# Has Trump Made Himself Impervious to Impeachment Now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 27, 2017, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397 "2017-04-27T21:54:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/61 "2017-05-01T12:13:58Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > If we get a democratic president in the white house who has consiperd with russia to undermine our elections, then I hope you impeach them. The thing is, y’all are pushing for impeachment without any evidence that Trump conspired with Russia to undermine the elections. > [@](#): > > You really don’t get that this is not a partisan thing, don’t you? It is, in fact, a partisan thing. Because you go on to say - > [@](#): > > That Trump is uniquely unqualified for office… > > I don’t like his policies, I don’t like the direction he plans on taking this country, but that’s just politics, and I would feel the same way about any other conservative president. Exactly. You are hoping for impeachment because you don’t like Trump’s policies, and you would feel the same about any conservative President. So it **is** partisan, and that’s why you are pushing for impeachment. Not because of any evidence of collusion or law-breaking - you don’t have any. > [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > I think if there is concrete evidence of collusion between Trump and the Russians… Philip II of Macedon sent a message to the Spartans sometime around 350 BC, saying that the Spartans had better surrender to him, because if he conquered them, he would kill all their men, enslave their women, and burn their city to the ground. The Spartans sent back a reply that was one word long. “IF.” Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/62 "2017-05-01T13:26:53Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > The Spartans sent back a reply that was one word long. > > “IF.” I don’t think we’re actually disagreeing on substance here, we’re just disagreeing with probability. I think a 50% chance that the FBI and others have or will have a death blow against this administration is about right. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/63 "2017-05-01T13:49:53Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > I don’t think we’re actually disagreeing on substance here, we’re just disagreeing with probability. I think a 50% chance that the FBI and others have or will have a death blow against this administration is about right. Impeachment isn’t about “the administration”. It’s about Trump. Unless they find direct involvement by Trump, it’s no-go. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/64 "2017-05-01T14:36:22Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Impeachment isn’t about “the administration”. It’s about Trump. Unless they find direct involvement by Trump, it’s no-go. That’s exactly what I wrote. > [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > I think if there is concrete evidence of collusion **between Trump and the Russians** , they will do the right thing. Maybe not for the right reasons, but at that point, I don’t much care. ---
**Author:** ![Barrett\_Bonden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@Barrett\_Bonden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrett_Bonden)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/65 "2017-05-01T14:41:41Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > The thing is, y’all are pushing for impeachment without any evidence that Trump conspired with Russia to undermine the elections. > [@k9bfriender](#): > > You really don’t get that this is not a partisan thing, don’t you? > [@Shodan](#): > > It is, in fact, a partisan thing. Because you go on to say - > > > [@k9bfriender](#): > > > > That Trump is uniquely unqualified for office. . . > > > > I don’t like his policies, I don’t like the direction he plans on taking this country, but that’s just politics, and I would feel the same way about any other conservative president. > > Exactly. You are hoping for impeachment because you don’t like Trump’s policies, and you would feel the same about any conservative President. So it **is** partisan, and that’s why you are pushing for impeachment. Not because of any evidence of collusion or law-breaking - you don’t have any. I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt here, **Shodan** , and assume that you read through **k9bfriender** ’s post so quickly that you missed the point entirely, and only just happened to slice out of the quote the statements that directly contradict your thesis. The fact that Trump is uniquely unqualified to be President is not a partisan idea. Notable non-Democrats who opposed his election include (short list) [ul] [li]Condoleezza Rice[/li][li]Colin Powell[/li][li]Ross Douthat[/li][li]George Will[/li][li]Richard Armitage[/li][li]Ari Fleischer[/li][li]Hank Paulson[/li][li]Michael Chertoff[/li][li]Michael Hayden[/li][li]John Negroponte[/li][li]Tom Ridge[/li][li]George P. Shultz[/li][li]Paul Wolfowitz[/li][li]Robert Gates[/li][li]Michael Chertoff[/li][li]Michael Medved and [/li][li]John Yoo[/li][/ul] The fact that he is uniquely unfit is not an impeachable offense. The fact that he is using his office to enrich himself and his family is. If he is found to have conspired with Russia to influence the election, that is also. I am sorry that (many) Republicans in Congress will not do the right thing until it is politically expedient for them. At minimum, they ought not to be obstructing the investigation into the Trump Campaign’s ties to Russia. I wish they were better than that. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/66 "2017-05-01T14:58:35Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > That’s exactly what I wrote. And then you wrote something different. Read the post of yours that I quoted. That was what I was responding to, in case it wasn’t obvious. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/67 "2017-05-01T15:02:04Z")
[Blazing Saddles] **Mel Brooks as Boss** : Hey, you said Michael Chertoff twice. **Barrett Bonden as Job Applicant** : I \*like \*Michael Chertoff !! [/Blazing Saddles] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/68 "2017-05-01T15:04:21Z")
nm. Dupe somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Barrett\_Bonden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@Barrett\_Bonden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrett_Bonden)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/69 "2017-05-01T15:15:33Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > [Blazing Saddles] **Mel Brooks as Boss** : Hey, you said Michael Chertoff twice. > **Barrett Bonden as Job Applicant** : I \*like \*Michael Chertoff !! > [/Blazing Saddles] > 😃 > [@LSLGuy](#): > > nm. Dupe somehow. **Barrett Bonden as Boss** : Hey, you quoted Blazing Saddles twice. **LSLGuy as Job Applicant** : I _like_ Blazing Saddles !! ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/70 "2017-05-01T16:02:31Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > And then you wrote something different. Read the post of yours that I quoted. That was what I was responding to, in case it wasn’t obvious. Yes, I consider Trump part of the “Trump” administration. Sorry for the confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/71 "2017-05-01T16:41:59Z")
