# The Trump Impeachment Trial
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524
**Category:** Politics & Elections
**Created:** [January 16, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524 "2020-01-16T20:12:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 45
### Author:  [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2020, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/881 "2020-02-04T23:25:49Z")
> [@UltraVires](#):
>
> How do you or anyone else know that the name he mentioned is the whistleblower? By getting all squicky about a name, people expose that name as the whistleblower.
Yup. Rand Paul is just punching the air in front of him, and if anyone walks into it, it’s their fault they got hit.
That argument always works, so I’m sure yours is just as believable.
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### Author:  [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2020, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/882 "2020-02-04T23:25:57Z")
> [@UltraVires](#):
>
> How do you or anyone else know that the name he mentioned is the whistleblower? By getting all squicky about a name, people expose that name as the whistleblower.
Well, let’s see: there are 3 possible alternatives…
Paul knows the name of the WB and read it on the Senate floor.
Paul isn’t sure of the name, but read a name he _believed_ to be the WB.
Paul doesn’t know the name but put some rando’s name in the record and out on the right-wing idiotsphere.
Any of those explanations are inexcusable bullshit.
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### Author:  [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2020, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/883 "2020-02-04T23:30:46Z")
There have been many names mentioned during the trial. If you name “John Bolton” for example nobody goes apeshit, therefore Bolton is not the whistleblower. Repeat any other name and no reaction.
I’m not defending Rand Paul as he generally is an asshole, but he’s exposed the flaw in the “we always deny the whistleblower” theory as the people who are protecting it overreact and thereby expose the person.
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### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2020, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/884 "2020-02-04T23:40:24Z")
> [@UltraVires](#):
>
> There have been many names mentioned during the trial. If you name “John Bolton” for example nobody goes apeshit, therefore Bolton is not the whistleblower. Repeat any other name and no reaction.
>
> I’m not defending Rand Paul as he generally is an asshole, but he’s exposed the flaw in the “we always deny the whistleblower” theory as the people who are protecting it overreact and thereby expose the person.
This defense of Paul is just… Odd.
I mean, the logic in this argument is just not even wrong.
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### Author:  [@str8cashhomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/str8cashhomie)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2020, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/885 "2020-02-04T23:44:51Z")
Let’s say hypothetically that Paul did in fact find a way to trick “the system” into confirming who the whistleblower is. If he actually used his “one weird trick” to do so, it’s clearly an “asshole” (read unethical) move. The non-asshole move would be to try to avoid getting into a situation where the whistleblower’s identity could be revealed.
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### Author:  [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2020, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/886 "2020-02-04T23:50:28Z")
If this is a sidetrack, I apologize, but: isn’t Rand Paul a libertarian? You know, those people who are skeptical of Government and all its doings?
So, shouldn’t libertarians applaud whistle-blowing, given that it is the act of reporting on The Government’s misconduct?
Aside from that: what the freak is wrong with that guy? What a fetishist.
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### Author:  [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2020, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/887 "2020-02-05T00:26:57Z")
> [@Hamlet](#):
>
> It’s not an agree/disagree thing. It’s simply a fact. Hearsay is a rule of evidence that does not apply to Impeachment proceedings.
I’m sorry, but if you want to debate whether rules of evidence apply to an impeachment trial, you will have to either start a separate thread or send me a PM (or both!). Otherwise we are just two people disagreeing with each other.
~Max
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### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2020, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/888 "2020-02-05T02:13:35Z")
> [@UltraVires](#):
>
> There have been many names mentioned during the trial. If you name “John Bolton” for example nobody goes apeshit, therefore Bolton is not the whistleblower. Repeat any other name and no reaction.
You’re being facetious, right?
:looks at username:
No, he’s not being facetious.
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### Author:  [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2020, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/889 "2020-02-05T02:45:27Z")
> [@UltraVires](#):
>
> Who is the lady presiding over the final statements of senators? Did Roberts call in sick?
Thos is what you return to the thread to post? You completely ignore all the prior posts about Dershowitz’s inaccurate defense of Trump and your completely false assertion about refuting my arguments?
You do you, I guess.
