# 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:** 190
**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:** [November 4, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3781 "2019-11-04T21:16:12Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > And I think that the Golden Number theory of beauty is a crock. That doesn’t answer the question which I asked. Okay, I’ll answer them, but I’m afraid my answers won’t tell you much, because of how you phrased them: _Is there any quantity of certifiably true data, both in variety and in completeness, which would convince you otherwise?_ Yes. _That is to say, do you believe that this is true because of reality or because your mind refuses to contemplate the horror of the reality of living on a planet where nearly everyone is slightly above the level of a talking dog?_ I believe it is true based on what I know of reality by living in it. As to the second part, no, that’s not it. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2019, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3782 "2019-11-04T22:04:35Z")
“The centrality of Hannity to all of this is just bananas. Key decision-maker in Ukraine policy, top collusionaire, “client” of Michael Cohen.” > “Huh?”, you’re asking. Ambassador Yovanovich, wondering why she was being fired, was told by Pompeo (through a messenger), was told that Pompeo, or a subordinate, was going to call Sean Hannity and ask that very question. > ---
**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:** [November 4, 2019, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3783 "2019-11-04T22:10:53Z")
I keep hearing rumors that some right-wing orgs have outed the whistleblower and, just in the past hour, have posted pictures of his house. **Rumors** , I emphasize. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2019, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3784 "2019-11-04T22:28:13Z")
This is something… [Exclusive: Giuliani associate now willing to comply with Trump impeachment inquiry - lawyer](https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN1XE297) > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON(Reuters) - Lev Parnas, an indicted Ukrainian-American businessman who has ties to President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, is now prepared to comply with requests for records and testimony from congressional impeachment investigators, his lawyer told Reuters on Monday. > > Parnas, who helped Giuliani look for dirt on Trump’s political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, is a key figure in the impeachment inquiry that is examining whether Trump abused his office for personal political gain. > > His apparent decision to now work with the congressional committees represents a change of heart. Parnas rebuffed a request from three House of Representatives committees last month to provide documents and testimony. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2019, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3785 "2019-11-04T22:39:24Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Cockburn’s sources don’t look too reliable: > > [https://spectator.us/mueller-barr-battle-indict-trump/](https://spectator.us/mueller-barr-battle-indict-trump/) > > Ah well. Couple points – one, I know you posted this with the explicit statement that it was “gossip,” and for all I know everyone else who’s posted in a place that was destined to hit my eyeballs (FB & Reddit, I guess) was similarly skeptical, but it’s a pretty shocking claim, and I can’t help but feel that more reliable publications would have (and maybe did) pass on publishing it. Ultimately anything that spreads like wildfire that is later proven to be untrue just adds fuel to the right’s “can’t trust the media” campaign. Two, regarding your “ah well” above – can we just say for the record that it’d be a _good thing_ if this story is untrue? Because it means at least one depth of depravity to which our executive branch hasn’t sunk? I know we all want Trump gone but I’d prefer if everything bad he’s done has already come out, I don’t want more bad things happening in the world just to get meat for an impeachment trial. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3786 "2019-11-04T22:52:59Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > This is something… > > [Exclusive: Giuliani associate now willing to comply with Trump impeachment inquiry - lawyer](https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN1XE297) If it links up Giuliani’s FARA violations in Ukraine (alleged) with Trump’s admitted criminality in his Ukraine dealings at issue in the impeachment inquiry, oh, yes. It is something. As in, it might show that Giuliani is being paid by pro-Putin Ukrainians to engineer Trump’s withholding of military aid in exchange for help with his reelection campaign in 2020, which simultaneously benefits Putin in a big way. All roads lead to Putin. Always. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3787 "2019-11-05T00:08:04Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@JohnT](#): > > > > This is something… > > > > [Exclusive: Giuliani associate now willing to comply with Trump impeachment inquiry - lawyer](https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN1XE297) > > WASHINGTON(Reuters) - Lev Parnas, an indicted Ukrainian-American businessman who has ties to President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, is now prepared to comply with requests for records and testimony from congressional impeachment investigators, his lawyer told Reuters on Monday. > > Parnas, who helped Giuliani look for dirt on Trump’s political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, is a key figure in the impeachment inquiry that is examining whether Trump abused his office for personal political gain. > > His apparent decision to now work with the congressional committees represents a **change of heart**. Parnas rebuffed a request from three House of Representatives committees last month to provide documents and testimony. Change of heart. Uh huh. “You’re boned”. Glad that these crooks have as much ‘loyalty’ as President 'throw ‘em under the bus’ Trump does. What goes around, comes around. Always does. