# What is Pelosi's strategy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 27, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465 "2019-12-27T19:53:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/41 "2019-12-29T21:25:23Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > He sees no distinction between “good for the country” and “good for Trump” Surely he does. If it is good for country, but bad for Trump, it won’t happen. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/42 "2019-12-29T21:38:28Z")
I am going with **Irruncible**. I assume Trump is fighting releasing his tax returns because they will reveal something that even McConnell cannot ignore. However, if that does not happen, I predict that Murkowski, Collins, and Romney will join all the rest of turkeys in the end. They talk the talk, but will not walk the walk. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/43 "2019-12-29T22:41:12Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > “Claims” ? [It was rather widely covered at the time](https://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/13/democrat-impeachment-trump-infighting-239482), though she did say it behind closed doors. Ok, but the rest of the article is (more) evidence of that playing out. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/44 "2019-12-29T23:03:17Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > What crimes are those, if it’s not too much trouble? > > If it IS too much trouble, same question. I’m not feeling particularly charitable today. I’LL START!! Trump “University”. Pam Bondi, the Florida DA sought a ‘donation’ from Trump when she was considering criminal charges. She got it and dropped any investigation. They are both guilty. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/45 "2019-12-29T23:50:02Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Surely he does. If it is good for country, but bad for Trump, it won’t happen. In Trump’s head, there is no such possibility. If it’s good for him, it’s good for the country by definition. To Trump, they are one and the same. Please note that this viewpoint is completely detached from reality and exists only in TrumpWorld. But it’s the mantra that guides him in thought,word and deed. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2019, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/46 "2019-12-29T23:51:44Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I think that Pelosi is generally quite politically astute, but in this case I think she’s made a mistake. By holding onto the impeachment, she lets McConnell and Trump completely ignore it at no cost to either of them. Send it over. Yes, we know that the Senate is going to vote to acquit, but force them to get those votes on record. There are at least a few Senators for whom that will matter with their electorate. There’s no mistake. **The Senate is in recess** anyway, so there’s no consequence. By holding it, she allows the media more time to focus attention on her talking points, which is that Trump is not allowing witnesses to come forward and that the Senate is going to make this impeachment trial a sham. But there’s not much she can do beyond what she has already. She can only hold the articles for so long, and I predict she’ll release them once the Senate is ready for a trial. ---
**Author:** ![sfriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@sfriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sfriver)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/47 "2019-12-30T01:13:45Z")
By holding it she has destroyed the idea ‘Trump is Evil and Must be Removed Immediately!’. Now Pelosi is holding it simply to savor the one political win the democrats have in the last three years. Trump hasnt committed any “high crimes or misdemeanors”, or even been accused of any in the impeachment indictments. Pelosi HAS abused her power by using quid pro quo with the impeachment documents to try to influence a Senate-run trial. She isn’t in the Senate and has no authority there. Where was the outrage when Trump was investigated by the previous administration for political motives in 2016? An investigation the IG report has shown to be corrupt? ---
**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:** [December 30, 2019, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/48 "2019-12-30T02:07:08Z")
> [@sfriver](#): > > By holding it she has destroyed the idea ‘Trump is Evil and Must be Removed Immediately!’. Now Pelosi is holding it simply to savor the one political win the democrats have in the last three years. > > Trump hasnt committed any “high crimes or misdemeanors”, or even been accused of any in the impeachment indictments. > > Pelosi HAS abused her power by using quid pro quo with the impeachment documents to try to influence a Senate-run trial. She isn’t in the Senate and has no authority there. > > Where was the outrage when Trump was investigated by the previous administration for political motives in 2016? An investigation the IG report has shown to be corrupt? Oh wow, this poster has been here for such a long time and contributed so much – like so many of the other “posters” here the last few weeks. Coincidence that we’re having server problems, too, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/49 "2019-12-30T02:29:02Z")
