# Countdown to war with Venezuela **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [November 28, 2025, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201 "2025-11-28T06:19:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/141 "2026-01-03T23:05:19Z")
> **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mbkarl2hd72f)** > > Asked about the possibility of impeachment, Schumer says "we hope that we can have support from our Republican colleagues to put a brake on this long before it gets that far" RESIGN, you spineless sack of shit. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/142 "2026-01-04T01:14:09Z")
What would you have him do? I agree his leadership is lacking, but really, what could he do from the minority? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/143 "2026-01-04T01:22:49Z")
Stop talking about “our Republican colleagues” as if they were work buddies and not fascist enemies of democracy who have abdicated their responsibility to govern, for starters. And maybe acknowledge that things have ALREADY gone too far instead of this “gee I hope we can find a bipartisan common ground” bullshit that makes him look like controlled opposition. And maybe drop the “this is a distraction from the talking points that AIPAC has given me permission to address” routine. > **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mbkag2qd3n2q)** > > Schumer: "It makes you think that maybe to Trump he wants to distract the American people, as he always does, from the skyrocketing costs they are facing, from the Epstein files." ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/144 "2026-01-04T01:23:23Z")
Saw this on Reddit: > **[https://preview.redd.it/b6cu0njia7bg1.jpeg?auto=webp&s=fee39e14b2404cb664ab7...](https://preview.redd.it/b6cu0njia7bg1.jpeg?auto=webp&s=fee39e14b2404cb664ab7b1b762115b9ec51d239)** ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/145 "2026-01-04T01:40:07Z")
For that matter, he could learn a lesson from one of his Democratic colleagues. [![](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5bl2qrmv4oubrlyg7eavvjm2/bafkreidi3pffrd2rgfawpfk3n77uotwfrc7irc62iqjxoovb3chk7ezly4@jpeg) ](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5bl2qrmv4oubrlyg7eavvjm2/bafkreidi3pffrd2rgfawpfk3n77uotwfrc7irc62iqjxoovb3chk7ezly4@jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/146 "2026-01-04T01:58:55Z")
That’s the kind of messaging that needs to come from leadership. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/147 "2026-01-04T02:00:27Z")
Trump: “We have to do it again. Nobody can stop us.” > **[Olga Nesterova (@onestpress.onestnetwork.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/onestpress.onestnetwork.com/post/3mbknlh53cc2k)** > > Watch this. Watch again. > > "This incredible thing last night... We have to do it again \[in other countries\]. We can do it again, too. Nobody can stop us." ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/148 "2026-01-04T02:16:18Z")
One congressman? Not one country I know of condemned the kidnapping. We’ve got the oil. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/149 "2026-01-04T02:19:24Z")
‘Every accusation by a Republican is a confession. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/150 "2026-01-04T02:21:00Z")
Truly. Anytime I see a Republican bitching about something it is a sign to look closely at them for the very thing they are complaining about because they are probably guilty of it. Kinda weird how obvious it is now. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/151 "2026-01-04T02:25:41Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > One congressman? Of many. I don’t have the time or inclination to check the social mediae of all 535 of them right now. My senator (Patty Murray) is certainly using stronger language than Schumer; > **“The American people didn’t ask to start a war with Venezuela. They didn’t ask for an indefinite and costly occupation of another country and they didn’t ask for ‘boots on the ground,’ their sons and daughters put in harm’s way. All they asked for were lower prices at the grocery store. Only Congress can authorize war and I absolutely will not support a large-scale military conflict in Venezuela or a dangerous and expensive occupation. What the President has done is unconstitutional, reckless, and will have far-reaching effects well beyond last night’s strikes.** > > **“The President has provided no legitimate justification for these unauthorized strikes nor any kind of long-term strategy for how he will deal with the fallout of this slapdash regime change—and he must now explain his unhinged statements that we will ‘run’ Venezuela. The American people can see for themselves how dishonest and cynical this entire venture is—we’re supposed to believe drug trafficking warrants the use of military force to topple a foreign government in one instance and then merits a full pardon for the former President of Honduras who was lawfully convicted of the same crime? And we should all be eyes wide open about the potential for self-enrichment and corruption by the Trump administration when it comes to profiting off Venezuela’s oil. This is not about law and order, because if it were, Trump wouldn’t have withheld these plans from Congress, and it is not about actually helping Americans suffering from drug addiction.** > > **“Maduro is a corrupt and oppressive dictator—that much has always been clear. But what stops China or Russia from making similar claims about foreign leaders they don’t like and then using military force to overthrow them? This kind of careless use of military force threatens serious global instability—and none of that is good for Americans here at home.** > > **“There needs to be serious oversight and accountability here. Trump administration officials must come before Congress and publicly explain their rationale and—importantly—just what exactly they think happens next here. Republican leaders should not just shrug their shoulders and let the President bomb whoever he wants on hardly more than a whim—they must join Democrats in pressing for serious accountability and insisting that the use of military force be authorized by Congress.