# 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:** 483
**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:** [February 11, 2021, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9667 "2021-02-11T17:34:24Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Yes, I meant February 3. As far as I can recall, he was the only Saint that had a special little ceremony like that. I went to parochial school, and in grammar school they would march us over to the church next door on St. Blaise’s day. We would kneel at the altar rail and they would hold crossed candles to our throats. Yeah, I’m West Coast, but it was exactly the same. It _was_ very unusual and theatrical. Speaking of saints, we collected holy cards like trading cards. Everybody wanted either St. Lawrence or St. Sebastian. St. Michael would do in a pinch. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2021, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9668 "2021-02-11T17:38:02Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Of all the ailments we could have been protected from, I wouldn’t have put choking on a fish bone in the top 20. > [@digs](#): > > Yeah, if I’d been in school with you, I’d’ve thought “Ok, so I believe in God and I get…protection from swallowing a fish bone? I’m tempted to take my chances…” I take it that neither of you have choked on a fishbone? ---
**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:** [February 11, 2021, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9669 "2021-02-11T17:49:41Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Speaking of saints, we collected holy cards like trading cards. Everybody wanted either St. Lawrence or St. Sebastian. St. Michael would do in a pinch. Ah, St. Lawrence, the patron saint of cooks, barbecues, and comedians, being martyred by being roasted to death on a gridiron, quipping “Turn me over, I’m done on this side!” St. Sebastian was a fan favorite because he was particularly gory, [having been shot full of arrows](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/St_Sebastian_3_Mantegna.jpg) (although he survived that, finally being beaten to death with cudgels. St. Michael was good because he was such a [devil-smiting badass.](https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/1/archangel-michael-overthrows-the-rebel-angel-luca-giordano.jpg) ---
**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:** [February 11, 2021, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9670 "2021-02-11T17:55:15Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > The connection between St Blaise and candles is really fuzzy for me (former altar boy notwithstanding), but Feb 3 is aka Candlemas. St Blaise doesn’t have a connection to Candlemas, which is the celebration of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple. The Nunc dimittis canticle is part of Luke’s account. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2021, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9671 "2021-02-11T18:12:21Z")
Exactly right on all three! ---
**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:** [February 11, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9672 "2021-02-11T18:16:14Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I take it that neither of you have choked on a fishbone? Nope. Unfortunately there’s no saint that offers protection from noogies, Indian burns, or Sister Michael’s ruler. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9673 "2021-02-11T19:21:51Z")
Ignorance fought. But what do candles have to do with the presentation in the temple? And the connection between candles and St Blaise is a coincidence? Because he’s Candlemas-adjacent? he owned a candle once? It’s all very confusing. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9674 "2021-02-11T19:35:27Z")
kewuul. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2021, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9675 "2021-02-11T19:47:38Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > And the connection between candles and St Blaise is a coincidence? No. See my post #9660. Another legend about St. Blaise is that he miraculously saved an old woman’s pig from a wolf. When he was later thrown in prison, she brought him food and candles to light his cell. [The association of candles with the Presentation at the Temple](https://epicpew.com/candle-what-why-you-should-get-candles-blessed-on-february-2nd/) comes from the reaction of St. Simeon when he saw Jesus: > [@](#): > > If you’re wondering where candles fit into the whole thing, look no further than the Holy Family’s encounter with St. Simeon at the Temple. The Holy Spirit had assured him that he would not die before seeing Christ and, upon seeing Jesus, exclaimed that Jesus was, “A light to the revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.” (Luke 2:32) Hence the candles and why we get them blessed on this day. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2021, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9676 "2021-02-11T19:56:39Z")
But is there one who offer protection against swirlies? ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9677 "2021-02-11T20:09:31Z")
As a non-catholic (who eats fish carefully) - serious question asked in ignorance: were the candles lit? j ---
**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:** [February 11, 2021, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9678 "2021-02-11T20:13:36Z")
No. [![](https://www.simplycatholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Blaise.jpg) ](https://www.simplycatholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Blaise.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9679 "2021-02-11T20:14:51Z")
Thank you. In an odd way, that almost looks sensible. j ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9680 "2021-02-11T20:38:31Z")
It looks to me like he’s about to cut her head off with a big pair of scissors. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9681 "2021-02-11T20:45:00Z")
Not sure the pictured ritual would be effective (my recollection was that we had the candles jammed up against our throats). ---
**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:** [February 11, 2021, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9682 "2021-02-11T20:48:01Z")
No, it really doesn’t. Those candles don’t look even a little bit like scissors. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2021, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9683 "2021-02-11T21:32:19Z")
They represent scissors. Everybody knows Catholics ritually cut the heads off of children, then drink their blood and eat their flesh in pies. (At least, that’s what I get from some fundamentalist ‘Christians’. 😛 ) ---
**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:** [February 11, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9684 "2021-02-11T21:36:35Z")
I had no idea Hillary was catholic. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9685 "2021-02-11T21:37:40Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > It looks to me like he’s about to cut her head off with a big pair of scissors. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > No, it really doesn’t. Those candles don’t look even a little bit like scissors. My first thought wasn’t scissors, it was swords that he would swipe apart and double-slit the throat. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2021, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/9686 "2021-02-11T22:01:37Z")
Who knew that Count Dooku was Catholic. [![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HeR2z0hxCmk/U4lYVHVdIKI/AAAAAAAAAXM/BDzHaugXYkM/s1600/dookuv-beheaded-by-anakin.jpg) ](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HeR2z0hxCmk/U4lYVHVdIKI/AAAAAAAAAXM/BDzHaugXYkM/s1600/dookuv-beheaded-by-anakin.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=482) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=484)