> [@sfriver](#): > > Trump hasnt committed any “high crimes or misdemeanors”, or even been accused of any in the impeachment indictments. The President was just concerned about law breaking, right? We expect our president to investigate crime, don’t we? Can you remind me what law breaking Trump was investigating? > [@](#): > > Where was the outrage when Trump was investigated by the previous administration for political motives in 2016? An investigation the IG report has shown to be corrupt? So, a President conducting an investigation for political motives is outrageous? ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/50 "2019-12-30T04:09:56Z")
> [@sfriver](#): > > By holding it she has destroyed the idea ‘Trump is Evil and Must be Removed Immediately!’. Now Pelosi is holding it simply to savor the one political win the democrats have in the last three years. Since there’s no prospect of removing Tramp immediately, that argument is specious. > [@](#): > > Trump hasnt committed any “high crimes or misdemeanors”, or even been accused of any in the impeachment indictments. High crimes include abuse of power and obstruction of justice, of which he has bragged. Bribery is impeachable, too, and he’s bragged of giving and taking bribes. He really has impeached himself. > [@](#): > > Pelosi HAS abused her power by using quid pro quo with the impeachment documents to try to influence a Senate-run trial. She isn’t in the Senate and has no authority there. Congress, led by Speaker Pelosi, constitutionally has exclusive power to impeach (indict) the President or any other federal officer. She gets to present the articles of impeachment i.e. turn over the indictment whenever she sees fit. The accused does not get to dictate timing. > [@](#): > > Where was the outrage when Trump was investigated by the previous administration for political motives in 2016? An investigation the IG report has shown to be corrupt? Tramp’s team were investigated before 2016 because Russian assets. Quite justified. Note that Putin’s defense minister and Tramp’s UN ambassador, both cabinet officers, declared that Russia is waging war on the US. See the Constitutional definition of treason. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/51 "2019-12-30T12:28:57Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Oh wow, this poster has been here for such a long time and contributed so much – like so many of the other “posters” here the last few weeks. > > Coincidence that we’re having server problems, too, I’m sure. That’ll earn you a warning, asahi. Don’t be a jerk. ---
**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:** [December 30, 2019, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/52 "2019-12-30T23:51:47Z")
Another reason to hold the articles: to provide time to explore the theory that Trump may have committed a felony back in 2017 when he revealed to Russian officials the identity of an Israeli agent. Laurence Tribe mentions the part of the US Code Trump may have violated: > [@](#): > > Laurence Tribe‏Verified account @tribelaw 10h10 hours ago > > Laurence Tribe Retweeted Laurence Tribe > LITTLE-NOTED LEGAL FACT: 18 USC §794 appears to make Trump’s decision to leak the Israeli agent’s identity to Russia a felony: that anti-espionage law is NOT limited to “classified” information, nor is a sitting president exempt from that crucial criminal statute. > > Laurence Tribe added, > Laurence TribeVerified account @tribelaw > Reminds me of Trump’s outing to Lavrov and Kislyak of an Israeli secret agent in Syria when he met with them in the WH right after firing Comey [https://twitter.com/BarbMcQuade/status/1211007877399351297](https://twitter.com/BarbMcQuade/status/1211007877399351297) > > > Laurence Tribe 🇺🇦 ⚖️ @tribelaw There was a lot of outrage at the time, but so far as I know there hasn’t been much mention of the US Code relating to the incident. The May 10, 2017 meeting: > [@](#): > > \*\*President Donald Trump infuriated the US and Israeli intelligence communities when he disclosed details of a highly classified Israeli operation to Russian officials earlier this year. > > Vanity Fair reported on Thursday that a top US official told the Israelis in January that Russia had “leverages of pressure” over Trump.\*\* > **[Bombshell report reveals new details about Trump's Oval Office meeting with...](https://www.businessinsider.com/bombshell-report-trump-oval-office-meeting-russians-comey-2017-11)** > > President Donald Trump infuriated US and Israeli officials when he disclosed details of a highly classified Israeli intelligence operation to Russian officials. ---
