# Why are the Democrats so hell bent to Impeach Trump? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 28, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755 "2019-07-28T15:06:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/41 "2019-07-29T11:23:30Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > They are hellbent because they are suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome. They cannot accept the fact that they were beaten by a mere amateur and it makes them too crazy to think clearly. No, that’s something your kind made up so you can pretend criticism of Trump isn’t valid. You don’t have to defend Trump’s use of concentration camps if you just declare the person criticizing Trump’s camps to be deranged. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/42 "2019-07-29T12:43:37Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > What crimes has he been convicted of? Is \*that \*really the hill you’re determined to hold? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/43 "2019-07-29T13:08:21Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m trying to understand why the Democrats are risking the next election over impeaching Trump. > > Can we all agree that no evidence of collusion was ever found between the Trump campaign and Russia? Lack of evidence is not evidence of lack. There was nothing immediately damning, but the report did NOT exonerate him despite his claims to the contrary. There is a lack of evidence of guilt, not proof of innocence. Those two things are not the same thing. > [@](#): > > Yes, Trump ranted about the investigation. Yes he threatened to fire Mueller. That can be viewed as obstruction of justice. Yes. And obstructing justice is, in my opinion, a perfectly valid reason to remove a person from public office. Justice should not be obstructed. > [@racer72](#): > > I hang around those of the liberal bent and no one really wants Trump impeached. Many, like me, fear Pence more than Trump. Having lived four years with Pence as governor I can’t declare he’s worse than Trump, but he’s certainly no better. It will be a slightly different flavor of shit-storm, but still a shit-storm that’s all. > [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > I don’t agree with Pence’s politics, but Pence hasn’t done these things, at least not in public, so hell yes, I’d rather have him as president than Trump. As someone in one of the groups Pence has and would target were he in a position of power and influence I don’t want him in charge any more than Trump, I want them both gone. But removing Trump might be sufficiently disruptive and enough of a warning to keep Pence under control. We managed to get some of Pence’s bullshit (like legalized discrimination based on religion) rolled back in Indiana, so there’s some hope of reigning in his worst behavior. > [@](#): > > This behavior is not normal, and it is not acceptable in ways that go well beyond any specific policy disagreements I may have with this administration. It’s not normal that Pence feels a need to be chaperoned around women. WTF? He needs a babysitter? He has no self-control? How ridiculous. > [@aceplace57](#): > > Continuing an ever expanding partisan investigation into Trump’s affairs will generate more sympathy from sections of the country. Fairness means a lot in fly over country. Yes, it does. Some of us here in fly-over country feel that stripping children of their parents and keeping them unwashed and underfed in cages is unfair. As just one example. This may shock you but “fly-over country” is not a monolithic block of mindless drones all thinking the same thoughts. > [@](#): > > Trump already does a lot of stupid things that will cost him votes in the next election. Let’s not give him back votes with a partisan Dem investigation that goes nowhere So… you’re saying we shouldn’t talk about anything bad the Trump administration does? WTF? > [@DrFidelius](#): > > Because anyone who promised to “lock up” their opponent as part of their campaign rhetoric is a clear and present danger to American soceity. ^ This. ---
**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 29, 2019, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/44 "2019-07-29T13:10:15Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > They don’t think they are risking the election. The Mueller report fell flat, the Dems recognized that it fell flat, they tried hearings to get Mueller to say what the report didn’t, he didn’t, now they want impeachment hearings to motivate the base and blow enough smoke to make it look like they are onto something. If the report is such a “dud”, why are the President, the AG, FoxNews, and supporters such as yourself putting so much effort into misrepresenting what it says? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/45 "2019-07-29T13:36:32Z")
The shortage of evidence of conspiracy was directly the result of Individual-1’s obstruction of justice, which is itself a crime. Really, Mueller did lay all that out. Horse, water. