# 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:** 219
**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 14, 2019, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4361 "2019-11-14T00:28:20Z")
It would be a lovely thing for HD to come back and admit how foolishly inapt his invocation of the sixth amendment was, not only on purely constitutional grounds, but even on the shakiest of analogical grounds. Also, I’d like a pony. Meanwhile, the “IT’S BORING DON’T PAY ANY ATTENTION PLEASE DON’T WATCH IT” routine has got to be encouraging. When you’ve got a strong case, you want people to hear it. You only tell people to stop listening when your case is weak as shit. ---
**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 14, 2019, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4362 "2019-11-14T00:39:49Z")
If you see something, say something, and IDENTIFY YOURSELF! ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4363 "2019-11-14T00:42:33Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > It would be a lovely thing for HD to come back and admit how foolishly inapt his invocation of the sixth amendment was, not only on purely constitutional grounds, but even on the shakiest of analogical grounds. > > Also, I’d like a pony. … Until this point, I was pretty sure you and I were in agreement that **JohnT** ’s “traffic court” analogy was stupid and wrong. That’s what my “invocation of the sixth amendment” was in regard to. You seemed to recognize this when you said: > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Actually, that’s not a great analogy. If the cop who pulled you over doesn’t testify, you have a very good chance of going free. > > But if the cop pulled you over because someone reported you for swerving all over the road, and you blow a 0.20 on your DUI test, and you say, “But you can’t convict me because I didn’t hit anyone, and anyway I demand to confront the person who called 911 on me,” the judge will laugh in your face. I’m clear that the impeachment inquiry isn’t a criminal proceeding and many of the protections we normally grant to a defendant, such as the right to confront one’s accusers, and protections from hearsay, etc, don’t apply here. I have NOT made the claim that President Trump has a 6th Amendment right to confront Ciaramella. Is that where your confusion is? ---
**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 14, 2019, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4364 "2019-11-14T00:55:34Z")
You seem to think that the accused has a “right” to confront their accusers during the investigation and not the trial. Do you want to admit that you were wrong about that? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4365 "2019-11-14T00:59:04Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > You seem to think that the accused has a “right” to confront their accusers during the investigation and not the trial. … What did I ever post that led you to this conclusion? It (meaning your conclusion about what I “seem to think”) is wrong, BTW. ---
**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:** [November 14, 2019, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4366 "2019-11-14T00:59:21Z")
You are abusing the phrase “face one’s accuser”. The whistleblower relayed accusations. Subsequent interviews have brought straight forward accusations. What possible use is it for Trump to get to “face” the whistleblower? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4367 "2019-11-14T01:00:49Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I have NOT made the claim that President Trump has a 6th Amendment right to confront Ciaramella. Is that where your confusion is? But you’re fine with outing the whistleblower and calling into question his/her motives and political affiliations. All in spite of the fact that the whistleblower’s reports have been independently corroborated by members of Trump’s own administration. In service of what are you seeking this unmasking? ---
**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 14, 2019, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4368 "2019-11-14T01:02:50Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I’m not asking for his home address, but the right to face one’s accuser is a hallmark of our criminal justice system, and so I’d hope the judge would tell me the full name of the officer who pulled me over. I’d encourage you to go read the 6th Amendment, k, thx, bye! > [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I’m clear that the impeachment inquiry isn’t a criminal proceeding and many of the protections we normally grant to a defendant, such as the right to confront one’s accusers, and protections from hearsay, etc, don’t apply here. I have NOT made the claim that President Trump has a 6th Amendment right to confront Ciaramella. Is that where your confusion is? In raising the 6th Amendment right to face one’s accuser, you didn’t actually mean this thought to apply to this thread or the topic we are talking about. Wow, that’s clear as glass. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4369 "2019-11-14T01:06:41Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > You are abusing the phrase “face one’s accuser”. The whistleblower relayed accusations. Subsequent interviews have brought straight forward accusations. What possible use is it for Trump to get to “face” the whistleblower? I’ve already answered why I believe the Republicans want to call Ciaramella to testify. See post #4291 and #4322 . ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4370 "2019-11-14T01:08:31Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > What did I ever post that led you to this conclusion? It (meaning your conclusion about what I “seem to think”) is wrong, BTW. See Ravenman’s post for evidence of your literary contortions. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4371 "2019-11-14T01:08:58Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > In raising the 6th Amendment right to face one’s accuser, you didn’t actually mean this thought to apply to this thread or the topic we are talking about. Wow, that’s clear as glass. I “raised the 6th Amendment” in reply to this post by **JohnT** and it was meant as a reply to that post, which is why I quoted it: > [@JohnT](#): > > HD, go into traffic court and argue before the judge that he cannot convict you until he tells you the full name and home address of the officer which pulled you over. > > Let us know what happens, k, thx, bye! If that’s not clear to you, I’m pretty sure the issue isn’t on my end. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4372 "2019-11-14T01:10:29Z")
Meanwhile, how many people watched today’s hearings? It seems to have about as much energy as Mueller’s testimony, which is to say, this probably won’t move the football much. We live in a different age. Regularly televised hearings during the day when everyone’s at work. But for a lot of people, it’s Netflix and viral cat videos at night. ---