**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:** [December 31, 2019, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/53 "2019-12-31T17:19:16Z")
One other theory I’ve seen- Pelosi wants the trial not to be completed before the State of the Union speech. So instead of hearing him boast about total exoneration, he’s going to rant and rave about how he’s such a victim. He could possibly melt down in front of a national audience. I figure that’s worth a shot. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2019, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/54 "2019-12-31T17:50:49Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > One other theory I’ve seen- Pelosi wants the trial not to be completed before the State of the Union speech. So instead of hearing him boast about total exoneration, he’s going to rant and rave about how he’s such a victim. He could possibly melt down in front of a national audience. I figure that’s worth a shot. I don’t think that’s a goal of the strategy, but it seems like it would be a great fringe benefit. The visual of Pelosi looking over Trump’s shoulder during the SOTU address, happening while the Senate trial is ongoing, would be pretty cool, especially as everyone (and the news coverage) would remember Pelosi’s “clap back” from last SOTU. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2019, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/55 "2019-12-31T18:13:37Z")
Has he accepted the invitation for the SOTU? ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2019, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/56 "2019-12-31T18:50:58Z")
If she sends the articles over now, it’s pretty much a given that they will be laughed at and given short shrift. My best guess is that she’s holding them back to deliver if Trump triumphs in 2020. I don’t know what the odds are that the senate will flip during the election, but that could be part of her calculus as well. Better to hang onto a shot to remove him from office at the beginning of the next term than waste it on no chance now. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/57 "2019-12-31T19:40:22Z")
> [@RioRico](#): > > Q: What is Speaker Pelosi’s strategy? > A: Ask her, not us. We can only guess. What’s her username here? I’ll PM her. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2019, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/58 "2019-12-31T19:47:46Z")
My take would be that Granny Nancy is following a strategy of keeping her options open. There is too much happening, pretty much relentlessly. It is usually preferable to decide on a solid strategy going forward, but not always. Because usually a “solid” strategy requires commitment that excludes other approaches which may prove to be more valuable. Shit happens, especially when there is an abundance of assholes. The Pubbies have an out. Vote to proceed with witnesses, on the pretext of wanting a full, fair trial that acquits Il Douche. Accuse those who oppose this as having insufficient faith in the total innocence of Himself. If public opinion gets scary, they can say they were shockedshocked at the revelations of sworn testimony, and are now willing to consider censure. By which, they can hope to appease the Trump base and still claim some civic virtue. Reasonable, utterly corrupt and cynical, whats not for a Senate Republican to love? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2019, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/59 "2019-12-31T20:02:20Z")
Also, there’s this by way of HuffPo and **CalMeacham** (hat tip) > **[Ex-Bush Aides Share Theory About Pelosi Delaying Trump’s Senate Trial](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ex-bush-aides-trump-pelosi-trial_n_5e0b0b59e4b0b2520d1a96ac)** > > It involves the upcoming State of the Union address and a potential "live meltdown on national TV." > [@](#): > > …“Imagine what it would be like if he got to give the SOTU having been cleared by the Senate ― it would be a full-blown triumphal rant,” Rosenzweig wrote. > > “But if the impeachment is still pending, it might, instead, be an unhinged narcissistic screed of almost unimaginable insanity,” he added. “Just think of how painful it would be for 53 Republican Senators to sit in the halls of Congress, watching a live meltdown on national TV. That, alone, would be worth the price of admission.” > > “Maybe I’m wrong and this hasn’t crossed her mind ― but I love the idea,” he concluded… ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2020, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465/60 "2020-01-01T15:35:39Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Troublesome for all those industrious folks: the fact that there are no FBI (headed by a Trump appointee, and ultimately by Trump protector William Barr) or CIA (also headed by a Trump appointee) investigations into the supposedly-criminal Bidens. If Barr thought he could get away with announcing such investigations, of course he would have done so. > > And those who are the target of the propaganda are bound to ask why Barr hasn’t done this, if there’s evidence of wrongdoing by a Biden. [A reporter asked Trump that question, and Trump didn’t have an answer.](https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1192890122376634369) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-pelosis-strategy/845465.md?page=4)