# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/141 "2017-05-18T12:30:27Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Well, Pelosi wants facts. We should have confidence that the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history will produce a few facts, no? Seriously? Why bring up Hillary/Benghazi/email now? ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/142 "2017-05-18T12:30:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, Pelosi wants facts. We should have confidence that the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history will produce a few facts, no? Trump persecution complex. This isn’t nearly the greatest witch hunt that’s existed in American politics. ---
**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 18, 2017, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/143 "2017-05-18T12:52:24Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Seriously? Why bring up Hillary/Benghazi/email now? All that happened when the Republicans were the opposition party. Now that the media is the opposition party, the witch hunting is bigger. This is a surety. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/144 "2017-05-18T13:29:22Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > I’d love to see Trump answer questions under oath for 11 hours. He can’t even give a five minute interview without making a fool of himself. I’d even start with snowball questions: popular vote totals, inauguration crowd size, and his personal wealth totals. ---
**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 18, 2017, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/145 "2017-05-18T13:33:50Z")
Wrong thread, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/146 "2017-05-18T13:37:26Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > I’d even start with snowball questions: popular vote totals, inauguration crowd size, and his personal wealth totals. You forgot size of hands. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/147 "2017-05-18T13:44:31Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > You forgot size of hands. Nope. I was saving that for the “Columbo” moment. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/148 "2017-05-18T13:47:50Z")
> [@Tzigone](#): > > When she said it, I agreed with her. Investigate now, then proceed to impeachment or not based on what is found is exactly the right thing to do. Don’t impeach unless you think you can succeed in removal. And I didn’t think we were near that two days ago - not with actual evidence. Pelosi is smart. First, there’s only going to be one chance, so better make it count. Second, Trump is the gift that keeps giving for Democratic elections. Let the Republicans make the hard choice between a president destroying their party or they doing it themselves. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/149 "2017-05-18T15:50:22Z")
She’s probably counting on the Pubbies to do everything they can to delay proceedings. The upside of that is bringing the whole mess along closer to the midterms. Then, with a bit of luck she might be in line right after Pence. Now, there isn’t much chance of Pence going down with Trump, but it can’t hurt. Smarter Republicans might well prefer to rip the bandage off right now, and start working on recovering. I agree that this might well be the smartest move, which is why I doubt it will happen. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/150 "2017-05-18T15:50:25Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Read her carefully, though. She’s not saying, “We’re not gonna impeach.” She’s saying, “You’re gonna need a strong case before talking about impeachment.” > > So yeah, I guess that’s momentum-dampening–but it might just be making sure your gun’s loaded before pulling the trigger. More immediately, it would be avoiding taking the Republicans off the hook for their own mess. When the other guys are energetically making themselves look like idiots, the appropriate response is to appear adultlike, pursing one’s lips except for a Tsk-tsk, and sadly shaking one’s head. Which is what she’s doing. It isn’t as if the Democrats can \*threaten \*impeachment anyway, but they can certainly let the Republicans put themselves into such a tight spot that they have to do it themselves. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/151 "2017-05-18T16:08:24Z")
The day after the special prosecutor was named, [Chaffetz decided to bail out](https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/jason-chaffetz-set-to-announce-he-will-leave-congress-in-june/2017/05/18/45488fae-3bdd-11e7-9e48-c4f199710b69_story.html?utm_term=.d4884fdd84fc). Koinkydink? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/152 "2017-05-18T16:32:29Z")
> **[Chaffetz questions whether Comey memos are 'actually there'](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/chaffetz-questions-comey-memos/story?id=47480863)** > > Chair of House Oversight Committee expressed skepticism without Comey testimony. > [@](#): > > …“I think in the light of day in a public setting he should be able to tell us about the materials, if they’re there, and I question whether or not they’re actually there,” he said, adding that he has yet to hear back from Comey about his request for public testimony, which he hopes to schedule for next week… Let it be dully noted that he is _not_ saying that Mr Comey is lying about possessing such memos. Except maybe sorta kinda. ---