** > > **“If this escalates into a prolonged conflict of any sort, you can bet it won’t be Trump’s family putting their lives on the line—the American people do not want to be dragged into another costly foreign war with no real justification. It is outrageous for a President who is tanking our economy here at home to suggest that the American taxpayer spend a fortune to ‘run’ another country while doing nothing to make life better in America. I opposed the war in Iraq from the outset—and the parallels here are glaring. I will similarly oppose any war in Venezuela. I refuse to put the lives of servicemembers at further risk, and I refuse to saddle our children with yet another costly war for no good reason.”** > [@Coriolanus](#): > > We’ve got the oil. We’ve “got” nothing at this point. Kidnapping Maduro does not mean the US “runs” Venezuela, no matter what Dyin’ Donald says. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/152 "2026-01-04T02:28:58Z")
[![](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5bl2qrmv4oubrlyg7eavvjm2/bafkreidi3pffrd2rgfawpfk3n77uotwfrc7irc62iqjxoovb3chk7ezly4@jpeg) ](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5bl2qrmv4oubrlyg7eavvjm2/bafkreidi3pffrd2rgfawpfk3n77uotwfrc7irc62iqjxoovb3chk7ezly4@jpeg) Damn that’s quite the knee-slapper there Ted. You might want to read the “War Powers Act” and learn that Congress surrendered that power to the Executive. Now, WHEN THE FUCK ARE YOU PEOPLE GOING TO RE-ASSERT YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY THAT YOU’VE DONE NOTHING ABOUT FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/153 "2026-01-04T02:32:02Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > One congressman? > > Not one country I know of condemned the kidnapping. > > We’ve got the oil. No, we have the country. We thought we had the oil in Iraq too, but the Iraqis just kept destroying oil infrastructure so we couldn’t steal it. And we couldn’t stop them, pipelines and such are too big and exposed a target. The Venezuelans can do the same if they choose. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/154 "2026-01-04T02:32:27Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Truly. Anytime I see a Republican bitching about something it is a sign to look closely at them for the very thing they are complaining about because they are probably guilty of it. This is the full post I use when pointing out the obvious on Facebook: ‘Every accusation by a Republican is a confession. For MAGAs, doubly so.’ ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/155 "2026-01-04T02:32:27Z")
Schumer said _something_? Trump supposedly has to meet with Congress and justify this action within 90 days. He’ll be golfing that day. > [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > You might want to read the “War Powers Act” and learn that Congress surrendered that power to the Executive. Fuck yeah! > [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > learn that Congress surrendered that power to the Executive. Well, not yet. You can clearly read it in between the lines of The Consitution. Except trump will be golfing. ETA: I asked in a non-political thread: Why’d they bring him to New York? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/156 "2026-01-04T02:51:40Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > Schumer said _something_? Yeah. Here’s his full statement. It’s awful. [![](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:zlgotdjaxzuhw4nefvkxxvxa/bafkreif3pfcelccw6kbrymebdb5mz42hww4c33hpfp36q5m5pmcvy6aweu@jpeg) ](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:zlgotdjaxzuhw4nefvkxxvxa/bafkreif3pfcelccw6kbrymebdb5mz42hww4c33hpfp36q5m5pmcvy6aweu@jpeg) He starts right off by accepting the Republican framing of “Maduro was a bad guy and getting rid of him is good” and acts as if the only objectionable thing is how Trump did it, complains that they lied to him and requests that they lie to him some more, and the stiffest demand he makes is to be BRIEFED, before closing off with the “this is a distraction” meme because it’s not one of the few topics that the billionaires who own him have authorized him to express an opinion about. He doesn’t say the attack was wrong, or that Trump or anyone else should face consequences, or that he’s going to do anything about it. It seems like the only problem he has with it is that they didn’t give him a chance to vote yes on it. He’s useless and he needs to go. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/157 "2026-01-04T03:11:40Z")
Schumer is also unaware of the “War Powers Act”. trump has 90 days, and needed no “congressional authorization” for 90 days. And where, in the Constitution, is the President/His Cabal/His Congress forbidden to “run” another country and take their oil? I agree he’s got to go. This is an election I can vote in from the UK. My fear is upstate New York will vote in our first MAGA, and losing Al D’Amato (republican) sent much of the defense industry elsewhere. Hadn’t considered Schumer going anywhere - not sure he’s worth half a D’Amato. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/158 "2026-01-04T11:28:23Z")
[Nobody likes a bully](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lubxjcar31I). It is a six minute video from a thoughtful Canadian. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/159 "2026-01-04T17:57:55Z")
Can Trump claim the $50 million reward for capturing Maduro? (He can’t legally, of course. But do you think he’ll try?) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201/160 "2026-01-04T19:20:11Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > From a cousin of mine, posted elsewhere: [Moderating] ~~I’ve removed most of the unattributed article you posted, as it was well beyond an acceptable length under fair use. If you’d like to provide a link to the original, I can edit it into your post. But please be mindful about posting material that’s under copyright on the SDMB.~~ ~~!No warning issued.~~ [/Moderating] Mod note rescinded after talking with poster. Original post restored. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-war-with-venezuela/1025201.md?page=9)