# The Trump Administration: A Clusterfuck in the Making **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 7, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070 "2016-12-07T00:25:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1167
**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:** [July 22, 2018, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23325 "2018-07-22T04:31:30Z")
Apparently the Chipster didn’t like youse guys’ answers cuz he started a whole new thread about it. He called it [“Kissing his ass.”](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=859160) ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23326 "2018-07-22T04:33:46Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Or possibly nuclear war with Russia, after Vlad invades a bunch of neighboring countries including NATO members. That oughta do a number on the economy. Khrushchev did not hesitate to test Kennedy when he perceived him to be weak, though incorrectly, as it turned out. What does anyone suppose Putin will do when he perceives the current president to be a comically inept corrupt buffoon mainly interested in kissing his ass? That is what he perceives. His error is ignoring that Trump is also mentally unstable, and Putin has helped put into power an irrational psychopath who might at any moment have a temper tantrum and decide to incinerate Russia, along with Putin and modern civilization. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23327 "2018-07-22T06:35:29Z")
Weapons to Ukraine. Javelin missiles. And right about that time Ukrainian officials stopped cooperation with the Mueller investigation. I wonder how those two events were connected? > **[Ukraine, Seeking U.S. Missiles, Halted Cooperation With Mueller Investigation...](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/02/world/europe/ukraine-mueller-manafort-missiles.html)** > > Ukraine, deeply dependent on the Trump administration for financial and military aid, froze its cooperation with the special counsel’s office. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23328 "2018-07-22T14:15:21Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > I think Chip could use a friend right about now. Won’t find one in me, though. Nope, I’m too busy today. And tomorrow. And … ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23329 "2018-07-22T14:19:05Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > That is what he perceives. > > His error is ignoring that Trump is also mentally unstable, and Putin has helped put into power an irrational psychopath who might at any moment have a temper tantrum and decide to incinerate Russia, along with Putin and modern civilization. He won’t Not because of any rage or butthurt or anything, Because he is a fucking coward and a bully. he only punches down as they say, on those he thinks can’t hit back. Hell he usually gets his goon Cohen (or used to anyway) to do it for him. Because he’s a fucking coward. Fight Putin? He’ll attack anyone **but** Putin. Even our **former** allies. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23330 "2018-07-22T14:27:25Z")
I think, for the most part, they are still our allies. They just aren’t _his_ allies. They are not trying to interfere in our politics so much as hoping that we will. ---
**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 22, 2018, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23331 "2018-07-22T14:29:43Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I think, for the most part, they are still our allies. They just aren’t _his_ allies. They are not trying to interfere in our politics so much as hoping that we will. Aye; that’s how I see our allies attitudes and actions as well. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23332 "2018-07-22T14:55:12Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I think, for the most part, they are still our allies. They just aren’t _his_ allies. They are not trying to interfere in our politics so much as hoping that we will. I think they now realize they can not trust us. Not when we can do such abrupt changes and trash long standing agreements just depending on which asshole is in the White House. Trump has shown the world that our word isn’t worth shit and our agreements are Trump agreements - worthless. ---
**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 22, 2018, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23333 "2018-07-22T15:12:19Z")
I think our allies are worried about us because if America is so politically weak that its government willingly allows a foreign power to meddle in its elections without consequences, then what does it say about its future stability? If I were in a political leader in any of the European Union states, I would be seriously pushing for a robust EU joint defense force. Not as a way to capitulate to Trump’s demands for more contributions, but to prepare for the possibility that America may not be willing to deter Russian aggression. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23334 "2018-07-22T15:53:40Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > The beauty of Trump’s plan is that it will be Obama’s fault… The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world Obama existed. > [@SteveG1](#): > > I think they now realize they can not trust us. Not when we can do such abrupt changes and trash long standing agreements just depending on which asshole is in the White House. Trump has shown the world that our word isn’t worth shit and our agreements are Trump agreements - worthless. I’m down to hoping that when we’ve climbed out of this pit we’ve driven ourselves into (assuming we do) the world will realize that we as a people have learned a hard lesson in picking our leaders. Kind of like there has been a reluctance in [Germany](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/11/21/germany-may-be-european-stalwart-against-authoritarian-populism-survey-suggests/?utm_term=.78f23fdd5955) to embrace authoritarianism after that little oopsie in the Weimar Republic cost 50-million people their lives. I pray our price is not so dear. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2018, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23335 "2018-07-22T16:21:44Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > **The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world Obama existed.** You’re right, but let’s give credit where credit is due. None of this would be remotely swallowable without the force multipliers of irresponsible, likely corrupt Republicans helpfully going along with it, and Fox “News,” Breitbart, Sinclair and others force-feeding it to Teh Base™. They’re all propping up Trump because he is useful to them and their various agendas. The fact that it helps Putin achieve his own goals is, tragically, incidental. They simply don’t care. ---
