# 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:** 1188
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2018, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23745 "2018-08-03T20:01:11Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Can he even _do_ that? I had thought that a government shutdown was by nature an exigent thing (the exigency being that there’s no money to keep it up and running). Can the President shut it down just because he doesn’t _feel like_ keeping it in operation? > > 'Cos that seems kinda fucked up. The spending authorizations for Homeland Security, HHS, Depts. of Justice, Transportation, State, Commerce, Education, Labor, Agriculture, etc. expire at midnight on September 30. The House of Reps has only eleven days of session scheduled between now and then. Unless 218 Congresscritters pass a Continuing Resolution, those departments will no longer be authorized to spend money. IIUC, some Republicans oppose _all_ government spending on principle, so Democrat votes are needed to achieve the 218 total. However Democrats are not eager to fund the Great Border Wall, and Mexico is still refusing to pay for it. Trump and his top ideological advisers (Limbaugh and Hannity) want to insist on the Wall. If D’s don’t buckle, the government will shut down and millions of fools will shout “MAGA! Lock her up!” in delight. But even without the need for a Continuing Resolution, the President of the United States can do just about whatever he wants. What are you going to do, indict him? Badmouth him in a N.Y. Times editorial? ---
**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:** [August 3, 2018, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23746 "2018-08-03T20:01:12Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > So now they’ll try to take over the investigation so they can control where it goes and how slowly it moves. Or bring _everything_ to a halt by shutting down the government. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2018, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23747 "2018-08-03T20:25:28Z")
The DOJ says the ACLU should be responsible for tracking down deported parents whose children were kept away from them. > **[DOJ: ACLU Should Find Deported Parents](https://www.newsweek.com/trump-administration-aclu-find-deported-parents-1056294)** > > In a court filing Thursday, the DOJ said the ACLU should "use their considerable resources" to locate the hundreds of parents the administration deported before reuniting them with their children. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23748 "2018-08-03T20:32:00Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The DOJ says the ACLU should be responsible for tracking down deported parents whose children were kept away from them. > [Trump Administration Wants the ACLU to Find the Missing Migrant Parents It Has Deported](https://www.newsweek.com/trump-administration-aclu-find-deported-parents-1056294) You’re 33 posts late. 😉 ---
**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 4, 2018, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23749 "2018-08-04T04:40:07Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Ok, this idea will probably exposed as completely stupid once somebody points out what it is I’m overlooking, BUT: What if it were US policy to prevent ALL foreign hacking, no matter who the foreigners are for or against? But the foreigners would then just use intermediaries to finance American hackers. It is a serious loophole, unless you commit to effective management of domestic hackings of elections. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2018, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23750 "2018-08-04T14:08:06Z")
> **[Judge Orders Trump Administration To Fully Restore DACA](https://www.npr.org/2018/08/03/635546997/judge-orders-trump-administration-to-fully-restore-daca)** > > It's the third federal court to rule that the government had failed to justify its decision to end the program. The administration has 20 days to appeal, before immigrant protections are reinstated. "A Washington, D.C.-based federal judge ruled on Friday that the Trump administration must fully restore the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, saying the government’s rationale for dropping it is inadequate. … In the [25-page opinion](https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2017cv1907-27), Bates also denied a motion by the Department of Homeland Security to vacate a previous decision in which he determined the administration’s explanations for phasing out the Obama-era program were “arbitrary and capricious.” …" Fuck you Trump, eat shit. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2018, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23751 "2018-08-04T14:18:23Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Fuck you Trump, eat shit. And everyone who supports his blatantly racist agenda, which means 99% of the current Republican party and its supporters. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2018, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23752 "2018-08-04T14:41:04Z")
I had this fantasy about how a normal president would have responded to the Russian meddling. Presidential address from the Oval Office, July 2017. President, seated behind his desk, speaking in a serious but confident tone, making the following points: I\*t’s the unanimous opinion of all intelligence agencies that agents under the direction of the Russian government attempted to influence the 2016 presidential election. I agree with this assessment. Fortunately no votes were altered or voters disenfranchised We expect that they will continue their efforts in 2018 Therefore I’m making the following directives: $x billion dollars to state election commissions to harden security A blue-ribbon bi-partisan panel to investigate Russian activities and provide recommendations to thwart future activities Work with executives of social network companies to minimize the impact of Russian trolls Finally, remember that despite our political differences, we’re all Americans and love our country and that elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. God bless America.\* Any of the prior 44 occupants of the office would have done exactly this. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2018, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23753 "2018-08-04T14:53:34Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I had this fantasy about how a normal president would have responded to the Russian meddling. > > Presidential address from the Oval Office, July 2017. > > President, seated behind his desk, speaking in a serious but confident tone, making the following points: > > I\*t’s the unanimous opinion of all intelligence agencies that agents under the direction of the Russian government attempted to influence the 2016 presidential election. I agree with this assessment. > > Fortunately no votes were altered or voters disenfranchised > > We expect that they will continue their efforts in 2018 > > Therefore I’m making the following directives: > > $x billion dollars to state election commissions to harden security > A blue-ribbon bi-partisan panel to investigate Russian activities and provide recommendations to thwart future activities > Work with executives of social network companies to minimize the impact of Russian trolls > > Finally, remember that despite our political differences, we’re all Americans and love our country and that elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. > > God bless America.\* > > Any of the prior 44 occupants of the office would have done exactly this. Well, maybe not William Henry Harrison… ---
