# 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:** 104
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2061 "2019-10-07T18:14:44Z")
The old “it’s the system, why can’t everyone see what I see” schtick was tiresome by my Junior year. ---
**Author:** ![Fentoine\_Lum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b77776/32.png) [@Fentoine\_Lum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fentoine_Lum)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2062 "2019-10-07T18:19:44Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > That’s not at all what I said, and it’s very mildly interesting that you decided to interpret in the way that allows you to continue with your current behavior without considering its efficacy. Luckily you’re here to correct me. No one ever criticized **and** got involved did they. No, you must be in charge of the political questioning and involvement of others. I’m glad my posts unsettle you. Only you have the proper interpretation. ---
**Author:** ![Fentoine\_Lum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b77776/32.png) [@Fentoine\_Lum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fentoine_Lum)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2063 "2019-10-07T18:22:55Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > The old “it’s the system, why can’t everyone see what I see” schtick was tiresome by my Junior year. Color inside the lines and do not raise uncomfortable questions. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2064 "2019-10-07T18:28:24Z")
> [@Fentoine\_Lum](#): > > Color inside the lines and do not raise uncomfortable questions. Wake up, sheeple! Amiright? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2065 "2019-10-07T18:28:30Z")
It’s still tiresome. Didn’t you use that line in the Biden thread? I mean, you’ve been here less than a week and you’re already repeating yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2066 "2019-10-07T18:37:00Z")
The “everyone is corrupt so just give up” is right wing propaganda. Voting the Republicans out of office would eliminate ninety percent of the corruption in American politics. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2067 "2019-10-07T18:40:55Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > [Willliam Safire Orders Two Whoppers Junior](https://www.theonion.com/william-safire-orders-two-whoppers-junior-1819565735) Reinforced: Bill Safire was a massive dick. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2019, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2068 "2019-10-07T18:44:04Z")
Just thought I’d share the E-mail I received from my (R) Congressional Representative in response to my expression of support for the impeachment of Trump, on the grounds of bribery and of abuse of power: > [@](#): > > October 4, 2019 > Mr. (Realname) > Number streetname > Deepinnahearta, TX 77XXX > > Dear Sucker (OK, he didn’t really say that): > > Thank you for sharing your thoughts regarding the impeachment inquiry of President Trump. I appreciate your concerns regarding this issue. Hearing from you helps me better represent the Eighth District of Texas. > > On September 24, 2019, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a formal impeachment inquiry against President Trump based on a conversation between the President and the Prime Minister of Ukraine on July 25, 2019. All credible allegations of abuse of office must be taken seriously in order to preserve the integrity of our democracy. However, Speaker Pelosi rushed to an impeachment inquiry before reviewing the transcript of the conversation and without a required vote in the House of Representatives. > > The impeachment process should not be misused for political gain. Now that the transcript has been released and no evidence of impropriety has been uncovered, I hope that my Democratic colleagues will be ready to resume work on the issues important to American families-such as lowering prescription drug prices, ratifying USMCA, strengthening our workforce, and continuing to grow our economy. > > Thank you for letting me know your opinion. Let’s keep in touch, and if I can be of help in the future, don’t hesitate to let me know. > > Sincerely, > > Kevin Brady > U.S. Representative > Eighth District of Texas “No evidence of impropriety”, indeed. Well, that’s it; case closed. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2019, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2069 "2019-10-07T18:47:14Z")
“Now that the transcript has been released and no evidence of impropriety has been uncovered …” Nothing HAD to be uncovered, it was right there in the transcript. Damn, my thoughts are with you dealing with those guys! ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2070 "2019-10-07T18:48:50Z")
> [@Fentoine\_Lum](#): > > What changes as a result? The chances of nuclear and possibly conventional war go down dramatically? The odds of keeping children in cages goes down an appreciable amount? The things you mention now have a tiny chance of happening, instead of dead zero? ETA: one observation I’ve had is that folks with your set of beliefs and mindset seem to think that the amount of trouble and suffering in the nation and world is exactly the same no matter who’s in charge; just the people inflicting it and the type of trouble and suffering differ somewhat. I think this is where the fundamental disagreement comes in, because I don’t think that’s true at all. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2071 "2019-10-07T18:55:23Z")
It’s also an ahistorical argument, so there’s that. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2019, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2072 "2019-10-07T18:59:14Z")
> [@Fentoine\_Lum](#): > > Luckily you’re here to correct me. No one ever criticized **and** got involved did they. Your criticism was trite when I was saying it in tenth grade, dude. What you’re doing to make things better would be way more interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Fentoine\_Lum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b77776/32.png) [@Fentoine\_Lum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fentoine_Lum)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2073 "2019-10-07T19:15:53Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Wake up, sheeple! Amiright? Repeat whatever is allowed, troll everything else, you are correct sir, pick a partisanshithead side and participate in the unraveling of the empire. ---
