# The Trump Resignation Pool **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 17, 2017, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-resignation-pool/789168 "2017-06-17T05:46:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-resignation-pool/789168/261 "2018-07-18T12:57:23Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > You might even say they’re huuuuuuge. Bigly. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-resignation-pool/789168/262 "2018-07-18T13:08:45Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > The Helsinki Fiasco not only increases the odds of resignation/impeachment, it also increases the odds of a primary challenge in 2020. Republicans have their tax cuts, they have their deregulation, they have their right wing justices, they don’t need Donald for shit. One of their number can freely run against him and it seems to me that at least one will. It’s a nice theory, but it keeps on being disproved by the facts. They keep having opportunities to stand up to him, and they keep on passing them up. Can’t see why that would change in 2020. And who’s going to vote for a challenger anyway? This is Trump’s party now, lock, stock, and barrel. Kasich will probably challenge him in 2020, but that doesn’t mean much because Kasich isn’t holding public office anymore. And hardly anyone will vote for him if he does. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-resignation-pool/789168/263 "2018-07-18T13:16:09Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > …Kasich will probably challenge him in 2020, but that doesn’t mean much because Kasich isn’t holding public office anymore. And hardly anyone will vote for him if he does. Actually, he’s still Governor of Ohio. But he won’t be in 2020. Jeff Flake is making noises like he might run; he’s even visited New Hampshire. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2018, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-resignation-pool/789168/264 "2018-07-18T14:07:27Z")
I think Russia will be used as the reason to impeach Trump, if it ever happens. But if it ever happens, if Republicans actually have the stones to challenge their Dear Leader, it would be because they’re comfortable enough breaking with the real powers behind the scenes who are underwriting their political campaigns and careers. Things would have to be so bad that the hardcore Trumpists see the writing on the wall and decide their political careers are over, and the others who have been careful not to get too close to Trump would have to finally realize that he’s weakened to the point where they no longer have to give him political fellatio anymore. My guess is, Trump’s trade war would do the trick, and if you can read past the Russia headlines, you’d see that senators like Orrin Hatch are already alarmed enough that they’re challenging the president on this. In fact, they’re challenging the president on his disastrous trade war more than they are his treachery in Helsinki - because they know it’s going to be an unmitigated disaster that could lead to a major recession and spell the end of the party. I’ve said it before: despite what the language of the Constitution may say, presidents don’t really get forced from office for high crimes and misdemeanors; if they got chased out of the Oval Office, it’s because the nation’s in a bad mood and wants the government to know about it. An impeachment is a peaceful coup mechanism. Russia would be the legal justification for Trump’s removal, but it by itself wouldn’t be the true reason for it. Widespread unemployment and the feeling among most Americans that they really are losing the ability to achieve a comfortable lifestyle…that would be the real reason. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2018, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-resignation-pool/789168/265 "2018-07-18T14:10:07Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Actually, he’s still Governor of Ohio. But he won’t be in 2020. > > Jeff Flake is making noises like he might run; he’s even visited New Hampshire. Yeah, but he kept it short. He realized he forgot to pack his balls and left 'em in Arizona. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-resignation-pool/789168/266 "2018-07-18T19:46:23Z")
If he resigns, it’s at the State of the Union address in 2019 - that way, Pence is still eligible to be elected twice. Not that he would be, mind you… However, I am in the “he’s not going to resign” camp. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2018, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-resignation-pool/789168/267 "2018-07-18T21:52:15Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > If he resigns, it’s at the State of the Union address in 2019 - that way, Pence is still eligible to be elected twice. Not that he would be, mind you… > > However, I am in the “he’s not going to resign” camp. Oh, as if Trump would either care about Pence’s possible length of tenure, or care about the welfare of the GOP. Please! But on the question of whether or not Trump would resign: he would do so in a heartbeat if these two changes occurred: \*\*Congress puts in place policies that will cut Trump’s income from the Presidency–for example a credible threat that if he doesn’t stop billing the taxpayer for his many golf trips, and stop accepting foreign bribes at his hotels, they WILL vote to impeach, and \*\*Rally crowds dwindle and stop cheering. The latter could happen if Trump keeps displaying the groveling cowardice toward Putin that he demonstrated on July 16. Though Trumpites make excuses, the show of cringing deference Trump treated them to at Helsinki will …bother them. They like their bullies defiant and arrogant—not cowering and apologizing. