# 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:** 386
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2020, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7722 "2020-12-17T22:48:55Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > But what about her emails?! > [@JohnT](#): > > Still unhacked! After all these years, still unhacked. Whoda thunk it? They’re being kept in a Sekrit Lokayshun in… BENGHAZI!!! and guarded by tan-suited Kenyans funded by SOROS!!! ---
**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:** [December 17, 2020, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7723 "2020-12-17T23:03:04Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > No, as far as I know, you can claim to be king, claim that your property is a sovereign nation. As long as you don’t break any laws and pay your taxes, you can probably claim whatever the hell you want. Impersonating the President is a crime by itself. But impersonating the President requires an overt act taken under the imaginary authority, not simply saying “I’m the President.” > Title 18 U.S.C.A. § 912: Whoever falsely assumes or pretends to be an officer or employee acting under the authority of the United States or any department, agency or officer thereof, and acts as such, or in such pretended character demands or obtains any money, paper, document, or thing of value, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both. From a discussion of this: > To be guilty of falsely impersonating a federal officer, the offender must knowingly undertake a false identity or persona of a federal official. The pretended character must assert or appear to act under the authority of the United States, such that the false pretense causes the person deceived to rely on the asserted authority. So far, Trump’s behavior leads me to believe he’ll meet this requirement. Plenty of MAGAbots will believe that he’s acting in the role of President. > Having assumed a false federal identity, the offender must then also undertake an overt act under the authority of the false persona. > …At least one court has espoused the view that the offender does not have to actually assert any authority of the pretended office to “act as such” under the statute. Rather, the offender may simply act in keeping with the false persona. Who knows on this one. I can’t imagine he’ll actually be charged with this no matter what he does. If all he does is bluster (likely), then the law won’t apply. But it certainly would if he tried to direct someone to do something, even if he wouldn’t have the actual authority. [https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/falsely-impersonating-a-federal-officer-what-is-the-penalty-53754](https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/falsely-impersonating-a-federal-officer-what-is-the-penalty-53754) ---
**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:** [December 17, 2020, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7724 "2020-12-17T23:03:10Z")
well i herd on PARLER that KILLARY gave her computers to HUNTER BIDEN!!! IMPEECH!!! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2020, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7725 "2020-12-17T23:20:17Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > I saw absolutely nothing useful from Pence the first four years. Why would DumpsterFire what him around for another four? Pence did have his uses … > **[Trump Tries to Prove He Is Fitter Than Biden by Playing Fetch with Pence on...](https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/trump-tries-to-prove-he-is-fitter-than-biden-by-playing-fetch-with-pence-on-white-house-lawn)** > > The outgoing President, seated on a golf cart, hurled tennis ball after tennis ball at his Vice-President, who obediently retrieved them. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7726 "2020-12-18T00:05:19Z")
Was it Dorothy Parker who named her parakeet Onan, because he cast his seed upon the ground? ---
**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:** [December 18, 2020, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7727 "2020-12-18T00:22:43Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Pence did have his uses … > > > [The New Yorker](https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/trump-tries-to-prove-he-is-fitter-than-biden-by-playing-fetch-with-pence-on-white-house-lawn) > > > > ### [Trump Tries to Prove He Is Fitter Than Biden by Playing Fetch with Pence on…](https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/trump-tries-to-prove-he-is-fitter-than-biden-by-playing-fetch-with-pence-on-white-house-lawn) > > > > The outgoing President, seated on a golf cart, hurled tennis ball after tennis ball at his Vice-President, who obediently retrieved them. Trump taught Mikey to catch a frisbee in his mouth, but no one ever got a video of that, more’s the pity. ---
**Author:** ![rboyce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rboyce/32/4066_2.png) [@rboyce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rboyce)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7728 "2020-12-18T01:16:25Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > He’ll be leaving on January 20th. But if tries to _make_ him leave on January 20th, that will require force. All makes perfect sense. > > Anyway, he has invited all Americans to Mar-A-Lago for the party. See you all there? _ **Mar-a-Lago neighbors want Trump to go elsewhere after he leaves the White House** _ [https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/16/politics/donald-trump-mar-a-lago/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/16/politics/donald-trump-mar-a-lago/index.html) _ **Mar-a-Lago neighbors to Trump: Spend your post-presidency elsewhere** _ _Dec. 15, 2020 at 5:50 p.m. CST_ ext-door neighbors of Mar-a-Lago, President Trump’s private club in Palm Beach, Fla., that he has called his Winter White House, have a message for the outgoing commander in chief: \*_ **We don’t want you to be our neighbor.** _ **[https://tinyurl.com/yar7ytnn](https://tinyurl.com/yar7ytnn)** ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7729 "2020-12-18T01:29:23Z")
So Trump will become Emperor Norton 2.0. Gotcha. ---
