# Trump and a feeling of momentum for impeachment **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 16, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785 "2017-05-16T19:40:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/181 "2017-05-19T18:25:19Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Didn’t Flynn get fired because he lied to Pence? That was the White House’s story at that time – IIRC, they said that Flynn had lied to Pence about his meetings with the Russians, and Pence then publicly defended Flynn based on that lie. However, the recent news stories suggest that, even if Flynn had, indeed, told a lie to Pence about it, that Pence likely had other sources of information which should have been telling him otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/182 "2017-05-19T18:28:21Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Are you asking what Pence should have done next? Yes, or more precisely, asking what those who think he should be impeached think he should have done. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/183 "2017-05-19T18:34:03Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Yes, or more precisely, asking what those who think he should be impeached think he should have done. Well, I don’t have a position on impeachment, but I think if he knew or should have known that Flynn was in the pay of Russia or Turkey before he was given a position at the White House, then he should have ensured that Flynn was not given a position at the White House. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/184 "2017-05-19T18:36:24Z")
I think he should have done what you or I might do, **Hurr**. A long talk with one’s closest friends or a spiritual adviser, review the decisions that led him to this wretched situation. Committing _sepuku_ in the Rose Garden is a bit extreme… ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/185 "2017-05-19T19:05:45Z")
[https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/05/19/us/politics/trump-russia-comey.html](https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/05/19/us/politics/trump-russia-comey.html) > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON — President Trump told Russian officials in the Oval Office this month that firing the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, had relieved “great pressure” on him, according to a document summarizing the meeting. > > **“I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job,”** Mr. Trump said, according to the document, which was read to The New York Times by an American official. **“I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”** > > Mr. Trump added, **“I’m not under investigation.”** > > The conversation, during a May 10 meeting — the day after he fired Mr. Comey — reinforces the notion that Mr. Trump dismissed him primarily because of the bureau’s investigation into possible ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/186 "2017-05-19T19:10:03Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Didn’t Flynn get fired because he lied to Pence? Not sure if you’ve been paying attention but the White House has a credibility problem. Not a word that comes from that administration can be accepted at face value as truth. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/187 "2017-05-19T21:00:34Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > What are they suggesting the VP should have done about it? Was not doing whatever they wanted him to do, at the time they wanted him to, a criminal act? An ethical lapse? A moral failing? Flynn’s “issue” was serious enough that he was fired when it became public knowledge. If Pence was aware of it privately earlier then he shouldn’t have hired Flynn. Hiring somebody for a position when you know they should be disqualified for the position is covering up the disqualification. And when this involves government employment the whole thing can be illegal. Doing something because somebody else wants you to do it doesn’t excuse a criminal act. You’re responsible for crimes you commit even if you’re committing them because somebody else told you to. That said, I don’t know the details of this situation enough to know if Pence committed any crimes. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/188 "2017-05-19T21:05:09Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > Not sure if you’ve been paying attention but the White House has a credibility problem. Not a word that comes from that administration can be accepted at face value as truth. Unfortunately the press also has a credibility problem. Not of reporting facts, but the spin and analysis they raise about those facts. So Trump revealed some secrets to Putin. That’s not a big deal and entirely legal. They have a common interest in defeating ISIS. Trump appointed a Republican to the Supreme Court. That is a big deal but entirely legal. He fired someone. Entirely legal. And it’s funny how those who were demanding the departure of said fired are now scandalised by his firing. And so on. Trump is not a nice man, but to be a successful top dog you need to a bit of a bastard. Remember that the press choose not only which facts to report but which facts to not report. The press has been so anti-Trump that they are no longer seen as reliable. They may be right, but who can tell? ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/189 "2017-05-19T21:07:12Z")
