# 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:** 394
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7882 "2020-12-22T21:36:33Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > There are thousands. [This is the best one I’ve seen.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8HeTZ7DDIA) Thank you, that’s inspired. I was still recovering from “Will everyone I have already infected with COVID step out” when they hit me with “Don’t cry, Jared…” ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7883 "2020-12-22T21:59:51Z")
There’s another great version where he says “If you voted for Biden, leave the room now…” ---
**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:** [December 22, 2020, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7884 "2020-12-22T22:06:56Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Yeah, what does it mean? That she’s a bird? ISTR from HS biology that sows also have cloacas. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7885 "2020-12-22T22:31:10Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > So Trump will become Emperor Norton 2.0. Gotcha. My first thought! However, I also agree with Yllaria that there is only one Emperor Norton. Well, other than the sundae at Ghirardelli’s. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7886 "2020-12-22T22:35:01Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > ISTR from HS biology that sows also have cloacas. The only mammals with cloacas are platypuses and echidnas. And Stephen Miller. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7887 "2020-12-22T22:49:07Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Well, other than the sundae at Ghirardelli’s. Oh, noes, it’s gone. I’m seriously bummed out. ---
**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 22, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7888 "2020-12-22T22:53:15Z")
They really are just trolling us, aren’t they…? > **[Senior Trump Aides to Launch Think Tank](https://politicalwire.com/2020/12/22/senior-trump-aides-to-launch-think-tank/)** > > "Senior advisers to President Trump are preparing to launch a nonprofit group to promote the president’s policies once he leaves office, creating a landing spot for former Trump officials after the White House changes hands," Politico reports."White... ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7889 "2020-12-22T23:02:49Z")
In all fairness, this doesn’t sound too different from how the Lincoln Project made millions for themselves. Be loud, find donors, be even louder. Trump’s inner toadies could be pretty good at this, especially if the Big Guy gives them a shout out once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7890 "2020-12-22T23:02:57Z")
One wonders where this non-profit will get the operating capital to pay people whose job qualification was not being able to get things done. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7891 "2020-12-22T23:04:49Z")
Unfortunately, **jimmyjoeraybubbabob** done got hisself banned, so we’ll never know exactly what he meant by all that. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7892 "2020-12-22T23:21:02Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > One wonders where this non-profit will get the operating capital to pay people whose job qualification was not being able to get things done. 74 million voters thought that the Don got more done than any other president before him. Even though “Trump Policy Think Tank” is a ridiculous oxymoron to mainstream voters. The toughest task before them is competing for dollars that Donald his own self will be hoovering up on his new tv network. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7893 "2020-12-22T23:22:15Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > If I donated something appraised at $550, and then took a deduction of $2,610 for it on my taxes, I would be fined and also paying this back by the following tax year. If I’m lucky, I would not have criminal charges filed. People are able to take anyone who is a licensed appraiser and use the value they give to the property, even if there are other appraisals for different values commissioned by other people available. The IRS doesn’t have the resources to chase down every single corrupt appraiser that’s around. It’s a well-known problem, especially with conservation easements which are basically the same thing except all you do is give up the right to develop it - you don’t even have to give up ownership of the land. In those cases, appraisers will basically say, “Yeah, it’s worth about what he paid for it now, but if he develops it, the land would be worth some much higher value, so that’s what value we’re going to assign to his donated rights to develop it.” It’s a complete scam, especially now that partnerships have formed for the express purpose of recruiting investors to participate in the scheme and get a tax deduction much greater than the amount invested. The IRS has a broad classification of any such scheme as an “abusive tax shelter”, but again there simply aren’t the resources available to them to really punish people who do it. In fact I read recently that the IRS is more likely to go after poor taxpayers who claim credits (Child, Earned Income), because they are less likely to afford to fight it, and the return on investment is greater than trying to nail down someone with a lot of money to pay lawyers to slow things down. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7894 "2020-12-22T23:31:41Z")
And the beat goes on. ---
**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:** [December 22, 2020, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7895 "2020-12-22T23:57:24Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > 74 million voters thought that the Don got more done than any other president before him. I believe you are overstating the case. I am going to guess that at least a third of the people who voted for him did so with minimal thought on the matter, some out of habit (I always vote R) or because voting for the guy who is in there felt right, or because they flipped a coin or something. Which, I suppose, is more thought that the swarm of MAGAts gave it. They just wanted to preserve their right to be assholes. ---
**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:** [December 23, 2020, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7896 "2020-12-23T00:14:42Z")
Pardon-palooza is underway! > **[Trump grants full pardon to Russia probe figure George Papadopoulos](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-pardons/trump-grants-full-pardon-to-russia-probe-figure-george-papadopoulos-idUSKBN28X00R?il=0)** > > President Donald Trump granted a full pardon on Tuesday to George Papadopoulos, a former campaign aide who pleaded guilty as part of the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. I see on the news that former congressmen Duncan Hunter and Chris Collins have also received full pardons. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7897 "2020-12-23T00:22:41Z")
Heh. Papadopoulos pardonpalooza! ---
**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:** [December 23, 2020, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7898 "2020-12-23T00:26:56Z")
What a great time to be a crook! Trump also pardoned Alex van der Zwaan. He’s the son-in-law of a Russian oligarch. Gotta keep Vlad happy. ---
**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 23, 2020, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7899 "2020-12-23T00:57:34Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > They really are just trolling us, aren’t they…? Izzat the thing on the back of Trump’s toilet? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7900 "2020-12-23T00:58:10Z")
Trump threatens to veto the budget deal unless the $600 is raised to $2,000. > ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/7901 "2020-12-23T00:58:27Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > > [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > > > 74 million voters thought that the Don got more done than any other president before him. > > I believe you are overstating the case. I am going to guess that at least a third of the people who voted for him did so with minimal thought on the matter, some out of habit (I always vote R) or because voting for the guy who is in there felt right, or because they flipped a coin or something. > > Which, I suppose, is more thought that the swarm of MAGAts gave it. They just wanted to preserve their right to be assholes. Your points have merits and I am in no way certain of my own opinion on this matter. But seeing the Lincoln Project’s revenues blew me away and convinced me that there is no end to the pool of griftables out there, waiting for their viewpoints to be confirmed. Republicans know this better than _anybody_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=393) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=395)