# 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:** 304
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6080 "2020-11-09T05:24:28Z")
I totally missed it, I didn’t realize they were parody ( I didn’t look closely at the design) and I thought you meant the profits were going to the Republican GA candidates. Sorry ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6081 "2020-11-09T05:34:55Z")
I hear that David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, Derek Smalls and a drummer to be named later are working on a followup to Break Like the Wind which they plan to name The Fifth Season, to feature the hit tracks FUBarr, Stealing Eric’s Lines and Season of the Fifth. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6082 "2020-11-09T05:38:32Z")
Individual 1’s campaign is sending out letters begging for money to finance their lawsuits to steal the election. But buried in the very tiny print it says that half of all money collected will go to pay off the campaign’s debt. [John Oliver Exposes Trump’s Big Election-Challenge Scam](https://www.thedailybeast.com/john-oliver-exposes-trumps-big-election-challenge-scam)? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6083 "2020-11-09T10:07:51Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Personally, I look forward to what the President of Montenegro will soon have to say. Isn’t he the one that Trump pushed out of the way at some summit? If so, yes, I’d love to hear his reaction. > [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The AG of New York is chomping at the bit. \*champing. (Fans of _Billions_ may spot the unintended but entirely relevant reference here) ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6084 "2020-11-09T10:58:18Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I’ve asked in several places: any comment or reaction from Turtle McTurtleface? (Is he dead, by any chance?) > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > McConnell has already expressed his intention to exert control over President Biden’s Cabinet. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > That was before the results were final. Has he been seen or heard from since? Saw it in the New York Times today: > **[As Biden Plans Transition, Republicans Decline to Recognize His Election...](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/08/us/politics/republicans-trump-concede-election.html)** > > Former President George W. Bush and a handful of other Republicans congratulated the president-elect, but most party leaders stayed quiet or urged President Trump to fight. > Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, has declined to say anything since Friday, before the election results were known, when he released a generic statement encouraging officials to “count all the votes.” Apparently not dead. But no class. Maybe he plans to go one better than the Obama lockout of the past. Maybe he’s just going to ignore Biden completely and not convene the Senate at all for the next four years. ---
**Author:** ![slumtrimpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@slumtrimpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slumtrimpet)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6085 "2020-11-09T11:14:55Z")
I’ll just leave this here without comment re: The Four Seasons. But do turn on your sound. > ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6086 "2020-11-09T13:40:44Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Maybe he plans to go one better than the Obama lockout of the past. Maybe he’s just going to ignore Biden completely and not convene the Senate at all for the next four years. Lot of shenanigans he can pull but not this one. The Senate is Constitutionally required to convene each year. Not convening at all would be a rather open and direct way to violate the Constitution. And that’s a bridge I don’t think McConnell is willing to cross just yet. He’s more of the “it’s not against the rules, so it’s ok” type of asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6087 "2020-11-09T13:53:36Z")
And if he doesn’t convene, then the Senate is in recess, and Biden can do appointments that way. No, he’ll just do what Cruz suggested if Hillary won, and just refuse to schedule hearings/votes on any and all Cabinet and judge nominations. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6088 "2020-11-09T15:10:35Z")
The problem is that Republicans have created a Trump authoritarian cult. They can’t just come out and congratulate Trump. I think privately most Republicans wish he would concede, but McConnell and Graham, who benefited from Trump’s voters, can’t risk alienating those voters by asking Trump to step down before he’s ready. Graham is pushing harder to give himself a little bit of political cover. I think we will know a lot more this week about how serious this is, once the right wing media do their thing in prime time. There’s still the potential that Hannity, Carlson, Limbaugh, etc could whip the Trump voters into a frenzy. I am not certain that Republican voters and political operatives are ready to concede just yet, and if they aren’t there yet, then that’s a thorny problem. Another thing to keep in mind is that by refusing to concede, even if the electors end up making Biden’s election official - and I think there’s a 99% chance of that at this point - then refusing to concede gives McConnell power because it strips Biden of a lot of his legitimacy. McConnell want Biden as weak and feeble as possible by the time he is sworn in, and letting Trump challenge the legitimacy of the election right up until January 20 - and even after - is one way to do that. It’s also extremely toxic and dangerous, but McConnell never gave a fuck about any of that, nor did he ever pretend to. