# 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:** 238
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4741 "2019-11-15T19:53:24Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > I think we’re talking about firing at will. > > ~Max You might not be aware, but the phrase “impossible to fire federal employee” is common code words for “black women”. Its kinda a racist trope. To be honest, I wasn’t aware either until I worked as a governmental sub-contractor. It was explained to me that the jist of the trope is during the 70s and 80s, a lot of specifically women of color went for those federal jobs because it was harder to fire them for being black. Congress folks would tour these facilities where there were a lot of employees working away at whatever they were charged with doing. They would notice that a lot of the facilities would be heavy with women of color. Since the common racist trope is that women of color “don’t work” or “are lazy and on the dole”, it sort of got transferred to “federal employees”. Its good not to perpetuate these dog whistles. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4742 "2019-11-15T19:56:18Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > My comment wasn’t advocating that those civil-servant-employment-protections be removed, it was merely noting that they do, in fact, exist. As for the political leanings of the federal workforce, it’s slightly dem overall: > > The State Department appears to be something of a bastion of liberalism though: Yeah, I am not seeing the dollars of donation as being a bastion of liberalism. It would seem to me to show a lack of enthusiasm for the Republican candidate that sort of sets the tone for the job that they have to do. Its kind of like me blaming that one banana split I ate three weeks ago for being 40 pounds over weight. I’m not picking on you HD or Max personally. Edited to add that. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4743 "2019-11-15T20:01:18Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I am laughing that every time one of the Republicans starts questioning Ambassador Yovanovitch, they start off by praising her. After Trump’s tweet attack, Republicans found a sliver of daylight between themselves and Dear Leader. Their praise is their way of saying “See? We really do have backbone! We’re not all just lickspittle toadies.” ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4744 "2019-11-15T20:01:21Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Ok, so the argument is that he wasn’t intimidating Yovanovitch, but some other State Department bureaucrat? > [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > If you go back and read the original post, you might notice that it uses the word “almost”. That word was included for a reason. Your fact-heavy article notes: You should consider that just firing her isn’t the only thing that Trump could do. He could also create a situation in which her bosses (who work for _him_, too) create a working environment that encourages her to quit. Give her the worst jobs, far below her qualifications. Give her the worst office, like an open cubicle next to the bathrooms. Ignore everything she says, so even when she tries her best to do her job, she gets nothing done. Then give her bad performance reviews, because she gets nothing done. And whenever she thinks of just quitting and getting a new job, she has to stop and think about the Most Powerful Man In The World™ going out of his way to publicly declare her the worst person who has ever held her job. No, none of that could _possibly_ make her feel intimidated, could it? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4745 "2019-11-15T20:01:57Z")
> [@Translucent\_Daydream](#): > > If you put on your thinking cap like I did, it makes sense that federal employees have extra protection from arbitrary termination specifically so that Mr. Evil Demon-Rat president doesn’t just arbitrarily fire Republican Joe Schmo Federal Employee because he was hired during King Regan’s reign. Or any Democrat. ---
**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 15, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4746 "2019-11-15T20:10:59Z")
Trump campaigned by calling for the Department of Justice to “Lock her [my political opponent] up!” He’s followed up by repeatedly pressuring the Department of Justice to launch criminal inquiries into his political opponents, including Comey and Clinton. He’s tweeted that Schiff, a political opponent, should be investigated for fraud. Today he tweeted that “Comey, Strzok, Page, McCabe, Brennan, Clapper, Shifty Schiff, Ohr & Nellie, Steele & all of the others, including even Mueller himself” --people he considers enemies–should be convicted of lying and in jail. And today he makes clear, by a Tweet, that he considers Yovanovitch a political enemy. I think if you squint really hard, you can see how she might find that intimidating. ---
**Author:** ![rock\_party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@rock\_party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rock_party)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4747 "2019-11-15T20:20:48Z")
Trump is intimidating because he’s smearing her without facts. He’s not detailing anything she’s done specifically wrong, he’s just announcing she’s bad and bad things happened around her. He’s not illustrating ANY facts to support his accusations, he’s not offering her any discussion. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4748 "2019-11-15T20:24:21Z")
Wait, there was a drug deal? Did she get in the way of our getting some of that sweet blonde Ukrainian _hashish_? ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4749 "2019-11-15T20:27:54Z")
> [@Translucent\_Daydream](#): > > Impossible to fire federal employees? [Really?](https://work.chron.com/can-fired-civil-service-jobs-19492.html) “Almost impossible” (who said impossible, other than you?) is hyperbole, but accurate per your cite, “firing a civil servant is more difficult and takes more time”. Particularly when the “more time” takes away from getting other work done. ---
