# 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:** 184
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2020, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3678 "2020-09-16T20:02:14Z")
Barr contemplating sedition charges against arrested protesters. > **[Legal experts are disturbed by Bill Barr reported push to bring sedition charges](https://www.alternet.org/2020/09/legal-experts-are-disturbed-by-bill-barr-reported-push-to-bring-sedition-charges)** > > A new report from the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday found that Attorney General Bill Barr has been pressuring federal prosecutors to bring aggressive charges against violent protesters across the United States, a push that some experts fear could... ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2020, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3679 "2020-09-16T20:03:31Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Stephanapoulos calls him out on this, saying, June of last year you said you’d have one in 2 weeks. This past summer you told Chris Wallace 3 weeks. You said you’d have an executive order protecting preexisting… trump says, I have it right now, it’s ready to go! Total “the check is in the mail” BS. This needs to be in Biden ads from now til November. Where is the plan? ---
**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:** [September 16, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3680 "2020-09-16T20:13:40Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Barr contemplating sedition charges against arrested protesters. I suppose it’s not a long drive from there to treason. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3681 "2020-09-16T20:14:06Z")
Michael Caputo (the crazy spokesperson for HHS) is taking a leave of absence. > **[Health official on leave amid political interference furor](https://apnews.com/bc1d25c72728fce624831e523e7fc678)** > > WASHINGTON (AP) — A Trump health appointee is taking a leave of absence after allegations of political interference in the federal coronavirus response, followed by a personal video that warned of election violence and all but equated science with... ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3682 "2020-09-16T20:40:22Z")
> [@Winston Churchill](#): > > Hitler’s just trying to make me look bad. Not a real quote. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2020, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3683 "2020-09-16T21:26:11Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Barr contemplating sedition charges against arrested protesters. I almost wish he would, because it’s so ridiculous, it might sway a few people who don’t see the warning signs of a dictatorship yet. Almost. Also from that article: > “If you start charging those people, even if you don’t get a conviction, it may make people think twice before going out to exercise their right to free speech.” From living in Portland and seeing the effect of the feds attempting to squelch free speech and protests, I can unequivocally say that such a move would have the opposite effect here. This would revitalize the protests enormously. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2020, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3684 "2020-09-16T21:49:47Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Not to mention: if herd immunity was the be-all-end-all in public health, no one would ever get the cold or flu again. Exactly. Those chicken pox parties sound nice until a few decades pass and you have to deal with shingles. But that’s probably our herd mentality talking. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2020, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3685 "2020-09-16T22:24:54Z")
> [@](#): > > [solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)[Guest](https://boards.straightdope.com/g/Registered) > > [6h](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux/911083/3662) > > Lordy Lord. For everything trump says, there’s a contradictory thing he said before: > > [twitter.com](https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1306247827476144129) > > #### [The Recount (therecount)](https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1306247827476144129) > > Lotta people dunking on Trump for saying COVID will go away with … “herd mentality. The more important point: Trump previously admitted the herd immunity approach would kill millions. [https://t.co/scDuiZ2wwA”](https://t.co/scDuiZ2wwA%E2%80%9D) > > [8:05 AM - 16 Sep 2020](https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1306247827476144129) Can we rule out the possibility that Trump sees “herd immunity” and “herd mentality” as two SEPARATE strategies for dealing with COVID? Herd immunity, having to do with vaccines and other science-y stuff, will be looked at with skepticism by Donald (of course). But Herd Mentality—if we just THINK correctly, the virus will be gone in two weeks! ---
**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:** [September 16, 2020, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3686 "2020-09-16T23:37:12Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > “If we all stand up and hold still, eventually he’s going to run out of bullets.” Or perhaps, “If we all stand up and hold still, eventually the survivors (if any) will evolve armor plate.” ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2020, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3687 "2020-09-16T23:51:03Z")
Individual 1’s spokesperson seems to think there is a Big Ten team in Mississippi. > ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3688 "2020-09-17T00:08:45Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Individual 1’s spokesperson seems to think there is a Big Ten team in Mississippi. Somebody doesn’t know their postal abbreviations for states… ---
