financial ruin. He can blame fake news and witch hunts, but he'll be gone and we'll be spared the inevitable calamities of his continuing in office.
3
We Americans can only focus on one thing at a time, don’t ya know.
Thank the lord we got a break from Mueller with that wedding last week...whew
Mr. Mueller, like the Tar Baby--don't say nothing. All the yapping and howling is like chihuahuas around a grizzly. It will all be revealed in good time and Rudi Giuliani won't make a bit of difference as to when.
We are going to start seeing a lot more pieces like this one because the Mueller investigation just reached a political tipping point; it's increasingly seen as an illegitimate farce and so starting to energize republicans and demoralize democrats. For me it happened when the investigation of treasonous colusion moved on to taxi Medallions and porn stars. The upcoming IG reports are likely going to document extensive criminal behavior by anti-Trump investigators at which point Democrats will wish they never heard of Mueller.
As a pro trumper the best advice I can give the leftist media is to simply and soberly report the truth. The hystrionics just play into Trump's hand.
1
I am putting my $$$ on Mueller. How much dithering around with Benghazi did we have to put up with? Investigations take time. Americans gotta get out of the mindset of instant everything, wrapped up in 45 mins like Law and Order. It doesn't work that way. Mueller knows so much more than we could ever figure on, these leaks are just that...leaks. Mueller has the big picture.
In addition to the obvious conspiracy to acquire damaging information against Clinton, the sheer magnitude of the criminal network (money laundering, racketeering, fraud etc) with which Trump is connected (with the Russians and others), means that alot of ducks need to be lined up before charges can be brought (and so they can stick).
The baseless Whitewater investigation (aka the actual witch hunt) took eight years, so the spineless and complicit congressmen crying about one year being too long already, can jump off a cliff with the rest of the brainwashed sheeple they're dragging along.
I just hope we have a democracy and planet left by the time Trump and his family of treasonous sycophants and cronies go to jail!
2
Don't be scared - just thank God that there is a Mueller.
2
Oh come on! The Saudi’s aren’t a tributary. Russia the Saudi Princes Manhattan Real Estate scams, we all know they are bound together. It’s simply called selling out to the highest bidder. Mercenary style. Typical in Manhattan. No big deal. The authorities looked away for decades. Time for a second look about maybe a decade ago. Geez!
1
I have noticed that I am starting to tune out on the Muller probe. Endless — it is all MSNBC reports seemingly 24/7. Our environment and country are being sold out by Pruitt and Zinke, yet little attention is paid. Kooks, criminals, fat evil white men run our government, but all we hear is Muller. Maybe Muller pulls a Comey by “clearing” Trump of collusion say in October — just before the mid- terms. Such a thing could not happen? Right.
The problem here is that the more Mueller digs the more crimes he finds. We need to revamp our political system and get the money out of it!
#CampaignFinanceReform
3
There may be some parallels between the exclusive use of a private email SERVER (not just account) and the use of "a cellphone that doesn’t have strict security safeguards". But a little more info is needed here before Bruni can claim that Trump is a "raving hypocrite". Such visceral antipathy could be a cause for the blinders toward Trump's activities not related to collusion that Bruni laments. (Which I doubt actually exist... every minutia Trump does seems attacked by the mainstream media.) To me, this article reads as a face-saving preparation for loss. I'm guessing we'll see a lot of these in the near future. It appears now that most Americans don't trust the Mueller investigation. It's pretty clear that if the media was listening to the people more, rather than trying to influence them, they wouldn't be in this awkward position.
Looking to Mueller to vanquish Trump is a fool's delusion. Will not happen. It's water-torture, drip by drip. Only Congress can free America from this DT abomination, and as has been amply displayed, gutless Repub Congress will not do the right thing.
I don't think Trump is as much of a hypocrite as he is desperate to brag about his own disregard for political and ethical norms. He accuses others of the things he is doing himself. I think this is a backhanded way of giving himself a chance to tout his own malfeasance. The biggest lie of them all, "Hilary is in league with the Russians," was the biggest boast of his own guilt. We can only hope it will be his undoing.
1
You're right, Muller is dragging this thing on - and on and on. He needs to 'wrap it up!'.
If he has found no collusion, wrap it up and let us get on with the new elections and the new nuclear disarmament of North Korea. Notwithstanding the fact that the Donald is scared to death of meeting KJU face to face, lest he be seen for the vacuum brained fool that he is. Scared to death. He'll find a way to scuttle the whole thing.
