# 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:** 303
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2019, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6041 "2019-12-10T20:45:34Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Impeachment is a process. It might take ten or fifteen flushes to oust The Messiah. Or, as he is known in The White House, The Mess. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2019, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6042 "2019-12-10T21:52:01Z")
Here’s something I haven’t heard before regarding the Senate testimony of WH insiders resisting subpeonas: “Chief Justice John Roberts could rule on the scope of executive privilege with respect to these high-ranking administration officials as well as any diplomats, national security staff or budget office staff barred up until now by the White House from providing evidence. Under the Senate rules, the chief justice’s decision would be final, subject only to a vote of the full Senate.” > **[Commentary: If we get to a Senate impeachment trial, who will testify?](https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-impeachment-trump-senate-trial-20191209-pqlskd4adbfnbjrf4legzcg7ci-story.html)** > > If the Senate opts for a serious trial, witnesses such as John Bolton, Mick Mulvaney, Mike Pompeo and Don McGahn might still be heard by citizens interested in what they have to say. Is this likely? Will it make the Dems’ case stronger, even if Trump’s minions all show up and plead the 5th like two-bit mobsters? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2019, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6043 "2019-12-10T22:01:17Z")
I also am confused as to how the Senate trial will work. Will questions of relevance be decided like in a criminal trial – attorneys say “Objection! Relevance!” and the presiding judge (CJOTUS Roberts) makes a ruling? Or are these questions determined in advance by “rules of the Senate” (ie, McConnell) Which is like: “rules? in a knife fight?” ---
**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:** [December 10, 2019, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6044 "2019-12-10T22:09:06Z")
I don’t think any of us knows how this is going to play out in the Senate trial. In the two previous impeachment proceedings within my memory, the Democrats and Republicans agreed in a bipartisan manner over the rules that would control the hearings. That won’t happen this time. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2019, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6045 "2019-12-10T22:10:51Z")
My prediction is that the Republicans won’t call any witnesses. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2019, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6046 "2019-12-10T22:25:02Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > My prediction is that the Republicans won’t call any witnesses. But can’t the Dems call them? I’d love to hear Roberts compel those chickenshits to appear. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2019, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6047 "2019-12-10T22:39:44Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > But can’t the Dems call them? I’d love to hear Roberts compel those chickenshits to appear. [The Republicans have no interest in actually participating.](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/end-this-republicans-poised-to-call-no-witnesses-during-trump-impeachment-trial-in-senate/ar-BBY2yYO?ocid=spartanntp) They are not even pretending to be impartial, and they just want to get this over with, Constitution and Country be damned. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2019, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6048 "2019-12-10T22:56:40Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [The Republicans have no interest in actually participating.](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/end-this-republicans-poised-to-call-no-witnesses-during-trump-impeachment-trial-in-senate/ar-BBY2yYO?ocid=spartanntp) > They are not even pretending to be impartial, and they just want to get this over with, Constitution and Country be damned. Yes, but I’m talking about the \*\*\*Dems \*\*\*calling witnesses, and Roberts compelling them to appear. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2019, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6049 "2019-12-10T22:58:13Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > Yes, but I’m talking about the \*\*\*Dems \*\*\*calling witnesses, and Roberts compelling them to appear. No cross-examination, no paying attention to what is going on. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2019, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6050 "2019-12-10T23:12:03Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > No cross-examination, no paying attention to what is going on. I don’t care what they do or don’t do, unless they start coughing “Blowjob!” I want to see the WH insiders fighting these subpeonas be compelled to answer questions under oath – if only to torpedo the ridiculous claim that “we haven’t heard from both sides.” ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2019, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6051 "2019-12-10T23:21:34Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [The Republicans have no interest in actually participating.](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/end-this-republicans-poised-to-call-no-witnesses-during-trump-impeachment-trial-in-senate/ar-BBY2yYO?ocid=spartanntp) > They are not even pretending to be impartial, and they just want to get this over with, Constitution and Country be damned. Well, that’s what McConnell wants. [Trump has other ideas](https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/10/politics/donald-trump-mitch-mcconnell-senate-trial-impeachment/index.html): > [@](#): > > But the show is exactly what Trump wants. He’s made clear to advisers privately that rather than end the trial as quickly as possible, he is hoping for a dramatic event, according to two people familiar with his thinking. He wants Hunter Biden, Rep. Adam Schiff and the whistleblower to testify. He wants the witnesses to be live, not clips of taped depositions. And he’s hoping to turn it into a spectacle, which he thinks is his best chance to hurt Democrats in the election. > > People close to the President say this is because he has been sitting back and watching as current and former aides testified for hours before lawmakers about his behavior that they described as inappropriate, problematic and potentially dangerous. McConnell, of course, calls the shots here, but I can’t help wondering what Trump will due if his pent-up rage is not allowed expression in the circus he envisions. A series of impotently angry tweets? This is not a man who shrugs off this sort of thing. For the sake of the country, one would hope he’d implode. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2019, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6052 "2019-12-10T23:26:34Z")
I’ve always been under the impression that if I for instance failed to attend my trial or participate at all, that I would be convicted. Lots of things are set up this way, especially for the poor and middle class when dealing with the justice system. Good outcomes can be encouraged. Lets get to it. You may be considered innocent, but only until you fail to cooperate with the law or the constitution. I consider trump not to be a criminal defendant but a bad employee and job seeker who needs to be removed. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6053 "2019-12-11T01:18:43Z")
