# 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:** 316
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6320 "2020-11-12T11:05:54Z")
How did you get into this timeline? In this reality the words “Limit” and “mcConnel” have not been observed in the the same sentence. I honestly believe we are witnessing the end of US democracy. I will not believe otherwise before he’s really gone on the 20th of January. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6321 "2020-11-12T11:25:01Z")
> [@tripthicket](#): > > Cuomo mentioned in passing that internal sources around Trump reveal that he thinks he’s holding all the cards, and has said as much to multiple people. I seem to recall Mary Trump being interviewed on CNN (by Jake Tapper, Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, I don’t know but one of CNN’s experienced interviewers), and she said that Donald simply cannot conceive of losing. Thus he thinks he’s holding all the cards, when in fact, he’s holding garbage. ---
**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 12, 2020, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6322 "2020-11-12T12:42:57Z")
Take a look at this AP article I posed in the Election follow thread: > **[Trump's silent public outing belies White House in tumult](https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-emerge-on-veterans-day-290032c8f59767c1e15bca81b79a46ec)** > > WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump spent 10 minutes in public Wednesday honoring America's war veterans — a veneer of normalcy for a White House that's frozen by a defeated president mulling his options, mostly forgoing the mechanics of governing and... Especially these two paragraphs: > All the while, his aides grow more certain that legal challenges won’t change the outcome of the election, according to seven campaign and White House officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the thinking of the president and others in the executive mansion. AND > But aides say he has been calmer than his tweets suggest, showing greater understanding of his predicament and believing that he needs to keep fighting almost as **performance, as a show** to the 70 million people who voted for him that he is still battling. In recent days, some aides, including his daughter Ivanka, have started to talk to him about an endgame, questioning how much longer he wants to fight. My bold. When has he ever shown himself to be a man of substance? He is all threats, bluster, smoke, and mirrors. I’ve been eyeing the ledge myself, too, but this morning, what I’m reading is telling me that this colossal bluff is headed for the dumpster where it belongs. ---
**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 12, 2020, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6323 "2020-11-12T12:50:57Z")
> [@tripthicket](#): > > I’m on the Special Ledge Tenterhooks Here’s some more for you… > **[Trump insists he’ll win, but aides say he has no real plan to overturn...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-election-results-strategy/2020/11/11/a32e2cba-244a-11eb-952e-0c475972cfc0_story.html)** > > No evidence has surfaced to back up the president’s claims of widespread fraud, and Joe Biden’s lead in several key states has expanded amid late vote counting. > Asked about Trump’s ultimate plan, one senior administration official chuckled and said, “You’re giving everybody way too much credit right now.” > > Republican officials have scrambled nationwide to produce evidence of widespread voter fraud that could bolster the Trump campaign’s legal challenges, but no such evidence has surfaced. And Biden’s lead in several states targeted by the Trump campaign has expanded as late-counted votes are reported. In all-important Pennsylvania, the Democrat now leads by more than 50,000 votes. > … Might be safe to bring the ice chest and stadium seat cushion in from the ledge. ---
**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 12, 2020, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6324 "2020-11-12T13:07:39Z")
Trump has only one hand left to play: the ‘let’s create a crisis’ hand. It’s a matter of who will be willing to play along with him. ---
**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 12, 2020, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6325 "2020-11-12T13:11:29Z")
He could claim there’s a virus taking hold in the country and he’s the only one who can solve it. That would be so _clever!_ And his idiot supporters would buy it. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6326 "2020-11-12T13:12:14Z")
Only 3% of Americans in this bipartisan poll from two days ago “think Trump won.” (There’s another figure in there of about half of Republican respondents still supporting Trump’s lame-ass lawsuits. By my math, that means a lot of Republican voters know that Trump lost, but are okay with coddling the baby for a little while longer, just so he doesn’t poop on the White House carpet or something). [https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN27Q3ED](https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN27Q3ED) ---
**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 12, 2020, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6327 "2020-11-12T13:17:23Z")
And that’s the contradiction that is the republican party: they know that Trump is full of shit but a considerable number of them will support efforts to upend the election anyway because they’ll feel better knowing he’s in power. That right there is _the_ danger that this country faces going forward. People think the danger is “Trump! OMG! Trump!” or “ZOMG! McConnell!” Nah, it’s us. It’s your neighbor. That’s the danger. What happens if there’s a massive economic crisis during Biden’s term that throws millions of young men out of work with no hope of stable employment in the near future? I shudder to think of what would happen next. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6328 "2020-11-12T13:23:01Z")
