To continue my reply...
Yesterday I wrote this:
And I addressed the first and second reasons here:
http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/threads/trump-part-11.207870/page-90#post-3269725
I now turn to the third reason.
3. Fear of Collusion
I *think* the idea here is that to support the Mueller probe entails aligning oneself with the "Deep State", "corrupt MSM" and other nasty things progressives ought to avoid. This can be broken down into three claims: a. The Deep State exists; b. The Deep State is out to get Trump (via the Mueller investigation); c. progressives ought not to associate themselves with such nastiness. Again, I'll talk about each in turn.
a. The Deep State Exists
I don't know where the term originates (I think it was first coined by a Republican) but I don't find it especially helpful to talk about the "Deep State" in this context. I don't deny that there are strong vested interests and structures that act to resist change to a status quo that benefits the few not the many - this idea has a long tradition on the left, and the general concept is a useful one. The problem is it's all too easy to reify the idea of a "Deep State" and thus to see it as a vast entity, capable of orchestrating overarching conspiracies, rather than a set of convergent interests that act in a relatively impersonal way to stifle radical alternatives.
In the specific circumstances of Trump and the Mueller investigation, what's needed is a detailed analysis of who or what *precisely* is out to get Trump, and for what reason. I'm talking about naming actors and agencies... who's done what & when and why did they do it. Pinning it all on the Deep State is non-explanatory.
An aside on the mainstream media... I agree it should be viewed with a critical eye but treating everything in it as shilling for the Deep State (or whatever) is profoundly destructive. It plays right into the hands of Trump's assault on the very idea of a shared, verifiable truth that can form the basis of political decision making. As has been pointed out several times, the destruction of the very idea of truth is a key indicator of the rise of totalitarianism (be it of the Left or the Right). So, consume mainstream news critically, look at non-mainstream sources (again, *critically* - I don't believe everything I read in The Canary) by all means, but the Left should have absolutely no part in Trump's all out assault of so called "fake news" (i.e. anything that doesn't fawn over his every deed).
b. The Deep State is out to get Trump
I don't see this. Despite all the initial bluster about "draining the swamp" Trump has merely filled it with swamp dwellers he happens to like. His policy in the Middle East is hardly rocking the boat and most recently he's shown himself to be the ultimate "Zionist shill" by trolling Palestine and virtually every other state apart from Israel on an epic scale.
Trump is also non-ideological in the sense that he doesn't really have strong political views - as long as he's got power and he's getting attention he's happy. As such he would be the perfect lapdog for Deep State if it exists. The only thing he's held quite firm on is his apparent desire to thaw relations with Russia (I assume the Deep State does not approve) - but is that such a big deal when the rest of the Republican Party (+ Democrats) will vote for sanctions against Russia regardless.
In short, I don't believe Trump represents much of a threat to the Deep State and, in many respects is likely to be quite easily manipulated by it. In any event, Comey's late intervention in the 2016 election (resurrecting the Clinton email server issue) gave a small but significant boost to Trump's poll ratings so the Deep State can't hate Trump that much. Unless it's simultaneously anti-Trump and anti-Clinton... or Comey isn't in on the Deep State conspiracy...?
c. Progressives Should Keep Their Distance
I don't agree. If (as I believe) this is not a "Deep State" vendetta against Trump, but simply other agencies of the state doing what they are bound to do, they should be allowed to get on with it. Instead, the right of the Republican Party, Fox News etc are making noises about getting rid of Mueller, which ought to ring alarm bells.
If this *is* a Deep State conspiracy (it hates Trump and wants to get rid of him) it still might nevertheless find real evidence of wrongdoing on Trump's part, whatever the motives for the investigation. Again, this is something I can support if it helps to loosen Trump's grip on power.
The only scenario I *would* have qualms about is if this were both a conspiracy against Trump *and* it fabricated evidence of wrongdoing to get rid of him, regardless of the truth. Even then I'd be *tempted* to shrug and rejoice in Trump's demise.
So, wrapping up, I agree with your last paragraph about the Democrats needing to get their own house in order. But at the same time they (and we) are entitled to hit Trump with everything we have including the Mueller investigation. Trump is dangerous and we must do everything we can to stop him.