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-resignation-pool/789168/268 "2018-07-18T22:01:56Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Oh, as if Trump would either care about Pence’s possible length of tenure, or care about the welfare of the GOP. Please! Trump would wait one day past to prevent Pence from being eligible for two terms just out of spite. > [@](#): > > But on the question of whether or not Trump would resign: he would do so in a heartbeat if these two changes occurred: > > \*\*Congress puts in place policies that will cut Trump’s income from the Presidency–for example a credible threat that if he doesn’t stop billing the taxpayer for his many golf trips, and stop accepting foreign bribes at his hotels, they WILL vote to impeach, and > > \*\*Rally crowds dwindle and stop cheering. > > The latter could happen if Trump keeps displaying the groveling cowardice toward Putin that he demonstrated on July 16. Though Trumpites make excuses, the show of cringing deference Trump treated them to at Helsinki will …bother them. They like their bullies defiant and arrogant—not cowering and apologizing. This is assuming of course, that they don’t start coming to rallies in order to pay homage to Vlad and his puppet. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2018, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-resignation-pool/789168/269 "2018-07-18T22:15:53Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Trump would wait one day past to prevent Pence from being eligible for two terms just out of spite. Yep. That’s the one I’d bet on. Trump has no gratitude at _all_ for the arduous mental conditioning Pence has put himself through, in order to prevent any facial-expression slips while gazing at Trump. > [@k9bfriender](#): > > This is assuming of course, that they don’t start coming to rallies in order to pay homage to Vlad and his puppet. Well, I suppose that’s possible. Seems too psychologically-sophisticated for that bunch, though: _'let’s go see the weakling puppet so we can cheer for the puppet-master, despite the puppet thinking we’re cheering for him, the fool!_’ ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-resignation-pool/789168/270 "2018-07-18T22:26:47Z")
Liberals continue to underestimate him, amazing. Get yr act together if you want him bounced in '20. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-resignation-pool/789168/271 "2018-07-18T22:31:37Z")
Thanks for yr advice. What do we owe u? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-resignation-pool/789168/272 "2018-07-18T23:04:04Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I’ve said it before: despite what the language of the Constitution may say, presidents don’t really get forced from office for high crimes and misdemeanors; if they got chased out of the Oval Office, it’s because the nation’s in a bad mood and wants the government to know about it. An impeachment is a peaceful coup mechanism. Russia would be the legal justification for Trump’s removal, but it by itself wouldn’t be the true reason for it. Widespread unemployment and the feeling among most Americans that they really are losing the ability to achieve a comfortable lifestyle…that would be the real reason. There are too few data points to come down on either side. The nation was not in a bad mood in 1868, but you could make a case for a coup. Stanton and the Radical Republicans were violently at odds with Andrew Johnson from the time he took office. Johnson is in a battle with Buchanan for worst president so if a Congressional coup was ever needed it was then. They shouldn’t have based it on an unconstitutional law, though. Nixon is complicated. The nation still mostly supported him and while the Democrats controlled the House, the party had a large number of Southern conservatives. Without Nixon’s idiotic actions nothing would ever have happened to him. You can make a better case for Clinton’s impeachment because Congress had evolved into the rabidly partisan beast it is today. Gingrich overreached. He failed very much because he didn’t have the nation behind him. In fact, the Republican lost seats in the November 1998 elections, a huge red flag for a December impeachment that Gingrich was insane to ignore. Trump would also be complicated. He still has 90% support among Republicans (and 75% support him on Russia). His party also controls Congress. He’d have to be found in bed with the proverbial dead girl or live boy for impeachment to become thinkable., even in the Dems take control in November. But if it does, it will be Nixonian, purely a result of his idiotic actions and not because the country is in a bad way. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2018, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-resignation-pool/789168/273 "2018-07-19T10:45:21Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > Liberals continue to underestimate him, amazing. Get yr act together if you want him bounced in '20. We’re not remotely underestimating him - he remains a venal narcissistic puppet of the Russians. However, we have been significantly underestimating the degree to which Republicans are willing to facilitate collusion, obstruction of justice and generally corrupt practices in order to solidify their grip on power. But if you wish to continue gloating that a disturbing percentage of modern American conservatives are anti-democratic traitors, please proceed. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2018, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-resignation-pool/789168/274 "2018-07-19T14:58:57Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > We’re not remotely underestimating him - he remains a venal narcissistic puppet of the Russians. However, we have been significantly underestimating the degree to which Republicans are willing to facilitate collusion, obstruction of justice and generally corrupt practices in order to solidify their grip on power. But if you wish to continue gloating that a disturbing percentage of modern American conservatives are anti-democratic traitors, please proceed. I am neither gloating nor am I a conservative. And I am not denying Trump’s many malfeasances. I am just saying, wishful thinking won’t make him go away. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2018, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-resignation-pool/789168/275 "2018-07-19T17:46:57Z")
I enjoy wishful thinking as much as anyone, but I will spread the word, donate, volunteer and vote to ensure that Donald Trump isn’t the one raising his hand over a Bible on Jan. 20, 2021. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-resignation-pool/789168.md?page=13)