# 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:** 138
**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 15, 2019, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2741 "2019-10-15T14:36:32Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > John Bolton bequeathed us the term “The Drug Deal”, which we should not cast aside lightly for yet another “-gate” construction… What about “Shitstorm Of The Century”? ---
**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, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2742 "2019-10-15T14:43:06Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > 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. Well, hopefully in the worst case for 19 1/2 days in 2021. It’s sad to see the contortions that the GOP apologists twist themselves into. Check out this [from the Detroit News editor.](https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/nolan-finley/2019/10/13/finley-bring-order-impeachment-process/3943811002/) > [@](#): > > Congressional Democrats have embarked on a helter-skelter impeachment process that seems to be following no clear path to no discernible destination other than removing President Donald Trump from office. Huh? This investigation is slow, deliberate, and I believe quite overdue. > [@](#): > > The problem is that California Rep. Adam Schiff chairs Intelligence. Schiff is a proven liar with no credibility in pressing the case against Trump. He has obsessively searched for a smoking gun with which to slay the president since Day One of the administration. I expect this from say Sean Hannity, not from the editor of a major newspaper. > [@](#): > > As for the whistleblower, if Democrats aren’t willing to publicly identify him, this train should stop immediately in its tracks. > > It’s absurd that a president elected by the people can be toppled by an anonymous source passing on second-hand information. > > Americans deserve to know who the whistleblower is, how he obtained the information and what his motivations are in making the complaint. This is totally off the rails. If the whistleblower is exposed, this will discourage others from reporting on unethical and/or unlawful government behavior in the future and open this person up to retaliation or even be subject to violence. This “second hand information” was verified by the document that the White House released. First hand information will be forthcoming in testimony. Now if you really want proof that Jesus died in vain, check out the Detroit News [=68.ARDoZF4DB4aUCygXjw7j9MObdjkh4ijNnKbeHyPNuOiOawLFbifVRyWJnFFNpfAB6YyTpwEjpMaL4DU9PPYSR0o9CZgsqdUnyAiO9Lk4X1umMXJcBe5k32rkdQUrtv81ZuAFMNtKkIbO\_Vkp5gkesL-NPI46mowATcd2n4vLNgkCcfp8xEhJgVHqp\_8dpQEYRnl4GHIQf1SIFG\_PCr11nMJ1CmzW5FAu7-ixPN0mcRVg-WkHbgjmJ2Olk8ujbtX864srRoccMROacHWGvqv\_MoJJOawk6W2RIGC\_8uP76skeAC9YbGZKjgn-nNzw26sn6zbKWUziKQkraITg7Q& **tn** =-R"]Facebook post and comments]([Detroit News](https://www.facebook.com/DetroitNews/posts/10156743106093857? __xts__ )[0) for this article ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2743 "2019-10-15T14:45:21Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > 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. Just as a point of information, those are IOC dates (basically, the point at which the services have a full squadron of combat-ready aircraft capable of performing the basic mission duties, with trained pilots and maintainers). The first F-35s were delivered to the military years earlier. ---
**Author:** ![Grim\_Render](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@Grim\_Render](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grim_Render)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2744 "2019-10-15T14:45:33Z")
Trump seems to have gone years in his job without really understanding how executive power works in democratic nations. He keeps trying to approach it like authoritarian regimes (see buying Greenland, asking Swedens PM to just release an American prisoner etc). Its how he tries to act himself, and then he get frustrated when that doesn’t work. And alternates with reverting back to shady illegal CEO in a low-oversight environment behavior. I think “Stupidgate” is perfectly fine. ---
**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, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2745 "2019-10-15T14:52:13Z")
> [@Mr.Duality](#): > > Calling this “Stupid Watergate” doesn’t do justice. MeltdownGate is my choice, since a Constitutional crisis seems likely. I’m a fan of “Crackpot Dome.” But “Stupid Watergate” reminds me of [this classic Doonesbury cartoon](https://www.gocomics.com/doonesbury/1973/06/13). When it comes to stupid, our scandal has theirs beat to a pulp. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2746 "2019-10-15T15:04:57Z")
The other night at home we were discussing who the “heroes” will be, should this impeachment go well. So far, we had the whistle-blower, Marie Yovanovitch, and Adam Schiff. Last night we were cracking up about adding John Bolton to the list. I would have guessed his brother Michael way before picking John. ---
**Author:** ![Modesty\_Blaise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Modesty\_Blaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modesty_Blaise)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2747 "2019-10-15T15:11:05Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > How low have we sunk, when _John Bolton_ is the voice of integrity and reason within an “administration”? Because of the colossal Trump clusterfuck the W administration is now seen as sane and competent and somehow normal. It wasn’t. But this is so much worse we somehow look fondly upon that horrifying administration. It pisses me off.:mad: ---
**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:** [October 15, 2019, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2748 "2019-10-15T15:11:08Z")
Looks like Rudy Couludiani [was paid $500,000 in "fees"](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/us-politics/article-president-donald-trump-lawyer-rudy-giuliani-was-paid-500000-to/)by the guy who was just arrested as he tried to flee the country. > [@](#): > > Federal prosecutors are “examining Giuliani’s interactions” with Parnas and another Giuliani associate, Igor Fruman, who was also indicted on campaign finance charges, a law enforcement source told Reuters on Sunday. Is Rudy going under the bus like everyone else, or is he still hoping for a pardon? ---
**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, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2749 "2019-10-15T15:13:57Z")
Please please please, Rudy, save some money and be your own attorney in your trial. ---
