# 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:** 137
**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 15, 2019, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2721 "2019-10-15T04:04:19Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > 42% think he’s just swell, and 50% want him tar & feathered. Makes perfect sense to me. 33% accept him out of hand no matter what he does, he’s cool. At least–AT LEAST 17% literally don’t know anything about ANYTHING that is going on. The rest of us want him ran out on a rail. That middle 17% seems to be the only portion worth paying attention to. ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2722 "2019-10-15T04:05:39Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > His approval rating probably won’t go much below that. If they haven’t been persuaded yet, they’re probably never going to be. The increase in support for impeachment is coming from the people who were apathetic or uninformed before. The ceiling of support for impeachment is about 60% then. Which probably isnt enough to get enough Republican senators on board to remove him. Yeah…I basically agree with that analysis. Before, you had the Trump supporters and the those who do not support him. However, among those who did not support him, there were a sizeable fraction who still didn’t think he should be impeached. Now, that middle position is becoming pretty untenable and is likely becoming nearly extinct. ---
**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 15, 2019, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2723 "2019-10-15T05:38:31Z")
I would like to take a moment of everyone’s time and ask you to reflect on the greatness that is John Bolton. Not for being an evil mastermind, no, we salute him for his non"-gate" solution as to what to call Trump’s betrayal of American sovereignty: #TheDrugDeal [Bolton wanted White House lawyers alerted to Ukrainian efforts, called it ‘drug deal,’ witness tells Congress.](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/bolton-wanted-white-house-lawyers-alerted-ukrainian-efforts-called-it-n1066141) > [@](#): > > “I am not part of whatever drug deal Rudy and Mulvaney are cooking up,” Bolton told Hill according to the testimony, the Times reported. > > Bolton was fired by Trump in September. > > Hill testified that Bolton told her to report the situation to the top lawyer at the National Security Council, John Eisenberg, according to the person in the room for Monday’s closed-door hearing. Bolton also was said to have referred to Giuliani as a “hand grenade.” ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2724 "2019-10-15T05:47:13Z")
Now Mulvaney’s sucked into the whirlpool. ---
**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:** [October 15, 2019, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2725 "2019-10-15T09:05:35Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I would like to take a moment of everyone’s time and ask you to reflect on the greatness that is John Bolton. Not for being an evil mastermind, no, we salute him for his non"-gate" solution as to what to call Trump’s betrayal of American sovereignty: > > #TheDrugDeal > > > [@](#): > > > > “I am not part of whatever drug deal Rudy and Mulvaney are cooking up,” Bolton told Hill > > [Bolton wanted White House lawyers alerted to Ukrainian efforts, called it ‘drug deal,’ witness tells Congress.](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/bolton-wanted-white-house-lawyers-alerted-ukrainian-efforts-called-it-n1066141) John Bolton — _John Bolton!_, the man who never heard of an adversarial country he didn’t want to bomb — rises above his own psychopathy to ridicule Trump-Giuliani “drug dealing.” A future generation will write comments like “I wanted to give the satire _Trump the Documentary_ a 10 rating, but the plot details were just too unbelievable. Sure, clowns like that exist, but they could never get elected.” ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2726 "2019-10-15T09:25:15Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > John Bolton — _John Bolton!_, the man who never heard of an adversarial country he didn’t want to bomb — rises above his own psychopathy to ridicule Trump-Giuliani “drug dealing.” It’s the difference between Lawful Evil and Chaotic Evil. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2727 "2019-10-15T12:50:47Z")
[Second\*-best tweet ever](https://twitter.com/smotus/status/1183950003141627906): > [@](#): > > Genie: “You still have one wish left.” > Me: “Come up with a scandal so awful that John Bolton is actually the hero.” > Genie: “You’re one sick bastard, but okay." \*The best tweet ever is of course the one involving [leopards](https://twitter.com/cavalorn/status/654934442549620736?lang=en). ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2728 "2019-10-15T12:54:21Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > (emphasis mine) > > The highlighted bit is news to me. What’s the source? The closest I could find was a headline from ABC News a couple weeks ago which says pretty much the opposite: “[Trump admin approves new sale of anti-tank weapons to Ukraine](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-admin-approves-sale-anti-tank-weapons-ukraine/story?id=65989898)” (admittedly, that’s a dubious source). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-to-sell-ukraine-javelin-missiles-a-hot-topic-of-trump-zelensky-call-11570043798](https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-to-sell-ukraine-javelin-missiles-a-hot-topic-of-trump-zelensky-call-11570043798) Sale was ultimately approved by the admin late September (after the whistle blower report was known), but this was the same deal that Zelensky asked for that Trump responded with a request for a “favor, though”. Given the context of the conversation, do you not believe Zelensky’s request (more Javelins) was linked to Trump’s response (a favor, though…)? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2729 "2019-10-15T12:59:08Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > His approval rating probably won’t go much below that. If they haven’t been persuaded yet, they’re probably never going to be. The increase in support for impeachment is coming from the people who were apathetic or uninformed before.\*\* The ceiling of support for impeachment is about 60% then. Which probably isnt enough to get enough Republican senators on board to remove him.\*\* It’s going to depend on where the 60% is located. A majority in California means nothing. But a majority in Kentucky or Georgia or Ohio or Arizona means a lot. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2730 "2019-10-15T13:06:59Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I don’t have a cite, but does your asking for one mean that we agree that “the withholding of funds authorized by Congress by itself” is not really a problem? That withholding / delaying some spending authorized by Congress is a fairly routine function of the executive branch? We do not agree in the slightest - if you read your own cite it will indicate that this was done with Congress’ knowledge > [@](#): > > The scandal has prompted calls from congressional lawmakers of both parties for additional transparency measures and stricter oversight for funding approved for Puerto Rico, with a House panel recently advancing a bipartisan plan to add new safeguards to Medicaid funding for the island. Which is not at all what happened with Ukraine. Nice try. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2731 "2019-10-15T13:24:23Z")
