# The Trump Administration: A Clusterfuck in the Making Part Deux (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 22, 2020, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083 "2020-06-22T03:36:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 105
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2091 "2020-08-08T18:40:53Z")
He’s accelerating the harm he causes, but he’s been hurting us this whole time. Apparently his reelection strategy is to go faster. ---
**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:** [August 8, 2020, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2092 "2020-08-08T18:41:47Z")
I think it’s getting to the point where they can start fucking over the base thoroughly without fear of the consequences. The decimation of the Postal Service is really going to do bad things to the elderly and rural populations. Then end game seems to be a few fortunate aristocrats/oligarchs extracting as much money and labor as possible from a vast underclass, and any surplus peasants are left to die. No more middle class. No more moderately wealthy. It will all be billionaires and serfs. ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2093 "2020-08-08T18:42:46Z")
Ooh, obviously the concern expressed by Congress really scared the Postmaster General 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2094 "2020-08-08T19:19:12Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Apparently Individual 1 got into a shouting match with Sherman Adelson and pissed off his megadonor. Oh, no. Nitpik: Sheldon Sherman Adelson got into a fight with John Barron. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2095 "2020-08-08T20:10:30Z")
Here is a non-paywalled link to a NYT article that makes a chilling read. It is a nicely researched chronicle of Trump’s hair raising disregard for intelligence, intelligence briefings, intelligence agencies, and what he’s replaced them with. > **[Unwanted Truths: Inside Trump’s Battles With U.S. Intelligence Agencies...](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/08/magazine/us-russia-intelligence.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUktbfq4hkQFUbCybQVNcuvByAiL_S2_kmm2TlLSHQSDBewuARAoeN_UzAI6p_Yt95lxKqeOh8Cp59Dvpj0r0YeEV3VwijppbDlpgPfSk-89L2Vzg40deQBuhotG_jNzf8c-kmm7TjtEuLa2XrS7WfhSN6XHtto5tncVCs2nIalOySQqMuhI4Ijbp2DYt6RDwCeCCAo_Dibh58M9yBZRndgRIkD6AbAXqA2I7BtM9TNVlaGlnET3pg4Gcj69g6O9ofPar3LxNIa9NWmO4-dmVOkIpt1E-370-d&smid=url-share)** > > Last year, intelligence officials gathered to write a classified report on Russia’s interest in the 2020 election. An investigation from the magazine uncovered what happened next. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2096 "2020-08-08T21:13:04Z")
This might deserve it’s own thread, but I gotta ask: How exactly does Trump’s just-signed executive order extending unemployment benefits have any force behind it at all? 🤨 ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2097 "2020-08-08T21:18:07Z")
I hope some conservative group sues to block it – if they win, the constitution is upheld, and, hey, if they lose, we get some needed money for unemployed people. Bad for the constitution, but it might keep a few folks in their homes. (And it makes the conservative group “the bad guy.” Win/Half-Win/Win!) ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2098 "2020-08-08T21:27:32Z")
Can someone explain this exec order from today? Seems like the $400 /wk for unemployed looks okay. How long is that extended for? What about second stimulus checks and evictions? ---
**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:** [August 8, 2020, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2099 "2020-08-08T21:33:24Z")
Here’s what’s going to happen. He’s going to issue an executive order that forbids insurance companies from turning down people with pre-existing conditions. But there won’t be any price restrictions. People with really expensive pre-existing conditions will be able to buy insurance but the premium might be 250K a month. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2100 "2020-08-08T23:25:13Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > How exactly does Trump’s just-signed executive order extending unemployment benefits have any force behind it at all? Technically, it (and the payroll tax holiday) don’t because taxing and spending authority — the “power of the purse” — resides with Congress. I have a sneaking suspicion that this is yet another attempt to arrogate power to himself. If it succeeds, he has at least some grounds to claim that he can levy taxes and allocate revenues as he sees fit. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2101 "2020-08-08T23:33:06Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > Technically, it (and the payroll tax holiday) don’t because taxing and spending authority — the “power of the purse” — resides with Congress. > > I have a sneaking suspicion that this is yet another attempt to arrogate power to himself. If it succeeds, he has at least some grounds to claim that he can levy taxes and allocate revenues as he sees fit.- More theater. ALL he cares about is how something looks. The reality and/or the actual effect don’t matter one bit. ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2102 "2020-08-08T23:33:41Z")
I’ve seen at least a couple of conservative commentators already tugging at their collars about this on Twitter; if Trump establishes this as a precedent, they’re panicking over what a future Democratic President might try. ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2103 "2020-08-08T23:34:49Z")
If a Democratic President had issued orders like this, a conservative advocacy group would be filing a lawsuit as we speak over it. But, they might not want to do so in this situation, primarily for the optics (Trump ranting about how they are suing to take away unemployment benefits). ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2104 "2020-08-09T01:13:48Z")
This has to be challenged, right? If it isn’t challenged, why would we need a Congress anymore? FFS if it’s challenged and the courts let it go through, why would we need a Congress anymore? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2105 "2020-08-09T01:25:44Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > This has to be challenged, right? If it isn’t challenged,- Who’s going to challenge it? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2106 "2020-08-09T01:27:00Z")
The elected officials who’s purview is being trod upon. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2107 "2020-08-09T01:46:26Z")
Right. Much as the money is needed, this should be struck down by the courts. A president arbitrarily allocating monies by executive order seems ripe for all sorts of shenanigans. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2108 "2020-08-09T02:08:24Z")
I’m not at all happy with the way the media is treating this. Any mention of the fact that Trump cannot do this is buried at the bottom of the story, if it’s mentioned at all. And the headlines just say “he did it”, as if there’s no question about it. > **[Trump allows some unemployment pay, defers payroll tax](https://apnews.com/555a34baec6ce9ee9b532799fca58bc6)** > > BEDMINSTER, N.J. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Saturday bypassed the nation's lawmakers as he claimed the authority to defer payroll taxes and replace an expired unemployment benefit with a lower amount after negotiations with Congress on a new... > **[Trump signs executive orders after coronavirus relief talks falter](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/511186-trump-signs-orders-on-unemployment-benefits-payroll-tax-after-talks/)** > > President Trump on Saturday signed orders to extend unemployment benefits, suspend payroll taxes, and offer federal eviction and student loan relief, taking unilateral action that is on shaky legal… At least the Washington Post is giving me my $29 worth: [Trump attempts to wrest tax and spending powers from Congress with new executive actions](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/08/08/trump-executive-order-coronavirus/) (hey; why didn’t the preview thingy work with the WaPo link?) > **[Trump attempts to wrest tax and spending powers from Congress with new...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/08/08/trump-executive-order-coronavirus/)** ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2109 "2020-08-09T03:29:09Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Woj said Madagascar may be available. Not any more, they closed their ports when the pandemic hit. ---
**Author:** ![ricksummon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ricksummon/32/3333_2.png) [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2110 "2020-08-09T04:13:31Z")
Turns out only one of the four things Trump signed is actually an executive order at all: [3 of the 4 ‘executive orders’ Trump signed weren’t actually executive orders](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/8/8/1967730/-At-executive-order-signing-event-Trump-lies-taunts-the-press-sows-fear-and-disses-Democrats) Not only that, he didn’t actually do anything to stop evictions; he asked HUD to “consider” if evictions should stop. If the landlords want Ben Carson to “consider” things their way, they should give him some new luggage. 😁 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=104) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=106)