Donald Trump is consistent. He is predictable. Once you get the simple meshes of his mind scoped out, you pretty much know exactly what he’s going to do next. Michael Cohen told us early on that Trump would never voluntarily leave the White House, that he would look for a way to stay in power when defeated and Cohen was far and away not the only person saying that. That was pretty much a given. And it all came true, just like people predicted.
And so will this. Here’s the lay of the land. Trump got indicted on August 14. He has until August 24 to turn himself in for the obligatory booking and mugshot. On August 23 is the GOP debate, to be televised on Fox News. You can figure out the rest but let Johnathan Last explain it to you.
It would not surprise me—at all—if Trump chooses to surrender himself on August 23. He’d then take over the entire news cycle that day with its wall-to-wall coverage of the fingerprinting and mugshot.
And then Trump goes straight from the jail to a giant Trump rally that runs—and here I’m just spitballing—from 8-11 p.m. EDT.
Fox will carry the debate and all of the other networks will carry his rally and you tell me which would get the bigger ratings numbers?
The entire Republican debate would be swamped. The candidates on the stage would have extra pressure to light themselves on fire in order to break through. And the second-day stories would be about how Trump schlonged Fox and the rest of the field.
Trump isn’t smart, but he is cunning and he understands both power and weakness. And he sees the same things we’re all seeing.
And Last is not alone in this thinking. Trump does not want to debate. This would be his perfect out. Now, it would also be obvious what he’s doing, but being obvious has never bothered him. In fact, it stimulates him. It makes him look like Mr. Defiant. Plus, it’s also an FY to Fox News, with whom he currently has a love/hate relationship, which sweetens the deal all that much more. The New Republic:
So Trump could easily arrange to appear at the Fulton County courthouse the day of the debate, ensuring that all eyes will be on him instead of his opponents. […]
Another source close to Trump, also speaking anonymously, suggested the former president could turn himself in the day after the debate, preventing another candidate from gaining any momentum in the headlines.
“He should do it the day after the debate to suck up all the post-debate coverage,” the source told NBC. “That way even if another candidate has some sort of ‘moment’ at the debate, it falls into a black hole, press-wise.”
Trump announced two weeks ago that he has no intention of participating in the debate, adding on Truth Social that the other candidates should “so I can see who I MIGHT consider for Vice President!” Since then, he has said he’s still thinking about it, but he also said he won’t sign the Republican loyalty pledge required to participate.
Of course he won’t. He’s not going to pull behind any candidate. He’s never been on the side of the GOP. He’s only made it so that the GOP is on his side. For his part, he’s done everything in his power to destroy the GOP — and yet they won’t quit him. They keep following him like baby ducklings follow anything in the water that moves. Some blind instinct is in play.
Even so, Fox executives have begged Trump to take part in the debate. He reportedly had dinner with Fox News president Jay Wallace and chief executive Suzanne Scott, during which they urged him to participate, just hours after he was indicted for a third time.
I don’t think Trump is going to debate. At first I thought he might, simply because he wouldn’t be able to stand the spotlight being anyplace but on him. But now, with an opportunity like this to seize the spotlight and skip the debate — this is too perfect. This is a match made in heaven.
This is what Trump will do. Watch.
Thank you, Ursula for the proper focus on Trump’s likely moves, especially, your noting what Michael Cohen had to say–before it happened.
I would contend that Michael Cohen, Trump’s long-time attorney-tough-guy-fixer, knows all of the dark side of Trump, like no one else. Under oath, in February, 2019, Cohen predicted Trump would fight leaving office, once he lost. He comes the closest to anticipating the extensive, desperate actions Trump would take.
Most of us now, finally, see how extensive and devious his actions were
After the Fulton County indictments dropped I could swear I saw something about defendants having until Friday (which I assumed meant this Friday as in tomorrow) to surrender for processing and arraignment. Hell, we’ve read for weeks about how DA Willis had asked judges to as much as possible clear their calendars so as to be able to process a large number of defendants into the system as quickly and efficiently as possible. Given that I was startled to learn all these dirtbags have until late next week to head to the courthouse. WTF?
There was all this talk about in this case defendants, all of them would be treated like any other CRIMINAL defendant. I for one think it’s fair to ask how many criminal defendants get damned near two WEEKS after being indicted to surrender (in lieu of having a warrant issued and being arrested), get processed (fingerprints, mugshots, etc.) and get taken before a judge for arraignment. Trump and his gang are getting about as special treatment as possible! I don’t get it. And I sure as sh*t don’t like it.
Every goddam one of them knew this was coming and has had, if they hadn’t long had ample time to not only legal counsel but lawyers who could show up within two or three days for an arraignment. None of them, defendants or their lawyers lack the means to get to Atlanta including on short notice. Every last one of them should have been booked and arraigned by the close of business tomorrow. It still wouldn’t prevent Trump from pulling the stunt you believe (for the record I agree with you it’s right in his wheelhouse and something he was inclined to do even before the indictment) holding a rally the night of the GOP debate. Or the next day to suck up all the media oxygen from post debate coverage.
It will be up to networks to avoid giving Trump what he wants. They can choose to keep focus on the GOP debate the day of with limited time of Trump in court, and the day after too for that matter. Or they can suck Trump’s nasty d**k and please HIM by giving him the spotlight. Sadly, I think we all know what they will choose. In the continuing spirit of Les Moonves they will choose what they think is good for their networks (bottom line) over the good of the country. If they don’t like me calling them cocksuckers they shouldn’t go down on Trump. But I think they will so I will call them what I damn well please.
Denis hits another one out of the park, he has considerable talent that way … Ursula, Denis has taken a good shot at the supporting vermin, swirling around in the swamps of Trump’s world of make-believe …
I think DJT’s mental ability to keep tabs on his own lies involves repetitions continuously, an annoying sign of his failing health and narrow window on reality … He SHOULD be arrested, booked and spend some time in a holding cell, because, his threats to the jury members AND the prosecutors, along with the Judge Herself, call for protective custody to prevent more of his dangerous rhetoric …