Trump needs to act as if 2019 is the only thing that matters.
Trump needs to build up a defense against the Democrats going after him via impeachment, leaking his taxes, and using Mueller to dirty him up for 2020.
To do this, he should do the following:
- As soon as the 115th Congress adjourns sine die, Trump should fire Sessions (or accept his resignation), and fire Rosenstein.
- Trump should recess appoint a bulldog, a fighter, a person who doesn't want a Beltway career, and who is willing to make the tough calls the way that Sessions wouldn't. Somebody outspoken, like Jeanine Pirro who appeared on stage with Trump, might be a good choice. This appointment would expire at the end of 2019, so would be immune to Senate interference for the duration.
- Trump should nominate a replacement for Rosenstein through the normal Senate process. Let the Senate Republican Judiciary Committee members like Lindsey Graham have a platform to counter House Democrats investigating Trump, like Maxine Waters, Adam Schiff, and Jerry Nadler.
- The new Attorney General should immediately take control of the Mueller investigation, demanding an immediate briefing by Mueller, and potentially shutting down the investigation outright. Let the 55 Republicans in the Senate deal with Democrat howls of obstruction, since 2019 is going to be about all-out war with the Democrats. It's best in the short term to take this weapon off the table now.
- The new Attorney General can also take a harder line on illegal immigration actions to counter Democrat obstruction of border security.
- In 2020 when the recess appointment expires, Trump can formally nominate a permanent Attorney General and give Republicans another Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing to campaign from going into the 2020 election. Set the Democrats up for a repeat of their 2018 performance and show voters again what their choices are.
-PJ