Still, let's wrap it up, OK?
“But the more some of us learn, the harder it gets to take each breathless headline seriously.”
Then stop writing them.
You are the New York Times. Not Facebook or Yahoo News. Stop mining for clicks and shares and try taking it seriously. This isn't about moral weakness, a partisan rugby scrum, or a sex scandal. It's a constitutional crisis unfolding in real time through your reporting (or lack thereof).
How about a thoughtful and probing commentary about that? You could start with how you covered most of 2016. How did the enduring theme that Trump's "fitness" would emerge later come about and why? Why was it so hard to apply the same dogged and unrelenting journalistic standards to the coverage of both campaigns? Why didn't the New York Times take Donald Trump seriously? Even now.
4
Uhhhh Bruni.
The Times everyday for over five hundred days now publishes stories with headlines that according modish what you falsely accuse Mueller of doing. Mueller is not editor of the Times. Sadly.
Just read your own columns to see the problem.
2
US oligarchs are enjoying watching average Americans blame foreign oligarchs for the continued dismantling of their constitutional democracy....
1
While all of the transgressions Bruni highlights are real and concerning, it’s the responsibility of the media to keep those allegations and concerns front and center and stop giving Trump what he wants - a megaphone for his denials and feigned outrage. Sadly, he is smarter than all of you because he knows that the more he yells and stomps his feet - the more outrageous his claims - the more real estate you give his lies on the paper’s front page.
PLEASE STOP reporting the rants and keep focused on the very serious trail of corruption Mueller is clearly uncovering.
The bigger the platform you give him from which to spew his insanity, the more successful he is at being heard and (gasp) believed by those who read no further than your headlines.
3
Maybe 44 could call the police to act stupidly, or get corpsmen to do something about 45.
The media, with adulation for 44, who asked, no, told this country jobs were not coming back... and you call 45 a dunce!
All I know about Robert Mueller is what I read in the papers or hear on TV cable news shows. His status has been raised to mythological proportions by virtue of his silence. Depending on the source of your information he is Superman or Lex Luther. This bizarre debacle that is the Trump presidency will not end well for anybody no matter how it ends. Trump could walk away unscathed or behind bars. While I prefer the latter, even if it comes to pass he will not be disgraced; we have only disgraced ouselves. Shame on you, America, for electing this disgusting man.
1
Working class middle America is tired of elitist politicians, celebrities and news media. It's why Trump was elected by the working class middle America. When people hear him being called a racist or a misogynist, working class middle America hears themselves being called that as well. When he is attacked it reinforces his base. 90% of his news coverage is negative and his poll numbers go up. We all know Mueller's investigation is based on Hillary's bought dossier which was intended to smear Trump in the election. We all know that the Obama admin was spying on Trump's campaign and that's why they can't release the documents, it incriminates them. This is exactly what working class middle America put Trump in office to fight, the partisan nonsense in Washington. To get the job done, which he is doing while the democrats chase their tails.
Finally someone in the media is telling the truth and directing our attention to what we all should be paying attention to. The ridiculous culture of celebrity, groveling soap opera obsessiveness of the so-called news media is appalling and terrifying. Even Rachel Maddow on MSNBC has become a giggling kindergartner making light of it all. Even Don Lemon on CNN has been hypnotized by the Trump smoke and mirrors distraction machine that has totally taken over the media. Is no one smart enough to see that North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Trump are COLLABORATING in this soap opera while they both are establishing their permanent membership in the global oligarchy as corrupted by Putin and executively managed by China. DUH! DUH! DUH! This is what the media should be talking about. What Congress is doing, not what the infantile politics as theater that the Trump people and other oligarchs are doing in their controlling and distracting the media. Are journalists really this stupid and pitifully lacking insight these days? I can hardly bear to watch.
My only disagreement with this article is the statement that Trump is not an idiot. Otherwise, spot on.
3
Frank, I agree with you completely. It is about time that you and the rest of the commentariat stop focusing on the distractions of the "clown-in-chief" and take a good hard look at the destruction of the country that is happening under our very eyes. Although the cabinet was once derided as something that Ikea wouldn't sell, it now turns out to be the cabinet of Dr. Caligiri. And it's not the superficial excesses of people like Pruitt, deVos, Mnuchin, etc. It's the hidden work that they are doing to undermine the very agencies they direct. I'm seeing some slight change in emphasis, but nothing like the obsession with porn stars.
