# 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:** 192
**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:** [September 21, 2020, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3838 "2020-09-21T20:21:15Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The DOJ has declared New York, Portland, and Seattle as “anarchist jurisdictions”, which, under an Individual 1 executive order, means they will no longer receive federal funds. > [DOJ Designates New York City as an ‘Anarchist Jurisdiction’ – NBC New York](https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/doj-designates-new-york-city-as-an-anarchist-jurisdiction/2627588/) But for damn sure Trump’s administration is going to keep collecting _taxes_ from them, right? This is economic warfare. I, too, doubt the courts will let it stand, but if for some reason they do then no town, city, county, or even state will be safe. Trump will be able to scapegoat anyone then bleed them dry and blame them for the resulting catastrophic collapse. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2020, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3839 "2020-09-21T20:38:41Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > [“There will be no oil. There will be no God. There will be no guns.”](https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-campaign-rally-biden-god-religion-election-north-carolina-2020-9?r=US&IR=T) > > First Trump claims Biden will “hurt God” and now apparently Biden will somehow destroy or abolish God. Frankly, if Biden is that powerful I don’t think we can afford to anger him by voting for someone else. Holy crap, Biden is Q! (uhh, just to be clear, that’s “Star Trek” Q, not “helped write the Bible” Q. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3840 "2020-09-21T20:52:40Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The right wing website Red State has been running anti-Fauci and anti-Covid 19 articles for months, written by an anonymous contributor. Among other things this anonymous person has written, the people on the coronavirus task force should be hanged and their bodies left up to rot. > Turns out he **works** for Fauci. > [RedState COVID Troll Streiff is Actually Bill Crews, and He Actually Works for Dr. Anthony Fauci](https://www.thedailybeast.com/redstate-covid-troll-streiff-is-actually-bill-crews-and-he-actually-works-for-dr-anthony-fauci)? You misspelled “_worked_.” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3841 "2020-09-21T20:54:39Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > Jesus Christ, she’s gonna be on the court for 40 years. Maybe we can get to her husband, and he’ll rein her in? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2020, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3842 "2020-09-21T20:58:37Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > If the Dems can’t find a way to block that for a couple months they have no business being in politics. Just out of interest, what tactic would you have them use? You clearly believe that there is a political strategy they can use to block this. Could you explain what it is? The only part of the federal political system that the Dems currently control is the House, and that is the only part of the system that has absolutely NO role in the nomination and confirmation of federal judges, including Supreme Court justices. The President nominates justices. There is literally nothing that the Democrats can do to stop Trump from putting forward a nomination. The Senate decides on whether or not to hold confirmation hearings, and then votes on whether or not to confirm the nominee. Again, if the Republican majority in the Senate decide to hold the hearings, and if 51 Republican senators vote to confirm, there is literally nothing that the Democrats can do to stop them. I’ve accused the Dems, in the past, of being poor strategists and incompetent political operatives, but in this particular case even the best strategists and the most canny political operatives in the world can’t really do much. About their only hope is to convince enough Republican senators to oppose the hearings or vote against the nominee, and the final decision there will still be made by the Republicans themselves. When was the last time anyone succeeded at anything in national politics by appealing to the conscience or moral courage of a Republican lawmaker? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2020, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3843 "2020-09-21T21:04:32Z")
Too late to edit. About the only other thing working in favor of the Dems is simple timing. It’s not easy to do these things really quickly, especially when plenty of Republican Senators probably don’t want to be caught in hearings in last few weeks before what will likely be a very tight election. ---
**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 21, 2020, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3844 "2020-09-21T21:21:23Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > …and if 51 Republican senators vote to confirm… Just to add to the pessimism - it’s actually only 50 senators that are needed, since Pence would be the tiebreaker. ---
**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:** [September 21, 2020, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3845 "2020-09-21T21:24:06Z")
But they need 51 Senators for a quorum. So the Dems don’t really need to flip 3 Senators, they just need to get 3 to not show up ( along with all the Dems and Independents) ---
