# 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:** 114
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2261 "2019-10-09T13:18:30Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > So they might as well let the Republicans turn it into a Biden trial sooner? I think it better to get the nonsense out of the way now instead of at an impeachment trial. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2262 "2019-10-09T13:21:29Z")
There isn’t some law of conservation of nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2263 "2019-10-09T13:21:46Z")
> [@YamatoTwinkie](#): > > Maybe because the House rules change that effectively squashed subpoena participation by the minority party were implemented by then-majority Republicans in 2015 during the last years of the Obama administration, [over objections by the Democrats](https://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/democrats-criticize-house-gop-subpoena-rules-115068). Oh. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2264 "2019-10-09T13:22:56Z")
> [@phantom\_lamb](#): > > Zelensky rhymes with Lewinsky. I’m sure someone more creative can come up with something… [Monica Zelensky](https://qz.com/1717059/ukraines-president-is-being-dubbed-monica-zelensky-at-home/) will do. I read somewhere that MZ is for rent whenever there’s a POTUS who’s pissed someone off. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2265 "2019-10-09T13:27:21Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > “Buttercup?” Wow. You inferred quite a bit from what I believed to be an honest question. For the record, I fully support this impeachment inquiry and hope that Trump is drummed out of office in total disgrace. > > But to answer your questions. Yes, yes, and yes. When you ask what Pelosi is “afraid” of, it’s an easy inference to make. Moreover, don’t be shocked people think you’re a Republican when you spout [Republican talking points](https://twitter.com/RepDougCollins/status/1177382781724368896). She’s not “afraid” of anything, she’s operating within the rules that as **YamatoTwinkie** pointed out were rules that Republicans made when they were in charge. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2266 "2019-10-09T13:35:24Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > When you ask what Pelosi is “afraid” of, it’s an easy inference to make. Moreover, don’t be shocked people think you’re a Republican when you spout [Republican talking points](https://twitter.com/RepDougCollins/status/1177382781724368896). > > She’s not “afraid” of anything, she’s operating within the rules that as **YamatoTwinkie** pointed out were rules that Republicans made when they were in charge. I apologize if I’m not well versed in Republican talking points. I don’t watch Fox and I don’t follow Doug Collins on Twitter. Pelosi can be both “afraid” and operating within the rules. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2267 "2019-10-09T13:51:56Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Pelosi can be both “afraid” and operating within the rules. Human communication involves much more than words. Facial expression, and its recognition, has evolved in mammals over eons. It’s advantageous. Message boards and texting services have resorted to use emoticons to compensate. And it is a grossly inadequate compensation. Tough to emojify changes in voice (pitch, amplitude, pace), gesturing, posture, setting, and shared history. I share your pain. ---
**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 9, 2019, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2268 "2019-10-09T13:55:57Z")
Holy shit, he needs to be impeached on this Kurds thing alone. This is going to be a slaughter. > “The Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Syrian National Army, just launched #OperationPeaceSpring against PKK/YPG and Daesh terrorists in northern Syria. Our mission is to prevent the creation of a terror corridor across our southern border, and to bring peace to the area.” ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2269 "2019-10-09T14:03:24Z")
The dumb fucker talks on the phone with an autocrat and without consulting anyone, removes the only protection that our Kurdish allies had against genocide. But but but her emails! And did you know China gave $1.5 Billion to Biden’s kid? This administration has utterly destroyed the US’s reputation throughout the world. We will never be trusted again. The US will never again stand for freedom. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2270 "2019-10-09T14:12:05Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > We will never be trusted again. The US will never again stand for freedom. America is the most exceptional country ever. ---
**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 9, 2019, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2271 "2019-10-09T14:18:20Z")
Fox News is reporting the US military has been ordered by Trump not to assist the Kurds. > > > Lucas Tomlinson @LucasFoxNews OK, sorry, off topic. But shit, people are getting slaughtered _now_ because of his incompetence. And fitness for office is, imho, an impeachable offense as well. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2272 "2019-10-09T14:18:44Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > I think it better to get the nonsense out of the way now instead of at an impeachment trial. Out of the way? What gives you the idea that they intend to call a few witnesses then step aside to let the impeachment proceedings continue? The very purpose of all this Biden shit is to disrupt, so if/when they get that foot in the door it is _never_ going to close again. ---
**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 9, 2019, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2273 "2019-10-09T14:20:42Z")
I first saw this cartoon around the time of the 2016 election: [![](https://media.snopes.com/2017/01/trump-cartoon_fb.jpg) ](https://media.snopes.com/2017/01/trump-cartoon_fb.jpg) (This image seems to have had the lower part cut off which shows the diaper in more graphic detail.) ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2274 "2019-10-09T14:22:12Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > The US will never again stand for freedom. The US will also never again have allies, those who are with it to the end. It’s not just about abandoning the Kurds, antagonizing the EU, or calling Canada a “security threat”. It’s putting in doubt the very notion that the US can be trusted. Trust and the ‘moral high ground’ or a reasonable facsimile of such, was the US’s for 75 years. Not anymore. Whether this is a good, bad, or irrelevant thing remains to be seen. ---