2
I just want to know the truth.
7
Mr. Bruni, just last Sunday you wrote: "The news we report is real. But so is the need to be even better at reporting it."
You should take your own advice.
2
I think this article misses the mark. What is it attempting to show? That the Mueller investigation is a distraction to all the other dubious actions and personalities around Trump, which prevents Americans from focusing on the real issues? But wait a minute, America was shown credible evidence since the 1980's that this guy is a racist, abusive, lying irrational egomaniac through countless reports about his business dealings, his relationship to women, his pursuit of his own interests against those of the general public or subcontractors who pay the tab, his hallucinatory relationship to the truth, and it STILL elected the guy. We are talking about a media troll who insults and asks for a political rival to be jailed over an improperly configured email server whom no one was able to show - in two years of GOP congressional hearings - that it was even compromised, yet frames his obvious campaign imprudences (to say the least) as a politically motivated attack against him. Suggesting that Mueller is a diversion from anything, is itself a diversion from the real question: how can an entire nation become so deluded as to elect a person who is so unfit for this job, and not pay attention to the overwhelming body of evidence pointing to this fact? Mueller is just a drop in the ocean of impropriety; in fact, never mind Mueller, take him away and any other issue brought against this president would be equally spin doctored whatever the source; that is what trolls do for a living.
2
Gee, Frank. You left out murder and mayhem from your list of Trump horrors. Why don’t you just admit up front that you hate Trump and still can’t accept that he won the last election ? It’s one thing to offer criticism from an open minded perspective. It is another to condemn everything someone does without even a pretense of objectivity.
1
Would it be too much to ask for our country to have a "Trump-Free Day" -- say, oh, I don't know, July the Fourth? For one single 24-hour period, no one would speak his name, not even the media. No images shown. Nothing.
Look, I understand that many of our fellow citizens, desperate to "shake things up" in our oft-unwieldy federal bureaucracy, became unwitting dupes of Steve Bannon, WikiLeaks and Vladimir Putin, were confused by all the baseless lies about Hillary and chose not to vote in the last election.
That being said, it should be painfully evident by now, even to the most willfully ignorant among us that DJT is not interested in a mere shake-up. No, his intent is to burn this country to the ground in order to try and rebuild it in his own image.
As much faith as I have in the Special Counsel, if the destruction of democratic norms continues at the current pace this nation will be unrecognizable in another two years.
Thank goodness for Frank Bruni and others like him who are willing to stare down this functionally illiterate con man. While he ain't exactly Hitler, as a modern day Lonesome Rhodes he is nevertheless terrifying.
Don't believe me? Go out and rent the film "A Face in the Crowd" and get back to me.
2
Mark - I just wrote the same wish in my comment on this article. I asked for 48 hours of freedom from Trump. I also requested Frank get Maggie to stop breathlessly reporting on Trump's every tweet. Look in the mirror Frank and we will wait for your next column.
BRAVO Frank! You have said it all. Trump is getting away with the "murders on 42nd Street" that he bragged about. Please Mr. Mueller hurry up!!!!
This article answers the question: How is it possible that Scott Pruitt is still in office?!!!!
The zombie GOP have eaten the brains of over 30% of the population, and as a result a national disaster is looming.
To those who support trump I hope you have enough money to support your parents and grandparents, because the GOP policies will drive them to destitution.
1
Don't be mad. Yes this is a distraction. But my question is. What are scared of? The fact that you hate Trump and don't have anything but hate for anything he does or the fact that if this was Hillary or any other Democrat , you wouldn't bat an eyelash nor report about it ?
There are definitely too many breathless headlines. It's the old story of the boy who cried wolf.
1
in order to be thorough, they risk becoming unwieldy, appearing indiscriminate and taxing the patience and trust of voters to the point where they numbly tune out.
----------
"Your lips move, but I can't hear what you say..." ~P.Floyd
Too late, Frank.
You should have written this column about two months ago. We've tuned out. Spring is here, summer is upon us, gas prices are up, but there are enough jobs to go around... nobody, and I mean nobody, is masochistic enough to pay attention to what is going on in Washington (to the tune of $10 million dollars, and growing/investigating....)
