# The Trump Impeachment Inquiry **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 24, 2019, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771 "2019-09-24T20:23:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1 "2019-09-24T20:23:47Z")
I know we’ve got like a million threads about Trump’s corruption, but [today’s news](https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/pelosi-top-democrats-privately-discuss-creation-of-select-committee-for-impeachment/2019/09/24/af6f735a-dedf-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-banner-main_impeachmentdems-1235pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans) is the start of a whole new chapter (or, likely, an entire spinoff series): > [@](#): > > House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to announce a formal impeachment inquiry into President Trump, a dramatic turnaround by the Democratic leader that sets up a constitutional and political clash pitting the Congress against the nation’s chief executive. > > Pelosi (D-Calif.) is slated to make her announcement later on Tuesday after a closed-door meeting with her caucus, according to Democratic officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to freely describe private deliberations. What should we expect in the next week or so? Will some of the folks who gave such shitty testimony earlier be recalled to give more testimony under the rules of an impeachment inquiry? Will Trump’s constant claims of executive privilege be litigated? ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2 "2019-09-24T20:26:03Z")
Even though I get that people think we have to impeach, I fear this has little chance of doing anything except getting him re-elected. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3 "2019-09-24T20:34:56Z")
[Nate Silver already has a column up](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/impeaching-trump-on-russia-was-unpopular-will-ukraine-be-different/). It’s a pretty interesting take, including some advice for Democrats that’s pretty obvious, and some that I wouldn’t have expected: > [@](#): > > Lesson No. 1: Be narrow and specific, perhaps with a near-exclusive focus on Ukraine. For some Democrats in Congress who were nearly ready to impeach Trump over Russia, Ukraine may have been the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. But Democrats probably shouldn’t portray it to the public that way. > … > Lesson No. 2: Don’t overpromise on details unless you can deliver. You’ll sometimes hear the sentiment that the entire Mueller Report might have been more politically damaging to Trump if it had dropped all at once instead of slowly being teased out through indictments and news accounts and investigative reports over the course of two years. That seems reasonable enough, although there’s no way to test the hypothetical. It’s also true, though, that the public’s reaction to news events — and the media’s reaction to news events, which conditions the public’s response — is often calibrated relative to “expectations.” If the expectations get too far ahead of themselves, even a relatively damaging story may land with a thud. > … > Lesson No. 3: Emphasize the threats to election integrity. As I mentioned, I suspect (though I certainly can’t prove) that some of the public’s reluctance on impeachment over Russia stemmed from the fact that Trump was still in his first term and is running for re-election. We want to decide this one for ourselves, the public may have been saying. > … > Lesson No. 4: Stay unified. As I said above, I don’t think Democratic infighting over impeachment on Russia explains all, or necessarily most, of its unpopularity with the general public. But it probably explains some of it. > … > Lesson No. 5: Work quickly and urgently. Now that they’ve seemingly decided to move forward on Ukraine, there are lots of reasons for Democrats to move fast. It will reduce the potential for public fatigue over the story, which can set in quickly for all news stories in the Trump era. And a sense of urgency could underscore some of the other themes here, e.g. that there’s an immediate threat to the integrity of the 2020 election, to national security, or both. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4 "2019-09-24T20:40:34Z")
OK, but how do you address election security without making it about Russia too? Ukraine isn’t scary to anybody in the US, in fact we’re supposed to be on their side in the border conflict, but Russia and Putin certainly count. Trump’s fealty to Putin is a far bigger deal ISTM (unless there’s a lot more coming out about Ukraine), and there’s the Mueller report to back it up. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5 "2019-09-24T21:03:37Z")
Pelosi announcement in a few minutes, according to news sites. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6 "2019-09-24T21:07:11Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Will some of the folks who gave such shitty testimony earlier be recalled to give more testimony under the rules of an impeachment inquiry? I doubt Pelosi will take an everything and the kitchen sink approach. I expect a more targeted process on Ukraine and possibly a selection of some of the most serious allegation with a good chance of being proven to a high degree of certainty. Something like the campaign finance violations for the Stormy Daniels payment probably doesn’t make her focus IMO. Campaign finance violations are pretty common and not criminal unless there’s knowledge it’s a violation. Cohen with a law degree had a harder time claiming ignorance. Trump makes a pretty good case on a daily basis for ignorance about almost everything. A non-criminal and relatively minor offense to distract from the serious allegations is probably not something Pelosi wants in the mix. Especially when it’s one that’s basically played out publicly already and hasn’t really changed minds. It’s also probably not something that the new House members who narrowly won blue leaning districts last year want to explain to their constituents. Ukraine is finally swinging them out of silence to support impeachment. That piece is in.How much more ends up in the inquiry is the big question. I expect the breadth of the investigation is a big part of the discussion in today’s caucus meeting. We’ll see about that prediction. If I’m right that means a lot of the relatively shitty testimony will be about allegations that don’t end up part of the impeachment inquiry. > [@](#): > > Will Trump’s constant claims of executive privilege be litigated? I’ve been expecting that to happen eventually anyway. Especially on the NY grand jury investigation. While a state case, it might set the stage for decisions related to Congress and federal limitations. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/7 "2019-09-24T21:10:05Z")