**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 15, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4750 "2019-11-15T20:29:16Z")
If a drunk asshole at the end of the bar rants that I should be fired from my job, I can just laugh and ignore him. However if the most powerful person in the nation, the head of the armed forces, the person who appoints the Attorney General, and the person in charge of every single person where I work tweets that I am a terrible person and should be fired from my job… That is just a little, teeny tiny bit different. Especially when I am in the very process of producing evidence under oath about that very person’s performance. Anyone who would defend this kind of action on Trump’s part is simply a complete Authoritarian, who wants to have a King and God-Emperor on the throne. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4751 "2019-11-15T20:34:17Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > I’m not yet making a judgement on witness tampering or intimidation but the door is open if the President threatens to retaliate against Ms. Yovanovitch for her testimony. > > ~Max For what it’s worth In the closed door session (I read her testimony) she testified that she is scared that continuing malfeasance will cause her to lose her job ,pension and possibly her freedom. ---
**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 15, 2019, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4752 "2019-11-15T20:35:28Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > If a drunk asshole at the end of the bar rants that I should be fired from my job, I can just laugh and ignore him. > > However if the most powerful person in the nation, the head of the armed forces, the person who appoints the Attorney General, and the person in charge of every single person where I work tweets that I am a terrible person and should be fired from my job… That is just a little, teeny tiny bit different. Especially when I am in the very process of producing evidence under oath about that very person’s performance. And again, if that very powerful person **has already publicly and privately attempted to get his perceived enemies criminally prosecuted** , that’s a huge fucking bit different. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4753 "2019-11-15T20:35:51Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Anyone who would defend this kind of action on Trump’s part is simply a complete Authoritarian, who wants to have a King and God-Emperor on the throne. … and have completely abandoned any principles that they could have once claimed to have had. The bar is now laying on the floor for the GOP, it boggles the mind to think how it can possibly be lowered. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4754 "2019-11-15T20:40:08Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > The bar is now laying on the floor for the GOP, it boggles the mind to think how it can possibly be lowered. They’ll find a way. I agree it boggles the mind. But they’ll find a way. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4755 "2019-11-15T20:41:49Z")
> [@rock\_party](#): > > Trump is intimidating because he’s smearing her without facts. He’s not detailing anything she’s done specifically wrong, he’s just announcing she’s bad and bad things happened around her. He’s not illustrating ANY facts to support his accusations, he’s not offering her any discussion. This is especially hilarious in light of the fact that her CV has been laid out and it looks like it’s made up, it’s so good, and every single Congressperson in that chamber - even the R’s - began every question by bathing her in adulation at what a stellar career she’s had and what and exemplary foreign service agent she’s been, etc. etc. And then here comes Trump - “She sucks! She caused Somalia! Everybody hates her!” What a schmuck this guy is. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4756 "2019-11-15T20:41:52Z")
I’ve been spending too much time on this. I just typed a single one-line work related email in my usual fumble fingered fashion. The sentence “You should have your missing engraving soon” autocorrected to “Yovanovitch should have your missing Ukraine soon”. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4757 "2019-11-15T20:43:05Z")
Nm…server weirdness, duplicate ---
**Author:** ![WreckingCrew](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wreckingcrew/32/4080_2.png) [@WreckingCrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WreckingCrew)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4758 "2019-11-15T20:53:34Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > My comment wasn’t advocating that those civil-servant-employment-protections be removed, it was merely noting that they do, in fact, exist. As for the political leanings of the federal workforce, it’s slightly dem overall: > > The State Department appears to be something of a bastion of liberalism though: Nah, its just that the Republicans spend all of their money on guns and bibles. And grip strengtheners so that their guns and bibles can’t be taken away. ---
**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:** [November 15, 2019, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4759 "2019-11-15T21:09:50Z")
The completely unassailable two-pronged defense by the GOP of Trump’s tweet are things of pure beauty: WH statement (relayed through a Hill correspondent on NBC) was that Trump _couldn’t_ have intimidated the witness by his VERY PUBLIC STATEMENT because she was _in the hearing at the time_ and _couldn’t have seen it_, and IN FACT, Adam Schiff is the one who read it to her, and therefore HE is the one guilty of witness intimidation! If you’re even able to keep going, then Stefanik (who is revealing herself to be of great moral character) just went on TV and said it isn’t even possible that Trump could be guilty of witness intimidation, because Yovanovitch testified! You can’t be intimidated if you testify! Case closed, losers. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4760 "2019-11-15T21:11:01Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > … However if the most powerful person in the nation, the head of the armed forces, the person who appoints the Attorney General, and the person in charge of every single person where I work tweets that I am a terrible person and should be fired from my job… That is just a little, teeny tiny bit different. Especially when I am in the very process of producing evidence under oath about that very person’s performance. … AFAIK, President Trump’s tweet didn’t say that she “should be fired” from her job. It didn’t even mention her current job. He just said she was bad at her last job. > [@](#): > > [Everywhere Marie Yovanovitch went turned bad. She started off in Somalia, how did that go? Then fast forward to Ukraine, where the new Ukrainian President spoke unfavorably about her in my second phone call with him. It is a U.S. President’s absolute right to appoint ambassadors.](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1195356198347956224) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=237) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=239)