# 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:** 264
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5278 "2020-10-21T17:08:59Z")
So, I guess the question is: before exposing himself to Borat’s ‘daughter’ did Rudy Giuliani know/believe she was just 15? 2020! Just keeps giving! ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5279 "2020-10-21T17:19:11Z")
“Today would be a good day for Donald Trump to release his Chinese tax returns.” ---
**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:** [October 21, 2020, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5280 "2020-10-21T17:33:13Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Who can believe that the Russians are behind that oh-so-amateur laptop story? They are the pros. We know they can do better than that. Apparently, someone believes that the Russians are behind it. > **[More than 50 former intel officials signed a public letter saying they...](https://news.yahoo.com/more-50-former-intel-officials-055438422.html)** > > The former intel officials wrote they believed the arrival of emails to the New York Post, which they dubbed a "laptop op," was a cause for suspicion. > [@](#): > > More than 50 former intelligence officials wrote a public letter Monday saying they were “deeply suspicious” that Russia could be involved with the dubious New York Post stories published recently about Joe Biden’s son Hunter. > > In the letter, first reported by Politico, the former officials said they believed the information at the center of the stories had “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.” ---
**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:** [October 21, 2020, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5281 "2020-10-21T17:34:24Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I never heard of this branch before. I recall some years ago that they were taking the role of federal LEOs in a forensic reenactment of the Waco Koresh compound assault. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5282 "2020-10-21T17:53:03Z")
This Rudy story is just blowing up. There’s a screenshot going around. It’s, uh, not good. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/wmAwzqk0gro66rJlsywpQWgU8Qwc9IDMnRKcD4NrZXHpwMXOibA5Q0dJ4XTfnAbQpVyAed3xahFEz0vbRo638N6mtBUK42t3IOTMUgxHEa2QKK58gJjermSdT9tqTXzssrRfFt7w0g=w600-h315-p-k "New item by John Thornton") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/PU9UByS24hArJguj8) ---
**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:** [October 21, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5283 "2020-10-21T17:57:28Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > This Rudy story is just blowing up. > > There’s a screenshot going around. It’s, uh, not good. - > > [https://photos.app.goo.gl/PU9UByS24hArJguj8](https://photos.app.goo.gl/PU9UByS24hArJguj8) Ivanka has blond hair, right? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5284 "2020-10-21T17:58:04Z")
Yes, but that’s an actress playing a 15yo interviewer who was Borat’s daughter. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5285 "2020-10-21T18:09:58Z")
[![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/NgIj2SCiIT_MAXiKMQSFjQh_dGOGeo_xHj4XAA3L20zhdvJJ1DTNyXkCBqDvCbWWZbX3iM5UjgDnIDtGvdA6Mnu80l3ily_L5O6rpD6FmNEXSbUFO5p626BWgDY8jMdwPHjRgNM_xA=w600-h315-p-k "New item by John Thornton") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/FcJK4esJvgB2YTkC8) ---
**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:** [October 21, 2020, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5286 "2020-10-21T18:13:22Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I recall some years ago that they were taking the role of federal LEOs in a forensic reenactment of the Waco Koresh compound assault. I heard about their performance in that. Other agencies said they just mailed it in. :skedaddles: ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5287 "2020-10-21T18:14:09Z")
> [@](#): > > **Trump’s Fake Payroll Tax Cut Is A Big Mess** > > In August, [President Donald Trump](https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/donald-trump) took unilateral action to help the economy weather the coronavirus pandemic by putting more money in people’s pockets: The government would take less money out of every paycheck by deferring payroll taxes, essentially giving everyone a raise. > > Trump has loved the idea of juicing the economy with a payroll tax cut, just like his predecessor Barack Obama did from 2011 through 2012. Congress wouldn’t go along with Trump’s proposal, however, so the president did it himself. > > But there was a catch with Trump’s plan ― the money would have to be paid back next year, meaning it’s not a tax cut so much as a deferral. > > … > > The tax deferral applies to the employee’s share of Social Security taxes, amounting to 6.2% of wages, which for most workers is withheld by their employer. The executive action increases their biweekly paychecks from September to the end of the year. But unless Congress and the White House forgive those loans through legislation, workers will have to return the money through payments or higher withholdings — and smaller-than-usual paychecks — in 2021. > > … > Personal Finance for Dummies would advise a worker to figure out how much extra money they’re receiving now and set it aside under the assumption that Uncle Sam will expect it back in a few months. Not only does that discipline create some annoying administrative tasks, it defeats the shaky justification for the policy: to pump stimulus into the economy. > > … > > “No one that I’ve talked to can figure out how this helps,” said Knowles, speaking in his role as a union representative. “This is supposed to be the president’s way of helping us get through a rough spot due to COVID-19. This is not any kind of relief at all. It’s just another, at best, distraction, but at worst it could put [people] in a financial bind.” > **[Trump's Fake Payroll Tax Cut Is A Big Mess](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trumps-fake-payroll-tax-cut-is-a-big-mess_n_5f903d12c5b6b005f5f198a8)** > > The president's deferral of Social Security taxes for federal workers is creating administrative headaches with virtually no economic benefit. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5288 "2020-10-21T18:16:04Z")
