# 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:** 341
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6801 "2020-01-10T18:28:06Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Pelosi said she is sending the articles next week. That might not be what she’s saying. A “resolution to appoint managers and transmit articles of impeachment to the Senate” is different from a resolution appointing managers and transmitting articles of impeachment to the Senate. The latter would identify the managers and the date of transmittal, while the former would save those steps for a future time. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6802 "2020-01-10T18:38:40Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > That left wing rag Wall St Journal says Trump killed the guy to help out with votes on impeachment Dog-wagging, like weenie-wagging and tongue-wagging, are too obvious to ignore. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6803 "2020-01-10T19:01:25Z")
I agree with #6800 - Next Tuesday is a date for another date. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6804 "2020-01-10T20:00:33Z")
30 minute trial? That’s longer than I thought moscow mitch was planning. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6805 "2020-01-10T20:01:43Z")
> [@](#): > > Senate Susan Collins (R-ME) said Friday that she is coordinating with a “fairly small group” of Republicans, including senators and party leaders, on an agreement on impeachment trial rules that will allow witnesses to be called, according to the Bangor Daily News… Uh-huh. Sure. Hugh Betcha. Sue folds while the cards are being shuffled. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2020, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6806 "2020-01-10T20:10:54Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > My guess, today, is that McConnell is going to through with the “duck and cover” option, dismiss the whole thing and pretend its normal. Really, the Republican party as a whole should just go all the way. Organize their own paramilitary organization, and have the Democrat party deemed illegal. Round up all of their political enemies and imprison them. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6807 "2020-01-10T20:32:22Z")
“Your papers are in order, citizen. _Why_ are your papers in order?” ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6808 "2020-01-10T20:53:10Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Uh-huh. Sure. Hugh Betcha. Sue folds while the cards are being shuffled. She could just grab her friends Murkowski, Paul, and Lee, join the Democratic caucus, and BOOM! Everything that’s needed to ensure a fair trial. But that would require actually DOING something, rather than implying she not be a craven liar. THIS TIME, she might just actually follow through. I’m not holding my breath. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6809 "2020-01-10T22:04:02Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > “Your papers are in order, citizen. _Why_ are your papers in order?” “I have never seen such clever forgeries.” ---
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6810 "2020-01-11T01:23:22Z")
> **[Trump suggests he'd invoke executive privilege to block Bolton testimony](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/10/trump-john-bolton-testimony-097349)** > > The president said he would likely prevent the testimony to avoid setting a precedent. “President Donald Trump on Friday said he planned to invoke executive privilege in the event former national security adviser John Bolton was subpoenaed by lawmakers for the Senate impeachment trial.” So can Trump actually prevent Bolton from testifying if it comes to that? More than a dozen people testified despite Trump’s claim of divine immunity, or whatever he calls it. Some claimed they were torn between obeying Congress, or obeying the president, so it seems the person has a choice. Bolton himself said that absent a ruling he decided for himself that he should testify. Can Trump do anything to stop him? Again, if it even comes to that… ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6811 "2020-01-11T02:50:01Z")
No, he can’t, if the witness decides to just testify. It’s not like the Executive Privilege Police will swoop in. All it would do is give Bolton or whoever an out. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2020, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6812 "2020-01-11T04:10:59Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > No, he can’t, if the witness decides to just testify. It’s not like the Executive Privilege Police will swoop in. All it would do is give Bolton or whoever an out. And John Bolton knows that. So he says that he’ll testify and then he’ll back down over a totally unexpected challenge on grounds of executive privilege:rolleyes: Like I said, Bolton is only going to talk if Trump chickens out and doesn’t put extreme pressure on Iran. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6813 "2020-01-11T05:10:13Z")
