# 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:** 210
**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:** [November 13, 2019, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4181 "2019-11-13T13:24:32Z")
Animal House style? I have to admit that I would grant them 1 or 2 silly points if they did that. ---
**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 13, 2019, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4182 "2019-11-13T13:34:51Z")
Wear togas, get a keg, and invite Brett Kavanaugh and they’ve got themselves a party. ---
**Author:** ![JcWoman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jcwoman/32/2889_2.png) [@JcWoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JcWoman)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4183 "2019-11-13T13:40:53Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > The whistle blower’s identity is already more or less known – that by itself doesn’t change much, but the efforts to out him by those who have committed crimes is significant. It’s significant because if we go through the impeachment process and the public doesn’t push for impeachment convictions in the senate - if we go through one of the most obvious and most compelling reasons for career civil servants to stand up to blatant corruption and abuse of power, and the public shrugs its shoulders and allows the senate to acquit without consequence…\*\*democracy is soooo fucking dead. \*\* > > I don’t care if you don’t get it now; you will eventually. I hope I’m wrong but I fear that democracy is already dead. The president is not supposed to be above the law and yet the current one is (or thinks he is and is being supported by one of two parties). The “balance of powers” has clearly been corrupted and is no longer working. If we manage to get through this extremely painful period in our country without becoming a fascist state lead by a dictator, I hope that we implement some new solutions to prevent this from happening again. I would like to see: [ul] [li]supreme court judges elected by some kind of vote (need to think through more what kind it should be) based on their career track records and NO ZERO ZIP association to political parties or leanings.[/li][li]Whoever we elect to the seat of President must MUST \*\*MUST \*\*be clearable to the Top Secret w/ poly level (or whatever the highest one is). It’s ludicrous to me that the most powerful and therefore most vulnerable to national security is not cleared (I mean really, with background checks, not the rubber-stamp bs they currently get)[/li][li]The elimination of the electoral college for electing the president and only use the popular vote[/li][li]Splitting the current political parties into smaller ones that better represent the people (less monolithic and all-powerful)[/li][/ul] ---
**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 13, 2019, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4184 "2019-11-13T13:52:34Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > So, starts off with two opening statements, forty-five minutes each. First, Adam Schiff, then Devin Nunes. What’s the over/under betting line that Devin Nunca denounces the sham of a travesty and they stage a walk-out? I object, Your Honor! This trial is a travesty! It’s a travesty of a mockery of a sham of a mockery of a travesty of two mockeries of a sham! ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4185 "2019-11-13T14:21:18Z")
Prediction. Republicans will start tossing around the whistleblower’s name to disrupt the hearings. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4186 "2019-11-13T14:21:40Z")
Here in Baja Canada, its 8:22 and its funny. Hope its still funny in a couple of hours. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2019, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4187 "2019-11-13T14:30:51Z")
> [@JcWoman](#): > > I hope I’m wrong but I fear that democracy is already dead. The president is not supposed to be above the law and yet the current one is (or thinks he is and is being supported by one of two parties). The “balance of powers” has clearly been corrupted and is no longer working. If we manage to get through this extremely painful period in our country without becoming a fascist state lead by a dictator, I hope that we implement some new solutions to prevent this from happening again. I would like to see: > > [ul] > [li]supreme court judges elected by some kind of vote (need to think through more what kind it should be) based on their career track records and NO ZERO ZIP association to political parties or leanings.[/li][li]Whoever we elect to the seat of President must MUST \*\*MUST \*\*be clearable to the Top Secret w/ poly level (or whatever the highest one is). It’s ludicrous to me that the most powerful and therefore most vulnerable to national security is not cleared (I mean really, with background checks, not the rubber-stamp bs they currently get)[/li][li]The elimination of the electoral college for electing the president and only use the popular vote[/li][li]Splitting the current political parties into smaller ones that better represent the people (less monolithic and all-powerful)[/li][/ul] Many of our current problems could be solved by eliminating the influence of money in politics. Health care costs and gun control leap immediately to mind. Allowing only college-educated people to vote would be a good thing. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2019, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4188 "2019-11-13T14:40:16Z")