I think that rural communities are registering and processing large numbers of fake voter registrations with the collusion of their local (county) officials. Especially in areas where the county is dominated by a large evangelical church that installs their own people into county governmental offices. These communities have been pulling similar stunts for forever in order to squash childhood and spousal abuse claims and , in some cases, to commit large scale welfare and unemployment fraud. They won’t bat an eye at a little election fraud because they’re convinced they are doing the Lord’s work. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5289 "2020-10-21T18:52:35Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > These communities have been pulling similar stunts for forever Well, they are religious fundamentalists and they are enormous hypocritical assholes. But I repeat myself. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5290 "2020-10-21T19:05:53Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > It’s a measure of his mindset that he thinks that the 220,000+ US deaths are the best anyone could have done, and he’ll defend his actions to the end. Yeah, well according to everyone who supports him, that 220,000 is a lie anyway, perpetuated by . . . evil doctors who are trying to get government money, or something? Anyway, A friend of mine is a nurse, and she told me that they’re just saying that anyone who dies is dying of COVID just to boost the numbers! ---
**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:** [October 21, 2020, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5291 "2020-10-21T19:31:32Z")
Right, because they’re all in on this conspiracy to make Trump look bad. Meanwhile, in other countries, hospitals are doing the opposite – attributing COVID deaths to diabetes, cancer or heart attacks – so they look good when compared with Trump. And, by the way, China started it. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5292 "2020-10-21T19:34:48Z")
In a facebook group, I had a guy seriously say that other countries in the world were all conspiring to fudge the data in order to make Trump look bad. And that all of the health officials in all the world were “in on” this conspiracy. This was an intelligent professional person. Who genuinely believes this. 100%. He is not trolling, or joking. He sincerely believes that there is a worldwide conspiracy to make up this virus as an excuse to “get” Trump. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2020, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5293 "2020-10-21T19:53:22Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > [https://photos.app.goo.gl/FcJK4esJvgB2YTkC8](https://photos.app.goo.gl/FcJK4esJvgB2YTkC8) Stolen. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2020, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5294 "2020-10-21T20:21:43Z")
The Trump Hotel in Washington gave the Matt Gaetz campaign a discount during the Republican convention without reporting it as a campaign donation, in violation of federal law. > **[Trump's business appears to have cut Matt Gaetz a RNC hotel discount that...](https://www.salon.com/2020/10/20/trumps-business-appears-to-have-cut-matt-gaetz-a-rnc-hotel-discount-that-went-unreported-to-the-fec/)** > > Corporate contributions to candidates are illegal under federal election law, and Gaetz did not report any discount ---
**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:** [October 21, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5295 "2020-10-21T20:50:10Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Not much,” Trump said. “Look, it’s all over the world. You have a lot of great leaders, a lot of smart people — it’s all over the world. It came out of China. China should’ve stopped it.” Waaaaah! China should have stopped it and didn’t so I’m gonna stomp my feet and turn a blind eye to it! ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5296 "2020-10-21T20:51:54Z")
You guys are terribly misrepresenting Trump supporters’ arguments here, which is that without the president’s wise actions, there would be 2.2 million dead from the plague. He’s saved two million lives, dammit, and nobody will give him credit for that. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/5297 "2020-10-21T21:12:46Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > You guys are terribly misrepresenting Trump supporters’ arguments here, which is that without the president’s wise actions, there would be 2.2 million dead from the plague. He’s saved two million lives, dammit, and nobody will give him credit for that. That number was the worst possible case predicted at the beginning of the pandemic by the Imperial College in London if no action was taken whatsoever. (No lockdowns, no masks, no social distancing, no quarantines, no travel restrictions, no vaccine, no testing, no tracing, no nothing). It [reportedly](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/world/europe/coronavirus-imperial-college-johnson.html) shocked the U.S. government into doing _something_ rather than nothing. Every day I drive to work. Should I get credit for all of the people I _didn’t_ kill because I actually steered the car around a curve instead of letting it careen uncontrolled into oncoming traffic? If so, I can also brag about the thousands of lives I’ve saved over the years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=263) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=265)