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3788 "2019-11-05T00:29:21Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Couple points – one, I know you posted this with the explicit statement that it was “gossip,” and for all I know everyone else who’s posted in a place that was destined to hit my eyeballs (FB & Reddit, I guess) was similarly skeptical, but it’s a pretty shocking claim, and I can’t help but feel that more reliable publications would have (and maybe did) pass on publishing it. Ultimately anything that spreads like wildfire that is later proven to be untrue just adds fuel to the right’s “can’t trust the media” campaign. > > Two, regarding your “ah well” above – can we just say for the record that it’d be a _good thing_ if this story is untrue? Because it means at least one depth of depravity to which our executive branch hasn’t sunk? I know we all want Trump gone but I’d prefer if everything bad he’s done has already come out, I don’t want more bad things happening in the world just to get meat for an impeachment trial. Yes, it would be a good thing if this wasn’t true. I would go further and say that in “normal” US policy it _wouldn’t_ be true and we wouldn’t give a rumor like this a second thought. However, stuff like this is the result of giving your know-nothing son-in-law a title and position of authority. Being born rich doesn’t make you good or smart at anything. It does however lead you to believe that you are both smart and good at things. Hence an American resident gets chopped up by Saudis. All the best people. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3789 "2019-11-05T00:33:42Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > This is something… > > [Exclusive: Giuliani associate now willing to comply with Trump impeachment inquiry - lawyer](https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN1XE297) This guy has been Russian mafia since conception. There is no way anything true or useful is coming from him. I’m going to predict that within 6 months we start seeing evidence of Russian hits made on American soil. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3790 "2019-11-05T01:17:52Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Two, regarding your “ah well” above – can we just say for the record that it’d be a _good thing_ if this story is untrue? Because it means at least one depth of depravity to which our executive branch hasn’t sunk? I know we all want Trump gone but I’d prefer if everything bad he’s done has already come out, I don’t want more bad things happening in the world just to get meat for an impeachment trial. I have no strong objection to most of Trump’s policy at a high level, if we’re talking about things like reducing illegal immigration and forcing China to obey the law and stop trying to promote authoritarianism around the world. If the man was competent and not criminal, I wouldn’t really care if he was a narcissist and bully. That’s not the reality, though. Your concern that real evidence of criminal activity by Trump is misplaced. If he or his family is being blackmailed into doing things that are against the American interest and endanger our national security then it’s paramount that that information come out. Consider that, over the last two years, [Turkey arrested an American consulate worker](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security-usa-trial/turkish-court-declines-to-free-u-s-consular-employee-idUSKCN1SL1GO), started to buy Russian weapons, we put them under sanctions (yes, they were [already under sanctions](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/13/turkeys-erdogan-claims-trump-sanctions-are-a-stab-in-the-back.html)- the current discussion is about adding more), and they’ve been serving as a path for Iranian soldiers to move into Syria, to establish bases and take over territory. When Khashoggi was murdered, for no obvious reason, Turkey raised a holy hell about it, making sure everyone knew that they knew everything that there was about it. But, notably, despite that fuss and purported outrage they didn’t say a single thing to Saudi Arabia, didn’t pull their ambassador back, nor anything, they just released all the information and angry statements to the American press. Erdogan, to our knowledge has never done anything positive for the US nor Trump. We are still in Afghanistan. We did not bring the troops back home from Syria, we just moved them South, when Erdogan asked us to. ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3791 "2019-11-05T13:55:08Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I have no strong objection to most of Trump’s policy at a high level, if we’re talking about things like reducing illegal immigration Just a little nitpick here. Trump’s policy (even at a high level) is to eliminate _all_ immigration. ---
**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:** [November 5, 2019, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3792 "2019-11-05T14:17:21Z")
> [@Running\_with\_Scissors](#): > > Just a little nitpick here. Trump’s policy (even at a high level) is to eliminate _all_ immigration. All non-white immigration that is. He is on record as saying we need more from places like Norway. ---
**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:** [November 5, 2019, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3793 "2019-11-05T14:17:44Z")
All non-white immigration. ---