As a pragmatic person myself, I suggest we call in [SCP](http://www.scpwiki.com/). ---
**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 12, 2020, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6329 "2020-11-12T13:35:29Z")
> [@tripthicket](#): > > Also, am I right in thinking that faithless electors are a non-zero possibility? Sure, in the sense there’s a non-zero possibility Trump turns over a new leaf, accepts defeat gracefully, and helps the Biden transition happen smoothly. To affect the outcome, we’d need more faithless electors than we’ve collectively had in a century. And for many of them to be Democratic Party loyalists who, for whatever reason, decide they prefer Trump. There’s also a relatively new Supreme Court decision that allows states to legally enforce elector’s votes, at least towards the winner of the popular vote, though to be fair, not every state has such laws on the books. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2020, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6330 "2020-11-12T14:04:48Z")
Looks like the maskless election-night event Trump held might be a superspreader event > **[Trump's Election Party Sure Seems Like It's Another Superspreader Event](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-election-party-covid-superspreader_n_5fac3feec5b6ed84597dab77)** > > Ben Carson and Mark Meadows are among those infected in this second outbreak. ---
**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 12, 2020, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6331 "2020-11-12T17:18:47Z")
Speaking of the superspreader event, has anyone seen Pence since he went into isolation \< cough\> on holiday? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6332 "2020-11-12T17:21:34Z")
Pence was with Trump at the Veterans Day ceremony yesterday. He cancelled the rest of his vacation, on Tuesday, IIRC. [https://quincy-network.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2020/11/TRUMP-PENCE-VETERANS-DAY-2020.jpg](https://quincy-network.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2020/11/TRUMP-PENCE-VETERANS-DAY-2020.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6333 "2020-11-12T17:31:01Z")
And nobody in that line wearing masks. What chumps we have in charge. Who are the two men to the left of Pence? ---
**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 12, 2020, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6334 "2020-11-12T17:31:35Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Pence was with Trump at the Veterans Day ceremony yesterday. He cancelled the rest of his vacation, on Tuesday, IIRC.- Are you sure? I think I see a Madame Tussaud’s logo embossed on Mikey’s neck. Or maybe it’s a hickey, courtesy of Mother. ---
**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 12, 2020, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6335 "2020-11-12T17:40:34Z")
> **[Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski tests positive for coronavirus](https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/12/trump-advisor-corey-lewandowski-tests-positive-for-coronavirus.html)** > > Lewandowski, a top Trump campaign aide helping lead efforts against President-elect Joe Biden, told CNBC "I feel great" when asked about his Covid-19 diagnosis. Womp, womp, motherfucker. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6336 "2020-11-12T17:59:18Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Honestly, if this fucker was charged and convicted of every single crime and transgression that he’s committed against the US and its people, its security, and its interests, and for egregiously violating the oath of office, he’d spend the rest of his life at the USP Florence federal supermax, which he richly deserves. Hell, he’d spend a better part of a year standing before a judge while the prosecutor read the charges against him. ---
**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 12, 2020, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6337 "2020-11-12T18:31:11Z")
From the [but have the rats learned how to swim?](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/white-house-press-secretary-kayleigh-mcenany-defers-question-to-the-white-house/ar-BB1aXm6C) file, > [@](#): > > When asked about whether Joe Biden will receive access to intelligence briefings, Kayleigh McEnany says, “That would be a question more for the White House.” I speak for the WH but I have no idea what to say. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6338 "2020-11-12T18:34:12Z")
Right. All that Trump has done since the beginning is performance. This is nothing new at all. No one should be surprised by what is happening now. And getting all freaked out about it just fulfills his purpose (and gratifies his dumbass supporters). He’s an attention whore. We really should be more concerned with the likely increase in corruption that’s likely to happen now. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6339 "2020-11-12T18:34:37Z")
She’s taken to do campaign appearances and say she is “appearing in her private capacity”, to supposedly avoid violating the Hatch act. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=315) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=317)