# 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:** 94
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2020, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1870 "2020-08-04T23:33:31Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > No, but it would be nice if he pre-read the thing before he goes on TV. Pronouncing the word wrong is one thing, but that was clearly the first time he set eyes on that paper. The act of an idiot or an arrogant asshole. Or both. As always, you have to assume the worst with Trump, so both. Such a fucking idiot. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1871 "2020-08-04T23:52:19Z")
You’d think they’d learn to spell things phonetically for him. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2020, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1872 "2020-08-04T23:53:58Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > like the tenth answer is going to be any different than the first one. Hell, you’d get ten completely different answers, 4 of which would completely contradict each other. It would be fascinating,at the very least. ---
**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:** [August 5, 2020, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1873 "2020-08-05T01:40:43Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > How do these folks keep from snapping their own necks, what with all the whipping their heads back and forth? > [Trump encourages mail voting in key battleground Florida | AP News](https://apnews.com/24a6cb221b347efc387f47660c22e403) In 3, 2, 1: It will be “discovered” by Trump that mail-in voting in all Republican-dominated states is completely safe, but that mail-in-voting in Democratic-dominated states is fully fraudulent and bad and unlawful. So voters in the former will be encouraged to vote by mail, and any votes-by-mail in Democratic-majority states will be duly confiscated and destroyed by the USPS, which of course now has a Postmaster General and Board of Directors who are all Trump supporters. ---
**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:** [August 5, 2020, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1874 "2020-08-05T01:48:45Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Just so no one misses it: > [Trump claims authority to issue order on mail-in votes | AP News](https://apnews.com/d64defdd9960885f1fbe6be2f8714afe) Whatever Trump wants to accomplish with regard to voting, he can do by offering carrots and/or sticks to the governors. Mail is a bit more under his direct control, with the USPS leadership now all his appointees. But the stuff that is NOT nominally under a President’s control, such as elections, can be dealt with by means of the many ways in which states need Federal dollars and other forms of help. Pressure can make things happen (or not happen). Trump has no real need to issue Executive Orders, but they _can_ serve to save face for those governors who knuckle under to his wishes (e.g. ‘I had no choice but to close 90% of polling places, and to let the USPS decide which ballots to deliver and which not to deliver, due to the Executive Orders about those things’). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2020, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1875 "2020-08-05T02:26:42Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > In 3, 2, 1: It will be “discovered” by Trump that mail-in voting in all Republican-dominated states is completely safe, but that mail-in-voting in Democratic-dominated states is fully fraudulent and bad and unlawful. I think we can pretty much guarantee there will be massive amounts of unlawful fraud in the mail-in voting in Democratic states. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2020, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1876 "2020-08-05T02:50:52Z")
Immortal porpoises. You also need some sleeping lions and some mynah birds. ---
**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:** [August 5, 2020, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1877 "2020-08-05T02:52:26Z")
Can we get majah boids instead? ---
**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:** [August 5, 2020, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1878 "2020-08-05T03:24:30Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > > Here’s the interview, if you can stomach it… > > > > [https://www.axios.com/full-axios-hbo-interview-donald-trump-cd5a67e1-6ba1-46c8-bb3d-8717ab9f3cc5.html](https://www.axios.com/full-axios-hbo-interview-donald-trump-cd5a67e1-6ba1-46c8-bb3d-8717ab9f3cc5.html) > > I stomached it. It’s even more of a trainwreck for Trump than the Chris Wallace interview that took place like a week earlier than this one. > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6XdpDOH1JA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6XdpDOH1JA) I have a question. I had to find [a transcript](https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/donald-trump-interview-transcript-with-axios-on-hbo) because I couldn’t remember exactly when during the interview Trump was asked about Portland (it was 26:45 into the interview, turns out). Here’s something he said: > [@Donald Trump](#): > > It’s Antifa and anarchists that are causing the problems, not law enforcement. Our law enforcement, if we didn’t have people at our courthouse, and they’re strong, tough people, and they don’t want… They try and be very good, believe me. But if we didn’t have people there, you would have your federal courthouse, **a $600 million building** , you would have that thing burned to the ground right now. Helpful bolding mine. My question is: what building is he talking about? ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2020, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1879 "2020-08-05T03:48:08Z")
I believe it’s this > **[Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_O._Hatfield_United_States_Courthouse)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > The Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse is a federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon. It is named in honor of former U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield. It is used by the United States District Court for the District of Oregon. > The federal government originally planned to increase courtroom space in Portland by building a 13-story annex adjacent to the Gus J. Solomon United States Courthouse. In 1992, the government shifted to the construction of a... Which (accding to wiki only cost $129 mill. ---
