During surprise interview with the New York Times Donald Trump denies collusion 16 times, claims the Russia investigation is a hoax by Democrats, and that he has the right to do whatever he wants with the Justice Department.

Here are some of the highlights courtesy of the New York Times:

On charges of collusion with Russia and how the investigation is perceived by others: 

During an impromptu 30-minute interview with The New York Times at his golf club in West Palm Beach, the president did not demand an end to the Russia investigations swirling around his administration, but insisted 16 times that there has been “no collusion” discovered by the inquiry. 

“It makes the country look very bad, and it puts the country in a very bad position,” Mr. Trump said of the investigation. “So the sooner it’s worked out, the better it is for the country.”

On his ability to stop or start investigations by the Justice Department:  

“I have absolute right to do what I want to do with the Justice Department,” he said, echoing claims by his supporters that as president he has the power to open or end an investigation. “But for purposes of hopefully thinking I’m going to be treated fairly, I’ve stayed uninvolved with this particular matter.”

That is not exactly true by the way, but it is chilling that he thinks it is.

On his frustration that Democrats will not work with him on new legislation: 

“Like Joe Manchin,” Mr. Trump said, referring to the Democratic senator from West Virginia. He said Mr. Manchin and other Democrats claimed to be centrists but refused to negotiate on health care or taxes. 

“He talks. But he doesn’t do anything. He doesn’t do,” Mr. Trump said. “‘Hey, let’s get together, let’s do bipartisan.’ I say, ‘Good, let’s go.’ Then you don’t hear from him again.”

Apparently he has not seen his poll numbers.

Democrats would have to kiss any hope of reelection goodbye if they worked with Trump.

On his knowledge about legislation:  

“I know the details of taxes better than anybody. Better than the greatest C.P.A. I know the details of health care better than most, better than most.” 

Later, he added that he knows more about “the big bills” debated in the Congress “than any president that’s ever been in office.”

Arrogance and ignorance is such an ugly  combination, don't you think?

Trump also claimed that he knew Roy Moore would lose in Alabama, before moving on to blaming the Democrats for the Russia investigation:

Mr. Trump repeated his assertion that Democrats invented the Russia allegations “as a hoax, as a ruse, as an excuse for losing an election.” He said that “everybody knows” his associates did not collude with the Russians, even as he insisted that the “real stories” are about Democrats who worked with Russians during the 2016 campaign.

“There’s been no collusion. But I think he’s going to be fair,” Mr. Trump said of Mr. Mueller.

Trump also claimed that Paul Manafort only worked for him for a short period of time and that he only just heard of him before the election.

That is not true as Trump has known and worked with Manafort many times since the 80's.

Trump also laid out how he will win in 2020: 

Mr. Trump said he believes members of the news media will eventually cover him more favorably because they are profiting from the interest in his presidency and thus will want him re-elected. 

“Another reason that I’m going to win another four years is because newspapers, television, all forms of media will tank if I’m not there because without me, their ratings are going down the tubes,” Mr. Trump said, then invoked one of his preferred insults. “Without me, The New York Times will indeed be not the failing New York Times, but the failed New York Times.” 

He added: “So they basically have to let me win. And eventually, probably six months before the election, they’ll be loving me because they’re saying, ‘Please, please, don’t lose Donald Trump.’ O.K.”

When Donald Trump dies they are going to have to dig two out sized graves side by side.

One for his corpulent corpse, and the other for his gargantuan ego.

I will agree with Trump on one thing.

This Russia investigation does indeed make us look bad.

But not because we are investigating his. and his campaign's, ties to Russia, but because we did not do it soon enough to keep him out of the White House.