Posted on 09/04/2018 8:52:29 AM PDT by kristinn
John Dowd was convinced that President Trump would commit perjury if he talked to special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. So, on Jan. 27, the president’s then-personal attorney staged a practice session to try to make his point.
In the White House residence, Dowd peppered Trump with questions about the Russia investigation, provoking stumbles, contradictions and lies until the president eventually lost his cool.
“This thing’s a goddamn hoax,” Trump erupted at the start of a 30-minute rant that finished with him saying, “I don’t really want to testify.”
The dramatic and previously untold scene is recounted in “Fear,” a forthcoming book by Bob Woodward that paints a harrowing portrait of the Trump presidency, based on in-depth interviews with administration officials and other principals.
Woodward writes that his book is drawn from hundreds of hours of interviews with firsthand participants and witnesses that were conducted on “deep background,” meaning the information could be used but he would not reveal who provided it. His account is also drawn from meeting notes, personal diaries and government documents.
SNIP
The book also details Trump’s impatience with the war in Afghanistan, which had become America’s longest conflict. At a July 2017 National Security Council meeting, Trump dressed down his generals and other advisers for 25 minutes, complaining that the United States was losing, according to Woodward.
“The soldiers on the ground could run things much better than you,” Trump told them. “They could do a much better job. I don’t know what the hell we’re doing.” He went on to ask, “How many more deaths? How many more lost limbs? How much longer are we going to be there?”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
“””””””’“This thing’s a goddamn hoax,” Trump erupted “”””
I like him more every day. He is an everyday guy.
He actually did write a couple of books during the Obama administration. One in 2010, the other in 2012.
They thought they were hit pieces as well.
You do not get more “in” in the “in-crowd” than Bob Woodward. His only access is through the DC Cocktail party circuit.
Even in the Obama days these were flashes in the pan and they went away.
“The soldiers on the ground could run things much better than you,” Trump told them. “They could do a much better job. I don’t know what the hell we’re doing.” He went on to ask, “How many more deaths? How many more lost limbs? How much longer are we going to be there?”
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These are damn good questions. 17 f’n years in Afghanistan, and for what? How much longer? A 25 year war? 50?
Will be in the $1.00 bargin rack very shortly. Perhaps next week.
Will be in the $1.00 bargin rack very shortly. Perhaps next week.
Will be in the $1.00 bargin rack very shortly. Perhaps next week.
He does a mock meeting with Mueller, and he’s convinced in just a few minutes, that he DOESN’T want to testify.
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He knows Mueller, like Come, has already written the conclusion for the interview which hasn’t happened. In Hillary’s case, she was written up as innocent before the interview happened. In Trump’s case, he is guilty before the interview happens. The Interview itself is nearly theater to pretend to be conducting an actual investigation, when it is not.
This kind of crackup by Woodward makes you really question if there was ever anything true in the whole Nixon Watergate investigation. Was that simply a coordinated attack on the presidency that the GOPe didn’t see coming? In retrospect, it looks like the RINO’s bolted and sacrificed Nixon. Sadly, many of them and their decedents are still residing in the Washington Swamp. When conservatives set the agenda and deny a voice to the progressives, America will be on the road to recovery.
Trump is not attorney, but he’s a smart man. S0, when a smart attorney shows him what would happen if he testifies, it takes Trump only few seconds to be convinced.
So, he CHANGES HIS MIND...
This is what we want in our president. He can be convinced to change course.
Why didn’t Woodward do a book on Obama? Can you imagine the cabinet meetings that went on, and the complete joke the guy was. NO WONDER HE NEVER, AND I MEAN NEVER OPENED THEM TO THE PUBLIC....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He may want to provoke a breakdown in our president but thus far at least its pure wishful projection If PDJT keeps up the ( slow but) steady progress, he will be re-elected in 2000 by a wide margin of Americans
It's much worse than that.
The account of him and Sukelow talking to Mueller and flunky and telling them On March 5, Dowd and Trump attorney Jay Sekulow met in Mueller’s office with the special counsel and his deputy, James Quarles, where Dowd and Sekulow reenacted Trump’s January practice session.
Dowd then explained to Mueller and Quarles why he was trying to keep the president from testifying: “I’m not going to sit there and let him look like an idiot. And you publish that transcript, because everything leaks in Washington, and the guys overseas are going to say, ‘I told you he was an idiot. I told you he was a goddamn dumbbell. What are we dealing with this idiot for?’ ”
“John, I understand,” Mueller replied, according to Woodward.
Even assuming this is an accurate account (which I doubt) for Dowd to first blab this stuff to a fanatical prosecutor trying to nail Trump, and then leak it to D-Bag Woodward is an absolute betrayal and violation of legal ethics !
The only ones who are having nervous breakdowns are the lefties!
Woodward is one of the originators of just making sh*t up.
He claimed to have death bed confessions of William Casey when Casey’s wife was in the room with him the entire time. Casey was Reagan’s DCI. Died 1987.
I don’t fault taking Nixon down as much as I fault letting Bill Clinton, his wife, and Obama get away with everything.
Woodward, the guy who declared what he did to Nixon, said that he did it all for the good of the nation.
Then he took a pass on Clinton and Obama.
He also said, that Clinton’s actions didn’t reach anywhere near the level of Nixon’s crimes.
I guess rape and all the other criminality ranked lower than Obstruction of Justice, or whatever thing Nixon was finally taken down for, at least to Woodward.
I’ve detested the smarmy jackass since my teens.
Thought you might like to see this.
I agree with your take in #20.
Trumps relation with government is like him telling a drunk to stop drinking. The initial reaction is anger, resistance and objection looking like a nervous breakdown.
Thank you for the mention. I appreciate the correction.
I guess it just bothers me the casual attitude he seemed to have regarding Clinton and Obama.
If you saw something different in these books, it’s good to know.
He sure didn’t do much in-depth investigation regarding criminal activity, at least not that I know of like he did with Nixon.
He’s a CIA butt-boy!
The commies are trying every trick up their sleeve to win the midterms and I pray the majority of the LEGAL voting public aren’t fooled by this BS.
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