An interesting (at least to me) question: If you are a Republican House member who voted against impeachment, should you vote against transmitting the articles? On one hand, if you don’t believe that Trump should be removed, it seems to make sense to take any lawful action to keep the possibility from happening. On the other, you would like to see the process finally dismissed. Could there be a coalition of Republicans and Democrats that would gain a majority of votes not to transmit, Nancy’s agreement notwithstanding? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6814 "2020-01-11T05:15:49Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > It’s ok if you’re not paying attention - it’s referring to McConnell and Graham blatantly stating that they are not going to even consider the evidence; they will vote “not guilty”, 100%, no questions asked, no fucks given. In your incredibly extensive experience, have you EVER had a prosecutor allow a jurist that openly stated “The defendant is not guilty, no matter what” during selection? > > Brilliant lawyer-speak, parsed JUST RIGHT to cover-up that the impeachment managers WERE allowed to depose several witnesses during the trial and present those videotaped depositions to the Senate. > > I’m perfectly fine with that. Can we start with Bolton? 1. I’ve never heard anyone say that they would never, never, ever vote to convict Trump. The only thing that they have said is that they would not vote to convict based upon this evidence. And, once again, this is not like a criminal trial and senators are not jurors. 2. The rules haven’t been set on witnesses in this trial. I’m sure that the House Managers can present the televised testimony of all of the witnesses they called in front of them. If 51 senators want to let them call Bolton, they can call Bolton. If 51 senators think that they should have done that already, took the House at its word that the impeachable conduct is already clear without hearing from Bolton, and are not going to allow for a fishing expedition in the Senate, they can do that. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6815 "2020-01-11T05:16:58Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > An interesting (at least to me) question: If you are a Republican House member who voted against impeachment, should you vote against transmitting the articles? > > On one hand, if you don’t believe that Trump should be removed, it seems to make sense to take any lawful action to keep the possibility from happening. On the other, you would like to see the process finally dismissed. > > Could there be a coalition of Republicans and Democrats that would gain a majority of votes not to transmit, Nancy’s agreement notwithstanding? Is Pelosi asking anyone’s permission to transmit or not transmit? I hadn’t heard that it was something to be voted on. Did I miss something? ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6816 "2020-01-11T05:51:30Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > 1. I’ve never heard anyone say that they would never, never, ever vote to convict Trump. The only thing that they have said is that they would not vote to convict based upon this evidence. And, once again, this is not like a criminal trial and senators are not jurors. Then fucking pay attention: > [@Leningrad Lindsey](#): > > I think what’s best for the country is to get this thing over with. I have clearly made up my mind. > [@Moscow Mitch](#): > > There is no chance the president is going to be removed from office. > [@Closeted Graham Again](#): > > I am trying to give a pretty clear signal I have made up my mind. I’m not trying to pretend to be a fair juror here. I hope you’ve been educated. > [@](#): > > 1. The rules haven’t been set on witnesses in this trial. I’m sure that the House Managers can present the televised testimony of all of the witnesses they called in front of them. If 51 senators want to let them call Bolton, they can call Bolton. If 51 senators think that they should have done that already, took the House at its word that the impeachable conduct is already clear without hearing from Bolton, and are not going to allow for a fishing expedition in the Senate, they can do that. I don’t give a fuck about the rules as they stand now. I’m asking YOUR opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6817 "2020-01-11T05:53:19Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Could there be a coalition of Republicans and Democrats that would gain a majority of votes not to transmit, Nancy’s agreement notwithstanding? This is as likely as a coalition of Republicans and Democrats that could gain a majority to force McConnell to not be a sycophantic slug. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2020, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6818 "2020-01-11T13:22:34Z")
The reality is that, this time, the political wizard in the House, Pelosi, has been out-played by the political wizard in the Senate, Moscow Mitch. It’s time to transmit the articles and be done with it, and Pelosi knows it. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6819 "2020-01-11T16:12:59Z")
Or table them. Why not just wait until the Senate is able to conduct a fair trial. Of course that’s bullshit but the world runs on bullshit. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2020, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/6820 "2020-01-11T16:38:58Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > “Your papers are in order, citizen. _Why_ are your papers in order?” You know this is [how Himmler was caught](https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Heinrich_Himmler#Peace_negotiations.2C_capture.2C_and_death), right? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=340) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=342)