**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 15, 2019, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2750 "2019-10-15T15:15:31Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Just as a point of information, those are IOC dates (basically, the point at which the services have a full squadron of combat-ready aircraft capable of performing the basic mission duties, with trained pilots and maintainers). The first F-35s were delivered to the military years earlier. Indeed, from Wikipedia: > [@](#): > > The F-35 first flew on 15 December 2006. In July 2015, the United States Marines declared its first squadron of F-35B fighters ready for deployment. So, yes, the “first F-35s were delivered to the military years earlier”. And eight years after that there were (finally) sufficient numbers (of sufficiently safe) F-35s available to form a **US** squadron for “basic mission duties” All of which leads me to ask: what was your point when you announced > [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > For comparison, Turkey joined the F-35 program in 2002. It took them 16 years to get their first jet For a minute I thought you might have been saying that it was an admirable example of how Turkey’s behaviour had prompted a well-planned US response, just as is happening today. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2751 "2019-10-15T15:58:38Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > How low have we sunk, when _John Bolton_ is the voice of integrity and reason within an “administration”? Bolton turning on Trump doesn’t prove any more about his moral character than Grima Wormtongue turning on Saruman. ---
**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 15, 2019, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2752 "2019-10-15T16:00:33Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Bolton turning on Trump doesn’t prove any more about his moral character than Grima Wormtongue turning on Saruman. Bolton is a homicidal bastard within normal parameters. ---
**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 15, 2019, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2753 "2019-10-15T16:00:41Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Just as a point of information, those are IOC dates (basically, the point at which the services have a full squadron of combat-ready aircraft capable of performing the basic mission duties, with trained pilots and maintainers). The first F-35s were delivered to the military years earlier. You are insinuating that the U.S. withheld the F-35 from Turkey for a decade and a half. There was no withholding. Of the nine original F-35 partners, six have so far received their jets. Eight of the nine partners laid out a substantial investment at the beginning of R&D for the F-35, knowing damn well that they would receive the jets they ordered at a particular time and at a particular level of technological maturity. You are factually wrong to imply that anyone slow-walked or delayed delivery of jets to Turkey for a particular reason during the past two decades (except for the S-400 issue which changed everything). You should drop this erroneous point you’re trying to make, plus apologize for trying to imply things that are outright incorrect and very misleading. ---
**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:** [October 15, 2019, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2754 "2019-10-15T16:17:33Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Looks like Rudy Couludiani [was paid $500,000 in "fees"](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/us-politics/article-president-donald-trump-lawyer-rudy-giuliani-was-paid-500000-to/)by the guy who was just arrested as he tried to flee the country. > > Is Rudy going under the bus like everyone else, or is he still hoping for a pardon? Ah, nothing to worry about here. Rudy assures everyone that this money did NOT come from foreign sources. He can’t say why he knows, but wants everyone to know that there is NO possibility that this was foreign money. And we know that he is totally innocent because the money did not come with a note wrapped around it that said “This is foreign money, given to Rudy in exchange for political access to the president of the United States.” Because there was no such note, we know that everything was completely above board. ---
**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, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2755 "2019-10-15T16:20:41Z")
Other names for this: Quid Pro Joe Insane in the Ukraine Kievfefe The Folly of Giuliani Ukranian One (“Ukranium One” is also acceptable) > ---
**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 15, 2019, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2756 "2019-10-15T16:20:42Z")
All I want to know is, what qualifies Rudy to receive up to $50,000 a month from someone who is now in jail? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_McQwark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Steve\_McQwark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_McQwark)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2757 "2019-10-15T16:29:17Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Bolton turning on Trump doesn’t prove any more about his moral character than Grima Wormtongue turning on Saruman. > [@CarnalK](#): > > Bolton is a homicidal bastard within normal parameters. I needed a good laugh today. Thank you. And how about “The Fellowship of the Grift” as a name for this administration. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2758 "2019-10-15T16:29:55Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > All I want to know is, what qualifies Rudy to receive up to $50,000 a month from someone who is now in jail? I bet Ukraine knows! Maybe we should encourage them to investigate. ---
**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 15, 2019, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2759 "2019-10-15T16:30:42Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > All I want to know is, what qualifies Rudy to receive up to $50,000 a month from someone who is now in jail? Hmm. A tad unfortunate that number is the same as Hunter was recieving from his Ukrainians. ---
**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, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2760 "2019-10-15T16:31:15Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Last night we were cracking up about adding John Bolton to the list. I would have guessed his brother Michael way before picking John. The guy from Office Space? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=137) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=139)