**Author:** ![Fentoine\_Lum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b77776/32.png) [@Fentoine\_Lum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fentoine_Lum)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2074 "2019-10-07T19:16:54Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Your criticism was trite when I was saying it in tenth grade, dude. What you’re doing to make things better would be way more interesting. Sure, but you can’t address any of it, so you fling poo and insults, how utterly american. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2075 "2019-10-07T19:18:22Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > [Willliam Safire Orders Two Whoppers Junior](https://www.theonion.com/william-safire-orders-two-whoppers-junior-1819565735) Yes, but did he order them with onions? ---
**Author:** ![Fentoine\_Lum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b77776/32.png) [@Fentoine\_Lum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fentoine_Lum)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2076 "2019-10-07T19:21:51Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > The chances of nuclear and possibly conventional war go down dramatically? > > The odds of keeping children in cages goes down an appreciable amount? > > The things you mention now have a tiny chance of happening, instead of dead zero? > > ETA: one observation I’ve had is that folks with your set of beliefs and mindset seem to think that the amount of trouble and suffering in the nation and world is exactly the same no matter who’s in charge; just the people inflicting it and the type of trouble and suffering differ somewhat. I think this is where the fundamental disagreement comes in, because I don’t think that’s true at all. Obama took Bush’s 2 wars to 7. We had kids in cages under Obama. Oh good, we’ll go back to “leftist” incrementalism? “Both” parties grovel to the same donor class for funding. Your characterizations of the arguments of other are yours pal, you don’t listen well. Your reactionary Pavlovian response is noted. Your opting to demean me rather than pick something apart is also noted. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2077 "2019-10-07T19:34:08Z")
> [@Fentoine\_Lum](#): > > Sure, but you can’t address any of it, so you fling poo and insults, how utterly american. I’m afraid you misunderstand. I’m not addressing it, because it’s pretty straightforwardly obvious, to the extent that you’re including any specifics. You’ll not outradical me on this issue most likely. As for the “fling[ing] poo and insults,” okay dude. My point isn’t that you’re wrong–it’s that identifying obvious structural problems doesn’t begin to do the work of addressing them. Do better. But this is enough of this hijack, and unless you’re willing to address what’s actually going on in specificity and with at least vague proposals for solutions, I’m not sure whether it’ll be productive to engage with you. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2078 "2019-10-07T19:35:02Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > It’s also an ahistorical argument, so there’s that. Quite right. I think there’s a lot of misinformation about impeachment inquiries, the lack of a House vote, and so on. Pushed by dishonest Republicans with a losing agenda, of course, but let’s just flesh this out a little. Republicans claim the House impeachment inquiry is illegitimate because the House hasn’t voted to authorize an impeachment inquiry. We all know by instinct that this is bullshit, but let’s pin the tail on the liars. On October 20, 1973, Nixon ordered the Saturday Night Massacre. On October 30, the House Judiciary Committee announced an investigation that would examine issues including impeachment. It was not until February 6, 1974, that the House of Representatives voted to approve a resolution stating that the Judiciary Committee “is authorized and directed to investigate fully and completely whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its constitutional power to impeach Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States of America.” [Link.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/hres803.htm) Six months later, Nixon resigned. There were more than three months’ worth of investigations into Watergate before the House voted to authorize the impeachment hearings. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Colossus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.colossus/32/9423_2.png) [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2079 "2019-10-07T20:34:36Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Quite right. I think there’s a lot of misinformation about impeachment inquiries, the lack of a House vote, and so on. Pushed by dishonest Republicans with a losing agenda, of course, but let’s just flesh this out a little. > > Republicans claim the House impeachment inquiry is illegitimate because the House hasn’t voted to authorize an impeachment inquiry. We all know by instinct that this is bullshit, but let’s pin the tail on the liars. > > On October 20, 1973, Nixon ordered the Saturday Night Massacre. On October 30, the House Judiciary Committee announced an investigation that would examine issues including impeachment. It was not until February 6, 1974, that the House of Representatives voted to approve a resolution stating that the Judiciary Committee “is authorized and directed to investigate fully and completely whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its constitutional power to impeach Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States of America.” [Link.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/hres803.htm) Six months later, Nixon resigned. > > There were more than three months’ worth of investigations into Watergate before the House voted to authorize the impeachment hearings. For context, how did it go down with Clinton? Was there a gap between announcing an inquiry and the vote? (I was a young teen back then and had no interest in paying attention). ---
**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:** [October 7, 2019, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2080 "2019-10-07T20:36:19Z")
> [@Fentoine\_Lum](#): > > I refer you to **your media machine** , which avoids objective reality as a mission. I don’t suppose you’d clarify what you mean by ‘your media machine’? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=103) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=105)