Trump in Transition (v38)

Wondering what to think about the Mueller Report? 

Wondering how the president is transitioning from investigation subject to investigation victim to maybe not having the best memory in the history of remembrances to brand stealing?

Have no fear, I'm here to help.  

Below are some comments from folks on the No Collusion! No Obstruction! Total Exoneration! Witch Hunt! side of the fence with some of my comments included.

Here are some of Attorney General William Barr's remarks:

...thanks to the Special Counsel's thorough investigation we now know that the Russian operatives who perpetrated these schemes did not have the cooperation of President Trump or the Trump campaign - or the knowing assistance of any other Americans for that matter.  That is something that all Americans can and should be grateful to have confirmed. See comments below from VP Mike Pence, and let me know who you think Barr is talking about here -- is it all Americans, regardless of political affiliation? Or is it just the Americans who supported the president? I can hazard a guess, but I'm interested in what everyone else thinks. 

In assessing the president's actions discussed in the report, it is important to bear in mind the context. president Trump faced an unprecedented situation. As he entered into office, and sought to perform his responsibilities as president, federal agents and prosecutors were scrutinizing his conduct before and after taking office, and the conduct of some of his associates.

At the same time, there was relentless speculation in the news media about the president's personal culpability. Yet, as he said from the beginning, there was in fact no collusion. And as the Special Counsel's report acknowledges, there is substantial evidence to show the president was frustrated and angered by a sincere belief that the investigation was undermining his presidency. propelled by his political opponents, and fueled by illegal leaks. Note to those who are faced with charges of 'attempted' crimes: act angry, dammit. Don't let them think you're going to try and commit crimes for any specific reason - just be angry and talk about the meanies who are picking on you. Be Best, and all. It'll work for you.

 The Vice President released this statement, presumably with Mother's permission.

Today's release of the Special Counsel's report confirms what the President and I have said since day one: there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia and there was no obstruction of justice. The vice president must be referring to the highly subjective and beneficial comments of AG Bill Barr - because the Mueller report does not support these conclusions. Or, to make it easier, he's lying.

After two years of investigation, conducted with the full cooperation of this Administration, that involved hundreds of witness interviews and millions of pages of documents, the American people can see for themselves: no collusion, no obstruction. Not only are the vice president's conclusions inconsistent with those of the Mueller report, the '"full cooperation" was limited by the president's answers and by the fact that the Mueller team decided not to pursue a subpoena for a personal interview. I doubt that would have even been considered had there been "full cooperation" and left some decisions up to Congress. 

Now that the Special Counsel investigation is completed, the American people have a right to know whether the initial investigation was in keeping with long-standing Justice Department standards - or even lawful at all. We must never allow our justice system to be exploited in pursuit of a political agenda. Given that the report identifies a number of occasions on which the president attempted to obstruct the report but failed only because others in the White House failed to follow instructions. 

While many Democrats will cling to discredited allegations, the American people can be confident President Trump and I will continue to focus where we always have, on advancing an agenda that's making our nation stronger, safer, and more secure. Note the distinction between "Democrats" and "the American people," a distinction that's made fairly regularly by the president, vice president, and many others in the Administration.

The president himself offered these remarks:

I have no recollection. I do not recall. I do not recall. I do not recall. I have no recollection. I have no recollection. I do not recall. I have no recollection. I have no independent recollection. I do not recall. I have no recollection. I do not recall. I have no recollection. I do not recall. I have no recollection. I do not recall.  These are excerpts from the president's written responses, which, the Mueller report noted, "demonstrate the inadequacy of the written format, as we have had had no opportunity to ask follow up questions that would ensure complete answers and potentially refresh your client's recollection. Sitting for an in-person interview, you'll recall, was repeatedly referred to as a "perjury trap" by the president's attorneys, including Rudy Giuliani. And of course, don't forget that Giuliani suggested famously that "there was no collusion, but even if there was, it's not a crime..."

One more comment from the president, which is the most telling of all:

Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I'm f***ed.