**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 9, 2019, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2275 "2019-10-09T14:44:00Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > The US will also never again have allies, those who are with it to the end. So, uh, when exactly do you expect the U.S. to be kicked out of NATO? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2276 "2019-10-09T14:48:59Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Out of the way? What gives you the idea that they intend to call a few witnesses then step aside to let the impeachment proceedings continue? The very purpose of all this Biden shit is to disrupt, so if/when they get that foot in the door it is _never_ going to close again. I think that like most things, this is a battle for the voters in the middle. The sooner that the Republican strategy can be exposed for the shit that it is, the better. ---
**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 9, 2019, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2277 "2019-10-09T14:59:53Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > I think that like most things, this is a battle for the voters in the middle. The sooner that the Republican strategy can be exposed for the shit that it is, the better. There’s no reason to think letting the Republicans turn this into a circus will more quickly expose the Republican strategy, most likely the opposite. We already have tonnes of documentation that Biden’s interference was totally in line with US policy and a variety of Western authorities including the IMF. How do you imagine interviewing a bunch of Giuliani approved Ukrainians is going to make anything more clear? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2278 "2019-10-09T15:01:09Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > I think that like most things, this is a battle for the voters in the middle. The sooner that the Republican strategy can be exposed for the shit that it is, the better. That doesn’t explain why you think letting them steal the floor with that Biden crap will somehow get it out of the way. How long did they keep that Benghazi fiasco going, and what damage did that descent into madness do to the Republican party? What you are proposing isn’t giving them enough rope to hang themselves-what you want to do is give them both ends of the rope _and_ let them choose who is to be strung up. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2279 "2019-10-09T15:02:33Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > That’s as far as I got. Three pages in, and nearly every point is a lie or a pitiful twist of the truth. Is there any page that’s not full of lies? Direct me to that one, and I’ll read it, but I’ll hold you accountable for any claim that it’s an honest page. I continue to respond out of order (I’ll get around to the older posts, promise! Doing some research). I won’t vouch for everything on the page but page 4 has two points that I actually agree with. First point, it is claimed that Republican ranking members of the (Intelligence?) committee are not allowed to issue their own subpoenas. I would prefer for the impeachment proceedings to have some semblance of bipartisanship, but if only Democrats are allowed to conduct the inquiry it will appear quite partisan. > [@](#): > > In addition, the House has not provided the Committees’ Ranking Members with the authority to issue subpoenas. The right of the minority to issue subpoenas-subject to the same rules as the majority-has been the standard, bipartisan practice in all recent resolutions authorizing presidential impeachment inquiries.[SUP]11[/SUP] The House’s failure to provide co-equal subpoena power in this case ensures that any inquiry will be nothing more than a one-sided effort by House Democrats to gather information favorable to their views and to selectively release it as only they determine. The House’s utter disregard for the established procedural safeguards followed in past impeachment inquiries shows that the current proceedings are nothing more than an unconstitutional exercise in political theater. > … > [SUP]11[/SUP] H.R. Res. 581, 105th Cong. (1998); H.R. Res. 803, 93rd Cong. (1974). Second point, witnesses are allegedly being denied agency lawyers during their testimony. Unlike grand jury hearings, which are normally _secret_ and in some cases hearsay, their testimony will be used publicly for or against the president during the Senate trial. There are also national security and diplomatic concerns if the witnesses are asked sensitive questions (the president’s disregard for national security and diplomacy aside). Also, the witnesses testify under penalty of perjury. It would be prudent to allow lawyers to advise the witnesses during their depositions. > [@](#): > > Worse, the Committees have broadly threatened that if State Department officials attempt to insist upon the right for the Department to have an agency lawyer present at depositions to protect legitimate Executive Branch confidentiality interests-or apparently if they make any effort to protect those confidentiality interests at all-these officials will have their salaries withheld.[SUP]13[/SUP] > … > [SUP]13[/SUP] _See_ Letter from Eliot L. Engel, Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, et al., to John J. Sullivan,Deputy Secretary of State 2-3 (Oct. I, 2019). The rebuttal at the bottom of page 8 and the top of page 9 is also convincing. In short, the House does have an oversight authority to request the very same documents, but the current requests were clearly made without exercising that authority. I find the rest of the letter to be unconvincing. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2280 "2019-10-09T15:06:11Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > When you ask what Pelosi is “afraid” of, it’s an easy inference to make. Moreover, don’t be shocked people think you’re a Republican when you spout [Republican talking points](https://twitter.com/RepDougCollins/status/1177382781724368896). > > She’s not “afraid” of anything, she’s operating within the rules that as **YamatoTwinkie** pointed out were rules that Republicans made when they were in charge. Personally, I find it helps to debate/debunk the Republican talking points when I know from what compost heap they were pulled. YMMV. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=113) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=115)