> [@Barrett\_Bonden](#): > > The fact that Trump is uniquely unqualified to be President is not a partisan idea. Notable non-Democrats who opposed his election include (short list) > [ul] > [li]Condoleezza Rice[/li][li]Colin Powell[/li][li]Ross Douthat[/li][li]George Will[/li][li]Richard Armitage[/li][li]Ari Fleischer[/li][li]Hank Paulson[/li][li]Michael Chertoff[/li][li]Michael Hayden[/li][li]John Negroponte[/li][li]Tom Ridge[/li][li]George P. Shultz[/li][li]Paul Wolfowitz[/li][li]Robert Gates[/li][li]Michael Chertoff[/li][li]Michael Medved and [/li][li]John Yoo[/li][/ul] Which of the people you mention are calling for his impeachment? Since that is what we are talking about. > [@](#): > > The fact that he is uniquely unfit is not an impeachable offense. The fact that he is using his office to enrich himself and his family is. Which law did he break? Please be specific. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Barrett\_Bonden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@Barrett\_Bonden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrett_Bonden)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/72 "2017-05-01T17:33:09Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Which of the people you mention are calling for his impeachment? You accused **k9bfriender** of disliking Trump for partisan reasons. I offered you a plate of people (including Michael Chertoff _twice_!) who dislike Trump for the same reasons **k9bfriender** offered and who could not be reasonably accused of being partisan in this instance. > [@Shodan](#): > > Which law did he break? Please be specific. [QUOTE=Constitution of the United States of America, Article I, Section 9] … no person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under [the United States], shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office or Title of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/73 "2017-05-01T18:00:23Z")
> [@Barrett\_Bonden](#): > > You accused **k9bfriender** of disliking Trump for partisan reasons. I offered you a plate of people (including Michael Chertoff _twice_!) who dislike Trump for the same reasons **k9bfriender** offered and who could not be reasonably accused of being partisan in this instance. Actually I pointed out that she was calling for impeachment on partisan grounds. I don’t care how many times you mention Michael Chertoff - he isn’t calling for impeachment AFAIK. > [@Constitution of the United States of America](#): > > … no person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under [the United States], shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office or Title of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State. I asked for something specific. What is your evidence that Trump, while President, accepted a present from some foreign Prince? TIA. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/74 "2017-05-01T18:05:56Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Actually I pointed out that she was calling for impeachment on partisan grounds. I don’t care how many times you mention Michael Chertoff - he isn’t calling for impeachment AFAIK. > > I asked for something specific. What is your evidence that Trump, while President, accepted a present from some foreign Prince? TIA. > > Regards, > Shodan You left out “Emolument, Office or Title” and “King or foreign State”. Good try making exceptions. ---
**Author:** ![Barrett\_Bonden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@Barrett\_Bonden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrett_Bonden)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/75 "2017-05-01T19:00:50Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Actually I pointed out that she was calling for impeachment on partisan grounds. I don’t care how many times you mention Michael Chertoff - he isn’t calling for impeachment AFAIK. You have successfully argued that I did not say something that I did not say. Well done. > [@Shodan](#): > > I asked for something specific. You did, and I answered your question precisely. To refresh your memory: > [@Shodan](#): > > Which law did he break? Please be specific. > [@Barrett\_Bonden](#): > > [QUOTE=Constitution of the United States of America, Article I, Section 9] > … no person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under [the United States], shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office or Title of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State. [/QUOTE] > [@Shodan](#): > > What is your evidence that Trump, while President, accepted a present from some foreign Prince? TIA. The activities that have been identified (so far) as potential violations of the foreign emoluments clause include receiving payments from foreign entities including those from patrons at Trump hotels and golf courses; loans for his office buildings from certain banks controlled by foreign governments; leases with tenants like the Abu Dhabi tourism office; and 39 trademarks from China. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/76 "2017-05-01T19:01:54Z")
And he personally received hooker piss courtesy of Putin. Regards ---
**Author:** ![Barrett\_Bonden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@Barrett\_Bonden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrett_Bonden)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/77 "2017-05-01T19:03:53Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > He personally received hooker piss courtesy of Putin. > > Regards Yes, but since that purportedly occurred before he became President, I don’t think that is technically a violation of the foreign emoluments clause. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/78 "2017-05-01T19:22:10Z")
> [@Barrett\_Bonden](#): > > Yes, but since that purportedly occurred before he became President, I don’t think that is technically a violation of the foreign emoluments clause. I stand corrected (although it might be argued that it was an advance/consideration to bind Trump to post-inauguration favors). Failing that, impeach him for the misdemeanor health code violation of not washing the piss off until after he became president. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/79 "2017-05-01T19:38:42Z")
The VP is much more experienced in politics and is just as or more extreme than Trump on social and environmental issues, so I fear that if Trump were to be removed, it would be out of the frying pan and into the fire, so it is convenient to keep him in place, but distract him with impeachment, let him keep fumbling on major goals, and use the publicity to gather votes for the next mid-terms and the next presidential election. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397/80 "2017-05-01T20:09:00Z")
> [@Barrett\_Bonden](#): > > The activities that have been identified (so far) as potential violations of the foreign emoluments clause include receiving payments from foreign entities including those from patrons at Trump hotels and golf courses; loans for his office buildings from certain banks controlled by foreign governments; leases with tenants like the Abu Dhabi tourism office; and 39 trademarks from China. When, specifically, did these things happen? Regards, Shodan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-made-himself-impervious-to-impeachment-now/785397.md?page=5)