This is the non-glam side of your job, Frank: you HAVE to pay attention, that's what they pay you for. Not the rest of us! We're free to follow other passions; you're linked to these old men in power, because you take the pay and serve in the same arena of spectacle (and entertainment, but the entertainment factor too has long passed in this witchhunting folly.)
Mueller would be wise to wrap it up, as the non-extremist American people have moved on... If there was anything there, it would have been leaked already by now. Your 10 minutes are up, Mr. Mueller.
Oh please. Get over yourself. Focusing on the media frenzy and not following all the news in detail is unworthy of an educated American public. I bet you would complain if they hung you with a new rope.
There is so much in plain sight which only compounds the problem for the US and other nations. He will still be an evil schemer with a long list of weaknesses and character deficiencies. He will always be hugely unsuited to the role. The longer he is in power, the more time he has to dig his defences and run amok with standards, laws and alliances.
Mueller is Plan A, the November mid terms are Plan B but with Trump there has to be a Plan C, D, E and F, scenarios independent of GOP support. Crack those conundrums and you might eventually get rid of him. In the meantime, he'll be like a proverbial limpet, clinging on because he's wired to winning.
2
While I agree with Mr. Bruni's statements that important and far reaching rules are being ignored or overturned, it isn't 45 who is responsible for the lack of coverage. MSM needs to start placing these stories prominently while Mueller is doing his investigation. I especially count on the Times to let me know what important rules are being tossed in the garbage so that corporations can make a few more bucks while sacrificing our future as a planet. Make the room on the front page for both. Clean air and water, fair hunting rules, welfare for the truly needed, banking regulations are all extremely important. Stop allowing 45 to suck all the air out of the room.
2
This is precisely what I have been thinking. The Mueller investigation is sucking all the oxygen out of the room and all the other disastrous things the Trump administration is doing are mostly going unnoticed.
If Mueller hopes to have a meaningful outcome from his investigation he better not take time to dot all the i's and cross all the t's because by the time he is done it will be too late to have any impact.
I listen to Trump and long for Dubya who could occasionally string enough words together to make a complete sentence.
1
The "Deafening of America" . . .
Wow Frank; Amazing clarity on the effects of this now long term saga.
Of course, we can more than assume just how much dirt Mueller really has on Trump - especially as we see the people already indicted and/or have confessed - who are as close as his son and son-in-law !
Mueller would be remiss if he does not turn over every rock in the ever-expanding boulder field - however - the time it will take will have a weakening effect on his results - no matter how damning they are.
Reasonable people understand that Trump is a crook and is fleecing our nation to line his pockets -
Trumps Base and the talking heads at Fox are digging in as the fabric of our government, particularly the Justice Department, is being frayed to impotence.
How sad it is that Rosenstein "gave up" the name of the informant rightfully and legally "checking in" on members of Trump's campaign who have been confirmed as cahooting with Russian actors.
Of course Rod is protecting Mueller - but at what cost - will he actually "give up" classified information to Nunes and other self-serving corrupt GOPers ?
So much damage has been done and as time goes by, each day, the public who once heard "loud and Clear" are becoming deaf !
Why not head-line what Trump is also doing besides the total focus of the Russia investigation? And why keep calling it collusion when collusion is not a crime? The media ought to call it conspiracy if they call it anything. Word choice is everything. "Meddling" is just too soft a term. "Interfered" is better as it more poignantly describes what actually happened.
To deal with the "saturation point" that many may have reached, start headlining other activities such as what other Trump appointees are doing; the volcanic fiasco now going on in Hawaii, how Pruitt is ruining the EPA and what other Trump appointees are up to (or down to).
Maybe Mueller would appreciate not being in the headlines everyday. I think there are certainly other news-worthy items worth our attention. If people got the whole picture of what is going on instead of one part, they may be more likely to believe that Trump has no interests other than his own self.
As Noam Chomsky said in a recent interview, Trump sucks up all the publicity keeping everyone's eyes on him while his lieutenants systematically disassemble the last vestiges of the New Deal, environmental safeguards, and our most coveted institutions. And a huge minority of the American electorate cheers him on. Maybe we do get the kind of governance we deserve.
4
Every day when I read the news, listen to the news and watch the news I am more outraged that no one in the media seems to give a damn about the destruction Comrade Trump is doing.
For instance his pick for the EPA who is a sworn enemy of the EPA has given companies the go ahead to pollute all they want because he will make sure the EPA says and does nothing.