**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 18, 2017, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/153 "2017-05-18T16:48:26Z")
Comey has not (to my knowledge) publically claimed that that the memo exists. It’s a NYT report. Chaffetz is apparently somewhat skeptical of that report. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/154 "2017-05-18T16:52:27Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Comey has not (to my knowledge) publically claimed that that the memo exists. It’s a NYT report. Chaffetz is apparently somewhat skeptical of that report. It’s been independently confirmed by multiple outlets, including Fox News. ---
**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 18, 2017, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/155 "2017-05-18T16:57:44Z")
It doesn’t sound like Chaffetz was aware of that. He only referenced the NYT (& said that their reporter had not actually seen the memo). ---
**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, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/156 "2017-05-19T01:00:39Z")
Chaffetz is an ambition-crazed weasel. Trust him at your peril. And ours. ---
**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, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/157 "2017-05-19T02:40:24Z")
Is Pence’s camp [circling the wagons?](https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2017/05/18/source-pence-never-informed-about-flynn.html): \* Vice President Mike Pence has been kept in the dark about former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn’s alleged wrongdoing, according to a source close to the administration, who cited a potential “pattern” of not informing the vice president and calling it “malpractice or intentional, and either are unacceptable.”\* Not sure how he can claim to be in the dark when he was [directly informed.](http://www.businessinsider.com/elijah-cummings-letter-to-mike-pence-about-flynn-turkey-lobbying-2017-3) ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/158 "2017-05-19T03:41:45Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Is Pence’s camp [circling the wagons?](https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2017/05/18/source-pence-never-informed-about-flynn.html): > \* > Vice President Mike Pence has been kept in the dark about former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn’s alleged wrongdoing, according to a source close to the administration, who cited a potential “pattern” of not informing the vice president and calling it “malpractice or intentional, and either are unacceptable.”\* > > Not sure how he can claim to be in the dark when he was [directly informed.](http://www.businessinsider.com/elijah-cummings-letter-to-mike-pence-about-flynn-turkey-lobbying-2017-3) Santa Claus has millions of letters mailed to him a year. Having a letter mailed to you and reading that letter are significantly different things. Not to say that Pence is innocent, but it’s pretty easy to explain that an assistant didn’t forward it, that it was shelved because it was from a Democrat, etc. One might also suggest that, if he’d been aware of Flynn’s issues, he would have been less inclined to have given the one interview where he vouched for him. Hard to say at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/159 "2017-05-19T10:20:55Z")
The letter from Elijah Cummings to Mike Pence came four days after Flynn’s lobbying efforts had already made the news. > [@Business Insider](#): > > Cummings sent the letter four days after both The Daily Caller and Politico reported that Flynn’s consulting firm, Flynn Intel Group Inc., had been hired to lobby for Turkish interests. > > “Recent news reports have revealed that Lt. Gen. Flynn was receiving classified briefings during the presidential campaign while his consulting firm, Flynn Intel Group, Inc., was being paid to lobby the U.S. Government on behalf of a foreign government’s interests,” Cummings wrote. > > “Lt. Gen. Flynn’s General Counsel and Principal, Robert Kelley, confirmed that they were hired by a foreign company to lobby for Turkish interests, stating: ‘They want to keep posted on what we all want to be informed of: the present situation, the transition between President Obama and President-Elect Trump.’ When asked whether the firm had been hired because of Lt. Gen. Flynn’s close ties to President-elect Trump, Mr. Kelley responded, ‘I hope so.’” > > Pence’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment. So he can try the “Oh, well, you know the Post Office, amirite?” line if he wants but Robert Mueller is unlikely to fall for it. No reason why the rest of us should, either. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785/160 "2017-05-19T10:24:54Z")
Oh - here’s Slate’s Trump Impeach-O-Meter, for your daily “Are We There Yet?” needs. > **[Introducing the Impeach-O-Meter](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2017/05/today-s-trump-impeach-o-meter-introduction.html)** > > It's the speculative, unscientific impeachment odds column you didn't know you needed! Currently standing at 30%. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-a-feeling-of-momentum-for-impeachment/786785.md?page=9)