AG Sessions Career Death Watch

[Xiahou]

So, clearly the Attorney General (and one of the first mainstream Trump supporters) Jeff Sessions has lost the favor of President Trump and is now the subject of humiliating public chastisement from the President via Twitter and new interviews.

So the question is, will Trump eventually insult Sessions enough to make him resign or will Sessions stay on just to spite Trump until he finally fires him?

I have many conflicting views about this: One one hand, it's a completely unwarranted disgusting betrayal of one of his earliest and most loyal supporters by Trump. On the other hand, Sessions was one of Trump's earliest and most vocal supporters... So he probably kind of deserves the treatment that even my 2 year old could have predicted. Trump only likes sycophants- you must be a loud unquestioning Trump defender at all times, or else he'll toss you aside like so much garbage. For Trump, loyalty is a one-way street. Anyone willing to serve in his administration is kind of asking for what they get.

[a completely inoffensive name]

...

[Fragony]

Trump is a sociopath, not being Hillary made him president. Better luck next time

[Strike For The South]

Lay with pigs, get covered in .

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Trump's leadership style demands people who will:

1. present him with options and information,
2. work diligently and intelligently to execute the decision trump has made,
3. set up as many one-on-one contact sessions for decision making and negotiation (NOT let DoS folks do the prelims while the leader shows up for the signing party -- Trump wants to make the decision person-to-person with the other leader), and
4. fiercely defend other members of the administration while saying squat to anybody outside it (save as a repeat of the President's latest message).

Other than item #1, Washington DC does NOT function that way.

Trump needs a coterie of outsiders to DC and known supporters. His attempts to draw in Party leadership and Washington "old hands" were well intentioned, but run counter to his leadership style (such as it is). He SHOULD be the hated outside crusader with a team of business people and should be fighting Congress. He simply isn't groomed and equipped to play anything resembling the "normal" President.

He would probably still fail spectacularly, but he would at least be operating in a mode he has experience with.

[drone]

The kebler elf gets no sympathy from me for his current situation, but I find it hilarious. Trump firing or humiliating Sessions into quitting may actually be the thing that turns the Senate against him. If this is how he treats one of their own, who supported him from the beginning, they may actually wake up to the fact that Trump doesn't care for their agenda, their party, or their careers. They might remember that Trump is not a Republican (and when Mooch gets rid of Preibus this will become crystal clear). Trump is probably too stupid to realize that pissing off the Senate is a bad thing for a man in his position, they have their own investigation going and can basically rehire Mueller when Trump cans him, and it's the Senate that will be trying his upcoming impeachment.

The Dems did clue into the recess appointment scenario, so Sessions' replacement will definitely have to go through full Senate confirmation hearing. I'm curious to see what happens with Wray's confirmation, now that it's come out that he's just a flunky.

[Xiahou]

Trump's leadership style demands people who will:

1. present him with options and information,
2. work diligently and intelligently to execute the decision trump has made,
3. set up as many one-on-one contact sessions for decision making and negotiation (NOT let DoS folks do the prelims while the leader shows up for the signing party -- Trump wants to make the decision person-to-person with the other leader), and
4. fiercely defend other members of the administration while saying squat to anybody outside it (save as a repeat of the President's latest message).

Other than item #1, Washington DC does NOT function that way.

My biggest problem with Trump here is his constant whining and blame-shifting. Comey wasn't ending the Russia investigation fast enough, so he fired him. Then Trump's own big mouth guarantees that a Special Prosecutor gets appointed after Trump states that he fired Comey over Russia. Therefore, the investigation still hasn't gone away so he shifts blame to Sessions, Rosenstein, and Mueller. Most of Trump's problems are due almost entirely to his verbal diarrhea- and then to hear him cry about how unfair the whole world is towards him is very obnoxious. If he'd learn to coordinate his message with his comms team instead of contradicting them, he'd be much better off.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

My biggest problem with Trump here is his constant whining and blame-shifting. Comey wasn't ending the Russia investigation fast enough, so he fired him. Then Trump's own big mouth guarantees that a Special Prosecutor gets appointed after Trump states that he fired Comey over Russia. Therefore, the investigation still hasn't gone away so he shifts blame to Sessions, Rosenstein, and Mueller. Most of Trump's problems are due almost entirely to his verbal diarrhea- and then to hear him cry about how unfair the whole world is towards him is very obnoxious. If he'd learn to coordinate his message with his comms team instead of contradicting them, he'd be much better off.

I agree whole-heartedly. There is only one little problem with that. It ain't gonna happen. That old dog is not gonna pick up that new trick.

He comes from a 40 year track record of making decisions and having his team do their best to make them happen. If someone is not on board -- willing to follow Trump's lead -- they are the ones who get shunted aside. All of his experience tells him that it is HIS insight in the moment that is the key to success. He also comes from a culture that says "we're gonna run with this. If it flops, we drop it and go to the next deal. Regardless, you don't tarnish the power of the brand" He's trying to lead the way he knows best. He doesn't believe that parsing language or nuanced statements are worth a hoot -- what matters is the final deal you sign.

Nobody has reached the Presidency with that attitude towards leadership. At least, nobody since Ulysses Grant. Everybody else had been groomed in the political game for years before getting to the oval.

[Gilrandir]

He comes from a 40 year track record of making decisions and having his team do their best to make them happen. If someone is not on board -- willing to follow Trump's lead -- they are the ones who get shunted aside. All of his experience tells him that it is HIS insight in the moment that is the key to success.

Is it true that he announced himself bankrupt 3 times?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Is it true that he announced himself bankrupt 3 times?

He personally did not, though reputedly came very close [a group of creditors chose to let him continue hawking his Trump brand rather than forcing him to bankruptcy and getting only 20% back....Trump rebounded].

Several of his companies have filed for bankruptcy. However, given the bankruptcy laws, one could argue that this was smart business decision making. Above the 'mom-and-pop' store level, most bankruptcies really aren't of the "we are out of business and headed to debtor's prison" variety that is most folks conception of bankruptcy.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Is it true that he announced himself bankrupt 3 times?

Please note that I am describing a particular style of leadership and ascribing it to Trump based on what we are seeing. I am NOT claiming that this leadership style is appropriate to his current job. That is a far chancier assessment.

[CrossLOPER]

they may actually wake up to the fact that Trump doesn't care for their agenda, their party, or their careers.

If this wasn't apparent to someone from the start, they are too braindead to change their view.