# The imPEACHment Pit Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 20, 2019, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685 "2019-11-20T02:43:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/21 "2019-11-20T14:35:46Z")
I have to say, using the pit as a HD free zone is brilliant. It’s an elegant workaround to the feckless moderation of him. I was talking about the hearings with a colleague today. Everyday there is are astounding revelations on the depravity of this administration and the transparent disregard the GOP has for democracy and the rule of law. Yesterday, the GOP did their best to besmirch the reputation of a uniformed officer. What’s truly astounding is how blasé we all are to it, his base won’t abandon him no matter what he does and the decent people are just numb to it all. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/22 "2019-11-20T14:37:24Z")
Sondland just spoke about being the son of an immigrant. Want to bet that the next talking point, based on Sondland and Vindman, is that immigrants are conspiring against Trump. And, that they aren’t REAL Americans ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/23 "2019-11-20T14:39:51Z")
Also, fuck Shodan. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/24 "2019-11-20T14:46:24Z")
This Sondland opening statement is really something, isn’t it? Confirms the overheard phone call, confirms the quid pro quo, confirms that it was for security assistance, confirms that all of this was bad. The only line he hasn’t been willing to cross is anything that makes _him_ look bad – he wants to make clear that he wasn’t part of the “irregular” channel except as much as the president asked him to, that he kept State informed at all times. But this all feels very different from his previous testimony. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/25 "2019-11-20T15:07:04Z")
What’s amazing on Sondland’s statement is that it confirms ever damning fact, but in a “gee whiz guys” tone. “Well yeah Charlie asked me and the gang to pop over to the Tate mansion and kill them all, I’m pretty sure I told you guys all that stuff…” ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/26 "2019-11-20T15:17:01Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > It looks like Sondland’s opening statement just dropped. Seems like he went the “full honesty” route in order to avoid being the next Roger Stone. > > Can’t find it online yet, but it’s going to be an interesting day. The folks at MSNBC can barely contain themselves. [Here](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/11/20/gordon-sondlands-opening-statement-full-text/4247242002/) is one place where the opening statement can be found. I haven’t read it all, but I did find this juicy tidbit: > [@](#): > > Fourth, as I testified previously, Mr. Giuliani’s requests were a quid pro quo for arranging a White House visit for President Zelensky. Mr. Giuliani demanded that Ukraine make a public statement announcing investigations of the 2016 election/DNC server and Burisma. Mr. Giuliani was expressing the desires of the President of the United States, and we knew that these investigations were important to the President. So now that a witness has called it a ‘quid pro quo’, can the Pubs drop that talking point? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/27 "2019-11-20T15:20:03Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > …So now that a witness has called it a ‘quid pro quo’, can the Pubs drop that talking point? Have you met Republicans? So does Trump now claim that he didn’t know Sondland and that Sondland was a never Trumper? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/28 "2019-11-20T15:20:14Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > So now that a witness has called it a ‘quid pro quo’, can the Pubs drop that talking point? Nah. They’ve moved on to “Nobody said the word bribery” And “Witch hunt! Witch hunt! Look at all the witches!” ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/29 "2019-11-20T15:55:13Z")
I’m late to the party and rewound to watch Sondland’s opening statement just now. _Hey Gordo!__You’re_ not on trial (yet). Quit wasting time covering your own ass. We’re here for testimony against DJT; don’t you even know that much? ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/30 "2019-11-20T16:00:34Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > So now that a witness has called it a ‘quid pro quo’, can the Pubs drop that talking point? They’ve moved on from that, and are now saying that “quid pro quo” just means that you’re getting something in return, and everyone does that all the time. That started with Mulvaney’s disaster of a press conference, and I’ve seen it a few times since. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/31 "2019-11-20T16:04:39Z")
Ultimately, all Trump really has is “yeah, I did it, what you gonna do about it?” though he’ll try to keep claiming he didn’t do it for a few more days at least. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/32 "2019-11-20T16:06:39Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > They’ve moved on from that, and are now saying that “quid pro quo” just means that you’re getting something in return, and everyone does that all the time. That started with Mulvaney’s disaster of a press conference, and I’ve seen it a few times since. Yeah, they’re employing the throw it at a wall and see what sticks approach. They also are arguing that no one has used the word bribery. They seem to think that crimes are not crimes if you don’t use the magic words; it’s not murder unless you say murder during the shooting. They’re fortunate in that their base are so uninformed. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/33 "2019-11-20T16:10:48Z")
Well, we all know Sondland can’t be trusted. Look how he’s changed his testimony! Also, we never got to the bottom of Hilary’s emails. And where is the server in Ukraine??? ETA: > [@madmonk28](#): > > Yeah, they’re employing the throw it at a wall and see what sticks approach. They also are arguing that no one has used the word bribery. They seem to think that crimes are not crimes if you don’t use the magic words; it’s not murder unless you say murder during the shooting. They’re fortunate in that their base are so uninformed. Have they brought up gold fringes on flags yet? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/34 "2019-11-20T16:14:52Z")
Here on the SDMB, the only Trump defense being offered at the moment is: “Well maybe there was a super secret FBI investigation going on about Biden in Ukraine, and it’s UP TO THE DEMOCRATS to prove that this secret investigation did not exist.” Stupid? Yes. But that’s all there is so far. Otherwise? Crickets. Until Fox News tells the resident apologists what to say. They don’t appear to be able to come up with the talking points by themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/35 "2019-11-20T16:23:41Z")
Republicans turn. Let’s see if they spend 45 minutes attacking Sondland’s character. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/36 "2019-11-20T16:30:34Z")
Nunes once again misdirecting to Hunter Biden. Yawn. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/37 "2019-11-20T16:46:46Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > They’re fortunate in that their base are so uninformed. All your base are belong to us. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/38 "2019-11-20T16:51:30Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Do I misremember, or did you use to be a right-wing idiot yourself? If so, welcome back to the Land of the Sane! 🙂 :dubious: I see your charm school education didn’t take very well. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/39 "2019-11-20T16:53:58Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Nunes once again misdirecting to Hunter Biden. Yawn. Hunter Biden is sooooo guilty, Trump Republicans can’t even find any probable cause with all the levers of government they control to go out and arrest him and haul him up on charges. That wiley son of a Biden!! ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685/40 "2019-11-20T16:58:21Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > All your base are belong to us. You can have them, they’re pretty worthless. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impeachment-pit-thread/843685.md?page=3)