# 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:** 24
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/461 "2019-09-26T01:20:27Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > My guess is the impeachment process will probably run through January. The question is what does McConnell do then? He’ll be just another Senator. Roberts would preside. Does Trump understand that if he takes Pence down with him, Pelosi (that nasty woman) becomes President? I’m guessing no, he doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/462 "2019-09-26T01:21:31Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > I can just see the campaign ad: > > ‘In January, Republicans chose to ignore his crimes and not convict Trump. Now it is up to you. Convict him. Vote.’ And on the flip side, you’ll have ads like “Democrats wasted $X and Y months on a political witch-hunt. In the end, President Trump was found innocent. Let’s “Keep America Great” and re-elect President Trump.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/463 "2019-09-26T01:27:15Z")
Might I suggest a few Twitter feeds to keep an eye on. All of these folks tend to tweet longish threads with citations. It’s the internet, none of them claim to be involved with decisions. But I still think there is value in keeping an eye on their feeds. [https://twitter.com/TheViewFromLL2](https://twitter.com/TheViewFromLL2) [https://twitter.com/blakesmustache](https://twitter.com/blakesmustache) [https://twitter.com/Teri\_Kanefield](https://twitter.com/Teri_Kanefield) Warning: The consensus among these lawyerly types is that Pelosi is doing good work so those who complain how she sucks will have to get past that. Or be like Trumpeteers and not. Either way, I think there’s some gold in these feeds. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2019, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/464 "2019-09-26T01:36:10Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > And on the flip side, you’ll have ads like “Democrats wasted $X and Y months on a political witch-hunt. In the end, President Trump was found innocent. Let’s “Keep America Great” and re-elect President Trump.” At the end of the day, if Trump is not convicted, absolutely nothing will change. The sides are entrenched. By no means would it guarantee a Republican victory in 2020. Today’s numbers are too close to call, and will remain too close to call long after any acquittal in the Senate If he is convicted (or resigns), there is no way that Pence will command nearly the same unshakeable faith that the faithful bestow on Trump. The Dems win in 2020. If he is convicted and Pence gets taken down with him (for his own malfeasance), many of the Trump faithful and most of the Pence faithful will lose interest. The Republican nominee will lose mightily to the Democrats in 2020. I don’t think today’s Democrats have anything to fear or lose from the impeachment proceedings. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/465 "2019-09-26T01:39:45Z")
Ditka: Are you seriously asserting that Trump was just doing his presidential duty to combat corruption in a single small country, when he has shown no concern about corruption in Russia, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Brazil, the Philippines, and on and on? It’s just a complete coincidence that the people he wanted investigated were his top political rival and his son? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/466 "2019-09-26T01:47:28Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > At the end of the day, if Trump is not convicted, absolutely nothing will change. The sides are entrenched. By no means would it guarantee a Republican victory in 2020. Today’s numbers are too close to call, and will remain too close to call long after any acquittal in the Senate > > If he is convicted (or resigns), there is no way that Pence will command nearly the same unshakeable faith that the faithful bestow on Trump. The Dems win in 2020. > > If he is convicted and Pence gets taken down with him (for his own malfeasance), many of the Trump faithful and most of the Pence faithful will lose interest. The Republican nominee will lose mightily to the Democrats in 2020. > > I don’t think today’s Democrats have anything to fear or lose from the impeachment proceedings. Hold on…re: Pence…you don’t think there are a ton of voters who are sick of the way the Dems have comported themselves the last three years? And Pence is an easy way to say “At least i didn’t vote for Trump” Not saying you’re wrong. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2019, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/467 "2019-09-26T01:50:17Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Hold on…re: Pence…you don’t think there are a ton of voters who are sick of the way the Dems have comported themselves the last three years? And Pence is an easy way to say “At least i didn’t vote for Trump” > > Not saying you’re wrong. I really don’t think this group is all that big. Trump doesn’t have much going for him, but he’s a phenomenal cult leader. Pence would lose a popularity contest to a bowl of pureed cauliflower. If Trump is impeached, his cult followers are going to lose their fucking minds, and it’s not gonna turn a bunch of moderates into fans of the Republican party. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/468 "2019-09-26T01:55:55Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I really don’t think this group is all that big. Trump doesn’t have much going for him, but he’s a phenomenal cult leader. Just hours ago, I demonstrated in the polling thread that this idea about Trump is a myth: [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21880361&postcount=41](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21880361&postcount=41) ---
**Author:** ![Annoyed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f04885/32.png) [@Annoyed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annoyed)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/469 "2019-09-26T01:57:57Z")
I love how the left loses an election based solely on bad policy, unlikable candidates, and hardcore leftism, learns nothing from that, quadruples their leftward slide, and goes on to openly attack a sitting president and his voters by-proxy and expects to win the next election - all the while screaming about how “divisive” this president is. Really is a sight to behold. They had it by the balls with Obama in term one and have steadily declined ever since - all the while learning nothing. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/470 "2019-09-26T02:02:58Z")