As well Pruitt has ordered all environmental science wiped from the EPA website and the only criteria for the EPA to make a determination if EPA rules will hurt the profit of companies and if so the EPA is to back off.
Devos wants all laws keeping government money from churches and religious schools, and colleges dropped and taxpayer money given to them in the billions more than we have now.
Trump signs a bill taking us back to the days of banks destroying the economy to make huge profits and when the ponzi scheme fails he will give them another trillion.
Trump constantly attacks the media and actually wants journalists who question him jailed. He wants military parades in his honor, he has lied over 3000 times. He wastes tens of millions golfing every weekend at HIS resorts. Trump wants an FBI that works at his beck and call NOT the Constitution.
Sanders blithely LIES daily. Press say nothing. They're terrified of not being on AF 1 anymore. So they let her lie and pass the lies along without question. THUS giving an air of credibility to his lies.
Our press looks the other way same as the republican party.
5
Democrats seem to be so lost that they continue to grasp for a common enemy to organize against. The entertainment media, that calls itself the press, continues to offer a daily menu of enemies to propagate chaos in pursuit of click driven revenues. It can be entertaining to watch, just like reading the headlines on the tabloids at the checkout line.
2
Not quite sure where you've been for the past year and a half, but not only have Democrats recognized the "common enemy" -- the rest of the world has as well.
3
Don't be scared, we know what will happen.
So long as Republicans control Congress: Trump can do whatever he wants, no matter what it is.
Democrats and the press will shout and stamp their feet. Trump voters have made up their minds and since Republicans likely retain the Senate, the judiciary will continue to slide into rightwing fanaticism. If the House doesn't flip, nothing Mueller or anyone says or does matters one bit. In fact, if the House doesn't flip, Trump will become more impulsive, vindicitive, and autocratic. My Fox News Neighbors will cheer as Republicansdismantle the safety net on which nearly all of them are wholly dependent and the republic's institutions and structures erode. If 2020 doesn't stop Trumpism then this America thing is over. The "Russia thing" makes no difference without the vote and we all know it. Keep writing, Mr Bruni, we live on the outrage and the facts, both of which may be utterly irrelevant too.
1
Yeah, well there are so many swamp tributaries for the Mueller team to venture down, aren't there?
Thing is, they are closing in. I'm betting they will prove that Cohen went to Prague on behalf of Trump to pay Russian hackers for their services, as stated in the Steele dossier and voila, collusion. For good measure, they are following the money and will discover that Trump and family hid dirty cash from the tax man just like Manafort and his other cronies, like Cohen's business partner.
As for other government business, your next Pruitt. This administration is rotten.
2
What Mr. Bruni is ignoring here is that the timing of Mueller’s decision making on this is essential. If it is released before late September the chances of anything happening as a result of it are nil as we have seen the Republican Congress all too willing to ignore or subvert the intelligence provided to them. Released around the election it could well turn the election in a similar fashion to Comey’s late campaign discussion of Hillary’s emails. What opinion polls show now will be of little import once Mueller decides how to proceed. However with our current Supreme Court and absent a Democratic Congress 45 will continue to savage the structures that have sustained our country since its founding.
2
'The story outraged me, because it’s yet another glaring example of Trump’s dual set of rules — proper ones that apply to others and nonexistent ones that let him and his clan do as they please — and it puts the lie to his supposed horror over Hillary Clinton’s sloppy email habits. Not for the first time or for the last, he’s being a raving hypocrite.'
Clinton was a seasoned, experienced and competent politician. She had many faults, of course, as we all do, and at election time was excoriated correctly for them, as the electorate in a mature western democracy has the right and the duty to do.
Trump is not a politician. He is a cypher and a siphon. He is a symbol and a cymbal. He is a thuggish dolt and a duddy thud. Don't bother to criticise him. We might as well thunder at the neighbour's dog. We should as well bark at the moon. We may with as much profit bay for the blood of a hundred unwashed unicorns.
Just turn out and vote. For pity's sake. Remove this absurdity from office.
6
“Russian collusion” and its affects on the outcome of the election boil down to a handful of amateur “hackers” regurgitating existing news stories and magnifying existing wedge issues in US politics.
Meanwhile, right wing US oligarchs are actually dismembering our constitution daily, and looking for new arenas to sell their weapons, for despots to back, and socialists to oust for our own geopolitical ambitions.