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6089 "2020-11-09T15:56:36Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Another thing to keep in mind is that by refusing to concede, even if the electors end up making Biden’s election official - and I think there’s a 99% chance of that at this point - then refusing to concede gives McConnell power because it strips Biden of a lot of his legitimacy. McConnell want Biden as weak and feeble as possible by the time he is sworn in, and letting Trump challenge the legitimacy of the election right up until January 20 - and even after - is one way to do that. > > It’s also extremely toxic and dangerous, but McConnell never gave a fuck about any of that, nor did he ever pretend to. What is McConnell’s end game? Power for its own sake? Just for the hell of it? He wants Biden dancing on the end of a string? Why and for what? I seriously hate that man. 😡 ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6090 "2020-11-09T16:41:55Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > What is McConnell’s end game? Power for its own sake? Just for the hell of it? Aye; that’s all it is: he craves power and influence and a legacy. He’s had the first two and by Og he’s going to get that last one (just not the way he’s always thought of it). ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6091 "2020-11-09T16:50:57Z")
The Four Seasons (Landscaping) press conference story is a gift that keeps on giving: > **[Man featured at Giuliani press conference is a convicted sex offender](https://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2020/11/09/man-featured-at-giuliani-press-conference-is-a-sex-offender-1335241)** > > Trenton political insiders watched with bemusement as Brooks took the podium. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6092 "2020-11-09T17:05:57Z")
I’ve said it before: I have a dark, sinister, perverse admiration for his ability to gain power. Few people on this earth understand how to get and use power in a democracy the way that Mitch McConnell can. And yes, I think a lot of it really is for sport. He’s probably the sonofabitch who has lion heads as trophy animals on his wall - just to show you that he could kill dangerous game. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6093 "2020-11-09T17:10:19Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > The Four Seasons (Landscaping) press conference story is a gift that keeps on giving: > > [Man featured at Giuliani press conference is a convicted sex offender - POLITICO](https://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2020/11/09/man-featured-at-giuliani-press-conference-is-a-sex-offender-1335241) Hey! Giuliani stole that idea from the Kids in the Hall! [They should TOTALLY sue the campaign.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBAkN3cbaxI) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6094 "2020-11-09T17:25:53Z")
I’m going with filthy lucre. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6095 "2020-11-09T17:37:31Z")
In retrospect, the site of Giuliani’s press conference, with fertilizer, dildos, and urns readily at hand, was actually a good choice for someone who ought to eat shit, fuck off, and die. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6096 "2020-11-09T17:41:11Z")
Let’s go to the quarry and throw stuff down there! > **[Ben Carson is the latest Trump official to test positive for coronavirus |...](https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/09/politics/ben-carson-coronavirus/index.html)** > > Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson tested positive for coronavirus on Monday, his deputy chief of staff Coalter Baker confirmed to CNN. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6097 "2020-11-09T17:58:45Z")
Ben Carson still being alive and testing positive for coronavirus is gonna confuse a lot of conservatives/Republicans. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6098 "2020-11-09T18:11:03Z")
I honestly thought he was dead. \<_Confused_\> Not sure the following belongs here, but I didn’t want to sully the new Biden Presidency thread with this ugly thought: I’m going to make a prediction (which I hope we never have to face): If – God forbid a thousand times – Biden dies in office, a Republican Senate will never make Kamala Harris President. That goes double if Mitch is still in charge. (And if he is, that will confirm my suspicion that there is no God.) He/They will block, obstruct, ignore her, insult her, trash her, and attempt to invalidate her in every way possible and impossible. If the Democrats have a majority by then, okay, she will become President over vicious and possibly even violent opposition. And she will be prevented from functioning. Unless some miracle happens in the next couple of years. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6099 "2020-11-09T18:14:53Z")
If Biden dies, they wouldn’t have a choice. Constitutionally, the VP takes over immediately. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=303) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=305)