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### Author:  [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2020, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/890 "2020-02-05T02:52:44Z")
> [@Max\_S](#):
>
> I’m sorry, but if you want to debate whether rules of evidence apply to an impeachment trial, you will have to either start a separate thread or send me a PM (or both!).
I have no desire to debate it either. Mostly because there is no debate. Hearsay rules of evidence dont apply to impeachment proceedings unless adopted. And they weren’t. So no debate needs happen.
> [@Max](#):
>
> Otherwise we are just two people disagreeing with each other.
Absolutely correct. We do disagree. Hiwever, one of us (me) is correct, and the other (you) is wrong.
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### Author:  [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2020, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/891 "2020-02-05T09:52:48Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#):
>
> If this is a sidetrack, I apologize, but: isn’t Rand Paul a libertarian? You know, those people who are skeptical of Government and all its doings?
>
> So, shouldn’t libertarians applaud whistle-blowing, given that it is the act of reporting on The Government’s misconduct?
This.
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### Author:  [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2020, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/892 "2020-02-06T04:57:01Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> Romney didn’t send any “powerful message”-Like all the other times Republicans voted contrary to the Party line they first made sure that there was no chance in hell his vote would turn the tide. This way the claim can be made that Republicans do indeed think for themselves-if the vote was dangerously close he would fall in line like the others.
I don’t know how “powerful” it is that Romney voted the way he did today but I’m not so cynical as to buy the idea that he did this only because he knew it wouldn’t make a difference. And I don’t believe he would have fallen in line if it was close or that it was done to give cover to anyone.
I watched the speech he gave this morning and I honestly believe he voted this way because he is a principled person, something that is so rare among today’s GOP that a lot of posters on this board are unable to recognize it. He did what he did because he is that rare GOP Senator who believes in the rule of law.
I’ve never been a fan of Romney’s politics but I will admit he convinced me today that he is a Republican who will put country before party. I remember when there were more people like him in the GOP.
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### Author:  [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2020, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/893 "2020-02-06T06:45:59Z")
Joe Manchin [explicitly cited](https://twitter.com/Bencjacobs/status/1225184123947552768) the whole Dershowitz circus as pushing him toward a guilty vote. Great lawyer.
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### Author:  [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2020, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/894 "2020-02-06T07:17:48Z")
House mangers Republican senators are afraid of Trump.
Republican senators: How dare you?! You’re so offensive! We’re not afraid of our great leader and will vote as our consciences dictate.
Romney: Guilty.
Trump: Failed presidential candidate. Jealous. Sad. Secret Democrat.
\*Because no true Republican would ever think or speak in any way that contradicts him, obviously. \*
Donald Trump, Jr.: “He’s now officially a member of the resistance and should be expelled from the GOP”
_The “resistance”? Really?_
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2020, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/895 "2020-02-06T10:47:24Z")
OK, get a grip. He’s _not_ Spartacus…
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### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2020, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/896 "2020-02-06T12:52:14Z")
> [@elucidator](#):
>
> OK, get a grip. He’s _not_ Spartacus…
No, Spartacus has died. ☹ At age 103.
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### Author:  [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2020, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/897 "2020-02-06T12:58:28Z")
Shocked that Trump is bashing Romney today. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2020, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/898 "2020-02-06T13:27:50Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#):
>
> Joe Manchin [explicitly cited](https://twitter.com/Bencjacobs/status/1225184123947552768) the whole Dershowitz circus as pushing him toward a guilty vote. Great lawyer.
Hopefully Dershowitz is done after this. Hard to believe he was taken seriously with the allegations over his own head. But he lost me years ago before that came out. Have you ever heard him speak about Israel/Palestine? Specifically his rabid attacks on those who have dissenting voices to his. The guy is a bigot of the highest order.
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2020, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/899 "2020-02-06T14:29:02Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#):
>
> Shocked that Trump is bashing Romney today. 🙂
Shocked that he’s doing it so mildly. Nerf bashing.
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### Author:  [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2020, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-trial/846524/900 "2020-02-06T17:14:34Z")
> [@elucidator](#):
>
> Shocked that he’s doing it so mildly. Nerf bashing.
Looks like someone took Trump’s phone away from him. He hasn’t been posting much, if any, on Twitter today.
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