# 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:** 90
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1781 "2019-10-04T02:14:56Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > The only explanation I can come up with for Trump’s statement today, is that he’s totally bought into the “impeachment is good for me! Energize the base!” argument. So he’s double-dog-daring the House to impeach him. I’ve [watched the video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcD5sttJ-sQ&feature=youtu.be&t=43) again, and I get the impression that Trump’s China solicitation may have been a spur of the moment impromptu interjection in order to change the subject from having to explain the Ukraine thing. Here’s what Trump said in response to the question of what he had hoped Zelensky would do about the Bidens: > [@Donald Trump](#): > > “It’s a very simple answer. Ah, they should investigate the Bidens, because how does a company… that’s newly formed, and all these companies - and if you look at - by the way! Likewise CHINA! …should start an investigation into the Bidens.” ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1782 "2019-10-04T02:17:48Z")
> [@Dr.Colossus](#): > > He is a fantastic surrogate for the GOP: He has taken over this thread/the narrative the same way Dems allow the right to control the narrative. > > Everyone in this thread are falling over themselves to respond to him, and he’s dominated the entire conversation at this point. > > You all want to bring “superior logic” to a “doesn’t exist in reality” fight, and you can’t help yourselves but to constantly engage him. You know why? I’ve been on this board for 18 years and this thread, right now, is one of the first times I can remember that there really is no opposition to what’s going on. Max is trying like hell to put up some defense, but even he admits that without some further proof of some pre-existing investigation into someone who happens to be related to a political enemy of Trump, he’s guilty as sin and needs to go. This is, to my mind, pretty historical on the dope. There is nobody willing to step up legitimately and defend this. This may really be the turning point it seems to be. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1783 "2019-10-04T02:20:45Z")
Walken: That’s exactly what I thought. He couldn’t figure out what the supposed Biden crime was — “a newly formed company…” (so?!)… so he says the first thing that he can think of. “Hey, Liechtenstein and…South Sudan should investigate this guy. And Sri Lanka, what the hell. Why not.” ---
**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:** [October 4, 2019, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1784 "2019-10-04T02:23:21Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > This is, to my mind, pretty historical on the dope. There is nobody willing to step up legitimately and defend this. Well, a few people are under suspension . . . ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1785 "2019-10-04T02:54:51Z")
For those that want to get down in the weeds, several pages of text messages about Trump and Ukraine [have been released](https://twitter.com/RepAdamSchiff/status/1179948231603707905): > [@Rep. Adam Schiff](#): > > After receiving a trove of important documents from the first of the state department witnesses, my fellow chairs and I highlight some of those deserving of the most attention and what is at stake. > > Read them here: > > [https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/\_cache/files/a/4/a4a91fab-99cd-4eb9-9c6c-ec1c586494b9/621801458E982E9903839ABC7404A917.chairmen-letter-on-state-departmnent-texts-10-03-19.pdf](https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/_cache/files/a/4/a4a91fab-99cd-4eb9-9c6c-ec1c586494b9/621801458E982E9903839ABC7404A917.chairmen-letter-on-state-departmnent-texts-10-03-19.pdf) … ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1786 "2019-10-04T03:01:47Z")
Wow. Just read a few so far — the aides setting up the call. It makes Zelensky look stronger than he’s been portrayed — he was specifically concerned to avoid Ukraine just acting as the US patsy. But for the aides, it was all about getting (or inventing) that dirt on a domestic US political opponent. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1787 "2019-10-04T03:06:45Z")
There’s even an admission that the White House is demanding a quid pro quo — they’ll only meet with Zelensky if Trump can be convinced that Zelensky is moving forward with the “investigation” regarding “specific personnel.” Okay, it’s over. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1788 "2019-10-04T03:09:40Z")
“I think potus wants the deliverable,” or Ukraine won’t get anything — clear as day! What a bunch of shoeboxes. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1789 "2019-10-04T03:23:12Z")
And they knew it was wrong — they had to shut up poor Bill Taylor, who was ready to quit when he realized what they were doing: “We can’t talk about this by text, Bill — I’ll tell you what we’re up to by phone, and then in a few hours I’ll send you a text (for the record) with the lie that there’s no quid pro quo.” ---
**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:** [October 4, 2019, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1790 "2019-10-04T03:25:45Z")
Those texts are remarkable, but the best one of all is still the Shoebox-in-Chief saying, out loud, in front of cameras today, “I have a lot of options on China, but if they don’t do what we want, we have tremendous, tremendous power,” and then “China should start an investigation into the Bidens.” To quote the esteemed Clark W. Griswold, “This is crazy, this is crazy.” ---