**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 4, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23754 "2018-08-04T15:34:33Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I had this fantasy about how a normal president would have responded to the Russian meddling. A normal candidate would have said no when it was offered. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2018, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23755 "2018-08-04T15:51:56Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Jim Acosta actually got up and walked out. They all should have. Absolutely. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2018, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23756 "2018-08-04T15:55:05Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Cool first comment I saw in the comments section: My sentiments, too. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2018, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23757 "2018-08-04T15:58:41Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > It’s their prelude toward getting out front of a blue tide in November. If the Democrats really do win big, they can claim that Russia interfered to make them win and throw complete doubt on the 2018 election. It’s typical Republican projection combined with The Big Lie. At this point I don’t think it has anything to do with loyalty, patriotism, or doing the right thing. I fully believe the R’s just want to save their own asses. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2018, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23758 "2018-08-04T16:04:43Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > [Judge Orders Trump Administration To Fully Restore DACA : NPR](https://www.npr.org/2018/08/03/635546997/judge-orders-trump-administration-to-fully-restore-daca) > > "A Washington, D.C.-based federal judge ruled on Friday that the Trump administration must fully restore the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, saying the government’s rationale for dropping it is inadequate. … > > In the [25-page opinion](https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2017cv1907-27), Bates also denied a motion by the Department of Homeland Security to vacate a previous decision in which he determined the administration’s explanations for phasing out the Obama-era program were “arbitrary and capricious.” > …" > > Fuck you Trump, eat shit. Good. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2018, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23759 "2018-08-04T16:50:27Z")
Just want to make a broader point: Up until now, I just assumed that everything would go to shit eventually, and then all but the hardcore fanatics would abandon Trump. Now I realize the “hardcore” are in fact legion, and they’ve been playing the “find anyone but Trump to blame” game for some time. Let’s say GDP growth suddenly plummets. It will be the fault of the deep state, or hillary clinton, or the media, or BLM. And the worse things get, the more people will call for something to be done against these “enemies within”. That’s why the midterms are actually so important. Yes Trumpists will blame whatever democrat influence there is in government for whatever goes wrong. But at least with a deadlocked Executive there’s only so much the radicals can do. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23760 "2018-08-04T17:29:01Z")
Please don’t call the Trumpwumps “radicals”. Hurts my feelings. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23761 "2018-08-04T17:34:31Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > [Judge Orders Trump Administration To Fully Restore DACA : NPR](https://www.npr.org/2018/08/03/635546997/judge-orders-trump-administration-to-fully-restore-daca) > > "A Washington, D.C.-based federal judge ruled on Friday that the Trump administration must fully restore the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, saying the government’s rationale for dropping it is inadequate. … > > In the [25-page opinion](https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2017cv1907-27), Bates also denied a motion by the Department of Homeland Security to vacate a previous decision in which he determined the administration’s explanations for phasing out the Obama-era program were “arbitrary and capricious.” > …" > > Fuck you Trump, eat shit. A federal judge in Texas is expected to issue a contradictory ruling later this week. It’ll all wind up before the Kavanaugh Court. ---
**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 4, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23762 "2018-08-04T17:57:25Z")
[Meathead: Trump is Archie Bunker.](http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/400387-rob-reiner-on-trump-we-have-archie-bunker-in-the-white-house) I have to disagree. On several occasaions, Archie was likable. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2018, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23763 "2018-08-04T18:20:06Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > [Meathead: Trump is Archie Bunker.](http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/400387-rob-reiner-on-trump-we-have-archie-bunker-in-the-white-house) > > I have to disagree. On several occasaions, Archie was likable. More importantly, Archie was educable. ---
**Author:** ![Old\_Time\_Hockey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9adbd/32.png) [@Old\_Time\_Hockey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Old_Time_Hockey)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2018, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/23764 "2018-08-04T18:27:53Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > [Meathead: Trump is Archie Bunker.](http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/400387-rob-reiner-on-trump-we-have-archie-bunker-in-the-white-house) > > I have to disagree. On several occasaions, Archie was likable. If you take away Carroll O’Connor’s innate charm, humanity and empathy, which was needed to make Archie funny and not a total monster, the Trump comparison by both Lear and Reiner is legitimate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1187) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1189)