Steve Benen reminds me of an unintended analogy as he discusses the ever-receding deadline for Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation to terminate:
As we discussed a while back, I’m curious about the behind-the-scenes dynamic. It’s possible, for example, that Trump is optimistic about the looming end of the investigation because his lawyers keep feeding him dubious good news that he chooses to believe.
In other words, it’s possible they keep saying, “This will all be over very soon, Mr. President,” to which a delighted Trump responds, “Sounds great.”
I couldn’t possibly track down an online reference at this late date, but it reminds me of an article published just after the final days of Emperor Hirohito of Japan, who died of cancer. It was reported that, near the end, he asked his doctors when their treatments would end his pain, and their reply was that “it would all be over soon,” in the Japanese tradition of doctors not telling patients bad news (or so I read – anyone confirm / disagree?). The Emperor died shortly thereafter.
I get the feeling the same words, if not quite the same results, are taking place here, this time pronounced by his lawyers. “Mr. Mueller will be finished soon.”
