I predict Trump will resign for this reason.

[shockey80]

I have said from the beginning the Mueller report will be a blockbuster. It will be impossible to call it a witch hunt. The Republicans will not be able to hide the report from the people. We will all learn what happened. After the report comes out everything will change.

The Democrats in the House will impeach because that is their duty under the constitution. It will then go to the Senate and the Republicans will have 3 choices. Vote yes, vote no, or go to Trump and tell him you must resign or you will be impeached.

I believe many Republicans will NOT want to vote yes or no. Voting either way could cause them to lose in 2020. Senate races are state wide. They are not like gerrymandered house districts. Even Republican senators can be beaten in southern states.

The Republicans in the Senate will realize Trumps resignation will be the best option for themselves. Trump will also realize that resignation is his best option. Trump only cares about his own ass and he will take the path of least resistance in the end.

Trumps resignation is the best option for the entire country.

[bitterross]

1. Trump Will NEVER resign

I don't disagree that the scenario you outline may happen. I just do not believe they will EVER be able to convince him to resign.

He's a sociopath. To him, the world exists to fulfill his desires. He is not psychologically capable of admitting he's wrong.

He'd go to the gallows exclaiming it was all a setup.

[shockey80]

5. Did you see how Trump folded over the shutdown.

Trump has folded throughout his entire life. Trump is a coward at heart. He will do what is best for himself and I believe that will be resignation. He will make up some lie to cover his ass about why he is resigning.

[Hortensis]

17. Exactly. Trump is both timid face to face and has no

principles he would feel a need to stand on. And if the investigation has learned even some of what Putin may be holding over him, fear will shift from Putin to where it belongs. When it's time to resign, a congressional delegation will tell him so and he'll fold. Nixon was informed by 3 Republicans from the senate and house.

It's the Republicans in the senate that make me nervous and want this to be over. They're no more guided by principles now than Trump is. They've done great damage to our democracy and clearly are willing to do more to keep and grow their power.

[volstork]

19. Regarding Senate republicans:

"willing to do more to keep and grow their power"

I think this is true, but an equally important factor (if not more important) is the fact that they want to cover up their OWN crimes and compromised status regarding Russian money.

Never forget that the Russians hacked the RNC as well as the DNC, so they have the goods on the republicans, too, and essentially therefore have them by the throat.

[Hortensis]

23. Absolutely. That was in my mind as a big reason

why some will do anything to keep power.

I now believe, though, that the current Republican majority would/will devastate the electorate's power and turn the U.S. into a sham democracy if they can regardless. They've become increasingly extreme and degraded, and the writing's on the wall for them and their donors if they don't. That's their only way to victory.

An increasingly stacked Supreme Court is also close to abandoning its role as a check on the presidency, and this is all supported not just by our new kleptocrat classes who control over 80% of our nation's assets but by massive hard-core social and religious conservative voting power.

[NewJeffCT]

29. Never also forget

Nearly every person in the Senate harbors at least some dream of becoming president some day. The faster Donny is gone, the faster they can try to make their dreams come true.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

52. Like who, for example. Been wondering about this

Because Pence is already too soiled.

[NewJeffCT]

60. I'm sure just about all of them

except maybe the ones that have been there forever and are over 80 (Grassley, Feinstein, Shelby, etc) - have some dreams of becoming president in the future.

Just among the Republicans, current and just retired: Tom Cotton, Ben Sasse, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Jeff Flake, Bob Corker, Lindsay Graham, John McCain, Lamar Alexander, Kelly Ayotte, Mitt Romney, Orrin Hatch...not to mention Rick Santorum, Sam Brownback, Fred Thompson, Dick Lugar, Arlen Specter and a few others.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

64. They will be in a bad place for not criticizing trump

Yet on the other hand...they will be left with constituents who will hate them because they will still love Dipshit. So sub-rosa behind the scenes- convince him to resign will be best route

[Dustlawyer]

67. I have wondered why the hacking of the RNC is not talked about.

It is another reason for the Republicans to protect Trump like they have, but the media never brings it up. Between the RNC hacking and Russian campaign money the Republican Party has be compromised to the core!