**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 14, 2019, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4373 "2019-11-14T01:16:00Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I’ve already answered why I believe the Republicans want to call Ciaramella to testify. See post #4291 and #4322 . They want some random person to testify about the whistleblower’s background? Does this guy Ciaramella know who the whistleblower is or something? ---
**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 14, 2019, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4374 "2019-11-14T01:19:18Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > The repeated requests to repeat the question, the numerous times he said some variation of “I don’t know”. Well, a new nickname! Bumbler in Chief fits Trump well, besides Agent Orange. [https://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/donald-trump-university-memory-224712](https://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/donald-trump-university-memory-224712) > [@](#): > > During sworn testimony in the Trump University lawsuit, Donald Trump repeatedly said he couldn’t recall specific claims, documents or events related to the case, prompting a lawyer for the plaintiffs to ask if the real estate mogul considered himself to have “one of the best memories in the world.” > > In response, Trump said he thinks he has a “good” or a “great” memory, but doesn’t recall claiming it’s one of the world’s best, according to hours of previously unreleased testimony in which Trump was questioned by the plaintiffs’ lawyer Jason Forge. > > “So you don’t remember saying that you have one of the best memories in the world?” Forge asked. > > “I remember you telling me, but I don’t know that I said it,” Trump replied. > **[trump-deposition-trump-university-lawsuit.pdf](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-stat/graphics/politics/trump-archive/docs/trump-deposition-trump-university-lawsuit.pdf)** > > 723.20 KB ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4375 "2019-11-14T01:21:21Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Meanwhile, how many people watched today’s hearings? It seems to have about as much energy as Mueller’s testimony, which is to say, this probably won’t move the football much. > > We live in a different age. Regularly televised hearings during the day when everyone’s at work. But for a lot of people, it’s Netflix and viral cat videos at night. I watched! I watched! Well, I had it on in the background, while I was working. Saw highlights. Came to this nutty message board to get my hourly links to articles and republican idiotic statements. So… what’re my ratings? What’s my Delta Tau name? 😃 But you’re right. As others have posted, three news networks with three trusted central newscasters with varied guests is SO different from now. You can just shut off the TV, go to Brietbart.shit or just tune into Rush Limbaugh. And let’s face it… this is BOOOOORING to most Americans. They either don’t get it, don’t really care or have already made up their minds. You really oughta move out here, Asahi. We have LEGAL WEED. No one that sells it (around here) supports the GOP. It helps! No hangovers! There’s traffic and some o’ them fires though… ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4376 "2019-11-14T01:22:18Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > … Does this guy Ciaramella know who the whistleblower is or something? Something like that, at least according to reports in the media. ---
**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 14, 2019, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4377 "2019-11-14T01:24:20Z")
Know what else has been reported in the media? ---
**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 14, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4378 "2019-11-14T01:29:43Z")
Oh, I don’t know. Seems to me Americans are paying pretty close attention. The top 5 search terms on Google today all had to do with impeachment. And Trump’s approval rating on FiveThirtyEight swung nearly half a point toward ‘Disapprove’ within hours after the hearings. On Day One. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4379 "2019-11-14T01:34:06Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > But you’re right. As others have posted, three news networks with three trusted central newscasters with varied guests is SO different from now. You can just shut off the TV, go to Brietbart.shit or just tune into Rush Limbaugh. There’s no reaching the hardcore Trumpists. > [@Locrian](#): > > And let’s face it… this is BOOOOORING to most Americans. They either don’t get it, don’t really care or have already made up their minds. This. I don’t think people care; it’s international politics, which is something most Americans just don’t understand and don’t care to understand. And if you tell them that the focus is on the president’s conduct, not international politics, a lot of people will just shrug and say “Well they all do that, don’t they?” Which, by the way, is exactly what someone like Putin wants you to believe. In Putin-speak, there’s no difference the college kid who runs a cash lawn mowing business and Bernie Madoff. Everyone’s a con-artist, so you can’t impeach a president for being a scammer. > [@Locrian](#): > > You really oughta move out here, Asahi. We have LEGAL WEED. No one that sells it (around here) supports the GOP. It helps! No hangovers! There’s traffic and some o’ them fires though… You mean, I gotta move back out there - lived on the Left Coast for 7 + years. Miss it sometimes. I mean, football games end at 9 p.m., right? ---
**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 14, 2019, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4380 "2019-11-14T01:35:33Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I’m clear that the impeachment inquiry isn’t a criminal proceeding and many of the protections we normally grant to a defendant, such as the right to confront one’s accusers, and protections from hearsay, etc, don’t apply here. I have NOT made the claim that President Trump has a 6th Amendment right to confront Ciaramella. Is that where your confusion is? I’m not confused. You seem to think that the sixth amendment has anything whatsofuckever to do with this thread. I’m pretty clear on why you make that claim. But perhaps I’m wrong. Perhaps I am confused. I welcome correction, if my suspicion as to why you made that risible claim is not correct. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=218) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=220)