# 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:** 56
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1109 "2020-07-18T02:34:47Z")
States’ rights — I like it! ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1110 "2020-07-18T02:38:07Z")
How is that a thing? Random dudes in camouflage just rounding up Americans? ---
**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:** [July 18, 2020, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1111 "2020-07-18T03:05:19Z")
The Individual 1 campaign is investigating whether Brad Parscale stole money from the campaign that was supposed to go into Individual 1’s pockets and instead put it into his pockets. > **[EXCLUSIVE: The Trump campaign is investigating campaign spending, Parscale...](https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-campaign-conducting-internal-review-of-2020-spending-irregularities-2020-7)** > > Jeff DeWit, the Trump campaign's chief operating officer, confirmed in an interview Friday that he was reviewing all campaign contracts and spending. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2020, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1112 "2020-07-18T04:59:11Z")
The sound you hear is the din of thieves. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2020, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1113 "2020-07-18T05:26:35Z")
I didn’t want to start a separate thread for this but it’s definitely worth a mention so I’ll drop it here. A while back, just for fun, I joined a QAnon Facebook group…I always just lurk (as do most members) but it can be fun to watch. This Q-anon Group isn’t small, it has 25,630 members at last count. So I just went to that page for the first time in a long time, and it looks like the Q’s that run this group have turned on Trump. Oh, they still believe in the world domination pedo ring deep state soros stuff, but now they think Trump is in on it. About half the posts are Trump is a creepy pedo rapist colluding with Barr and Giuliani to hide their crimes. And I really don’t think it’s a hack, they are still pushing their other obsession which is freeing the thousands of child sex slaves stashed under the Getty Museum. Granted, the admin’s do most of the postings but they aren’t getting battered in the comments and people aren’t leaving the group. It’s a private group but probably easy enough to find, ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1114 "2020-07-18T05:42:53Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > A while back, just for fun, I joined a QAnon Facebook group…I always just lurk (as do most members) but it can be fun to watch. This Q-anon Group isn’t small, it has 25,630 members at last count. I wonder what the actual lurker-to-believer ratio really is in that group. Wouldn’t it be great if the vast majority was people like you? I can dream, can’t I? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1115 "2020-07-18T06:23:35Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > This Q-anon Group isn’t small, it has 25,630 members at last count. That doesn’t seem like a lot. How many people are in the “Earth is flat” or “Bigfoot is real” group? ---
**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:** [July 18, 2020, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1116 "2020-07-18T10:52:12Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > That doesn’t seem like a lot. How many people are in the “Earth is flat” or “Bigfoot is real” group? Bigfoot? His name is Darryl! ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1117 "2020-07-18T11:45:33Z")
So if Trump is being abandoned by these fucking loons, imagine how stupid the remaining MAGATS are. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1118 "2020-07-18T15:48:45Z")
Why is [Homeland security using unidentified officers](https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/18/us/portland-arrests-federal-authorities/index.html) to bundle people into unmarked cars in the dead of night? Some say that this is a great use of federal power, as they HAD to go in and protect federal buildings because the local authorities were not doing a good enough job. The fact that they were grabbing people off the street blocks away as they walked home is immaterial. The fact that they took them for questioning to an undisclosed location without reading them their rights and having a lawyer present is not a problem - just good solid policing. The fact that this is being done expressly against the wishes of all state authorities are not a problem - States don’t really have the right to keep federal troops out. (I have heard these exact arguments from “folks” on another group I frequent) My take on why this is being done, for what it’s worth (approximately a bucket of warm spit) The “riots” are not in the headlines anymore. Headlines are all about economic troubles and pandemic deaths, along with rising cases and deaths in states with Trump-supporting politicians. Trump does not like this. Trump administration wants to change the channel back to "OMG RIOTS WILL KILL YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN! ONLY I CAN PROTECT YOU! So the Trump administration seeks to fan the flames and get those riots started again. How to do this? With some more provocative totalitarian acts. Send in the goons to start some riots again. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2020, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1119 "2020-07-18T15:58:28Z")
I don’t see what’s wrong with secret police rounding people up, putting them into unmarked vehicles, and taking them away to undisclosed locations. Russia does it! East Germany did it! Heck, I’ll be even North Korea does it! ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1120 "2020-07-18T16:05:09Z")
You jest, but this is essentially the “argument” I got from a right winger. I pointed out that this tactic is one used by South American dictatorships in the 80’s, when protesters would be disappeared by unmarked men. Started in Brazil with the Esquadrão da Morte (literally “Death Squad”) . His response? “Well ya, but lefties do it all the time! Look at China! And Russia!” As if this made it OK. I replied that totalitarianism was wrong, both “left” and “right”. He then devolved into calling me names. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2020, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1121 "2020-07-18T16:05:15Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I don’t see what’s wrong with secret police rounding people up, putting them into unmarked vehicles, and taking them away to undisclosed locations. Russia does it! East Germany did it! Heck, I’ll be even North Korea does it!- Heck, they just take them to a big farm out in the country where they can play with other ~~political prisoners~~ good little boys and girls. And their dogs, or course. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1122 "2020-07-18T16:06:24Z")
Oregon is welcome to join the new Canadian province of Cascadia. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1123 "2020-07-18T16:08:51Z")
One of these paramilitary fucks is going to get injured or even killed while kidnapping their victims off the street. That will be used as an excuse to retaliate with extreme violence. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2020, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1124 "2020-07-18T16:17:27Z")
Duh. That’s the _goal_. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2020, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1125 "2020-07-18T16:21:44Z")
We’ve been headed to this moment since Trump started rising in the polls. His supporters voted for this, and don’t kid yourself for a moment in believing they didn’t. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2020, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1126 "2020-07-18T16:24:49Z")
I think you’re probably right, **k9bfriender**. Down in the polls, they’re desperate to find ways to impose their will on people by any means necessary. The republicans are normalizing the use of police and military power to disrupt the rights of peaceful assembly, and I have no doubt they’ll use it for other purposes as well, including the right to vote. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2020, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1127 "2020-07-18T16:50:39Z")
I am worried that the republicans know that they cannot win this November. Obviously, that brings to mind ideas of them holding power non-democratically. But it is worse if they just go scorched earth on us. Break things so badly that there is no way that the democrats can fix them, even if the republicans left in govt did not fight them in their efforts. Then in 2022, while still digging out of the mess they made, they can rely on the short memories of the voter, and blame all the problems on the democrats who are currently in charge. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1128 "2020-07-18T16:53:02Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > How is that a thing? Random dudes in camouflage just rounding up Americans? I know. I’m a lifelong gun control advocate, yet now I feel a touch of understanding for the Second Amendment. Tyranny indeed. Steve Schmidt’s advice that Oregon’s governor call up the National Guard to protect citizens from federal secret police is intriguing. It conjures fantasies of a real standoff — even exchange of gunfire, in the wildest fantasy — between federal and state armed forces. Fort Sumter, but for good reasons this time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=55) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=57)