> [@Mr.Duality](#): > > Allowing only college-educated people to vote would be a good thing. Well since we’re an authoritarian state, might as well go whole hog and only let the privileged class (bonus! they’re more white) exercise power. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4189 "2019-11-13T14:42:23Z")
> [@Mr.Duality](#): > > Many of our current problems could be solved by eliminating the influence of money in politics. Health care costs and gun control leap immediately to mind. > > Allowing only college-educated people to vote would be a good thing. One of the wisest, most insightful men I have ever known didn’t finish eighth grade. And I can’t count the number of nincompoops I know with degrees — some with advanced degrees. Not excluding myself. My preference would be to require would-be voters to pass the naturalization test given to prospective citizens. Unfortunately, the southern “literacy tests” used to disenfranchise people of color have poisoned that well thoroughly. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2019, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4190 "2019-11-13T14:44:29Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Prediction. Republicans will start tossing around the whistleblower’s name to disrupt the hearings. Smapti linked to a thing in a Pit thread that claims that Jim Jordan plans to do exactly that. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4191 "2019-11-13T15:00:33Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Smapti linked to a thing in a Pit thread that claims that Jim Jordan plans to do exactly that. Great. Then they’ll start pulling the fire alarm next. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4192 "2019-11-13T15:05:39Z")
Another way Republicans are dealing with this is to ignore the hearings, like Senator Graham Crackers has told reporters he would do. The motto of the Republicans is now officially: Ignorance is bliss. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4193 "2019-11-13T15:06:04Z")
It seems to me that the last thing Republicans should want is for this to become must-see TV. If they decide to make the whole thing interesting and unpredictable, such that more people tune in, I suppose that’s a choice they can make. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2019, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4194 "2019-11-13T15:18:34Z")
> [@Mr.Duality](#): > > Allowing only college-educated people to vote would be a good thing. Define “college educated”. I knew a guy who played college basketball in the early 80s, then worked as an assistant coach. He has a diploma from a university of some recognition. He’s functionally illiterate. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2019, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4195 "2019-11-13T15:25:52Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Define “college educated”. … Yeah, how about it. I’m not getting behind that idea. Those with the least opportunity in this country have a voice, and it should be heard. Lots of people in the office I’m sitting in have degrees, and put Donald Trump in the white house. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4196 "2019-11-13T15:26:39Z")
Well, the puppy’s under way - I knew I’d get turned off by pubbie nonsense, and sure enough, as soon as Nunes mentioned the “corrupt media”, I’m like, ok - I’m not gonna be able to listen to this, am I. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4197 "2019-11-13T15:28:32Z")
David Nunes shows what a clown he is, he is still harping about the 2016 Russian election hoax as a way to discredit Democrats now; forgetting that a lot of what is happening now is in part because President Trump could not leave any \*\*imagined \*\*unturned stone in his quest to discrediting that “hoax” so as to attack ```php ``` his political enemies. ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4198 "2019-11-13T15:29:19Z")
Nunes is bonkers. I can’t imagine being a Trump supporter and pinning all my hopes on these arguments. He just congratulated Taylor and Kent (the witnesses) for passing the democrats’ secret auditions in the basement of the capitol. ---
**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 13, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4199 "2019-11-13T15:34:17Z")
Welp, so the Democrats are skipping right past character witnesses or anything like presenting a case to demonstrate _mens rea_ and they’re blowing their was in the House where none of this matters and it just helps to inoculate the public against the accusations. Schiff and Pelosi are fundraising for 2020. If the President is impeached, it will be because a few Republican senators decided to have some decency rather than because the Democrats could be bothered to work to preserve the Constitution. Hopefully, a better case is presented in the Senate and, hopefully, the people will still be polling against Trump by that time. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4200 "2019-11-13T15:38:54Z")
Omigod, Nunes is such a shameless asswipe. It was all I could do not to throw something at the screeen during his opening [del]statements[/del] bullshit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=209) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=211)