**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:** [September 17, 2020, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3689 "2020-09-17T00:23:36Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Individual 1’s spokesperson seems to think there is a Big Ten team in Mississippi. Seriously, that might damage him in Ohio. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3690 "2020-09-17T00:25:14Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > From living in Portland and seeing the effect of the feds attempting to squelch free speech and protests, I can unequivocally say that such a move would have the opposite effect here. This would revitalize the protests enormously. That’s what they want. More protests with right-wing trash brought in to provoke violence and chaos. Trump’s primary campaign strategy is Scare Whitey. ---
**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:** [September 17, 2020, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3691 "2020-09-17T02:33:00Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Somebody doesn’t know their postal abbreviations for states… Well, there are two letters in each one. That’s a lot to remember. ---
**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:** [September 17, 2020, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3692 "2020-09-17T02:35:08Z")
And to add to the confusion, they each have an “M”. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3693 "2020-09-17T02:39:34Z")
Individual 1 makes a phone call to Jewish leaders allegedly to wish them happy Rosh Hashana, but it wanders into campaign territory, and ends with “We really appreciate you, we love your country also and thank you very much.” These were _American_ Jewish leaders. > **[Trump turns Rosh Hashanah call into campaign pitch and tells Jewish leaders...](https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/16/politics/trump-rosh-hashanah-campaign/index.html)** > > President Donald Trump participated in a call about the high holidays with Jewish leaders on Wednesday, but it veered into a campaign pitch where he pleaded for more support from Jewish voters and repeated a line that has drawn criticism for being an... ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3694 "2020-09-17T02:50:33Z")
Individual 1 claims everybody owns stocks. > **[‘Stocks Are Owned by Everybody,’ Says Trump. Not Even Close.](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/09/trump-town-hall-k-shaped-recovery-stocks-owned-by-everybody.html)** > > Is the president deluding himself about the economy? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3695 "2020-09-17T03:27:44Z")
Military leaders considered using heat rays on protesters in DC in June. [Military Confirms It Looked for Availability of 'Heat Ray' System in D.C. : NPR](https://www.npr.org/2020/09/16/913748800/military-police-leaders-weighed-deploying-heat-ray-against-d-c-protesters)? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3696 "2020-09-17T03:48:27Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Military leaders considered using heat rays on protesters in DC in June. > [https://www.npr.org/2020/09/16/913748800/military-police-leaders-weighed-deploying-heat-ray-against-d-c-protesters](https://www.npr.org/2020/09/16/913748800/military-police-leaders-weighed-deploying-heat-ray-against-d-c-protesters)? I know that that heat ray is an actual thing, but I can’t help but think we’re only days away from someone in the admin asking about sharks with laser beams attached to their heads. If it hasn’t already happened, that is. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3697 "2020-09-17T04:32:27Z")
Trump was his usual weak-ass self, although not as bad as he is capable of being. But did anyone kind of chuckle like I did and remember the SNL sketch from 2000 when Will Ferrell as Bush complained that the “undecided voters” seemed really not all that undecided, and very sympathetic to Gore? I mean, there was a whole succession of questioners who, if they were “undecided”, it was because they voted for Jill Stein last time, maybe Bernie in the primaries both times, and were if anything to the left of the Democratic Party. Gotta wonder about the procedure for choosing these voters. I feel like if they were finding the true undecideds, it would be two kinds of voters: –“Low information voters” aka dumbasses. These people wouldn’t know enough about any issue to ask coherent questions, so I can at least partially understand why they would be reluctant to feature such voters. –Conservative white people with college degrees who always voted Republican in the past, but are having a lot of trouble with continuing that pattern this time because of Trump’s dishonesty, corruption, and incompetence. But they also have trouble just voting Democratic because they are conservative and have never liked Democrats. I didn’t see any questioners who seemed to fit either of those profiles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=183) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=185)