# 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:** 148
**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 30, 2020, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2957 "2020-08-30T23:36:41Z")
Are we allowed to put down Melania in this thread? I ask because although she had no problems using Michelle Obama’s speech, [it seems she wouldn’t use her shower or toilet](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/29/new-melania-trump-tell-all-book-404926). > **[8 juicy details from the new Melania Trump tell-all book](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/29/new-melania-trump-tell-all-book-404926)** > > For his inauguration, the president wanted a North Korean-style military parade, right down to the “goose-stepping troops and armored tanks.” ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2958 "2020-08-30T23:48:41Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > And the “base” refuses to believe it when you tell them they’re being ripped off. What can you do? Encourage them to donate more. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2020, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2959 "2020-08-30T23:50:46Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Apparently, there a lot of profit to be had in whipping up fear. I don’t see a problem. Isn’t that how American Capitalism works? Attempt to extract the maximum profit by producing the minimum product? ---
**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:** [August 31, 2020, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2960 "2020-08-31T00:12:08Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > > [@elucidator](#): > > > > College Republicans United wrote: “Kyle Rittenhouse does not deserve to have his entire life destroyed because of the actions of violent anarchists during a lawless riot.” > > His life is NOT being destroyed “because of the actions of violent anarchists”. Rittenhouse’s life is being “destroyed” because of HIS actions. No one else’s. This is the unspoken promise of Trumpism: you can do whatever you wish—no matter how irresponsible and destructive. And you will never be held accountable. In fact, you will be praised and supported. It’s the Party of Tall Toddlers. ---
**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:** [August 31, 2020, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2961 "2020-08-31T00:15:58Z")
I grew up in Trump country and until about 2018 had a fair number of MAGAbots on my FB feed. Let’s just say that they don’t see it that way. It’s _their_ country. ---
**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 31, 2020, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2962 "2020-08-31T00:25:43Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Are we allowed to put down Melania in this thread? Yeah, baby. Bring it! ---
**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 31, 2020, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2963 "2020-08-31T03:24:45Z")
What’s the proper female form of “comrade” to use when we mention the non-bullying, Rose-garden officianado? ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2964 "2020-08-31T03:43:43Z")
> **[What does ‘comrade’ actually mean in Russian?](https://www.rbth.com/education/330615-what-comrade-tovarisch-mean-russian)** > > Soviet bad guys in Hollywood movies often address each other with ‘comrade’. In Russian, this word is a rather difficult-to-pronounce ‘tovarisch’.... > The feminine form wasn’t applied to this word (aside from ‘tovarka’, which had quickly become obsolete). Women were addressed using the masculine form However, their last names still had feminine endings, such as ‘tovarisch Ivanova’ (the masculine form would have been ‘tovarisch Ivanov’). I have also heard _drugarica_ or _podruga_ ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2965 "2020-08-31T04:20:04Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > What’s the proper female form of “comrade” to use when we mention the non-bullying, Rose-garden officianado? How about droogette? From [droog.](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=droog) ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2966 "2020-08-31T04:21:24Z")
look up ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2967 "2020-08-31T04:30:14Z")
The first syllable of her name, in Russian, means “chalk”. There is something oddly symmetrical about that. Refer to her as Mel. ---
**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 31, 2020, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2969 "2020-08-31T13:59:56Z")
> **[How Donald Trump Is Killing Politics](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/08/donald-trump-attacking-politics-itself/615886/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%2BTheAtlantic%2B%28The%2BAtlantic%2B-%2BMaster%2BFeed%29)** > > Peaceful coexistence requires a system of compromise. Targeting that system is a recipe for violence. This is the crux of the matter: > …Our concept of politics, descended from antiquity, is that society can peaceably settle its differences of opinion and interests. For politics to properly play its becalming role, citizens must agree on rules. Discussion, persuasion, and a willingness to accept temporary defeat are the political means by which a society adjudicates its inevitable conflicts. When a society discards politics, violence assumes its place. > … He’s like a card player who tips over the table and sends the cards and chips flying, because… reasons. ---
**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 31, 2020, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2970 "2020-08-31T16:59:06Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Our concept of politics, descended from antiquity, is that society can peaceably settle its differences of opinion and interests. For politics to properly play its becalming role, citizens must agree on rules. Discussion, persuasion, and a willingness to accept temporary defeat are the political means by which a society adjudicates its inevitable conflicts. When a society discards politics, violence assumes its place. This reminds me of something that I may have seen here first: The GOP wants to rule, not govern. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2971 "2020-08-31T17:28:05Z")
From this we can infer that Barr did sign the iDJiT’s loyalty oath. > **[Trump offered FBI director job to John Kelly, asked for loyalty](https://www.axios.com/2020/08/30/trump-john-kelly-fbi)** > > "Kelly has said that having to say no to Trump was like 'French kissing a chainsaw.'" ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2972 "2020-08-31T17:34:13Z")
I like Business Insider’s take better: [telling the president that things he wanted to do were illegal was like ‘French kissing a chainsaw’](https://www.businessinsider.com/john-kelly-illegal-trump-interactions-french-kissing-chainsaw-book-2020-8). ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2973 "2020-08-31T20:00:03Z")
In an increasing rare win for our system of government, the US Court of Appeals has denied Barr and Trump’s attempts to undermine the rule of law and further politicize the DoJ by denying their request for an immediate dismissal of the pending criminal charges against Michael Flynn. Charges that he’s TWICE pled, and is in actual fact, GUILTY of committing. A tiny victory for America as this adminstration continues its assault on our system of government with the support and acquiescence of the Republican party. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2974 "2020-08-31T21:02:00Z")
The New York Times reports that [Loser Donald has suffered a series of “mini-strokes” during his term](https://www.rawstory.com/2020/08/mike-pence-was-on-standby-to-take-over-as-trump-made-unexpected-visit-to-walter-reed-hospital-report/) and Mike Pence was prepared to take over during last year’s visit to Walter Reed. ---
**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 31, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2975 "2020-08-31T21:06:01Z")
To be fair, “prepared to take over” is arguably the most important and primary duty of the Vice President, even if most are hoping that does not become necessary. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2976 "2020-08-31T21:35:33Z")
Just to be precise: It’s from a book about to be released, written by a Times reporter; not technically the NY Times. Carry on. ---
**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 31, 2020, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/2977 "2020-08-31T21:35:51Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The New York Times reports that [Loser Donald has suffered a series of “mini-strokes” during his term](https://www.rawstory.com/2020/08/mike-pence-was-on-standby-to-take-over-as-trump-made-unexpected-visit-to-walter-reed-hospital-report/) and Mike Pence was prepared to take over during last year’s visit to Walter Reed. As much as I hope this is true, you mean NOBODY in a ginormous hospital leaked this to anyone? No one told their spouse, baby sitter, hairdresser and swore them to secrecy on a stack of Bibles? No one suspected something and sent a text on a burner phone to WaPo or _SOMETHING_?? If I knew or witnessed something, I’d sure spill. Here first, of course. J/K. But I’d find a way. > [@jsc1953](#): > > Just to be precise: It’s from a book about to be released, written by a Times reporter; not technically the NY Times. Carry on.- Does the guy say how he found out? Maybe someone did leak. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=147) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=149)