Nancy Pelosi: “Today, I’m announcing the House of Representatives is moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry. I’m directing our six committees to proceed with their investigations under that umbrella … The president must be held accountable.” ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/8 "2019-09-24T21:13:52Z")
Impeachment proceedings is what we need, so yay. I disagree Silver’s take that this needs to focus on Ukraine. Not only are his actions with Ukraine eerily similar to his alleged actions with Russia leading up to the election, but his attempts to obstruct justice are similar as well. Viewing the Ukraine thing in isolation means ignoring the massive elephant in the room. Trump cheated his in way into the White House and he’s trying to cheat again. Even if it means putting our national security interests at risk. ---
**Author:** ![mjmlabs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mjmlabs/32/69_2.png) [@mjmlabs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjmlabs)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/9 "2019-09-24T21:18:19Z")
[P.A.] _Folks, gonna go ahead and have you return to your seats and strap in – Looks like we’ve got a bit of a bumpy ride comin’ up for … oh, about the next 13 months._ [/P.A.] ---
**Author:** ![mjmlabs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mjmlabs/32/69_2.png) [@mjmlabs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjmlabs)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/10 "2019-09-24T21:24:15Z")
Adam Schiff [tweets](https://twitter.com/RepAdamSchiff/status/1176564220407767042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) that the intel community whistleblower wants to testify: > [@](#): > > We have been informed by the whistleblower’s counsel that their client would like to speak to our committee and has requested guidance from the Acting DNI as to how to do so. > > ``` > We‘re in touch with counsel and look forward to the whistleblower’s testimony as soon as this week. > — **Adam Schiff** (@RepAdamSchiff) September 24, 2019 > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/11 "2019-09-24T21:29:06Z")
My heavily right-wing coworkers are celebrating Trump’s second term of office with this news. They see this as an absolute disaster for the Dems. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/12 "2019-09-24T21:30:29Z")
> [@Patch](#): > > … They see this as an absolute disaster for the Dems. As do I. It’s like you guys already forgot (or never learned in the first place) the lessons of impeachment from a couple of decades ago. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/13 "2019-09-24T21:31:04Z")
How does this generate more Trump voters? Were there Trump voters who were planning on staying home, but now they’re going to come out and vote? I don’t buy it. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/14 "2019-09-24T21:35:33Z")
Oh, and by the way, how about those whistleblower concerns about Trump. Much ado about nothing, eh? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/15 "2019-09-24T21:36:20Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > How does this generate more Trump voters? 12 hours ago, [NPR published this story](https://www.npr.org/2019/09/24/763575677/impeachment-has-never-been-very-popular-but-that-hasnt-stopped-congress-before): > [@](#): > > The truth is — impeachment has almost never been popular. It tends to pump up the partisans in either party but has far less allure for the less politically inclined. Independent voters, it should be noted, have been especially slow to take up the impeachment cry. I’d recommend you read it. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/16 "2019-09-24T21:42:54Z")
> [@Patch](#): > > My heavily right-wing coworkers are celebrating Trump’s second term of office with this news. They see this as an absolute disaster for the Dems. Well, Trump voters clearly have the most brilliant minds of our generation so… Oh wait. Whatever. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2019, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/17 "2019-09-24T21:43:36Z")
It’s an absolute disaster for America that democrats need to burn all of this political capital because Republicans elected a fucking moron. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/18 "2019-09-24T21:44:21Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > As do I. It’s like you guys already forgot (or never learned in the first place) the lessons of impeachment from a couple of decades ago. I know this may be a foreign concept to Republicans, but sometimes doing what’s right for the country is more important than maneuvering for the next election. When the president allegedly leverages the power of his office to strongarm a foreign nation into digging up dirt on his political opponent, this is one of those times. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/19 "2019-09-24T21:47:19Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > As do I. It’s like you guys already forgot (or never learned in the first place) the lessons of impeachment from a couple of decades ago. > **[Opinion | Will support grow for impeaching Trump? Data on Nixon offers a clue.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/06/03/will-support-grow-impeaching-trump-data-nixon-offers-clue/)** > > The public shift on Nixon's impeachment tells a complicated story. > [@](#): > > As many who support impeachment hearings have pointed out, in early 1973, Gallup polling showed that only 19 percent of Americans supported removing President Richard M. Nixon. By the summer of 1974, when Nixon resigned, support had climbed to the high 50s — which illustrates that on impeachment, public opinion can be moved in a big way, including, presumably, on Trump. When done for valid reasons, impeachment can tarnish a presidents reputation and reduce their popularity. If this impeachment inquiry opens up the floodgates on all Trump’s crimes, it could make him less popular with independent voters. His base will be more motivated, but they were going to vote for him anyway. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2019, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/20 "2019-09-24T21:48:24Z")
In my fevered imagination, supporting actual and obvious election interference through using public money to convince a foreign government to manufacture dirt about your opponent might just be a bridge too far for some Republicans. I fantasize about Moscow Mitch and the others all getting together and saying “Is this it? Yes, this is it. Punt him NOW, and fast.” And this time next week, Trump is gone. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=2)