Pence is the VP, not the president. Trump has ultimate authority here. And Trump _really_ wanted to hire Flynn. More than Flynn himself, according to reports - Trump pressured him to take the job. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/190 "2017-05-19T21:11:13Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Trump revealed some secrets to Putin. That’s not a big deal and entirely legal. You think so? :dubious: > [@](#): > > Trump appointed a Republican to the Supreme Court. That is a big deal but entirely legal. McConnell is taking the heat, not Trump. > [@](#): > > He fired someone. Entirely legal. To obstruct an investigation. Entirely NOT legal. > [@](#): > > And it’s funny how those who were demanding the departure of said fired are now scandalised by his firing. And so on. Do please get your stories straight, and include those you can’t rationalize so airily. > [@](#): > > The press has been so anti-Trump that they are no longer seen as reliable. Not among those who equate factuality with fealty, no. > [@](#): > > They may be right, but who can tell? Those with a respect for reality. Now what makes you think they’re wrong? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/191 "2017-05-19T22:31:48Z")
CNN: White House lawyers research impeachment > **[Sources: White House lawyers research impeachment | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2017/05/19/politics/donald-trump-white-house-lawyers-research-impeachment/index.html)** > > White House lawyers have begun researching impeachment procedures in an effort to prepare for what officials still believe is a distant possibility that President Donald Trump could have to fend off attempts to remove him from office, two people... ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/192 "2017-05-19T22:39:46Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > CNN: White House lawyers research impeachment > > [http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/19/politics/donald-trump-white-house-lawyers-research-impeachment/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/19/politics/donald-trump-white-house-lawyers-research-impeachment/index.html) I wonder where that term ranks in Google searches these days. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/193 "2017-05-19T22:48:26Z")
> Reuters: Comey agrees to public hearing. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/194 "2017-05-19T22:54:30Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I wonder where that term ranks in Google searches these days. 🙂 According to Mirriam Webster, the biggest trending search today is “nutjob”. > **[Trending: Trump: He Was A Real 'Nut Job'](https://www.merriam-webster.com/news-trend-watch/trump-he-was-a-real-nut-job-20170519)** > > Lookups spiked 173,750% after Trump used the word to describe Comey ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/195 "2017-05-19T23:07:47Z")
We’ve been discussing odds previously, and I think you’d be hard pressed to find someone offering even odds on a full term right now. Predictit is only giving slightly better than even odds through 2018. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/196 "2017-05-19T23:15:58Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > [x.com](https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/865699747415412737) > > Reuters: Comey agrees to public hearing. One point: Comey said he would appear at a public hearing earlier while refusing a closed meeting. This is just him accepting a specific invitation. [http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/fbi/333241-comey-willing-to-testify-but-only-in-public-report](http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/fbi/333241-comey-willing-to-testify-but-only-in-public-report) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/197 "2017-05-20T01:11:59Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Unfortunately the press also has a credibility problem. Not of reporting facts, but the spin and analysis they raise about those facts. So Trump revealed some secrets to Putin. That’s not a big deal and entirely legal. They have a common interest in defeating ISIS. Trump appointed a Republican to the Supreme Court. That is a big deal but entirely legal. He fired someone. Entirely legal. And it’s funny how those who were demanding the departure of said fired are now scandalised by his firing. And so on. > > Trump is not a nice man, but to be a successful top dog you need to a bit of a bastard. > > Remember that the press choose not only which facts to report but which facts to not report. The press has been so anti-Trump that they are no longer seen as reliable. They may be right, but who can tell? Nonsense. The media isn’t making this stuff up. If reporting the things that Trump’s does makes Trump look bad then that’s Trump fault. He should stop doing things that make him look bad rather than complaining about people looking at him. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/198 "2017-05-20T01:14:24Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Pence is the VP, not the president. Trump has ultimate authority here. And Trump _really_ wanted to hire Flynn. More than Flynn himself, according to reports - Trump pressured him to take the job. I guess Pence should just consider himself lucky that Trump didn’t really want him to rob a liquor store. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/199 "2017-05-20T13:37:33Z")
Logistically, how would a removal of Trump from office be handled from the perspective of making sure that a man who knows all of America’s top secret information and isn’t known for his ability to keep his mouth shut doesn’t tweet out everything in a fit of rage? ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/200 "2017-05-20T13:52:21Z")
Well, once he isn’t President anymore, it IS illegal if he does it… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785.md?page=11)