So, considering the clear motive to acquit despite the evidence (as I see it. If anyone has an alibi for Trump & co., please share it), at what point does the GOP become a bunch of confederates? Inviting foreign powers to tilt an election to keep an above-the-law executive in power? Hard to imagine a less patriotic position, but I am sure these guys will be along with one soon. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6054 "2019-12-11T01:27:15Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > So, considering the clear motive to acquit despite the evidence (as I see it. If anyone has an alibi for Trump & co., please share it), at what point does the GOP become a bunch of confederates? **Inviting foreign powers to tilt an election** to keep an above-the-law executive in power? Hard to imagine a less patriotic position, but I am sure these guys will be along with one soon. I think the Senate Republicans will just ‘yadda yadda’ the emphasized (by me) bit away. They have consistently avoided answering any and all questions on the topic of Presidents calling on foreign powers to influence elections. That’s a forbidden subject. Because after all, the Unitary Executive head can do whatever he damn well pleases, and it will turn out to be for the good of the entire nation! Because mystical magical reasons! Republicans in the Senate will occupy themselves by following the lead of those in the House: complaining about those Awful, Awful Democrats and How Rude They Are to Our Great President. End of story. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6055 "2019-12-11T01:46:05Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6056 "2019-12-11T02:01:04Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [The Republicans have no interest in actually participating.](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/end-this-republicans-poised-to-call-no-witnesses-during-trump-impeachment-trial-in-senate/ar-BBY2yYO?ocid=spartanntp) > They are not even pretending to be impartial, and they just want to get this over with, Constitution and Country be damned. Why would they need to participate? They’ve already decided Trump is innocent, no matter what evidence MIGHT be presented. Party over Country, and a pox on their houses. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6057 "2019-12-11T02:44:55Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I think the Senate Republicans will just ‘yadda yadda’ the emphasized (by me) bit away. They have consistently avoided answering any and all questions on the topic of Presidents calling on foreign powers to influence elections. That’s a forbidden subject. Because after all, the Unitary Executive head can do whatever he damn well pleases, and it will turn out to be for the good of the entire nation! Because mystical magical reasons! > > Republicans in the Senate will occupy themselves by following the lead of those in the House: complaining about those Awful, Awful Democrats and How Rude They Are to Our Great President. End of story. They can do that, but it will be increasingly hollow. They have sold themselves for years as the Moral Majority and the True Defenders of Mom, baseball and apple pie. God’s party, yanno? And now they are cashing that ALL in to defend inviting foreign powers to rig an election. I don’t see them maintaining any moral authority going forward. And their chaining themselves to religion seems likely to backfire- after all that yammering about Jesus, they are actually one big gang of crooks. The moral? Never trust a Bible-beater, they aren’t lying only about talking snakes, but literally everything. My values are superior as I am capable of intellectual honesty. I can’t see a way it isn’t an utterly foolhardy move, unless the benefits of a little over a year more of Trump are just that astounding. Yeah, an criminal idiot as the head of the party. Good luck and good grief. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2019, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6058 "2019-12-11T03:13:34Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I think the Senate Republicans will just ‘yadda yadda’ the emphasized (by me) bit away. They have consistently avoided answering any and all questions on the topic of Presidents calling on foreign powers to influence elections. That’s a forbidden subject. Because after all, the Unitary Executive head can do whatever he damn well pleases, and it will turn out to be for the good of the entire nation! Because mystical magical reasons! > > Republicans in the Senate will occupy themselves by following the lead of those in the House: complaining about those Awful, Awful Democrats and How Rude They Are to Our Great President. End of story. What everyone needs to know is that the Republicans are done with democracy – finished. The impeachment isn’t the beginning of the end; it’s the end of the beginning of their attempt to destroy the power of ordinary people to have influence on their own government. After impeachment, a new phase begins. As I’ve said, it gets worse - much worse - before it gets better. You will see. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6059 "2019-12-11T03:22:45Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > What everyone needs to know is that the Republicans are done with democracy – finished. > > The impeachment isn’t the beginning of the end; it’s the end of the beginning of their attempt to destroy the power of ordinary people to have influence on their own government. After impeachment, a new phase begins. > > As I’ve said, it gets worse - much worse - before it gets better. > > You will see. I hope you’re wrong, but I fear you’re right. There are now two kinds of people in this country, those who believe in the US as a pluralistic democratic nation, and those who don’t. For the latter, the pluralism is what constitutes, at base, the reason for their rejection of democracy. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2019, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6060 "2019-12-11T03:47:51Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > I hope you’re wrong, but I fear you’re right. > > There are now two kinds of people in this country, those who believe in the US as a pluralistic democratic nation, and those who don’t. For the latter, the pluralism is what constitutes, at base, the reason for their rejection of democracy. Look at what Bill Barr is doing and saying as the head of the DoJ. He’s made absolutely no bones about the fact that he is going to operate as Trump’s attack dog because he believes in the power of the executive branch **to advance conservative causes.** Look at what Trump is saying about Chris Wray. Together, they’re trying to plant the seed, trying to lay down the groundwork, trying to establish consent for whatever comes next. You need to have a burning hatred of conservatives and what they’re trying to do to you. If you don’t, then you’re just letting them prison rape you, and you deserve what you get, which is a stolen country. Rage is good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=302) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=304)