# 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:** 34
**Author:** ![squidfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@squidfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squidfood)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/661 "2019-09-26T17:59:11Z")
As pointed out by Micah Cohen over at Fivethirtyeight, a [poll](https://www.businessinsider.com/poll-americans-support-trump-impeachment-inquiry-worry-about-blowback-2019-9) that actually give information about the impeachment process gives the following result: With the question: “Impeachment is the first step in the process of removing a president from office. Do you think the House of Representatives should impeach President Trump?” 45 percent said yes; 30 percent said no. When the question was phrased around starting an impeachment inquiry, it got a bit more support. SurveyMonkey asked, “Do you believe launching a formal impeachment inquiry into President Trump for soliciting foreign interference in a US election is the right thing to do?” And a majority (53 percent) said either “definitely yes” (33 percent) or “probably yes” (20 percent). Also worth noting that a lot of the “no’s” were saying no because they were worried about Democratic tactics backfiring (i.e. a lot of those no’s were disagreeing on the best tactic for getting rid of the president, not actually supporting him). ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/662 "2019-09-26T18:00:50Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Tell me about it! I literally just now wrote a post-it on my work computer monitor: “NO MORE STRAIGHT DOPE OR TRUMP STUFF UNTIL AFTER OCT. 1”. > > Okay — see y’all in a few days — “Trump stuff” auto corrects to “Butt stuff” in my brain. ---
**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, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/663 "2019-09-26T18:03:56Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > So, is Trump threatening the life and freedom of the whistle blower’s source when he says: > > Seems like witness tampering to me – can we add that to the list? Also, treason? Mr. Trump, **HurricaneDitka** has a bone to pick with you. Jesus. Trump really is nothing more than a third rate mob boss. I guess his next plan is to rub out squealers and stool pigeons. ---
**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, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/664 "2019-09-26T18:05:40Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Do what I do. Go to the FoxNews and Breitbart websites, open the outhouse door, stick your head down the hole (metaphor: comments sections), and take a big whiff. All I can say is, thanks for taking one for the team. Repeatedly. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/665 "2019-09-26T18:06:13Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > For the Trump supporters, I guess I’ll just ask this – if it were shown to your satisfaction that Trump really did expect the investigation into Biden in exchange for the aid to Ukraine, would you support impeachment? It doesn’t cost them anything to say “yes” to this, because they’ll just set the bar of proof as high as they need to. “Trump signed a notarized statement confirming that he knowingly committed high treason? Where was that notary born? Have we seen the birth certificate? COVER-UP! Why isn’t the FBI investigating that??” ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/666 "2019-09-26T18:07:45Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > It doesn’t cost them anything to say “yes” to this, because they’ll just set the bar of proof as high as they need to. “Trump signed a notarized statement confirming that he knowingly committed high treason? Where was that notary born? Have we seen the birth certificate? COVER-UP! Why isn’t the FBI investigating that??” Sure, but that actually would cost them some credibility. At some point it gets ridiculous (it already has, in many ways). ---
**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, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/667 "2019-09-26T18:09:16Z")
> [@steatopygia](#): > > “Trump stuff” auto corrects to “Butt stuff” in my brain. Best username/post combo of the day. ---
**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, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/668 "2019-09-26T18:14:45Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Sure, but that actually would cost them some credibility. At some point it gets ridiculous (it already has, in many ways). There is nothing… NOTHING that could be too ridiculous for hard core Trumpers to support. They would swear on their mother’s grave that Adam Schiff was a shape shifting lizard person from a far away planet who is intent on destroying humanity. And only Trump can stop him. AND THEY’D BELIEVE IT. ---
**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, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/669 "2019-09-26T18:24:22Z")
Remember when Trump, on national TV, asked Russia to interfere in the election, and they started sending phishing emails to the DNC the next day? I’m beginning to think that wasn’t an isolated incident. Maybe, and I know this is crazy, Trump has routinely sought electoral assistance from foreign countries. Wouldn’t that be insane? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/670 "2019-09-26T18:26:09Z")
> [@steatopygia](#): > > This is the beginning of Trump being Vlad’s patsy. > > It is also why Biden shouldn’t be the Democrat’s nominee. Like I said before, I detest Trump. But without getting into the weeds, it is easy to say, “Wait a minure! What was Biden’s SON doing that was worth THAT MUCH money to Ukraine?” I’m comfortable that this is just yet another instance of how “who you know” is of primary importance, and that added wealth goes to the already wealthy (in influence and status if not $). But sweetheart deals to the relatives of elected officials carries a whiff of stank, which I could imagine might rub off on Joe. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/671 "2019-09-26T18:28:26Z")
> [@steatopygia](#): > > This is the beginning of Trump being Vlad’s patsy. > > It is also why Biden shouldn’t be the Democrat’s nominee. I don’t believe Biden acted corruptly with Ukraine, but if this mess puts a cloud over his campaign that ends up taking him out of the race, I won’t be upset. ---
