# 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:** 242
**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 16, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4821 "2019-11-16T16:42:11Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I suspect the end result will be acquittal, but why rush it? Senator McConnell should drag the trial out through February, March, maybe even April. Keep Sanders, Warren, Harris, Spartacus, Klobuchar, and Bennet tied up in hearings the whole time. Basically, clear the field for Biden. At the same time, use the subpoena power that Schiff has denied Republicans in the House to bring Hunter Biden, Eric Ciaramella, Schiff, etc. before the Senate and focus on Biden’s corruption and the “political-motivated witch hunt” nature of the impeachment proceedings in the House. Pound Biden over and over again for the impropriety with Burisma and the extortion he used to have the prosecutor fired. Then, after all that, call for the vote and queue the “Trump exonerated, no bribery” talking points. Seems like a cake walk from there to victory in November. > > ETA: I see **Aspenglow** beat me to the punch. While that is, certainly, a strategy for trying to throw things in Trump’s direction, I fail to see how it is advantageous for citizens? If you want, for example, a government that does things that make sense and that aren’t stupid then I would suggest that if you’ve packed it with people who do things that don’t make sense except in terms of abusing rubes, in the name of doing what is stupid… Well that seems like you’re just going to get a lot of stupid legislation that only seems any good to rubes. So unless you are a rube, I fail to see how this would somehow be good. And even if you are, it might appeal to you but that still doesn’t stop it from being stupid. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4822 "2019-11-16T16:43:16Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > If Hunter Biden actually testified, what’s the hope? He doesn’t explain his role as a Board Member well? They’ll never call him to testify because, as far as I can tell, he has nothing to be defensive about. [PBS - WATCH: Yovanovitch: Hunter Biden’s Burisma role could raise ‘appearance of a conflict of interest’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1gzWwbUfK8) ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4823 "2019-11-16T16:46:37Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > While that is, certainly, a strategy for trying to throw things in Trump’s direction, I fail to see how it is advantageous for citizens? A politically-motivated impeachment attempt will have failed. I consider that “advantageous for citizens”. ---
**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 16, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4824 "2019-11-16T16:53:09Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > A politically-motivated impeachment attempt will have failed. I consider that “advantageous for citizens”. Has there ever been a politically-motivated impeachment attempt that failed? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4825 "2019-11-16T16:53:18Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Interesting but unconfirmed, it’s rumored McConnell doesn’t have the votes to do that. More unrest in his caucus over this than is perhaps publicly known. > > Of course, he will do his best to make the Senate trial a joke and will simultaneously sideline a number of Democratic candidates for president. That will allow Trump and his minions to focus their efforts and money on dirtying up Biden. Perhaps it’s been explained elsewhere, but once it hits the Senate, isn’t Roberts in charge? Isn’t McConnell basically the jury foreman at that point? Won’t it be up to the CJ to decide the pace? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4826 "2019-11-16T16:55:09Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Perhaps it’s been explained elsewhere, but once it hits the Senate, isn’t Roberts in charge? Isn’t McConnell basically the jury foreman at that point? Won’t it be up to the CJ to decide the pace? I don’t think Chief Justice Roberts gets control over the Senate calendar. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4827 "2019-11-16T16:57:56Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > [PBS - WATCH: Yovanovitch: Hunter Biden’s Burisma role could raise ‘appearance of a conflict of interest’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1gzWwbUfK8) The “appearance of a conflict of interest” isn’t sexy enough for anyone to give a shit. Trump and him family have actual serious conflicts on interests and the country shrugs. ---
**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 16, 2019, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4828 "2019-11-16T16:58:49Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > [PBS - WATCH: Yovanovitch: Hunter Biden’s Burisma role could raise ‘appearance of a conflict of interest’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1gzWwbUfK8) Is it your expectation/assumption that overwhelmingly Democratic and progressive voters will fall in line to protect and defend (at any cost) any possible impropriety that is found related to the Bidens, the way that 80-90% of Republicans fall in line to protect the well documented improprieties of Trump & Co.? I don’t speak for all progressives (obviously) but I suspect dems/libs will not line up behind wrongdoing as readily and willingly as reps/cons have demonstrated time and time again. You not the least among them. ---
**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 16, 2019, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4829 "2019-11-16T17:03:34Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Perhaps it’s been explained elsewhere, but once it hits the Senate, isn’t Roberts in charge? Isn’t McConnell basically the jury foreman at that point? Won’t it be up to the CJ to decide the pace? From the [Senate’s website](https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Senate_Impeachment_Role.htm): > [@](#): > > A committee of representatives, called “managers,” acts as prosecutors before the Senate. The Senate Chamber serves as the courtroom. The Senate becomes jury and judge, except in the case of presidential impeachment trials when the chief justice of the United States presides. I believe Justice Roberts fulfills the role of the judge, calling balls and strikes re objections and issues of admissible evidence, witnesses, etc. Here’s a more “read friendly” overview from [Buzzfeed](A committee of representatives, called “managers,” acts as prosecutors before the Senate. The Senate Chamber serves as the courtroom. The Senate becomes jury and judge, except in the case of presidential impeachment trials when the chief justice of the United States presides.). Interestingly, it’s the White House lawyers who act as defense counsel. I wonder who they will find. Sorry, **Happy**. To answer your direct question, McConnell has already announced that if there is a Senate trial, it will run 6 days a week for half days (I can’t remember if he said mornings or afternoons), recessed only on Sundays. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4830 "2019-11-16T17:05:48Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Interestingly, it’s the White House lawyers who act as defense counsel. I wonder who they will find. Please god, let it be Rudy ---
**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 16, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4831 "2019-11-16T17:11:18Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Please god, let it be Rudy LOL, you read my mind… but of course we both know it will not be Rudy. I wonder if Cipollone is any good at trial. I mean, if he’s as good at trying cases as Steve Menashi, it should go well. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4832 "2019-11-16T17:13:11Z")
As an entertainment, perhaps. Let’s not forget, though, that the fix is already in as regards the jury. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4833 "2019-11-16T17:15:39Z")