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/46 "2019-07-29T13:39:11Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Does it really require impeachment? Most polls indicate the American people don’t think so. Philosophical question for you: in order to deter crime, do you think it is sometimes wise to take official action to react to a violation of the law, even thought the ultimate appropriate punishment may not be handed down? For example, cop sees someone speeding. They pull them over, but let them off with a warning as opposed to a ticket. Or, teenagers are making a nuisance in a quiet neighborhood. Cop puts them in the back seat of the cruiser but doesn’t really intend to arrest and prosecute them. These are the sort of things where police can put the perpetrator on notice, so that both the criminal and others who may follow in their footsteps know that they are being watched. Are you against giving warnings for speeding, or letting teenagers go free after hopefully scaring them straight a bit? If you aren’t, you should explain why the House shouldn’t put this President on the same type of notice for his corrupt actions. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/47 "2019-07-29T14:07:20Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > It’s not enough to simply vote him out of office. I want to see him tarred & feathered and driven out in handcuffs, sent directly to jail, do not collect $200, and his only legacy being a biography titled, “Chapter 7”, while his progeny is forced to eek out a living starring in Celebrity Rehab, seasons 7, 8, 9…etc. …with his hair sent to some petting zoo… ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/48 "2019-07-29T14:08:26Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > We’re hellbent on having slow, draggy-assed hearings over the 2020 primary election which keeps Trump’s (and the GOP’s) corruption in the public eye daily. > > But thanks for your concern! We got it from here now, kthxbye. ^This. I expect that impeachment proceedings will happen during next summer. This is part of the political strategy. _We may not know how to fix the country, but we’re better than this guy!_ ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/49 "2019-07-29T14:22:50Z")
> [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](#): > > …with his hair sent to some petting zoo… Actually, [no.](http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/science-sushi/2016/10/06/donald-trump-caterpillar/#.XT8A39h7mUk) > [@](#): > > But while the adult is a plush hybrid between moth and cat, the young caterpillar’s golden hairs are not just fluff. The Donald Trump Caterpillar isn’t just a surprisingly-accurate mimic of The Donald’s hair—it’s even more venomous than its namesake. The lovely waves of dandelion “fur” which so perfectly emulate the Republican candidate’s locks are actually dangerous spines capable of delivering potent toxins. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/50 "2019-07-29T14:52:29Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m very concerned \*\*fringe elements \*\*of Democrats aren’t going to allow that to happen. > [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > He has broken the law and should be impeached. We risk the balance of powers if Congress cedes all responsibility in this. > [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Personally, I want to see him impeached – even though the chances he’ll be convicted and removed are almost nil, and even though it _could_ backfire politically, although I don’t think it necessarily will – because there are things public officials cannot be allowed to do with impunity in a country that has the rule of law. Firing people in an attempt to make an investigation go away is one of them (and I think it is pretty well documented that Trump did this to Comey and Sessions, even if he didn’t succeed in doing it to Mueller), as is paying hush money to kill a damaging story right before an election, defying or threatening to defy the courts, and threatening potential witnesses before they testify against you. > > I don’t agree with Pence’s politics, but Pence hasn’t done these things, at least not in public, so hell yes, I’d rather have him as president than Trump. This behavior is not normal, and it is not acceptable in ways that go well beyond any specific policy disagreements I may have with this administration. The highlighted is the major factor: The US has gotten to the point where support for carrying out the normal, Constitutionally-defined practices of Congress is now somehow considered to be a “fringe” position deserving of scorn and ridicule. It’s beyond obvious that any previous President would have been impeached under these circumstances. And there’s a good chance that the Senate would actually have convicted them following impeachment. But the GOP has gone so far overboard on supporting Trump in spite of all his blatantly obvious flaws that they’ll never convict him, and likely would never even vote to impeach. And that complete abdication of their responsibilities as members of Congress needs to be highlighted in the most unambiguous fashion possible: put them on record as having publicly voted _for_ Trump rather than _against_ him. Let none of them try to slink out from under the judgment of the voters, or history, by trying to weasel out of having supported him in his worst behaviours. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2019, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/51 "2019-07-29T14:52:42Z")