[JGug1]

78. Their Own Crimes

volstork, you have absolutely nailed it. We can only hope that Mueller's examination exposes those who are culpable. Some suggestions: McConnell, Lindsey.

[malaise]

70. Ditto

He even folded over the fake university.

[cbdo2007]

25. He has given up many times - bankruptcies, settlements, etc.

He will wait til the bitter end, resign thinking it will save him again and he can ride off into the sunset complaining about how it was all a setup by Hillary, and he will be guaranteed a pardon from Pelosi.

Then he will resign and NY State will hit him with state fraud charges and he and his kids will go to prison.

Not only does he give up all the time, he has built his entire business empire on it. Bankruptcy is a business strategy to him.

[volstork]

38. "he will be guaranteed a pardon from Pelosi"

NANCY Pelosi? In his dreams...

[cbdo2007]

42. In exchange for Trump and Pence gone, and her being first woman President...

she'll do it in a heartbeat. It will be a win-win.

[flibbitygiblets]

56. Add Win #3 for when Trump & his grifting spawn are indicted on State charges that can't be pardoned

Edit: *Won't be pardoned. Not by a Democratic governor, such as in NY.

So much winning! Wow, I finally get it! But I will never get sick of it!

[Cosmocat]

31. Reality based post

Agreed.

[Hestia]

47. Agreed - look at the rancor he nursed starting in 1997, when McCain denied him HUD funds or

some other tax monies. It was why Meaghan was so livid at his funeral/memorial service, furious over his treatment of the McCain family in their grief.

He has proven that he will and can nurse a grudge for decades; and have his spawn take it on in his absence.

It's how this "family" (den of vipers) operate. Roy Cohen really got his revenge didn't he, training the usurper how to take a scorched earth policy, no matter how trivial.

[paleotn]

51. I worry he won't resign, but for a very different reason...

He's smart enough to know quitting doesn't mean Muller and all this will go away. It won't. Not this time. This is well beyond Tricky Dick's shenanigans. He's far more vulnerable outside the office. He wants to quit. He really does. He hates the job and has run away from trouble all his life. But this time, ironically, he's dead meat out of office. The only thing protecting him now is a few Rethuglican hacks and the theory that a sitting president can't be indicted.

[Pluvious]

68. Well said, his only chance is staying in office

Bill Maher too has said the cretin will never leave voluntarily.

[Grasswire2]

73. If he resigns, he can then be indicted. So he won't. nt

[hueymahl]

2. Agree mostly, but that is the scenario Nixon faced

And Trump is no Richard Nixon.

He is worse, and could really give a shit about what is good for the country (like you said). He is also arrogant and stupid enough to think his base will pull him through, and could give a rats ass about the rest of the party.

Now, if he can figure out how to tie his resignation to some type of immunity from prosecution or losing any of his money, then he might haul ass.

[ailsagirl]

3. He's too crazy to even consider resigning, IMO

But, I've been wrong before

His sycophants will want him to hang on, regardless

[2naSalit]

4. I agree to a point...

Senators can go and force a resignation rather than a TRIAL in the Senate where upon conviction will result in removal.

Here's the reason I see that coming as a first possibility...

After the INTEL hearings yesterday, I think that the whole crowd of INTEL heads told the committee that they know who among them are in trouble in the stealing of the election and cover up and they had better get rid of the MF because the country will explode if they don't and possibly warning them that they will be undermined from that sector if they don't.

[MyOwnPeace]

6. Some good points there,

I can certainly see the Pug senators sweating it out and applying pressure to IQ45 to quit.
However, I wonder if his ego will ever allow him to ever "do the right thing" and resign. I truly believe he is so convinced of his brilliance and popularity that he would defiantly stay until the bitter (well, bitter for him anyhow) end.

[rsdsharp]

10. Please don't call them pugs.

I like pugs. Pugs are smart and cuddly and loving. Pugs are neat people. Republicans are nothing like pugs.

[Luciferous]

27. Agreed!

[mentalsolstice]

36. +1000!