The best part for US oligarchs?
They’ve gotten the US mainstream to blame foreign boogeymen, as usual.
3
Money laundering tax evasion witness intimidation obstruction of justice
1
"... he’d still be a proudly offensive, gleefully divisive, woefully unprepared plutocrat with no moral compass beyond his own aggrandizement." Going to bed with a smile on my face. You must have had fun typing out that lovely sentence!
Frank, with all due respect and admiration, all your article did was remind me of the magnitude of the problem. You offer no solutions nor call for action. No offense intended, but we cannot watch a modern day Holocaust and stand idly by. Perhaps your focus should be on advocating methods each of us can use to reeducate a Trump supporter to build consensus. But to stand on the bow of the Titanic, observing the destruction dead ahead and offering no solution other than "hand wringing", you are failing to utilize your popularity adequately.
Take it from me and all of the people I met in the cancer ward. "Hand wringing" and prayer is not an option when confronting a terrible disease. Action is required and "all hands on deck" when confronted by such a sinister and far reaching problem like Trump.
Before Dec 7th, 1941, many people saw the looming danger but decisive action wasn't taken. Waiting for Mueller and Ms. Daniels to solve our problem simply isn't good enough. Like FDR said before the Doolittle raid, "... we must do more".
This our Titanic / Dec 7th / 4th stage cancer moment and we all need to rise to the occasion.
3
And Donald J. Trump inspires so much confidence? This is all about right and wrong. Very simple, very simple indeed. We are at a fork in the road, let's hope that we chose the right path to go down, because if we don't, we are doomed.
I believe the truth for many issues will come out. Robert Mueller has the reputation of being able to get to the truth. The problem is, the investigation itself has exposed major problems within the FBI and the DOJ. Robert Mueller is a tough investigator and has shown he will get to the bottom of any Russia Collision. Trump had every right to fire Comey, and is proving to be the correct decision, based on post firing actions on his part. THe FBI obviously had issues at the top administration level. The fact that the DOJ and the FBI have stonewalled providing documentation to the Congress that has the right to review is very telling. I think the facts will come out,and I don't there will be many on either side who won't have something to explain. This is better than any soap opera but unfortunately people lives are ruined. Some will be getting what they deserve
1
Wow! Blame Mueller's work on the assumption that it eclipses all other news & that Americans can't focus on more than one thing at a time. Reminder: Mueller's Team is NOT chasing publicity. No interviews. No comments. No appearances on 60 Minutes or late night talk shows. Yet, we hear endless speculation from 'experts' who routinely preface their opinions with, "We don't really know what Mueller knows, thinks, etc, but ..."
We hear whines from TV commentators. "Oh dear, oh dear. So much news to cover. Our heads are spinning. How can we focus? What shall we do? Tsk. Tsk." Reminder: A journalist's job is to gather and report the news -- however much of it there is. It's the public's job to keep up and stay informed. That may include actually reading a paper (even online) rather than depending ONLY on TV news which, at best, is a headline service with frequent commercial interruptions and boisterous 'expert panel' discussions which often devolve into shouting matches. Nothing new for us to learn here.
The Mueller probe is NOT a Law & Order episode with culprits caught, tried and convicted in 50 minutes. It's deeply complex with lots of threads to follow and hard work to do. The loudest calls for 'wrap it up now' comes from those with a political agenda rather than wanting to know Who, What, When,Where, Why and How America was attacked --not by military weapons but through basic institutions that Americans have too long taken for granted.
5
The title of your article scares me--that columnists at the NYT are now tiring of an investigation that actually has some merit to it, unlike all the distractions they follow with daily breathless "reporting." When will the media understand that their endless chasing of every idiotic move and tweet is simply going to keep Trump in office, potentially for another term? The only journalist I've heard consistently focus on the turly important issue here in stopping Trump's rampage is Friedman, and that this: The only thing that matters is winning overwhelmingly at midterm elections and taking the Senate from the death-grip of the Republican Trump enablers. Nothing else matters! So stop chasing all the shiny objects and stop slowly but surely tiring of and thereby discrediting the Mueller investigation. Focus on what matters!