> [@Dr.Colossus](#): > > 33% accept him out of hand no matter what he does, he’s cool. > > At least–AT LEAST 17% literally don’t know anything about ANYTHING that is going on. > > The rest of us want him ran out on a rail. > > That middle 17% seems to be the only portion worth paying attention to. One takeaway from these polls, though, is that it may be the end of the hand-wringing that impeachment will “energize Trump’s base” and propel Trump to a 2020 election victory. If 50% want him impeached, that’s 50% of the electorate who could not conceivably vote for him in 2020. When you add in the people who don’t like him but don’t want impeachment, there’s no way he can get a popular majority. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2732 "2019-10-15T13:38:35Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > One takeaway from these polls, though, is that it may be the end of the hand-wringing that impeachment will “energize Trump’s base” and propel Trump to a 2020 election victory. > > If 50% want him impeached, that’s 50% of the electorate who could not conceivably vote for him in 2020. When you add in the people who don’t like him but don’t want impeachment, there’s no way he can get a popular majority. Republicans have been winning power, while losing the popular majority for a while now. ---
**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 15, 2019, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2733 "2019-10-15T13:40:10Z")
I laugh at those who say that impeachment will energize the GOP base. They always vote anyway. The one thing that Republicans do better than Democrats is getting their base to turn out no matter what. Call me crazy (I’m sure many of you do) but I get the feeling that something is different now. Witnesses are starting to extend a middle finger to White House instructions not to testify. Veterans are appalled at the abandonment of the Kurds. Farmers have had enough of paying the price of the trade war. White House staffers and second tier cabinet officials are heading for the exits and giving us some inside info into the drama. John Bolton warned that Giuliani was a hand grenade that could blow up in their faces. When we go from private depositions to public testimony, it’s going to be compelling stuff. This will move the public opinion needle, the needle will move Republican Senators. This administration if nothing else will spawn some good political psychodrama horror movies. I only regret that Raymond Burr is not around to play William Barr and that Don Knotts isn’t here to play Giuliani. ---
**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 15, 2019, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2734 "2019-10-15T13:41:10Z")
Giuliani attempts to defuse tensions between him and Bolton: "@RudyGiuliani on Bolton calling him a “hand grenade.” RG: “I’m very disappointed that his bitterness drives him to attack a friend falsely…It’s really ironic that John Bolton is calling anyone else a hand grenade. When John is described by many as an atomic bomb.“ > Oh, sorry. That’s not what’s happening at all. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2735 "2019-10-15T13:49:56Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > For comparison, Turkey joined the F-35 program in 2002. It took them [16 years to get their first jet](https://www.defensenews.com/smr/nato-priorities/2018/06/21/turkey-gets-first-f-35-as-congress-put-pressure-on-pentagon-to-stop-future-deliveries/), and even now, over a year later, we won’t let them take it (or any of the other F-35s they ostensibly own) home to Turkey. Well, gosh. The first introduction to a _US_ service, the Marine Corps, was July 2015 and the Air Force more than a year later, and the Navy not until February this year. The plane has had teething problems. And the final ban was due to a veto by your boy, Trump who, of course, blamed Obama. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2736 "2019-10-15T13:51:47Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > This administration if nothing else will spawn some good political psychodrama horror movies. I only regret that Raymond Burr is not around to play William Barr and that Don Knotts isn’t here to play Giuliani. I’m sure Jim Carrey would love to give the role a shot. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2737 "2019-10-15T13:55:17Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > …there’s no way he can get a popular majority. He got elected without a popular majority. It can happen again. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2738 "2019-10-15T14:14:56Z")
Calling this “Stupid Watergate” doesn’t do justice. MeltdownGate is my choice, since a Constitutional crisis seems likely. ---
**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 15, 2019, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2739 "2019-10-15T14:20:03Z")
> [@Mr.Duality](#): > > Calling this “Stupid Watergate” doesn’t do justice. MeltdownGate is my choice, since a Constitutional crisis seems likely. John Bolton bequeathed us the term “The Drug Deal”, which we should not cast aside lightly for yet another “-gate” construction… ---
**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 15, 2019, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2740 "2019-10-15T14:33:26Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Call me crazy (I’m sure many of you do) but I get the feeling that something is different now. Witnesses are starting to extend a middle finger to White House instructions not to testify. Veterans are appalled at the abandonment of the Kurds. Farmers have had enough of paying the price of the trade war. White House staffers and second tier cabinet officials are heading for the exits and giving us some inside info into the drama. John Bolton warned that Giuliani was a hand grenade that could blow up in their faces. When we go from private depositions to public testimony, it’s going to be compelling stuff. **This will move the public opinion needle, the needle will move Republican Senators.** > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > He got elected without a popular majority. It can happen again. Bob, agreed, while maybe changing the bolded part to say “some Republican voters” instead of senators. Thelma, theoretically, sure. But even with all the things that Bob mentions above, I’ve long thought that it would be very unlikely indeed if Trump wins re-election. He barely squeaked by the first time with only the EC “bailing him out”, his approval is about as low as it’s ever been, down from his hightest point, and the possible impeachment as noted is not helping him in the polls. Nah, I’m pretty well convinced even at this point that Trump cannot and will not be president in 2021. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=136) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=138)