# 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:** 21
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/406 "2020-07-01T04:53:17Z")
And on 538, 16 pts. On April 4, at 45.8 approval. Now to 40.3. > **[How Popular Is Donald Trump?](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/)** > > FiveThirtyEight is tracking Donald Trump’s approval ratings throughout his presidency. Trump is always saying his internal polls show high approval. They don’t, he was just doing what he does, lie. But he knows what they say, maybe that is the reason for his comment to Hannity. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2020, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/407 "2020-07-01T06:06:17Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I am hoping he breaks his personal record for disapproval spread, -21.1, set in December 12, 2017 I’m hoping that this record is broken in early November, 2020 Preferably by a lot. Remember that the NSDAP gained control with only 37%, which suggests, different dynamic notwithstanding, that the margin we should hope should be closer to -30. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/408 "2020-07-01T14:50:39Z")
Man oh man, trump has been very active on twitter in the past 24 hours or so. I’m not going to link to any because it just seems wrong to give his tweets link juice. Feel free to go down the rabbit hole yourselves if you wish. I find myself drawn to his batshit tweets and the many responses to them like someone gawking at a train wreck next to a dumpster fire. trump has gone full racist, going all-in to lock up that hardcore racist vote: - Attacking the AFFH housing regulation, a 1968 law that ensures black people have fair access to housing, saying it has “a devastating impact on these once thriving Suburban areas”. Saying he is “studying it”. What’s next- a trump promise to push regulation restoring “white” and colored" drinking fountains? - Tweeting “I will Veto the Defense Authorization Bill if the Elizabeth “Pocahontas” Warren (of all people!) Amendment…” because it contains a provison to change the Confederate-named military bases. So he’s willing to defund the military to defend Confederate-named bases. Priorities! - Bitching about BLM in general, but especially the “Black Lives Matter” sign being painted on 5th Avenue in front of trump Tower (HA-ha!) Also tweeted in the past 24 hours or so: a couple sputtering denials of the Russian Bounty scandal that contradict other denials, and a weird, all caps tweet that just says “THE LONE WARRIOR!” ---
**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:** [July 1, 2020, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/409 "2020-07-01T15:10:35Z")
Reporter: “Will (Individual-ONE) take a cue from NASCAR and ban Confederate symbology from his events?” [K. McInane](https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1278124409287372800): “A recent poll shows that Americans love these statues and are opposed to tearing them down.” ---
**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:** [July 1, 2020, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/410 "2020-07-01T15:24:35Z")
> [@solost](#): > > So he’s willing to defund the military And coronavirus vaccine development. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2020, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/411 "2020-07-01T15:32:22Z")
So that he can continue to honor racists (and by extension try and force the rest of us to as well) who took up arms against America. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2020, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/412 "2020-07-01T15:34:33Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Bitching about BLM in general, but especially the “Black Lives Matter” sign being painted on 5th Avenue in front of trump Tower (HA-ha! It’s worse than just bitching, [he actually calls it a “symbol of hate.”](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/505407-trump-black-lives-matter-mural-in-nyc-a-symbol-of-hate-that-would) Full-on, unapologetic, Stormfronter white supremacist. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/413 "2020-07-01T15:44:22Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Reporter: “Will (Individual-ONE) take a cue from NASCAR and ban Confederate symbology from his events?” > [K. McInane](https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1278124409287372800): “A recent poll shows that Americans love these statues and are opposed to tearing them down." Sooooo…it is o.k. if they bring Confederate statues to his rallies? ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/414 "2020-07-01T16:22:33Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > It’s worse than just bitching, [he actually calls it a “symbol of hate.”](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/505407-trump-black-lives-matter-mural-in-nyc-a-symbol-of-hate-that-would) > > Full-on, unapologetic, Stormfronter white supremacist. What exactly do they hate-- getting killed by police? Clearly, trump just heard the Confederate flag and other racist stuff being called symbols of hate, and being the master projectionist that he is, reflexively turned the phrase around on BLM. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2020, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/415 "2020-07-01T17:13:08Z")
It’s “_your_ the puppet” all over again. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/416 "2020-07-01T17:24:08Z")