Impeachment without conviction-and the Senate will not convict-will be viewed by Trump and his voters as victory, and strengthen the beliefs of those voters. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/52 "2019-07-29T14:56:39Z")
Why did Republicans challenge Obama so often about his birth and all? You always want to see the other Party’s candidate driven out of the highest office in the land. That and he deserves it. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/53 "2019-07-29T15:02:57Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Why are the Democrats so hell bent to Impeach Trump? Because the constitution says that that is what we are supposed to do in situations like this. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/54 "2019-07-29T15:37:36Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > If the report is such a “dud”, why are the President, the AG, FoxNews, and supporters such as yourself putting so much effort into misrepresenting what it says? You are mistaking who held the hearings to try to get Mueller to say something the report didn’t. I posted the link to the exchange between Chris Wallace and Stephen Colbert in another thread. It is, I think, an accurate assessment of what the somewhat more sensible Democrats recognize - there is no “there” there. The report doesn’t give any more reason to impeach than the Dems had two years ago. All the lipstick in the world ain’t gonna make that pig into Miss America. Not that they won’t try. We are going to have hearings for the next two years. Or, possibly, six. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/55 "2019-07-29T15:49:39Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@D\_Anconia](#): > > What crimes has he been convicted of? We have had some post reports about this, so let me clarify a couple of things. First of all, if an accusation is made that someone is a criminal, **D’Anconia** is free to ask what the basis of that is, so there’s no problem with this post. Second, this is IMHO. While other forums (like GQ) might require a cite and an actual criminal conviction, just the opinion that the individual has criminal-like characteristics is more than enough for this forum. It’s just a poster’s opinion, and this is the forum for opinions, so “the court of The Hall of Gatopescado’s Bar, Grill, Micro-brew and Foreign Car service” is a perfectly acceptable cite for this forum, as is someone just calling someone a criminal just because they think they act like one. > [@Gatopescado](#): > > “Mad Dickery” and “Assholishness” in the court of The Hall of Gatopescado’s Bar, Grill, Micro-brew and Foreign Car service. > > Look it up, Bitch! I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that your “Look it up, Bitch!” wasn’t meant as an insult, but since it could be taken that way, please refrain from comments like that in this forum. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/56 "2019-07-29T15:54:03Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > You are mistaking who held the hearings to try to get Mueller to say something the report didn’t. Nobody did that. The hearings were to break through the wall of denial about what it \*did \*say by creating the necessary soundbites for those who obtain their only information that way. > [@](#): > > The report doesn’t give any more reason to impeach than the Dems had two years ago. And there was plenty of reason two years ago. Some of us do still believe in democracy and the principles of the Constitution. For others, those are inconvenient. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2019, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/57 "2019-07-29T16:01:06Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Impeachment without conviction-and the Senate will not convict-will be viewed by Trump and his voters as victory, and strengthen the beliefs of those voters. ? So? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/58 "2019-07-29T16:11:58Z")
Bill Clinton, under hyper-partisan investigation, lied under oath about cheating on his wife. Republicans began impeachment hearings as a result. He shouldn’t have cheated on his wife. He shouldn’t have lied under oath. Trump refused to appear and be placed under oath. Had he done so, and had he lied, Republicans would be covering for him and claiming that he should not be impeached. (He did supply some written responses to questions that Mueller said were untruthful.) Republicans don’t give a shit about that. They are, as can be observed, covering for him. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/59 "2019-07-29T16:13:34Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > ? > > So? They’ll vote for him, as they would anyway, but use extra force on the pen when they fill in the circle? ---
**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:** [July 29, 2019, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755/60 "2019-07-29T16:18:44Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Yeah, this is the main reason. Dems remain totally disconnected from the folks in flyover country. That’s one way to see it. Another way to see it is that folks in Trump country are disconnected from the rest of America. Still another way to see it is that stupid, racist and scared is no way to live. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-democrats-so-hell-bent-to-impeach-trump/837755.md?page=4)