**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:** [December 18, 2020, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7730 "2020-12-18T01:33:33Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Atlantic City is auctioning off the right to push the button to blow up the Trump Casino. Bidding currently at $53,500. 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7731 "2020-12-18T01:45:15Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > I’m not sure why, but the fact that he’s planning his own inauguration and “continuation of power” is especially horrifying to me. … There is no need for horror. After January 20th, Trump’s only power will be his power to instruct his fans to do things (vote; not vote; commit violence; boycott CNN, etc.). And _that_ power will last only so long as it takes his fans to realize **he can’t do anything**. - He can’t order babies torn from their mother’s arms at the border. - He can’t sell logging rights inside national parks. - He can’t change the rules on shower-head flow. - He can’t order investigations into Hillary or Hunter or anyone else. - He can’t slow down the US Mail. - He can’t order troops out of Europe to help his pal Vlad. - He can’t tell transgender or gay service members to get out of the service. - He can’t screw up our trade. - He can’t pardon soldiers who commit war crimes or associates who’ve helped him subvert our government. …he can’t do shit. All he will be able to do is what he did for decades: post mean Tweets (or Facebook posts or whatever he can get away with posting, on whichever platforms permit him to remain). Once his followers realize that ALL he can do is say and write mean things, they will drop away. Day by day, in their thousands, they will drop away. _Because he can’t do shit._ They love power. They love feeling close to power—we are the Winning Tribe! We are the Strongest! We are the BEST! They will got none of that from continuing to attend on Trump. Because _he can’t do shit_. They will look for someone else to give their toadihood to. So, Trump may will try to hold court at Mar-a-Lago…but who will come? He will try to live there legally, or as close to that as he can get, by leaving every \_\_ days for some other property he still owns (to the extent he will remain owner of other properties). And this is not just for the purpose of sticking it to the Florida neighbors—this is for actual cash-in-hand. As his ability to motivate donations shrinks, Trump will need those taxpayer dollars, gleaned by charging Secret Service personnel for their room and board and golf-cart fees. That will become central to his income. He will keep it churning by moving from property to property. Because not long after January 20, the deals to sell his name or likeness on merchandise, and the ability to command donations from fans who still believe they can help him step back into the Presidency, will dry up. As the fans realize that _he can’t do shit_, the money will dry up. So, let the horror go. For the next 34 days, the horror is appropriate and reasonable—but after that, let it go. Keep it in reserve for the next would-be dictator, who has learned dark lessons during the past four years–and who is _very_ likely to be smarter than Donald J. Trump. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7732 "2020-12-18T01:49:12Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > As his ability to motivate donations shrinks, Trump will need those taxpayer dollars, gleaned by charging Secret Service personnel for their room and board and golf-cart fees. As of Jan. 20th that shit stops! SS agents will just stay off site when not on duty. Trump has fuck-all to say about it. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7733 "2020-12-18T01:50:41Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > As of Jan. 20th that shit stops! SS agents will just stay off site when not on duty. Trump has fuck-all to say about it. I hadn’t heard that–interesting. Are you sure (is there a source), or is this just your guess? I’d think they’d have to stay within close reach of their protectee. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7734 "2020-12-18T01:53:53Z")
Sure they do - _when on duty_. When the shift is over they go elsewhere, but definitely out of Trump’s purview. Look at his coverage _now_. Agents don’t live at the White House. They have homes and families like everybody else. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7735 "2020-12-18T01:56:57Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Agents don’t live at the White House. They have homes and families like everybody else. Sure. But you’re saying that no Secret Service agents spend the night at the White House when on duty? It would certainly be a blow to Trump if the agents can stay at Motel 6 in Palm Beach (not that there IS a Motel 6 in Palm Beach–anyplace they’d stay likely would be fairly expensive, but not as expensive as what Trump would charge them). I’m skeptical that this source of income will be denied to Trump. But I remain interested in any solid information on the topic. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7736 "2020-12-18T01:59:46Z")
> [@rboyce](#): > > Mar-a-Lago neighbors to Trump: Spend your post-presidency elsewhere Unfortunately, potential neighbors elsewhere also feel the same way. Maybe a nice little _dacha_ in Siberia would work for him. Or Slovenia. He probably thinks Putin could get him a nice little place right in Moscow, but this is mistaken. The “useful” part of being a Useful Idiot is no longer applicable. That leaves us with just “Idiot”. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7737 "2020-12-18T01:59:53Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Sure. But you’re saying that no Secret Service agents spend the night at the White House when on duty? If they are on duty they aren’t sleeping. Trump the Private [del]Citizen[/del] traitor can’t demand shit from his detail, or their bosses. ---
**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:** [December 18, 2020, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7738 "2020-12-18T02:11:35Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > > [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > > > Atlantic City is auctioning off the right to push the button to blow up the Trump Casino. > > Bidding currently at $53,500. 🤣 They should sell lottery tickets for the opportunity. Also, charity, _schmarity,_ they can use the proceeds to pay off the national debt. ---
**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:** [December 18, 2020, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7739 "2020-12-18T02:17:59Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > So, Trump may will try to hold court at Mar-a-Lago…but who will come? > > He will try to live there legally, or as close to that as he can get, by leaving every \_\_ days for some other property he still owns (to the extent he will remain owner of other properties). And this is not just for the purpose of sticking it to the Florida neighbors—this is for actual cash-in-hand. As his ability to motivate donations shrinks, Trump will need those taxpayer dollars, gleaned by charging Secret Service personnel for their room and board and golf-cart fees. > > That will become central to his income. He will keep it churning by moving from property to property. Sneaky little plan. He does seem like a security risk, though. Biden’s new head of homeland security better put him on the "no-fly’ list, just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7740 "2020-12-18T02:43:31Z")
Actually, from the way that letter was worded, I think it means he’s going to the President of Mar-a-Lago. That way, he can claim autonomy when his covenant tells him he’s not supposed to live at his resort. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7741 "2020-12-18T02:50:43Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > President of Mar-a-Lago. He could open up diplomatic ties with the Conch Republic in Key West… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=385) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=387)