# 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:** 403
**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 26, 2020, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8063 "2020-12-26T15:41:52Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > I thought he had completed his time for that. Manafort, Stone, and Kushner are all out of prison. The main effect is wiping out felony convictions. From [here.](https://therealdeal.com/2020/12/23/charles-kushner-gets-presidential-pardon/) > [@](#): > > The pardon has significant implications for Kushner Companies, as it may make it easier for the landlord to secure financing for its projects. Kushner’s conviction had been a complicating factor in the company’s ability to get loans, according to [David Enrich](https://twitter.com/davidenrich/status/1341916397635563527), a New York Times journalist who authored a book about one of the firm’s biggest lenders, Deutsche Bank. I love what [Chris Christie said](https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2020-12-23/kushner-pardon-revives-loathsome-tale-of-tax-evasion-sex) about his crime: > [@](#): > > “Mr. Kushner pled guilty. He admitted the crimes,” Christie told PBS last year as he promoted a book that blamed the younger Kushner for his firing from Trump’s transition team. “And so what am I supposed to do as a prosecutor? I mean, if a guy hires a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, and videotapes it, and then sends the videotape to his sister to attempt to intimidate her from testifying before a grand jury, do I really need any more justification than that?" > > He added: **“I mean its one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney. And I was U.S. attorney in New Jersey."** Bolding mine. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2020, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8064 "2020-12-26T17:30:19Z")
Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8065 "2020-12-26T18:10:45Z")
Ah. Thanks for the explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8066 "2020-12-26T18:48:21Z")
Criminal convictions can also hinder foreign travel. Some countries, like Canada, wouldn’t have admitted any of them as visitor. Not all countries take that approach, but it can be a potential problem for someone like Manafort who travelled internationally for his lobbying / consulting work. Pardons may make it easier to travel, depending on how the foreign country takes them into account. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2020, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8067 "2020-12-26T19:23:59Z")
If part of their sentence was a fine, does that mean that they get that money back too? ---
**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 26, 2020, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8068 "2020-12-26T19:31:13Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Manafort, Stone, and Kushner are all out of prison. The main effect is wiping out felony convictions. > > From [here.](https://therealdeal.com/2020/12/23/charles-kushner-gets-presidential-pardon/) > > > [@](#): > > > > The pardon has significant implications for Kushner Companies, as it may make it easier for the landlord to secure financing for its projects. Kushner’s conviction had been a complicating factor in the company’s ability to get loans, according to [David Enrich](https://twitter.com/davidenrich/status/1341916397635563527), a New York Times journalist who authored a book about one of the firm’s biggest lenders, Deutsche Bank. I’m not disputing that but I don’t understand it. Trump waving a magic wand may expunge the criminal record, but doesn’t change the **fact** of Kushner being a convicted felon – a fact that everybody and his dog knows. So I would think that the perceived risk of lending to an unprincipled criminal would still be very relevant to the banks. Trump himself is said to have had difficulty getting financing, with the exception of Deutsche Bank and possible shady Russian connections. ---
**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 26, 2020, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8069 "2020-12-26T19:34:51Z")
My sister said she saw something online about Trump whining about no fashion mags giving Melania any covers. Like that’s the most important thing to be whinging about now. ---
**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 26, 2020, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8070 "2020-12-26T19:59:55Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > So I would think that the perceived risk of lending to an unprincipled criminal would still be very relevant to the banks. Some banks may have internal regulations that prevent them from dealing with businesses operated by convicted felons, while not directly caring about their personal ethics. ---
**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 26, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8071 "2020-12-26T20:14:29Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > My sister said she saw something online about Trump whining about no fashion mags giving Melania any covers. [https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/26/politics/donald-trump-stimulus-unemployment-benefits/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/26/politics/donald-trump-stimulus-unemployment-benefits/index.html) > Washington (CNN) - A day before [unemployment benefits](https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/24/politics/covid-relief-bill-programs-expiring/index.html) for millions of Americans were set to expire, President Donald Trump had a different insult in mind: his former-model wife has yet to appear on the cover of a fashion magazine as first lady. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2020, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8072 "2020-12-26T20:17:44Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > My sister said she saw something online about Trump whining about no fashion mags giving Melania any covers. > > Like that’s the most important thing to be whinging about now. - Nude photos don’t count as “fashion”. ---
**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 26, 2020, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8073 "2020-12-26T20:24:25Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > My sister said she saw something online about Trump whining about no fashion mags giving Melania any covers. He’s probably worried that her unemployment benefits are about to run out. She needs to get some work! ---
**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:** [December 26, 2020, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8074 "2020-12-26T20:24:27Z")
[Who knows? Maybe the water had lycopodium powder or something on it, thus preventing anything from getting wet.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-charge-of-voting-fraud-has-been-brought-against-a-trump-voter-natch/928683/14) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8075 "2020-12-26T21:01:23Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Nude photos don’t count as “fashion”. Nor do gold digging hookers I guess. ---
**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 26, 2020, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8076 "2020-12-26T21:35:59Z")
Then you must not have seen that one Altman movie. ---
**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 26, 2020, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8077 "2020-12-26T21:54:27Z")
My guess is these funding bills get signed January 20th. If at all. ---
**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 26, 2020, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8078 "2020-12-26T22:16:21Z")
Did he mean to say “fashion” magazine? I mean, that word sounds a lot like a different word that tends to be more closely associated to him. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2020, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8079 "2020-12-26T22:28:43Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > My guess is these funding bills get signed January 20th. If at all. My understanding is that, if they aren’t signed (or vetoed, thus kicked back to Congress for a potential override of the veto) by January 3rd, when this current Congress ends, the bills are effectively dead. At that point, the new Congress would have to start over from scratch on any of these bills, as I understand 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 26, 2020, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8080 "2020-12-26T23:13:54Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Did he mean to say “fashion” magazine? I mean, that word sounds a lot like a different word that tends to be more closely associated to him. I could see Melania being the cover girl for _Neo-Nazi Monthly_----she could wear that olive-drab epaulet number she wore at the RNC last August! It would be super for their circulation! [https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/melania-trumps-military-style-rnc-173506000.html](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/melania-trumps-military-style-rnc-173506000.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8081 "2020-12-26T23:23:21Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > My sister said she saw something online about Trump whining about no fashion mags giving Melania any covers. > > Like that’s the most important thing to be whinging about now. What’s the point of being married to her, otherwise? ---
**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 26, 2020, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/8082 "2020-12-26T23:40:02Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I could see Melania being the cover girl for _Neo-Nazi Monthly…_ I immediately thought “She’s a perfect Ilsa!”: [![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/415WAA3WNZL.jpg) ](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/415WAA3WNZL.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=402) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=404)