Amid Reports Trump Is 'Unraveling,' Colbert Asks the Right

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Amid Reports Trump Is 'Unraveling,' Colbert Asks the Right Question

This will surely calm things down.

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And around Capitol Hill, it's no longer just Bob Corker. There's a growing contingent among Republicans that believes the president is a few bulbs short of a chandelier.

CBS

By Jack Holmes

Oct 12, 2017


"That means up until now, he's been raveled," Stephen Colbert said incredulously Wednesday night, responding to a Vanity Fair report that President Trump is “unstable,” “losing a step,” and “unraveling.”

It has the air of a comment from the president himself last week: "Maybe it's the calm before the storm." This is the calm? What the hell is the storm going to look like?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1...x4a4b0XNck

That one was particularly concerning because Trump was standing among a bunch of military officials, and has shown some interest in armed conflict with North Korea.

That goes double now, because the VF piece cited a former official who speculated that the president's chief of staff and Secretary of Defense have discussed what they'd do if he went off the rails and put his Very Normal Sized Finger on the red button.

The warning signs are all over the place—just as they've been since he kicked off his campaign by hiring actors to cheer him on in the crowd.

Trump responded angrily Tuesday to a report that he was about to fire that chief of staff, General John Kelly—except, as Politico found, there were no reports in the national media claiming he was about to fire John Kelly. "The fake news is coming from inside his head," Colbert said.

The Late Show host wondered if Trump might've been responding to another Vanity Fair article detailing how Kelly has been forced to devise a plan "to prevent Trump soliciting advice from members [of Mar-a-Lago] and friends" that involves keeping him out of the dining room when he's down there. Why? I'm sure we could all benefit from Joe Senior Vice President's take on the Iran Deal.

The president is talking about "the next seven years," but even Steve Bannon puts his chances of finishing out his term at "30 percent," according to Vanity Fair. (Bannon told Trump his cabinet could oust him under the 25th Amendment, which gives them the power to remove the president if a majority believes he is unfit to serve. Trump asked, "What is the 25th Amendment?" Also, there's this:

Kyle Griffin
✔ ‎@kylegriffin1

.@gabrielsherman tells MSNBC that people who've spoken to Trump on the phone say he repeats himself over and over again, rambles in convos.

And around Capitol Hill, it's no longer just Bob Corker. There's a growing contingent among Republicans that believes the president is a few bulbs short of a chandelier.

Quote:

Robert Reich
20 hours ago.

This morning I phoned my old friend, a Republican former member of Congress.

Me: So what’s up? Is Corker alone, or are others also ready to call it quits with Trump?

He: All I know is they’re simmering over there.

Me: Flake and McCain have come pretty close.

He: Yeah. Others are thinking about doing what Bob did. Sounding the alarm. They think Trump’s nuts. Unfit. Dangerous.

Me: Well, they already knew that, didn’t they?

He: But now it’s personal. It started with the Sessions stuff. Jeff was as loyal as they come. Trump’s crapping on him was like kicking your puppy. And then, you know, him beating up on Mitch for the Obamacare fiasco. And going after Flake and the others.

Me: So they're pissed off?

He: Not just that. I mean, they have thick hides. The personal stuff got them to notice all the other things. The wild stuff, like those threats to North Korea. Tillerson would leave tomorrow if he wasn’t so worried Trump would go nuclear, literally.

Me: You think Trump is really thinking nuclear war?

He: Who knows what’s in his head? But I can tell you this. He’s not listening to anyone. Not a soul. He’s got the nuclear codes and, well, it scares the hell out of me. It’s starting to scare all of them. That’s really why Bob spoke up.

Me: So what could they do? I mean, even if the whole Republican leadership was willing to say publicly he’s unfit to serve, what then?

He: Bingo! The emperor has no clothes. It’s a signal to everyone they can bail. Have to bail to save their skins. I mean, Trump could be the end of the whole goddam Republican party.

Me: If he starts a nuclear war, that could be the end of everything.

He: Yeah, right. So when they start bailing on him, the stage is set.

Me: For what?

He: Impeachment. 25th amendment.

Me: You think Republicans would go that far?

He: Not yet. Here’s the thing. They really want to get this tax bill through. That’s all they have going for them. They don’t want to face voters in ’18 or ’20 without something to show for it. They’re just praying Trump doesn’t do something really, really stupid before the tax bill.

Me: Like a nuclear war?

He: Look, all I can tell you is many of the people I talk with are getting freaked out. It’s not as if there’s any careful strategizing going on. Not like, well, do we balance the tax bill against nuclear war? No, no. They’re worried as hell. They’re also worried about Trump crazies, all the ignoramuses he’s stirred up. I mean, Roy Moore? How many more of them do you need to destroy the party?

Me: So what’s gonna happen?

He: You got me. I’m just glad I’m not there anymore. Trump’s not just a moron. He’s a despicable human being. And he’s getting crazier. Paranoid. Unhinged. Everyone knows it. I mean, we’re in shit up to our eyeballs with this guy

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The depravity of risking nuclear war for a tax cut isn't lost on anyone, but the fact remains: There is genuine concern that the president is not fit. And apparently, it's only going to get worse.

Yesterday, he was yacking it up about the "disgusting" free speech the press enjoys under the First Amendment. What will it be tomorrow? And how much longer can we afford to find out ?