I have two in my lap as I type this! I can’t imagine either of them or the other four who have owned me would be aligned with republican evil empire!

[MoonRiver]

63. I love Pugs and Pigs!

It upsets me when anyone refers to the GOP scum as either one.

[bluestarone]

7. This will happen ONLY if Rumps family is

COMPLETELY forgiven for destroying this country! I mean they cannot be charged with any crime. That's the only way he would consider THIS idea! I WANT them in JAIL FOREVER!!!!!

[shockey80]

11. Trump and his family will have to face New York State charges no matter what happens.

Impeachment and resignation only remove him from office. New York State could send the entire family to prison. Trump and his family will not get away with everything if Trump resigns

[bluestarone]

15. I'm sure deals could ALSO be made

Regarding state charges!! Like i stated the ONLY way he goes for this, is NO state or FED charges! That's why i'm basically saying this is a non starter! HE will not resign!

[Baitball Blogger]

8. Wouldn't it be great if they cancelled their primary and Trump steps down right

before they had time to change the rule?

One can dream.

[WA-03 Democrat]

9. Your prediction makes sense to me

It’s logical and leaves objectively reasonable options which senseable adults could easily operate within. However, we have an irrationale actor called Trumph who is an agent of chaos employed by a global crime syndicates.

This seems like a best case scenario which I will pray happens.

I hope our critical information systems have not been open or sold to Russia/China/Saudi/UAE/DPRK etc....then I think of Flynn, Bannon, Jared, Carter, Manafort and or any of the orange spawn (except Tiff) and get that battery acid feeling in my stomach.

[RainCaster]

12. The best thing for our country is a clear display of DOJ's influence

His whole family must be locked up in blue collar penitentiaries for the rest of their lives. That is the only way to restore our faith in American Justice.

[shockey80]

14. Like I said.

The charges in New York may be the biggest threat To Trump and his kids. We may be talking Tax and bank fraud. They may face what Manafort facing.

[maryellen99]

13. More likely due to a "medical emergency"

I could see him ending up like former Israeli PM Ariel Sharon.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_Sharon

[Runningdawg]

16. He won't resign

He will force the MPs to remove him by force. His removal must be seen as a coup by his cult to justify the next Revolutionary war they have all been waiting to fight. 5 MILLION in the NRA alone. Then you have the Oath Keepers, the Three Percent, the KKK, proud boys.... There are dozens more groups like them and hundreds of thousands more militia and retired members of the US military across the US just waiting for the signal.

[WA-03 Democrat]

30. That's right and our side has even more people

And guns. We many not have cool names like “proud boys”
but I will take our numbers any day.

[cwydro]

83. Oh please.

[Cosmocat]

32. This is the more likely scenario

by a wide margin.

[Hoyt]

18. What do you think Mueller has that we don't already know or suspect? If it's not something

much more damning than what we know/suspect, it won't make a difference.

He still have enough support to weather all that, and even some of his disapproval is Anne Coulterist junk -- he hasn't built a wall, deported 5 million people who came her for a better life but are darker skinned than her, he hasn't bombed Iran or North Korea, etc. Those people will still support him when it comes down to it.

So what do you think he has? And if it is that bad, why the hell hasn't he issued a preliminary report so trump can be removed immediately? They aren't going to get him for lying, obstructing justice, trying to profit from his Presidency, etc. Everyone already knows that, and the backlash isn't enough.

I do think there is a good chance trump will not run in 2020, but don't see some big unsuspected "bombshell" on the horizon to keep him from getting into 2020 where his deciding not to run will just make everyone go good, now we can forget this impeachment junk.

As to indictments and trial in federal or state court, there is not a place in the USA where a jury can be impaneled that won't have at least one ignorant white wing racist willing to hang the jury to protect the Racist-in-Chief.

If he runs, we need to be ready to kick his rear at the polls.

[shockey80]

21. Everyone is waiting for Mueller to prove what we already know.

It has been reported by many people that we only know a fraction of what Mueller knows. I guess we shall see.