**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, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/672 "2019-09-26T18:30:59Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > For the Trump supporters, I guess I’ll just ask this – if it were shown to your satisfaction that Trump really did expect the investigation into Biden in exchange for the aid to Ukraine, would you support impeachment? Probably not. It looks like there’s some shady shit that went on with the Biden boys in Ukraine, and I think it should be investigated thoroughly (you guys do support investigations, right?). I don’t mind President Trump using his position to make sure the truth is brought to light. > [@BobLibDem](#): > > I am guessing that none of them can imagine any circumstance under which they would support impeachment. Seriously, if what has come out in the past week would not be enough, if investigation reveals it to be accurate, then what would convince them? > > So in addition to the question andy asked, I’ll ask this: is there anything that you can conceive of that would make you support impeachment? Is he fallible in any way, or is his every move perfect by definition? Yes, there are plenty of things that I could imagine that would make me support this impeachment. Here are some examples: earlier on in this thread, President Trump’s request to Ukraine was characterized as a request “[to manufacture dirt](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=21879580#post21879580)” on Biden. There were various other posts that suggested Trump had asked Ukraine to make stuff up / lie about Biden’s Ukranian activities. I don’t see any evidence to support those claims, but if it became clear that he had asked them “to manufacture dirt” rather than just investigate and find the truth of the matter, I would support impeachment. Likewise, there have been a long-running series of accusations against President Trump that he’s doing Russia’s bidding / controlled by Putin / etc. They are, as of now, unsubstantiated. If, however, it became clear that these accusations were in fact correct, I would support impeachment and removal from office. I’m sure there are a ton of other scenarios that would find me supporting his impeachment, but I find it helpful to put it in terms of things you guys have claimed, without proof. If you could prove some of those things, then you’d really have something. Also, even though I think the question is moronic, I’ll go ahead and answer it: Of course he’s “fallible” and makes mistakes. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/673 "2019-09-26T18:33:22Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > I don’t believe Biden acted corruptly with Ukraine, but if this mess puts a cloud over his campaign that ends up taking him out of the race, I won’t be upset. Neither will I, even though months ago I made a prediction when he officially entered the race, that despite his initial lead he would fade like he always does. That is, he would have faded just on general “Biden-ness”. But now it will be next to impossible to see how much he fades because of this phony “scandal”. And thus my brilliance will go unrecognized, assuming he does collapse. ETA: I mean of course I won’t be upset that someone else gets the nomination. It is absolutely infuriating to me that scum like Giuliani and Trump could get away with this. I simply cannot understand the mindset of someone who can attempt to ruin another person like this. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/674 "2019-09-26T18:35:39Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Probably not. It looks like there’s some shady shit that went on with the Biden boys in Ukraine, and I think it should be investigated thoroughly (you guys do support investigations, right?). I don’t mind President Trump using his position to make sure the truth is brought to light. I really wish someone would point out the exact “shady shit”. Truly I do. Because I haven’t seen shit. Maybe you? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/675 "2019-09-26T18:36:06Z")
I will join the chorus in hoping (as I have since the beginning of the primary) that Biden drops out of the race. I’ve seen no evidence of a big scandal that might push this, though. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/676 "2019-09-26T18:37:08Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Like I said before, I detest Trump. But without getting into the weeds, it is easy to say, “Wait a minure! What was Biden’s SON doing that was worth THAT MUCH money to Ukraine?” > > I’m comfortable that this is just yet another instance of how “who you know” is of primary importance, and that added wealth goes to the already wealthy (in influence and status if not $). But sweetheart deals to the relatives of elected officials carries a whiff of stank, which I could imagine might rub off on Joe. Yeah, I’m not seeing any way Joe Biden is connected to any wrongdoing here. Clearly, Hunter Biden took a job for which he had no qualifications, and should have realized that he was being hired only because his sleazy employers thought he could illegitimately leverage his personal relationship with VPOTUS to their advantage. It’s poor judgment and bad optics, for sure. But AFAIK there are no credible allegations that Hunter did in fact attempt to manipulate Joe, much less that he succeeded in doing so, much, much less that Joe knowingly cooperated with said manipulation. So there’s no real reason this _should_ hurt Joe, but having your name constantly in the headlines alongside words like “Corruption” and “Scandal” isn’t good for a politician, because a lot of people just read the headlines. ---
**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, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/677 "2019-09-26T18:38:03Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Yes. > > And I thought yesterday - I would not be at all surprised if at some point, Trump issues orders to have one or more of his “enemies” assassinated. And I just hope that whoever gets these orders reports this to as many people as possible, as fast as possible. > > I would not have thought this some months ago, but Trump is, I believe, currently that unhinged. Go ahead and add this to the list of things I’d support impeachment & removal over, once again **IF** there was proof / compelling evidence of 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, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/678 "2019-09-26T18:39:35Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Probably not. It looks like there’s some shady shit that went on with the Biden boys in Ukraine, and I think it should be investigated thoroughly (you guys do support investigations, right?). I don’t mind President Trump using his position to make sure the truth is brought to light. Investigations are fine, but investigations based on crackpot misunderstandings of basic facts (eg, Obama is a seekrit Muslim) ruin the credibility of those who seek them. Trump seems to have zero understanding of anything Ukraine, so calling for an investigation on the basis that he’s too stupid and filled with 4chan conspiracy theories is not a reasonable proposition. Besides, the motivation for the investigation appears to be entirely political. If Trump were serious about cleaning up corruption in Ukraine, he shouldn’t say that Manafort was mistreated (and apparently tried to undermine that investigation). ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/679 "2019-09-26T18:40:34Z")
I’m not surprised that some Trump supporters are fine with trading foreign aid money for foreign political aid meant to harm Trump’s political rivals… but it’s a teeny-tiny surprise that they’ll admit it so readily. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2019, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/680 "2019-09-26T18:40:40Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Like I said before, I detest Trump. But without getting into the weeds, it is easy to say, “Wait a minure! What was Biden’s SON doing that was worth THAT MUCH money to Ukraine?” > … And if you’re Trump, you don’t bring your concerns to the FBI. You wait until you have some leverage, use it against Ukraine, and see if they’ll look into it instead. And keep it on the down low, OK? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=33) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=35)