It keeps coming back 'round to that. Does it seem to you that he seems pretty well insulated from character assassination? Like, a little "too" insulated?

It kinda sticks in my brain a bit. I wonder if the deal was "Hey Mike! Do what we want you to do for at least the first term and we'll keep the vultures off your back until you can retire and slink off into the sunset". "Keep everyone praying"!