2
My suggestion, Mr. Bruni, is to ask your fellow NY Times reporters to stop reporting every.single.day about the latest Trump "outrage" and focus instead on the destruction that the complicit GOP is allowing him and his deplorable Cabinet members to get away with. We all know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, what kind of lying sleaze Trump is. No need for daily reminders because that's what he wants - to distract and deflect while the GOP goes about it's dirty work of stacking the federal courts with stolen seats for their under - and -unqualified judges, deregulating every single consumer protection put into place to prevent another Great Recession, or God forbid, Great Depression, their egregious and ongoing failure to seriously address our failing infrastructure, shore up our healthcare system and public schools, and shamefully staying quiet as Trump promotes graft to levels not seen since the Gilded Age. How about more reports, opinions, and stories about those issues? Blasted out every day on page one, with names named.
3
Stay the course, Mr. Mueller. Our conman president is going to perform a massive hissy fit. Guilty people do that.
4
Take a deep breath, everyone. Mueller is doing his job. It's a complicated one, and it's led down several rabbit holes. The Watergate scandal took two years to unfold. This is going to take awhile, too.
3
Yes, things are very weird and horrifying.
Yet I think Mueller is going to be successful.
For one, Cohen will sing a pretty tune.
For another, Jr. may be stupid, but ignorance of the law doesn't make one innocent. Jr's secret meetings with foreign agents are still acts of treason.
Take heart.
The worst is that we will take many years to recover from the Trump Travesty.
Another sex scandal has already popped up, with a billionaire colleague of Trump's allegedly covering for a Trump dalliance with a Playboy model that ended with her abortion, indirectly paid for by Trump.
When the rabidly anti-abortion evangelicals hear about this, I'll bet they give Trump a pass on the abortion.
1
Life in the liberal bubble starting to get sad. It's all falling aphart. Just keep telling yourselves Trump is going to jail - meanwhile even the dumb flyover states are starting to understand what a dossier is and the difference between spying and investigating.
3
Well, the left keeps prattling on, despite:
1) No evidence, other than that ginned up in a hnasty report by Obama appointees in the intel business, that Vlad was behind hacking the DNC.
2) No evidence that whatever Russia may or may not have done changed any votes.
3) We know Russia didn't gain access to our voting system -- they didn't change votes.
4) No evidence Trump or members of his campaign colluded with Russia. NONE.
5) No plausible theory as to why either side would need the other and collude.
6) NO EVIDENCE OF ANY CRIMES committed by Trump or his campaign members in the 2016 campaign.
This is a wild goose chase fueled by the leftist desire to continue litigating he 2016 election.
A much better target: The use of the Steele dossier by FBI and others for political purposes. The FISA warrants. The timing of the origination of the FBI investigation into Trump Russia collusion and the identification of who ordered it.
And of course a deeper investigation into why Comey let HRC off the hook and what Bill and Loretta talked about on the tarmac.
The left hates Trump and the anti-Trumpers on the right hate Trump. They use the notion that there was collusion -- for which there is no evidence -- as a device to undermine Trump's presidency.
And all I can say to Bruni and the whining commentariat is.... WAAAHHHHHHHH.
Keep it up. Let's see what happens in 2018 and 2020. The left has nothing but anti-Trumpism and identity politics. No ideas.
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Yes, of course, and . . . he hired Paul Manafraud . . . Why?? And YOU know what evidence Mueller has? But keep on whistling.
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Lenny....
The feds never caught on to Manafort's money laundering scheme until Mueller got a subpoena and was able to search his house. Manafort was a well known political consultant and there was no reason to suspect him of wrong doing.
If Mueller/FBI had anything on Trump it would have leaked. And if he had anything on Trump he wouldn't be going down these various blind allies trying to get someone to cough something up that might justify Mueller's on going role.
Mueller will establish with proof an historical record.
It doesn't matter who chooses to disbelieve whatever the "reasons."
Some today "believe" Nixon was innocent, or that FDR knew before about Pearl Harbor. There's no end to American stupidity.
What should "scare" sane people is the ruination of our court system with permanent Trump appointments. Unlike other Trump initiatives this cannot be reversed.
Its a testimony to our complicity that we rarely think about OUR court system.
Perhaps the fake "independents," third party fools, and suicidal non-voters will think differently
in Nov. 2018, or the great American experiment might end.
Even if 45 is cleared of collusion/conspiracy, there is still the obstruction matter. It is very telling that Giuliani et al are trying to circumscribe Mueller's interview (if ever) with 45 to actions prior to the election...meaning to obstruction, where the evidence may be greatest. Mueller isn't going to cave for that; we want ALL of this man's unethical, if not illegal, acts to degrade our government investigated.
