# 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:** 305
**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, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6100 "2020-11-09T18:17:28Z")
Aye; the Senate has nothing to do with succession. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6101 "2020-11-09T18:27:57Z")
I think the Senate would have to approve a Vice President though, so I guess that office would remain “open”. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6102 "2020-11-09T18:34:38Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > 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. I am in awe, good sir. ---
**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, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6103 "2020-11-09T18:40:45Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > If Biden dies, they wouldn’t have a choice. Constitutionally, the VP takes over immediately. I’m glad you feel the Constitution will still matter… I wish I believed that. ---
**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, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6104 "2020-11-09T18:40:51Z")
Mark Esper won’t need that resignation letter after all: > **[Trump fires Esper as Pentagon chief after election defeat](https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-donald-trump-ap-top-news-elections-mark-esper-58adf1d272afe333562c54daba541e84)** > > WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday, an unprecedented move by a president struggling to accept election defeat and angry at a Pentagon leader he believes wasn't loyal enough... ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6105 "2020-11-09T18:43:03Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > 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. Nominated. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6106 "2020-11-09T18:43:35Z")
I think it’s mostly because if you get to that stage, then _absolutely nothing_ truly matters. That means there’s nothing preventing Republicans from fully supporting Trump marching into the White House with paid mercenaries, shooting up the place, then declaring himself High Poobah and the immediate execution of all liberals. It sort of makes discussion pointless. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6107 "2020-11-09T18:48:13Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > 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:** ![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:** [November 9, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6108 "2020-11-09T18:52:04Z")
> [@Mr.Greenjeans](#): > > I think the Senate would have to approve a Vice President though, so I guess that office would remain “open”. Actually, both houses of Congress must confirm a nominee to become the new VP, as occurred when [Ford was nominated back in 1973](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_United_States_vice_presidential_confirmation). If there is no Vice President, the Presidential Succession Act dictates that the Speaker of the House is next in line. I can actually see this being a concern if this were all to happen after 2022 and if the Republicans were to take control of the House of Representatives. In the hypothetical case being considered, a Republican-controlled Congress might well refuse to confirm a Democratic nominee for VP in order to get the Republican Speaker of the House next in the line of succession. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6109 "2020-11-09T18:53:50Z")
That is if Biden dies before Jan 20, right? Oh and in the case of Ford, Nixon resigned ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6110 "2020-11-09T19:00:16Z")
> [@robby](#): > > If there is no Vice President, the Presidential Succession Act dictates that the Speaker of the House is next in line. This is correct. If the nominee is not confirmed, there would be nobody in the office of vice-president. This (no vice-president until the next election) has actually happened sixteen times in our history, the last of which was when LBJ assumed office after Kennedy was assassinated. For a period of 1 year and 59 days there was no veep. This led to the passage of the 25th amendment in 1967, which was used to fill the office twice, once in 1973 after Agnew resigned, and again in 1974 when Nixon resigned and Ford became president. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6111 "2020-11-09T19:05:01Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > That is if Biden dies before Jan 20, right? No, the discussion here was any time _after_ Biden takes office, with my hypothetical of further shenanigans if the Republicans were to take control of the House in 2022. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6112 "2020-11-09T19:09:22Z")
If Biden dies while in office, Harris is President. She doesn’t have to be confirmed. Her VP would have to be. LBJ took the oath of office on the plane in Dallas, he was then President. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6113 "2020-11-09T19:12:46Z")
Sorry, you were responding to the question of what happens if there is no VP ---
**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, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6114 "2020-11-09T19:17:36Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > I think it’s mostly because if you get to that stage, then _absolutely nothing_ truly matters. I’m a little bit afraid we might be headed there, i.e., where _absolutely nothing_ matters. I want to be wrong. Soooo badly. Not seeing much reassuring behavior from the Pubs so far. (I’m staring white-hot daggers at you Mitch, you MF bastard piece of shit. Grabbing useless power isn’t going to make your dick any harder you used-up old bugger or make you live any longer. 😡 ) ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6115 "2020-11-09T19:34:18Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > I wonder what will happen about California and car emissions? Trump apparently wanted to force the car industry to make gas mileage in new cars worse and take away California’s ability to set its own emissions standards. I recall that the car companies just ignored him at the time, and continued on with their business going forward. More electric cars, better fuel mileage, etc. Because they’re not stupid. ---
**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, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6116 "2020-11-09T19:53:24Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I’m a little bit afraid we might be headed there, i.e., where _absolutely nothing_ matters. I want to be wrong. I’m less pessimistic about it for the reason I mentioned above - Mitch is more of a “it’s not against the rules, so it’s ok” asshole. He has no interest in openly flouting the Constitution when he can get nearly everything he wants by staying inside the rules (many of which he has a direct hand in setting). And that’s one reason he never really liked Trump personally. There’s so much more they could have accomplished if Trump had decided to at least pretend he gave a damn about Constitutional checks on his power. Our electoral system is currently rigged in favor of the GOP, and McConnell knows it. Vigorous protest against a Senate that openly violates democratic norms works against him. His incentives aren’t to do that but to continue the course - stay just far enough behind the line that he can legitimately claim the Senate expresses the will of the electorate. And he wouldn’t be far wrong, given what we’ve learned about our fellow citizens in this last election. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6117 "2020-11-09T19:58:45Z")
Well, the Trump Cabal are forcing Republicans to pick sides, and that is going to have a deleterious effect on their caucus. Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Pence and others have decided they are going to call into question the legitimacy of the Pennsylvania election. McConnell is going to have to decide soon which horse he wants to ride. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6118 "2020-11-09T20:06:28Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > McConnell is going to have to decide soon which horse he wants to ride An ass riding a horse! ---
**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, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6119 "2020-11-09T20:21:38Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > I’m less pessimistic about it for the reason I mentioned above - Mitch is more of a “it’s not against the rules, so it’s ok” asshole. Keep tellin’ me that. > [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > And he wouldn’t be far wrong, given what we’ve learned about our fellow citizens in this last election. Sadly true. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=304) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=306)