> [@Annoyed](#): > > I love how the left loses an election based solely on bad policy, unlikable candidates, and hardcore leftism, … I love this meme. “hardcore leftism” This goes right along with Trump’s unhinged comments today. ARRGHHHH! SOCIALISM! Trumpists would not know “hardcore leftism” if it bit them on the left nut. Trumpists do not know what “socialism” means other than “Stuff I don’t like” ---
**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:** [September 26, 2019, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/471 "2019-09-26T02:03:52Z")
> [@Annoyed](#): > > I love how the left loses an election based solely on bad policy, unlikable candidates, and hardcore leftism, learns nothing from that, quadruples their leftward slide, and goes on to openly attack a sitting president and his voters by-proxy and expects to win the next election - all the while screaming about how “divisive” this president is. > > Really is a sight to behold. They had it by the balls with Obama in term one and have steadily declined ever since - all the while learning nothing. That’s one way to look at it. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2019, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/472 "2019-09-26T02:07:12Z")
> [@Annoyed](#): > > I love how the left loses an election based solely on bad policy, unlikable candidates, and hardcore leftism, learns nothing from that, quadruples their leftward slide, and goes on to openly attack a sitting president and his voters by-proxy and expects to win the next election - all the while screaming about how “divisive” this president is. Nice love letter to a President who has never cracked a positive approval rating. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/473 "2019-09-26T02:13:41Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > That’s hysterical. They have to actually utter the magical phrase “quid pro quo” for this to be wrong? Is that where you’ve planted your flag? Remember how ISIS happened because Obama refused to say the words “radical Islamic terrorism”? Same deal. Unless you utter the proper incantation, it doesn’t count. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/474 "2019-09-26T02:14:55Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > Trump is the President of the United States. Just because Republicans yelled “You lie” or jabbed their fingers into the president’s chest on tarmacs when he happened to be black doesn’t mean that the leader of a country with .6% the GDP of the US lacks respect. Especially when hundreds of millions of dollars that could be the difference between them being taken over by Russia are dangled over his head. When the president of a small country speaks with the president of a powerful one in a position to do him big favors, the president of the small country has no obligation to figuratively prostrate himself before the other and wallow in submissive fealty, which is effectively what Zelensky did. Both sides do have an obligation to adhere to normal diplomatic standards of discourse and, if they happen to see fit, to engage in friendly chit-chat. No one needs to lose their basic human dignity. I think the more likely explanation for this embarrassing behavior is that Zelensky was coached to treat Trump like a petulant two-year-old, which is what he did. Beyond that, in the relations between a small country and a powerful one that can offer it significant assistance, the obligation of the leader of the small country is to secure that assistance through some sort of … I’m trying to think of the Latin phrase for the kind of necessary collaboration, the give-and-take … oh, yes, I believe it’s _quid pro quo_. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/475 "2019-09-26T02:18:33Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Nice love letter to a President who has never cracked a positive approval rating. Or a popular vote. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/476 "2019-09-26T02:19:46Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Remember how ISIS happened because Obama refused to say the words “radical Islamic terrorism”? > > Same deal. Unless you utter the proper incantation, it doesn’t count. This is a good post. Accepted For Value. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/477 "2019-09-26T02:22:28Z")
Not only that, but as you’ll see if you click the link I posted just upthread, he is consistently disliked personally by the vast majority of the public, which has never before been even close to true for any president in modern history. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/478 "2019-09-26T02:25:49Z")
I’m laughing at the leading headline at Breitbart: \*\*Democrats Privately Panic Following Impeachment Fallout Many congressional Democrats publicly declared it the “smoking gun,” while Republicans dismissed their cries by noting the absence of quid pro quo or generally lawless behavior.\*\* I know where a couple in this thread get their news. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2019, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/479 "2019-09-26T02:28:43Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Not only that, but as you’ll see if you click the link I posted just upthread, he is consistently disliked personally by the vast majority of the public, which has never before been even close to true for any president in modern history. But he has the BEST clothes, the most FANTASTIC clothes. Everybody says so. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/480 "2019-09-26T02:29:42Z")
It seems to me that even if Trump gets impeached but not convicted, impeachment proceedings could still be useful for the 2020 election. A few times during the Trump saga, people have been convicted and turned state’s witness not because of something they did for Trump but because, while being questioned about it, they obstructed justice, lied during the course of an investigation or under oath. Once there was evidence they did that, prosecutors gained enough leverage on them to make take a plea and disclose information about illegal/embarrassing activities or the people above them in the pyramid, like Trump. If you can bait Trump’s associates into continuing to be crooked scum in a way that’s obstruction of justice/lying during an investigation or under oath, you could get more of Trump’s minions to squeal and reveal information that will motivate people to vote Democrat and lower the motivation of Republicans to show up to vote in 2020. Having the Senate fail to convict even when the evidence against Trump is overwhelming could also make people focus their displeasure at Senate Republicans, like Mitch McConnell. I hope that’s what Pelosi is thinking. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=25)