**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:** [November 5, 2019, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3794 "2019-11-05T15:00:47Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > If it links up Giuliani’s FARA violations in Ukraine (alleged) with Trump’s admitted criminality in his Ukraine dealings at issue in the impeachment inquiry, oh, yes. It is something. > > As in, it might show that Giuliani is being paid by pro-Putin Ukrainians to engineer Trump’s withholding of military aid in exchange for help with his reelection campaign in 2020, which simultaneously benefits Putin in a big way. > > All roads lead to Putin. Always. But how do you square “always” with the fact that you used the words “if” and “might” above? Now, I’m not saying this isn’t possible, but I think it’s a bit hasty to say it as of now. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3795 "2019-11-05T15:05:10Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I have no strong objection to most of Trump’s policy at a high level, if we’re talking about things like reducing illegal immigration and forcing China to obey the law and stop trying to promote authoritarianism around the world. If the man was competent and not criminal, I wouldn’t really care if he was a narcissist and bully. I know we have a trade war with China, but what actually started it? In all of Trump’s blathering about tariffs and trade policy, I’ve never once heard him say what he wants China to do. There are certainly issues in our trade relationship, like pirating intellectual property and currency manipulation. But can anyone find, in Trump’s own words, what the whole dispute with China is about? Trump started it; has he ever said why? ---
**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:** [November 5, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3796 "2019-11-05T15:06:29Z")
Has anyone mentioned Trump’s approval rating recently? The drop as shown at [Five Thirty Eight](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/?ex_cid=rrpromo) since Pelosi announced a formal impeachment inquiry is striking. A full 2 point decline since that day. And a new [poll](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/11/new-national-poll-shows-democrats-candidates-double-digit-leads-trump.html) shows even Kamala Harris with a nine point lead over Trump in a head-to-head battle. To state the obvious, it’s not looking good for Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3797 "2019-11-05T15:15:07Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I know we have a trade war with China, but what actually started it? In all of Trump’s blathering about tariffs and trade policy, I’ve never once heard him say what he wants China to do. > > There are certainly issues in our trade relationship, like pirating intellectual property and currency manipulation. But can anyone find, in Trump’s own words, what the whole dispute with China is about? Trump started it; has he ever said why? [Here is a good article that contains some actual quotes from the President](https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/22/politics/donald-trump-china-tariffs-trade-war/index.html) ---
**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:** [November 5, 2019, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3798 "2019-11-05T15:44:06Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > Has anyone mentioned Trump’s approval rating recently? The drop as shown at [Five Thirty Eight](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/?ex_cid=rrpromo) since Pelosi announced a formal impeachment inquiry is striking. A full 2 point decline since that day. And a new [poll](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/11/new-national-poll-shows-democrats-candidates-double-digit-leads-trump.html) shows even Kamala Harris with a nine point lead over Trump in a head-to-head battle. To state the obvious, it’s not looking good for Trump. I’m not convinced yet. I follow the [RCP conglomerate poll](https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_trump_job_approval-6179.html) - it has remained fairly consistent. If this poll of polls goes above 56% disapproval, I will start to take notice. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3799 "2019-11-05T15:49:39Z")
It surprises me that people are still overestimating the electorate. A lot of these polls don’t matter since they tend to be national. The polls that really matter are in the battleground states, and at the moment they seem to favor the Democrats, but I still think the election is going to be razor-thin in the battleground states. Tens of thousands of votes are going to decide the 2020 Presidential election. Currently, we have no idea if there’s going to be one or more third-party candidates and if so who they hurt more. My gut tells me that they can only hurt the Democrats more since the Republican party has become cult-like with the election of Trump. They will _never_ abandon him in his time of need. Donald Trump could be in prison, after losing an election and if he says “I’m still the legitimate president”, then his followers will _still_ believe it. Every conspiracy theory that comes out of Trump even while wearing an orange jumpsuit would be the gospel. The GOP will never\* be rid of Trump. Even after he dies his chosen prophet Ivanka/Don Jr. will take up the reins. - never is, of course, is a very long time so I don’t mean this literally but Trump and his family are going to dominate Republican politics for quite some time. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3800 "2019-11-05T15:57:57Z")
> [@BeepKillBeep](#): > > It surprises me that people are still overestimating the electorate. > > A lot of these polls don’t matter since they tend to be national. The polls that really matter are in the battleground states, and at the moment they seem to favor the Democrats, but I still think the election is going to be razor-thin in the battleground states. Tens of thousands of votes are going to decide the 2020 Presidential election. Currently, we have no idea if there’s going to be one or more third-party candidates and if so who they hurt more. My gut tells me that they can only hurt the Democrats more since the Republican party has become cult-like with the election of Trump. They will _never_ abandon him in his time of need. Donald Trump could be in prison, after losing an election and if he says “I’m still the legitimate president”, then his followers will _still_ believe it. Every conspiracy theory that comes out of Trump even while wearing an orange jumpsuit would be the gospel. The GOP will never\* be rid of Trump. Even after he dies his chosen prophet Ivanka/Don Jr. will take up the reins. > > - never is, of course, is a very long time so I don’t mean this literally but Trump and his family are going to dominate Republican politics for quite some time. Listen to today’s episode of The Daily. Largest nyt poll to date has Warren losing all six battlegrounds. Biden wins a majority. It’s not pretty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=189) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=191)