Hunter Biden being on that board looks bad? Yeah, fer sure, it does. And Il Douche could have got some mileage out of that from sheer innuendo and insinuation. Not enough for him, so here we are. Dumb sumbitch. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_Peebles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Jim\_Peebles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_Peebles)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4834 "2019-11-16T17:20:35Z")
The “do not prosecute list” is discussed beginning at 1 minute 33 seconds here: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiRZ1gdh1s4) Here the main source of news on the list, John Solomon, points out that there is also testimony by others that pressure was applied to prevent prosecutions. (I guess he is talking about the secret nonpublic testimony. Or it is in transcripts that have been released from the nonpublic hearings that more energetic Dopers can track down for us.) ---
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4835 "2019-11-16T17:26:53Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Is it your expectation/assumption that overwhelmingly Democratic and progressive voters will fall in line to protect and defend (at any cost) any possible impropriety that is found related to the Bidens, the way that 80-90% of Republicans fall in line to protect the well documented improprieties of Trump & Co.? > > I don’t speak for all progressives (obviously) but I suspect dems/libs will not line up behind wrongdoing as readily and willingly as reps/cons have demonstrated time and time again. You not the least among them. As an Illinoisan, I find some interesting parallels between Trump and Rod Blagojevich. One major difference though seems to be in how Democrats – members of Blago’s party – reacted to his wrongdoing. The Illinois House voted 114-1 with 3 abstentions to impeach Blagojevich. He was removed from office and prohibited from ever holding public office in the state of Illinois again, by two separate and unanimous votes of 59–0 by the Illinois Senate. ---
**Author:** ![tampora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@tampora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tampora)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4836 "2019-11-16T17:34:16Z")
One thing really needs to be said about the new revelations that really irks me… People suck who listen to their cellphone in a restaurant sooooo loud, they have to hold it away from their ear and everyone can hear, instead of just turning down the volume. Serendipity does not make it alright. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4837 "2019-11-16T18:02:46Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > [PBS - WATCH: Yovanovitch: Hunter Biden’s Burisma role could raise ‘appearance of a conflict of interest’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1gzWwbUfK8) I can’t imagine anyone is in a hurry to make this about useless kids of prominent politicians getting jobs and influence they don’t otherwise deserve. And that’s not just a jab at Trump. I’m sure plenty of Congresspeople on both sides have useless children in positions they don’t deserve. ---
**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 16, 2019, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4838 "2019-11-16T18:11:54Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > A politically-motivated impeachment attempt will have failed. I consider that “advantageous for citizens”. Given how partisan Congress is, I can’t deny that it’s terribly likely that their principal concern is to make a partisan win. But say that the little boy cried wolf for the fourth time and, by happenstance, there actually was a wolf there. Should you ignore the wolf, just to spite the boy? There’s a concept of kids not eating their food, because they’re angry at their parents. Personally, as a kid, I never understood that. If I don’t eat, then I’m hungry, and my parents haven’t been punished. I have punished myself. That’s stupid. There are infinitely better and more successful ways to annoy your parents. If you have a hatred of partisan politics: a) Being equally partisan just seems like you’re practicing a sort of blind self-loathing. I’d recommend getting over that. b) The solution isn’t to ignore the crime of trying to corrupt our elections so that they give advantage to ever more and worse politicians than we already have, just to spite the Democrats, it’s to vote for people who aren’t corrupt and partisan. ---
**Author:** ![splatterpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@splatterpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/splatterpunk)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4839 "2019-11-16T18:16:32Z")
> [@Jim\_Peebles](#): > > The “do not prosecute list” is discussed beginning at 1 minute 33 seconds here: > [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fiRZ1gdh1s4](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fiRZ1gdh1s4) > Here the main source of news on the list, John Solomon, points out that there is also testimony by others that pressure was applied to prevent prosecutions. (I guess he is talking about the secret nonpublic testimony. Or it is in transcripts that have been released from the nonpublic hearings that more energetic Dopers can track down for us.) Why don’t you just read the [transcript](https://www.npr.org/2019/11/04/776075849/read-former-ukraine-ambassador-yovanovitchs-testimony-to-congress) yourself? It’s been available to the public for almost 2 weeks now. And John Solomon is not a reliable source. Nor is Sean Hannity. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4840 "2019-11-16T18:18:19Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > Jesus Christ the JAQing in this thread. It doesn’t matter how he thinks she compares to Trump. It’s a matter of witness credibility. Which has already been addressed some posts back. You’re perfectly capable of making your own argument instead of asking other people to make it for you. I’ll guess you completely misinterpreted the intent of the question I directed at Mr. Peebles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=241) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=243)