And what is God's name gives with the intel briefing tomorrow that only Nunes and Gowdy are invited and NO dems? Nunes--the fawning House acolyte who will do anything for this president; and Gowdy--the Master of Ceremonies for years of Benghazi hearings that netted nothing but wants to appear measured as he leaves; why should these two be given this information? And NO democrats? I found SHSanders' rationale offered late yesterday as offensive, demeaning, and inappropriate as anything she's ever said. To Christopher Wray and Rod Rosenstein, I completely support you and your efforts to protect your DOJ from 45's frontal assault, but you should REFUSE to go to the meeting tomorrow unless the two corresponding House Democrats are also invited!
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As I listen, and at times read the published tweeter tantrums from Trump the Toddler President, I ask myself the question-would an innocent person protest in the manner, with the language and the frequency that Trump does.
His continuous protestations are somewhat indicative that his hand was in fact in the cookie jar, in this case, obstruction, and at the worst case, collusion.
Then when the addition of another self-aggrandizing egomaniac to Team Witch Hunt Trump as his attorney is akin to hiring a slow-witted "side kick" to further deflect and deceive. And many of us see this.
Trump's and Rudy's statements are only dog whistling for the benefit of Trump's supporters. Hopefully many of our elected legislators can see this. But, it appears their heads are elsewhere. The commentary in some questionable new media, well Fox "News" is gaslighting, again, to deflect and drum up sympathy for the Grifter from Queens that he is being treated unfairly. And it is working on a segment of the population that has succumbed to the con artistry of Trump.
Hopefully soon Mr. Mueller will present us with the dirt, the goods, that puts the issue to rest. Either way the country loses-we may still have a con artists crook in the White House or an extremist evangelist taking his place.
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Spot on, Francois.
Your article is terrible. Good work takes time. Who cares about how you and the political class view the relative timing of the investigation. It doesnt matter. For instance, Ken Starr took 6 years. Let the man do his job.
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Or ... The media, including the New York Times, could give the other very important issues plaguing this administration the bandwidth they deserve. Let's not co-dependently blame Mueller for doing his very important job, when the news media are over-reporting every rumor and leak of his ongoing investigation all on their own. Mueller stays.
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Frank Bruni, your article is very disappointing. Instead of Robert Mueller starting to scare you - you should be among the leaders in the news media like so many writers for THE NEW YORK TIMES, do by promoting the Special Council's investigation that has all the potential earmarks of another 'WATERGATE.'
Not everyone in our nation reads the NEW YORK TIMES, most tune in to FOX NEWS, which by the way most likely has a larger audience - especially among the voters who elected POTUS. So, they chew at the fake news instead of the real news in THE NEW YORK TIMES.
There's a solid base of Democrats/Liberals that want justice and the truth to surface, who will argue against your statement that: "Mueller’s journey down certain tributaries strikes even some observers who aren’t Trump partisans as invasive and punitive"
The investigation must continue until all the crooks are identified and held to the fluorescent lights so we can see them clearly for what they have done to America and be punished for it.
Keep in mind always that Russia interfered in our nation's democratic election process and the roadblocks Mueller must overcome from the Kremlin to the White House isn't an easy hurdle to get over.
Don't break rants and encourage it.
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I think you’re wrong on two counts. First, simply, I trust that Mueller knows better than you what he’s doing and how his investigation should proceed. I think if he could make it go faster, he would.
Secondly, I have no faith that the myriad of offenses being committed by Trump, his appointees, and this inept, enabling Congress would be treated any differently by the public if the Mueller investigation ended. Do you think there are not enough people now, both in Congress and the general public, who know of the (17, I believe) legal and ethical trangressions committed by Scott Pruitt while he concurrently trashes the mission of the EPA?
No, shining more light on the administration won’t do a thing. This, unfortunately, is the country we live in now.
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Everything Bruni says is true, and Trump supporters DO NOT CARE!
So, the rest of US ought to care and vote. Trump supporters, including so-called Christians who have chosen Trump over Jesus because they are getting the right-wing judges they want, would happily shred the Constitution and starve and die of an opioid overdose wearing their MAGA hats.
Best opinion piece on the current situation.
Who, Mr. Bruni, was the prodigious legal mind behind the case against former U.S. Senator Ted Stevens?
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