[spanone]

20. He'll barricade himself in the oval office before he resigns.

[Cosmocat]

33. Yep

being saying since the night he won, only way we get him out of there will resemble the final scene in Scarface.

[aeromanKC]

22. State Charges

Won't be able to bargain his way out of State charges with a resignation. Trumps only way out of RICO is a heart attack. (or asylum to Russia)

[SweetieD]

24. Trump will never resign ever. Even if he is impeached and convicted by the senate

they will have to drag him kicking and screaming out of the white house.

[Cicada]

26. A prosecutor may tell Trump resign or we put you in jail

Many prosecutors on tv have said the recording of Trump telling Cohen to pay off women was a felony. Other crimes may be discovered.Before the 2020 election Trump may agree to a deal that he will resign in return for no jail time.

[radical noodle]

74. The problem with that is the idea

that a president cannot be indicted. That makes him feel safer in office.

[Cicada]

76. Trump knows he will likely be defeated in 2020

So after Jan 20 2021 he may be exposed to indictment. If he waits to make a deal until after the election he will have nothing to offer for leniency. Only before the 2020 election does he have anything to offer for leniency. So he may decide to resign in return for leniency.

If he is smart he will offer to resign in return for leniency.

[radical noodle]

84. I've never given trump

credit for being smart. I'd like to hope you're right, but there's a part of me who wants to see him pay the price and not just resign for leniency.

[Cicada]

85. Getting him out of office matters more than justice

Thousands get hurt every day he is in office. His personal feelings don’t compare to that.

[LakeSuperiorView]

28. "go to Trump and tell him you must resign or you will be impeached."

In your scenario, that would have already happened, so it's not a threat. The House Impeaches, the Senate convicts (or not). An Impeachment is analogous to an indictment. The Senate could say resign or we will convict and remove you from office, but he would have already been impeached at that point.

[dem in texas]

34. Every Republican Senator Should be Voted Out

The Republican Senate Led by Mitch Mc. are the Trump Enablers, If they run in 2020, they should be voted out!

[Enoki33]

35. Don't think tRump will resign. The real question is how far will he be willing to

go in destroying the country so that he can became the most powerful despotic ruler? His wall gambit is about preserving his insurance against removal after impeachment, but that may only be workable if it is not fully exposed that his election was really a fraud perpetrated by the Russian government on his behalf. This is where the Mueller report comes into play. It is conceivable he will still believe he can again use the same illegalities to win in 2020. My guess is it all depends on what his handler Putin tells him to do. And that handler is after maximum disruption.

[SayItLoud]

37. The FART of the Deal will be

his blanket pardons for himself and entire family, friends and anyone who could/would testify against him. If Pence is not caught in the net he will pardon everyone to get tRUMP out. #nodeals

[PeeJ52]

39. BUT... We can't unsee what tRump has done in his private life.

tRump needs to go to jail, just alone for his money laundering of Russian money in his hotel business. It is only because he has become pResident that his personal finances have been so closely inspected and found so mobsterly. Even if he does resign, there is too much dirt for him to walk away a free man. His entire family belongs in jail for the cons and frauds they have been exposed as.

[INdemo]

40. Many Republicans in the Senate has ties to Russia

Its obvious. Trump knows who these Senators are and if they threaten to take him down Trump will end their careers by exposing them So he has them by the balls.

[Thekaspervote]

41. If more could be known about why he capitulated over the shutdown, we could draw better

conclusions as to how and why a resignation might happen. Who convinced him to give up and open the government? Certainly it wasn’t that tiny brain. Who will whisper in his ear when congress impeaches and it goes to the senate... who??

[TommyCelt]

43. TOTALLY disagree....

This trump obstinately refuses to correct a spelling error in a tweet, even after being relentlessly mocked by the internet. He will never EVER admit a mistake; resigning the presidency would be a doozy.

However this trump leaves the White House it will be kicking and screaming, with hopefully a minimum amount of bloodshed; but I wouldn't hang my hat on that hope.

[yuiyoshida]

44. What ever happens, Trump and Pence will be gone and

Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi will be President!