**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:** [October 4, 2019, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1791 "2019-10-04T03:36:08Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Who the fuck is **Max S.** and how did he manage to completely take over the thread? He is pretty much the only person trying to explain the GOP position in this thread. He is writing clearly, not obviously lying, and responding coherently. Why would you start the troll BS? Some people don’t yet understand or believe that everything Trump does is solely focused on what is best for him _at this moment_. Some people believe that there is no way that someone as unfit as Trump could ever be elected president. Max seems to be that type of person. Instead of calling him a troll, let’s keep talking. Jeezus ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1792 "2019-10-04T03:40:21Z")
I’ll take 500 max s’s over one hurricane. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2019, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1793 "2019-10-04T03:43:19Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > I’ll take 500 max s’s over one hurricane. Fucking A ETA (That is an American euphemism for “I strongly agree”.) ---
**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:** [October 4, 2019, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1794 "2019-10-04T03:49:17Z")
The quid pro quo was _obvious_ in the summary of the Trump-Zelensky call. Plain as day to anyone other than a blind loyalist. These texts tonight make it _even more fucking obvious_. Today Trump tried to negotiate a quid pro quo with China in the middle of a televised press conference. Maybe when he solicited Russian election interference during a debate in 2016, that was a good indication that **he’s a goddamn criminal!** ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1795 "2019-10-04T03:50:57Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Well, a few people are under suspension . . . > [@snfaulkner](#): > > I’ll take 500 max s’s over one hurricane. > [@steatopygia](#): > > Fucking A > > ETA (That is an American euphemism for “I strongly agree”.) When I posted about nobody legitimately defending this, he did occur to me, but I didn’t want to kick a man while he was suspended. Plus I did say legitimately. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1796 "2019-10-04T04:02:34Z")
If Trump can’t be impeached and removed with those texts… That is the smokiest of smoking guns ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1797 "2019-10-04T04:07:49Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Who the fuck is **Max S.** and how did he manage to completely take over the thread? > [@Dr.Colossus](#): > > He is a fantastic surrogate for the GOP: He has taken over this thread/the narrative the same way Dems allow the right to control the narrative. > > Everyone in this thread are falling over themselves to respond to him, and he’s dominated the entire conversation at this point. > > You all want to bring “superior logic” to a “doesn’t exist in reality” fight, and you can’t help yourselves but to constantly engage him. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Let’s. Stop. Now. > [@snfaulkner](#): > > I’ll take 500 max s’s over one hurricane. > [@steatopygia](#): > > Fucking A > > ETA (That is an American euphemism for “I strongly agree”.) Did you all collectively forget that this isn’t the Pit? If you don’t want to engage with someone, don’t. But what is not appropriate is to personalize your arguments in this way, or start some campaign to shun or shame other posters. If you want to do that, take it to the Pit. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1798 "2019-10-04T04:08:37Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Recipe for kale chips: > > Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. > Remove the ribs from the kale and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Lay on a baking sheet and toss with the olive oil and salt. Bake until crisp, turning the leaves halfway through, about 20 minutes. Serve as finger food. This is a warning for personal insults, specifically accusing another poster of trolling or being a troll. This recipe BS has no place in this forum. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1799 "2019-10-04T04:11:24Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Did you all collectively forget that this isn’t the Pit? If you don’t want to engage with someone, don’t. But what is not appropriate is to personalize your arguments in this way, or start some campaign to shun or shame other posters. If you want to do that, take it to the Pit. > > [/moderating] I felt I was defending/praising a poster. But point taken. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2019, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1800 "2019-10-04T04:17:42Z")
This thread moves pretty fast, so apologies if someone posted this earlier. But I feel this tweet, from the chairman of the FEC, is both amusing and underlines what an insane moment this is right now: > > > Ellen L. Weintraub @EllenLWeintraub [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=89) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=91)