It also fits with his zero sum view of the universe. The world is divided into winners and losers. If you are in a negotiation you can only get a good deal if you force your opponent to get a bad deal. When applied to race relations, anything that is good for blacks is bad for whites, and vis versa. So if blacks are against confederate flags and statues, then these things must be good for whites. If black lives matter more, then white lives matter less. This also of course is exactly the argument put forth by the “you will not replace us” white power movement. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/417 "2020-07-01T17:32:11Z")
Full meltdown finally happening. One could say he has been melting since he started, but at least a couple of years ago in some tweeets he had “coherent” arguments to make, being charitable. Take his stupid wall. Waste of time and money. But one could make the argument that at least in certain areas a better wall might help. I totally disagree with that, there are better ways. But reasonable people have made the argument. These latest tweets are crazy, both from a pratical standpoint and also politically, they are only going to hurt him. But put yourself in poor 'ole Donnie’s place. These are the only things he can tweet about. He can’t tweet about COVID and his lack of response, or about the Russia story (except to call it a HOAK). And since he will never admit to a mistake about anything, he turns to what got him elected. And it’s only going to get worse. Hard to imagine what he will be tweeting about in a week or a month. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2020, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/418 "2020-07-01T17:35:20Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > It also fits with his zero sum view of the universe. The world is divided into winners and losers. This is the essence of who trump is. This principle along with his narcissism explain everything about him. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/419 "2020-07-01T18:45:01Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > It’s “_your_ the puppet” all over again. If Trump had been in charge of transcribing the debate, I’m 100% sure he would have written “ **your** the puppet.” ---
**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:** [July 1, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/420 "2020-07-01T18:48:14Z")
> [@Interior Secretary David Bernhardt](#): > > President Trump’s 2020 Salute to America will be a patriotic tribute to our men and women in uniform. Excuse me? President Trump’s Salute to America? Is he paying for it? Is he using his own equipment and personnel? 🤨 ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/421 "2020-07-01T18:48:59Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > … > > These latest tweets are crazy, both from a pratical standpoint and also politically, they are only going to hurt him. But put yourself in poor 'ole Donnie’s place. These are the only things he can tweet about. There has been some speculation lately (Joe Scarborough comes to mind) along the lines of: Is Trump really interested in running? Is he trying to lose on purpose? Because everything he’s doing lately is the opposite of what a serious candidate would do. But this assumes that Trump is a crafty politician who knows how to win, and there’s no evidence to that affect; other than the fact that he blundered into an electoral college win during a perfect storm of circumstance. This time around he’s doing the only things he knows how to do, and it’s not working. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/422 "2020-07-01T18:53:35Z")
For anyone interested in the myriad ways the Trump administration has made the pandemic so much worse than it had to be – not just in the US, but around the world – here’s a long but brutal dissection: [The 3 Weeks That Changed Everything](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/06/how-white-house-coronavirus-response-went-wrong/613591/?utm_source=pocket-newtab) > This was a journey straight into a mountainside, with countless missed opportunities to turn away. A system was in place to save lives and contain disaster. **The people in charge of the system could not be bothered to avoid the doomed course**. (Emphasis mine) ---
**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:** [July 1, 2020, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/423 "2020-07-01T19:13:07Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > > > It also fits with his zero sum view of the universe. The world is divided into winners and losers. > > This is the essence of who trump is. This principle along with his narcissism explain everything about him. It’s not just “you can only get a good deal if you force your opponent to get a bad deal:” from the viewpoint of someone like CFSG, you only win if you get _everything_ and your opponent gets _nothing_. Anything less is a loss, and being a **loser** is the worst thing in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/424 "2020-07-01T19:17:03Z")
I like what Nicole Wallace just said, paraphrasing here, but basically that Trump’s press team has been reduced to saying, “He can walk! He can drink! He can read!” ---
**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:** [July 1, 2020, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/425 "2020-07-01T19:20:26Z")
He walks! He drinks! He reads! It’s the Amazing Orange Blowhard! Now with Self-Inflating Ego! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=22)