**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 22, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23336 "2018-07-22T16:30:26Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > You’re right, but let’s give credit where credit is due. > > None of this would be remotely swallowable without the force multipliers of irresponsible, likely corrupt Republicans helpfully going along with it, and Fox “News,” Breitbart, Sinclair and others force-feeding it to Teh Base™. > > They’re all propping up Trump because he is useful to them and their various agendas. The fact that it helps Putin achieve his own goals is, tragically, incidental. **They simply don’t care**. But they’ll care if they lose, and the way things are going now, it wouldn’t surprise me if a substantial number of republicans openly challenge the legitimacy of the results. I almost expect it at this point. Once we go down that road… ---
**Author:** ![Aescwynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Aescwynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aescwynn)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23337 "2018-07-22T16:53:39Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > You’re right, but let’s give credit where credit is due. > > None of this would be remotely swallowable without the force multipliers of irresponsible, likely corrupt Republicans helpfully going along with it, and Fox “News,” Breitbart, Sinclair and others force-feeding it to Teh Base™. > > They’re all propping up Trump because he is useful to them and their various agendas. The fact that it helps Putin achieve his own goals is, tragically, incidental. They simply don’t care. All the above is true. Is it possible the Republicans in Congress see themselves as serving the nation best right now by just holding onto their jobs, because they believe that challengers from the even-farther right might gain traction if they criticize Trump? Or are their motives strictly self-serving? I keep trying to discover some reason they continue to act like malevolent jellyfish. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23338 "2018-07-22T17:18:02Z")
It’s possible, in the tautological sense that _everything_ that doesn’t violate physical laws is possible. As far as _probability_ goes, the likelihood is such an infinitesimal percentage that even the Law of Very Large Numbers cannot make it worthy of even diffident consideration. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23339 "2018-07-22T17:32:11Z")
If we could figure out the energy storage problem soon enough, a 2020’s-style death ray should be possible. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23340 "2018-07-22T17:34:49Z")
> [@Aescwynn](#): > > All the above is true. Is it possible the Republicans in Congress see themselves as serving the nation best right now by just holding onto their jobs, because they believe that challengers from the even-farther right might gain traction if they criticize Trump? Or are their motives strictly self-serving? I keep trying to discover some reason they continue to act like malevolent jellyfish. I know why! They’re malevolent jellyfish. When people tell you who they are, believe them. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23341 "2018-07-22T17:40:06Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > I’m down to hoping that when we’ve climbed out of this pit we’ve driven ourselves into (assuming we do) the world will realize that we as a people have learned a hard lesson in picking our leaders. Trump is still polling with support in the 40%, not that far from Obama at this point in his presidency. The flip-flopping on big issues, like who sese [Russia as an adversary.](http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/01/10/u-s-public-says-russia-hacked-campaign/ft_17-01-10_russiahacks_adversary3/) What I’ve learned is that the current system of media, politicians and corporations interacting is unable too see beyond this year’s profits and will send the world off the edge of one available cliff or the other. ---
**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 22, 2018, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23342 "2018-07-22T18:27:36Z")
> [@naita](#): > > Trump is still polling with support in the 40%, not that far from Obama at this point in his presidency. The flip-flopping on big issues, like who sese [Russia as an adversary.](http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/01/10/u-s-public-says-russia-hacked-campaign/ft_17-01-10_russiahacks_adversary3/) > > What I’ve learned is that the current system of media, politicians and corporations interacting is unable too see beyond this year’s profits and will send the world off the edge of one available cliff or the other. Downhill is the easiest direction to go. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23343 "2018-07-22T20:43:37Z")
> [@naita](#): > > Trump is still polling with support in the 40%, not that far from Obama at this point in his presidency. Trump’s disapproval ratings are historic. The biggest disapproval ratings ever since we began keeping track. And his net approval ratings are not matched by those of any other president ever. > **[How Popular Is Donald Trump?](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/)** > > FiveThirtyEight is tracking Donald Trump’s approval ratings throughout his presidency. scroll down for the comparisons tool ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23344 "2018-07-22T20:58:17Z")
> [@PatriotX](#): > > Trump’s disapproval ratings are historic. > > The biggest disapproval ratings ever since we began keeping track. > And his net approval ratings are not matched by those of any other president ever. > > [How Popular Is Donald Trump? | FiveThirtyEight](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/) > > scroll down for the comparisons tool Lesse, He’s ahead of Ford, who never recovered from pardoning Nixon. He’s ahead of Truman, who was making huge mistakes in transitioning the war economy to peacetime. Truman would recover until he had to fire MacArthur. He’s Neck and neck with Carter, who was unable to deal with stagflation. He’s barely behind Reagan, who was in the depths of the Volcker induced recession at this period of his Presidency. His Green line consistently sits well below the all the Presidents through most of the comparable time. The only exception is Ford, who, again, had the Nixon pardon. What’s telling right now ( and I hope is an indicator) is that Rasmussen, which usually has Trump at 48-49% approval (its very conservative biased) shows him now at 44%. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1166) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1168)