# 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:** 319
**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 13, 2020, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6380 "2020-11-13T17:39:59Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > I have to assume that if Trump did something rather than nothing with regards to the virus, he would have easily won re-election. You are being unfair. He might well have prevailed in the election if he had done nothing. Instead, he was actively opposed to sensible action, getting in the way of people trying to manage the situation, saying stupid shit and promoting quacks and charlatans. He did much worse than nothing. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6381 "2020-11-13T17:48:03Z")
I am glad that I am not the only one who remembers seeing pillow maker at an official White House pandemic update. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6382 "2020-11-13T17:56:54Z")
I sometimes wonder how the pandemic would have progressed if it had been one year later. Say in that hypothetical scenario, Trump wins the election on the back of a strong economy, then COVID-20 hits soon into his second term. Without the pressure to keep the economy going by pretending everything is fine, would there have been a better response? Would masks still be political? ---
**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 13, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6383 "2020-11-13T18:16:55Z")
Yes. Trump wouldn’t want to wear a mask anyway, so that would still be political. Also, we already know the response wouldn’t have been better. They originally (for reasons that still defy history and logic) thought the outbreak would be limited to blue states and wrote them off. It’s the same thing they did with California and the wildfires. ---
**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 13, 2020, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6384 "2020-11-13T18:19:43Z")
You kind of have to wonder. What if we had somehow ended up with Rafael instead. How would he have handled the situation? Would he have already disbanded the response team three years ago? Would he listen to experts and not be so hell-bent on insuring his re-election? I mean, I think Rafael is an utter piece of shit, but at least his overriding MO is not fleecing everyone in sight. ---
**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 13, 2020, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6385 "2020-11-13T18:26:38Z")
Who is Rafael? 🤔 > **[Rafael](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > Rafael may refer to: ---
**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 13, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6386 "2020-11-13T18:29:00Z")
> **[Ted Cruz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Cruz)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > > > Rafael Edward Cruz (/kruːz/; born December 22, 1970) is an American politician and attorney serving as the junior United States senator from Texas since 2013. A member of the Republican Party, Cruz served as Solicitor General of Texas from 2003 to 2008. > After graduating from Princeton University and Harvard Law School, Cruz pursued a career in politics. He worked as a policy advisor in the George W. Bush administration before serving as Sol... ---
**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 13, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6387 "2020-11-13T18:29:09Z")
Ask Beto. I bet he knows. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6388 "2020-11-13T18:34:33Z")
No there would be no change in response. With other presidents you could have been right that an upcoming election might be the reason that policy makes way for politics, But Trump started his 2020 election campaign on November 9th 2016, and never stopped. His motivations would be no different in 2021. Image is all that matters. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6389 "2020-11-13T18:40:50Z")
Right, there would have been no noticeable difference had COVID hit a year later. A year _before_, however – the various government offices which were supposed to alert the administration to an impending pandemic and how to deal with said pandemic had yet to be dismantled. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6390 "2020-11-13T18:42:12Z")
True, but in all likelihood they would have been ignored. ---
**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 13, 2020, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6391 "2020-11-13T18:44:29Z")
Thanks. 🤦‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6392 "2020-11-13T18:46:35Z")
To me COVID became political when Trump called it a Democrat hoax and that was before we realized how big of a deal it was going to be. I don’t think the economy was on Trump’s mind at that time (assuming one thinks Trump ever has something in his mind). ---
**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:** [November 13, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6393 "2020-11-13T18:52:53Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > (assuming one thinks Trump ever has something in his mind). He usually does, typically some combination of the following: - “When do I eat?” - “How do I get the masses to adore me?” - how to avoid responsibility for something bad. - how to claim responsibility for something good. - “Where’s the nearest pussy I can grab?” ---
**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 13, 2020, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6394 "2020-11-13T19:19:24Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > I don’t think the economy was on Trump’s mind at that time Oh, it absolutely was. He needed it to look good in order to bolster his bid to stay insulated from the legal and financial assaults boiling up all around him outside the WH fences. And, of course, he craved the affirmation that being elected would give him, which has historically ridden on the back of the economy. ---
**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 13, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6395 "2020-11-13T19:48:09Z")
Someone on MSNBC said on Wednesday we had gone five full days and nights without having to hear a single word from Trump. Can today make it seven days without seeing his stupid face or hearing his stupid shit from his stupid lying mouth? Sometimes in the past few days, while keeping an eye on AZ and GA and the lawsuits, I have forgotten to celebrate how great this is. He will be gone from our lives soon and forever. Let him start a TV network or hold rallies, no one but FOX will ever cover them. CNN, MSNBC etc are not going to have “breaking” news with clips. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6396 "2020-11-13T19:51:37Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > Someone on MSNBC said on Wednesday we had gone five full days and nights without having to hear a single word from Trump. Can today make it seven days without seeing his stupid face or hearing his stupid shit from his stupid lying mouth? And why couldn’t he have started giving us the silent treatment a few years ago? ---
**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 13, 2020, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6397 "2020-11-13T20:02:58Z")
I think it would’ve been way worse. The first thing he was going to do in his second term was fire every non-partisan in a policy-making position. Off topic, but I think it would be so much _fun_ if Kimberly Guilfoyle dumped Donnie Junior and traded up to Hunter Biden. ---
**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 13, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6398 "2020-11-13T20:06:45Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > I think it would’ve been way worse. The first thing he was going to do in his second term was fire every non-partisan in a policy-making position. That still may be the last thing he does in his first and only term. ---
**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 13, 2020, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/6399 "2020-11-13T20:17:57Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Off topic, but I think it would be so much _fun_ if Kimberly Guilfoyle dumped Donnie Junior and traded up to Hunter Biden. Despite my feelings about Biden, I don’t think Hunter is much of an improvement. This is the guy who cheated on his wife with his brother’s widow. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=318) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=320)