**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 21, 2020, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3846 "2020-09-21T21:25:20Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > No chance in hell that this EO will stand; it’ll immediately go to the courts who will throw it out. It’s just another attempt to rile up the base. Trump doesn’t give a fuck whether the EO stands or is flushed with the next push of the lever. All he ever wants is a **moment** in the headlines. He wants to get on the record as sticking it to those GD East Coast Pinko God-Hating Libruls who want to take away our guns. After that, he doesn’t care and he has already forgotten he ever said it. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2020, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3847 "2020-09-22T01:04:15Z")
…or will deny having said it. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2020, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3848 "2020-09-22T02:21:42Z")
I wonder if this story isn’t being blown a little bit out of proportion. It’s not that common in my experience, but there are poll watchers, and there are people who organize rallies at polling stations and some of them are loud. It would never prevent me or intimidate me into not voting. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2020, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3849 "2020-09-22T02:32:36Z")
That is you, though. Others are less enthusiastic about facing a noisy crowd that seems at odds with them. Especially if they are going to be [pissing on your leg](https://couriernewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/05/Screen-Shot-2020-05-01-at-4.34.20-PM-e1588365423770.png). Me, I would forge through, but some are more hesitant. And just because the crowd may not be physically blocking the path does not make them not an impediment, even in plagueless times. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2020, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3850 "2020-09-22T02:38:15Z")
I don’t doubt that voter intimidation is real and that it happens; I’m just not sure that it happened in this case (Virginia). Initially the reports made it seem like they were physically confronting voters - maybe I missed it, but I don’t think that’s what happened. Surely some of the intimidated voters were Trump supporters, too. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2020, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3851 "2020-09-22T02:42:04Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Surely some of the intimidated voters were Trump supporters, too. Those, I imagine, would have felt greatly encouraged, not intimidated. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2020, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3852 "2020-09-22T02:44:22Z")
What I fear, and rather expect, is pro-Trump “poll watchers” turning up in significant numbers at polling places (and at mail-in vote counting places, as in Florida 2000) all decked out in their camo and military gear and assault rifles. Not actively accosting voters (Blacks excepted probably), but just being there and being very visible and possibly very noisy. ---
**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 22, 2020, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3853 "2020-09-22T03:38:47Z")
So Individual 1 pledges he will nominate a woman to the Supreme Court. Didn’t he criticize Biden for saying he would choose a woman as his VP nominee, and that it discriminated against men? ---
**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 22, 2020, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3854 "2020-09-22T12:00:23Z")
Oh, Rick… you know IOWRDI. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2020, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3855 "2020-09-22T12:30:41Z")
When Democrats do it, it’s discrimination. When Republicans do it, it’s inclusion. At least that’s what the most recent card I received from the Ministry of Truth tells me. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2020, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3856 "2020-09-22T12:51:15Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > That is you, though. Others are less enthusiastic about facing a noisy crowd that seems at odds with them. Especially if they are going to be [pissing on your leg](https://couriernewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/05/Screen-Shot-2020-05-01-at-4.34.20-PM-e1588365423770.png). Me, I would forge through, but some are more hesitant. And just because the crowd may not be physically blocking the path does not make them not an impediment, even in plagueless times. But in this case, you wouldn’t even need to “forge through.” Did you actually watch the videos? In the two clips I saw, the pro-Trump crowd was maybe a dozen or so people, they weren’t blocking access to anything, and they were doing nothing more than waving their flags and signs and chanting “Four more years!” That’s democracy in action. If a bunch of Obama supporters had been doing the same thing before the 2012 election, I might have been out there with them. The fact that Trump’s a wannabe dictator, and that some of his supporters have a tendency to intimidation, doesn’t mean that any gathering of Trump supporters should automatically be considered a potentially violent mob. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2020, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/3857 "2020-09-22T13:05:11Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > That’s democracy in action. If a bunch of Obama supporters had been doing the same thing before the 2012 election, I might have been out there with them. We did have a group of Obama supporters doing that in 2012 at my polling place, but the authorities made it very clear to them that while they could stand NEXT TO the driveway and the walkways they could not stand ON them - they could in no way even appear to be impeding anyone’s progress. It’s a fine distinction, but it’s an important one. Demonstrators/supporters are welcome, but to my mind they should do nothing whatsoever that might in any way impeded people’s physical access to the polls, even if that is so little as to make a voter step around them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=191) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=193)