[Javaman]

45. as someone else said here on DU, he will have to be removed via swat team...

no way he resigns.

[sarisataka]

46. I predict

we will see at least 1000 more predictions of him resigning before the 2020 election

[Tipperary]

69. Lol. Spot on.

+ 1000

[mainstreetonce]

48. Maybe not resign but decide not to run again

I am hoping he waits till a month before the election and seeing he is losing,he drops out.

[Auggie]

53. Yes, but I think he'll float business concerns as the reason for not running

[mainstreetonce]

66. Sure he will

Or claim he needs to spend more time with family.
He works too hard.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

49. It will be up to the Republican Senate. If report as bad

as we think, they will be more worried about their jobs. That is what it will come down to.

[RDANGELO]

50. Once he is out of office, that means he can be indicted.

That is the reason I think he will not resign. He cares about two things, his ego and staying out of jail. He will go to his manipulated base and claim it is all a conspiracy.

[TygrBright]

54. It's not the best option if it means a Pence Presidency. n/t

[SHRED]

55. He would lose his power to pardon among other things

[tinrobot]

57. One more option - House impeaches, McConnell refuses to try him in the Senate

He's refused to act on Supreme Court nominations and many other things that don't align with his agenda. I wouldn't be surprised if he just ignored the impeachment.

[Power 2 the People]

58. I wish I could agree with you

but the Republican propaganda machine has been working overtime to brainwash the sheep and make them compliant. Most of them believe anything Drumpf says and will follow blindly. The base is now conditioned to believe that Russia is our friend and the Democrats are the real enemy.

Since Republican politicians are only motivated by greed and power, they will support Drumpf's fantastical explanations and rationalizations regarding his treason.

[littlemissmartypants]

59. Sociopaths, psychopaths

Are incapable of perceiving their own wrongdoings.

They are manifesting anosognosia. They are cognitively, neurologically damaged to the point of not being able to recognize and admit to the errors they make.

(Including spelling errors in tweets, as some very astute person pointed out in another reply somewhere.)

They also thrive on criminal behavior, which they perceive as normal, because they are sociopaths and psychopaths.

Their brains are wired differently.

It is completely ridiculous to expect moral behavior from them in any form, because they are not capable of understanding or producing it.

[TeamPooka]

61. Your flaw is that you think Trump will do something for the good of the country.

not gonna happen.

[Blue_Tires]

62. Yeah I was predicting "resign in disgrace" back in Jan. 2017

[Tipperary]

65. Lol. Bookmarked with all the other threads predicting

his resignation.

Not putting any money on it.

[kairos12]

71. He will start a war before he resigns. The Reich Wing will start with you don't support the troops.

And I was a troop. Doesn't matter where, he will use a war to divert from his monumental problems.

[scarytomcat]

72. not sure it is the best solution

running against dump in 2020 will give dems a bigger win then facing someone else say pense with time to make a name for himself and act like a savior
best alternative is to sue and nullify the whole administration and install Clinton or Nancy

[Honeycombe8]

75. He'll never voluntarily resign. He will have to be forced out by Republicans.

Depends on what you call resignation. It is not in his DNA to quit. Only losers do that, in his mind.

He could be forced out by Republicans and given the opportunity to make up a reason for it. Like it's "better for the country," or health issues.

He WILL continue to call the investigation a witch hunt for the rest of his life.

[corbettkroehler]

77. Don't Forget Tweetie's Prediction

Last year, MSNBC's Chris Matthews reported Beltline Buzz that Trump's resignation will be in response to an offer not to seek jail time for his kids.

[UniteFightBack]

79. I see him resigning but only part of a nice plea deal. nt

[Ilsa]

80. I hope his deal involves him being silenced on tv, radio, and print.

He can have his stupid twitter feed. But I'm tired of him sucking all of the air out of the room.

I hope Roger Stone is his cellmate and they can fight over who gets the attention that day.

[Drifter]

81. Nope ...

I think he will be ask to resign, but he will refuse.
My money is on an armed stand off in the WH once he is legally stripped of his presidential powers.

Cheers
Drifter

[NurseJackie]

82. ...