‘I think it has been handled deftly by Trump with Sessions doing and saying exactly what Trump asked him to do and say.’
Trump says the exact opposite. Trump has a lifelong reputation as a straight-shooter who says what he thinks/means. You have zero evidence that the issue with Sessions is an exception to the rule.
‘At this point, the strategy of disciplined non-obstruction has paid off handsomely - the investigation appears to be sputtering out and last year nobody thought it ever would.’
100% false. Mueller is continually expending his never-ending witch hunt and shows NO sign of EVER stopping. Your feel-good, self-serving wishful thinking is delusional.
‘And again, its naive to take public statements at face value.’
Where did you get such a bizarre idea??? Do you have God-like omniscience, which enables you to see into people’s minds and know what they *really,* meant? Do you read tea leaves to find the hidden message? Do you use a crystal ball?
Second guessing the ‘real,’ meaning behind people’s words is a massive psychological red flag. It is literally known in psychological terms as, “mind-reading,” — and it is death to healthy communication. If Trump had an established pattern of saying the opposite of what he meant...he wouldn’t be POTUS. His frankness and honesty were big reasons people voted for him.
‘In time, people will realize that Sessions has been misjudged, and that Trump’s relationship with his AG has been grossly underestimated.’
Only if every single one of your evidence-free guesses is exactly right. And there’s no indication that they are.
“Do you use a crystal ball?”
No, I don’t!
I’m not the one claiming to know enough to measure Jeff Sessions’ character and competence, and judge him a failure. I’m the one saying we DON’T have that information.
And yes, Trump is as honest and straightforward as possible when communicating directly with his constituents, but when he makes public statements he knows his adversaries are watching and listening as well, so he measures his words and gestures accordingly.
If you think Trump doesn’t use guile and misdirection in his Tweets and Pressers to bait and distract his adversaries, and put them off guard, then you are the one who is delusional.