**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:** [August 5, 2020, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1880 "2020-08-05T04:09:34Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Yeah it’s ZOMG HE SAID “MARINE CORPSE!!!” sometimes I feel like I have become a zomgie because of that guy ---
**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:** [August 5, 2020, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1881 "2020-08-05T04:14:00Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > I believe it’s this > > [Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_O._Hatfield_United_States_Courthouse) > > Which (accding to wiki only cost $129 mill. Aye; that’s the building I thought he was referring to also, but it clearly is not a $600M building. Trump just shits things out of his mouth and Mr. Swan missed a great opportunity to nail him for telling an outrageous lie. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2020, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1882 "2020-08-05T04:49:50Z")
[Trump’s most “Veep”-y portion of the Axios interview, with Veep’s closing theme music added.](https://twitter.com/brendanmc84/status/1290553066001965056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1290694257116774401%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffpost.com%2Fentry%2Fjulia-louis-dreyfus-trump-axios-veep_n_5f29b022c5b68fbfc888b27f) (Sam Richardson, who played Richard Splet, noted on Twitter that this scene wouldn’t have made it past the table read. “Too unrealistic.”) ---
**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:** [August 5, 2020, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1883 "2020-08-05T05:02:19Z")
[Republicans are whining](https://apnews.com/b426553f9c09a2c5dd17f2fcc5f9413c) “that Democratic negotiators are taking too hard a line in talks on a sweeping coronavirus relief bill”. Go fuck yourselves, GOP. Go eat a bucket shit. Lick some razor blades, motherfuckers. Then shut the fuck up and do what Speaker Pelosi tells you to do. Assholes. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2020, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1884 "2020-08-05T05:02:33Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > > [@mikecurtis](#): > > > > I believe it’s this > > > > [Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_O._Hatfield_United_States_Courthouse) > > > > Which (accding to wiki only cost $129 mill. > > Aye; that’s the building I thought he was referring to also, but it clearly is not a $600M building. > > Trump just shits things out of his mouth and Mr. Swan missed a great opportunity to nail him for telling an outrageous lie. This is also a prime example of what _ **stupid** _ lies the man tells. I mean, I think his actual point–about the Antifa and the anarchists and how great our strong, tough law enforcement are–is fundamentally garbage. But even apart from that broader point–why lie about the motherfucking cost of the building? Is there _ **anyone** _ out there who would actually say “Whoa! That’s a 600 million building! We need to bust some heads to protect \*that\* puppy! Bring on the windowless black vans! I mean, if it was only a _129_ million building, that would be one thing, but damn–$_ **600** _ million!” ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2020, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1885 "2020-08-05T05:08:13Z")
And _ **FUCK YOU** _ Discourse! If I put a motherfucking dollar sign in my post, it’s because I want a motherfucking dollar sign in my post. And if the motherfucking dollar sign shows up in the preview, **THE MOTHERFUCKING DOLLAR SIGN HAD BETTER SHOW UP IN MY POST!** ---
**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:** [August 5, 2020, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1886 "2020-08-05T05:12:30Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > This is also a prime example of what _ **stupid** _ lies the man tells. I mean, I think his actual point–about the Antifa and the anarchists and how great our strong, tough law enforcement are–is fundamentally garbage. But even apart from that broader point–why lie about the motherfucking cost of the building? Is there _ **anyone** _ out there who would actually say “Whoa! That’s a 600 million building! We need to bust some heads to protect \*that\* puppy! Bring on the windowless black vans! I mean, if it was only a _129_ million building, that would be one thing, but damn–$_ **600** _ million!” Exactly! Thank you! I was admittedly too busy mentally gettin’ my Petey Wheatstraw on to articulate it all properly. ---
**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:** [August 5, 2020, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1887 "2020-08-05T05:17:51Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Yo-Semites Sam? Or is that, Yo-seminites Sam? > > God, what a total fucking moron that guy is. What is the threshold? Where do his supporters draw the line? > [@HelenGawn](#): > > You’d think they’d learn to spell things phonetically for him. That would be a disaster. If they spelled words out phonetically for him, the Genius of the Twitterverse would tweet them out that way. You can’t win when dealing with a fucking moron. This is the guy who bragged about having had wonderful conversations over in England with the Prince of Whales, so he’s either a fucking moron or the architect of one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of marine biology. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2020, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1888 "2020-08-05T05:30:34Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Yo-Semites Sam? Or is that, Yo-seminites Sam? I wonder what would happen if he had to deal with a certain other national park. Call it “Jellystone,” perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2020, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083/1889 "2020-08-05T05:42:01Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > This is the guy who bragged about having had wonderful conversations over in England with the Prince of Whales, so he’s either a fucking moron or the architect of one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of marine biology. Aw, man. You just know that in a couple of centuries an alien space probe is going to show up and immediately nuke us from orbit, no questions asked. “Greetings, gentle whale-people! We have come in response to your cries of distress, which we heard across the great ocean of space!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=93) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making-part-deux-part-1/911083.md?page=95)