# 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:** 1254
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25065 "2018-09-06T18:13:08Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Cory Booker has released publicly a batch of Kavanaugh documents labeled “Committee Confidential”. > [Cory Booker just released confidential Brett Kavanaugh documents -- read them here - Raw Story](https://www.rawstory.com/2018/09/corey-booker-just-released-confidential-brett-kavanaugh-documents-read/) Good for Booker. He knows he may get tossed for “confidentiality” or something, but he did it anyway. GOOD. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25066 "2018-09-06T18:28:11Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > But what sense does it make to announce you’re doing (a)? Now, you’ve alerted Hitler to the subterfuge and have given his supporters extra reason to believe that a disloyal Deep State is the only enemy worth worrying about. Hitler already knows there’s a Resistance, because he’s not stupid (let’s assume the mayor didn’t give his name or title or location); and the letter gives encouragement to the Allies, to let them know they have friends on the inside. The analogy breaks down, though, because Trump _is_ stupid and probably had no idea there was disloyalty in the White House. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25067 "2018-09-06T18:35:28Z")
So getting away from the OP-ed for a moment and back to Woodward’s book, much has been made of two (of many?) cases in which Trump was prevented from doing something bone headed by having the piece of paper removed from his desk. This bring up 2 questions for me. 1. How could this work? If I was president and I was all keen on assassinating Bashar al-Assad, and waiting for the orders to sign. If they didn’t appear on my desk, or if they were on my desk and then disappeared when I went off to the can. I would ask for another copy to sign. The only way this would work is if the POTUS has the attention span of a goldfish and forgets about what he wanted to do as soon as it isn’t right in front of him, which probably answers my own question but bring up question 2. 2. Now the the president knows that he has been foiled in this way, what are the chances that he will know put every effort to make sure that the al-Assad assassination and pulling out of the Korean trade deal is a top priority just to prove that his staff can’t get away from it. Now that he knows that his staff is working to undermine his base impulses I think it is going to be harder for them to do so. ---
**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:** [September 6, 2018, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25068 "2018-09-06T18:45:40Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > 1. Now the the president knows that he has been foiled in this way, what are the chances that he will know put every effort to make sure that the al-Assad assassination and pulling out of the Korean trade deal is a top priority just to prove that his staff can’t get away from it. None, since he has the attention span of a goldfish. ---
**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:** [September 6, 2018, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25069 "2018-09-06T18:46:00Z")
see. . .after reading the editorial several times, I’m convinced he’s not talking about insubordination. He (and it may be a she) states clearly and more than once that he supports the Trump agenda. He stated the he and others are doing what they can to keep him focused on that agenda and not let his emotions rule. Take for instance; the whole flag at half staff kerfuffle. The flag gets lowered for a day and then Trump (no doubt angry over loser McCain getting so much attention) raises it back up only to then relower it the next day. Prob because some adult made him see the error of his ways. Then there is the “new NAFTA” deal. This is something the Republicans, in general, and the WH in particular want to happen. And the admin has worked long and hard to achieve. But then the Pres goes and insults Canada via twitter, or threatens to withdraw from the WTO, and the negotiators have to go around and assure all of the parties that contrary to the social media bluster this is something that the admin is committed to. So. . .I don’t believe this some sort of shadowy cabal who has hijacked the democratic system and is trying to implement an agenda of their own. They’re just trying to keep the place on track while a petulant leader pitches his daily fit. And I think the intended audience is the rest of the world as well as the American people. Saying, in effect, that even tho the President seems to change his mind on a daily basis, and has a penchant for insulting friend and foe alike, the administration is running smoothly. . .there are adults in the room. mc ---
**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:** [September 6, 2018, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25070 "2018-09-06T18:46:05Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > That’s my thinking: They’re essentially poking the insane rabid monkey with a sharp stick, with the hope he’ll lash out and need to be put down. But they can’t put him down until he does something so heinous and insane (or at least threatens to) that the fools still wearing their “We ❤ the Insane Rabid Money” t-shirts will be largely neutralized. > > If they can make him feel weak, he’ll do something to make himself feel strong again, and it’ll likely be something insane, and it’ll likely be announced on Twitter where no one can steal his hopes and dreams. **YES**! This is the only thing that makes sense. The Pubbies need thump to implode so they can have Pence _with no blood on their hands_. Nothing else makes sense, as everything in the op-ed was old news, been there read about that, already known. > [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > So getting away from the OP-ed for a moment and back to Woodward’s book, much has been made of two (of many?) cases in which Trump was prevented from doing something bone headed by having the piece of paper removed from his desk. > > This bring up 2 questions for me. > > 1. How could this work? If I was president and I was all keen on assassinating Bashar al-Assad, and waiting for the orders to sign. If they didn’t appear on my desk, or if they were on my desk and then disappeared when I went off to the can. I would ask for another copy to sign. The only way this would work is if the POTUS has the attention span of a goldfish and forgets about what he wanted to do as soon as it isn’t right in front of him, which probably answers my own question but bring up question 2. You’ve hit the nail on the head. (My emphasis.) (Apologies to goldfish.) > [@](#): > > 1. Now the the president knows that he has been foiled in this way, what are the chances that he will know [sic] put every effort to make sure that the al-Assad assassination and pulling out of the Korean trade deal is a top priority just to prove that his staff can’t get away from it. > > Now that he knows that his staff is working to undermine his base impulses I think it is going to be harder for them to do so. Nope. This requires thought and the ability to hold more than one idea in your head at the same time, plus think ahead. All are beyond our donald’s capabilities. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25071 "2018-09-06T18:59:55Z")
My first reaction was ha ha, Trump sucks, neener neener! But on reflection, yeah, nobody voted for these guys to impose their own agenda. I think staffers should work for the POTUS in good faith or else invoke the 25th, or resign. Our government system really Should be able to withstand a Trump administration without crumbling to bits. The idea that the executive branch is the pure expression of one person’s will is overplayed, but this kind of mutiny is destabilizing. I disagree with the sentiment that this is not insubordination, but I agree that there is a tough moral calculus here. But I don’t like it- absent any order we get anarchy and there aren’t any pieces left to pick up when this is all over. ---
**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:** [September 6, 2018, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25072 "2018-09-06T19:11:41Z")
> [@Chip\_Dundas](#): > > Here is the root of this op ed problem. The President seems to ask a lot of questions on policy because he is new to it as a non politician and outsider. While the establishment goes crazy over his questions and says they are unhinghed, I believe they are healthy to have these discussions to educate him and to make people think outside the box. > > But this is the high school douchebaggery down in DC that people hate. The career folks are the worst. They are know it alls. Wow! It’s said that Trump supporters won’t turn against him unless they find Trump in bed with a live boy or a dead girl. What would it take for you? A dead pre-teen boy? ---
**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:** [September 6, 2018, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25073 "2018-09-06T19:14:29Z")
\*Hi, I say, hi, I say hi, I’m Yosemite Sam. I have been working with Elmer, Sylvester, Marvin and Wile E. to further the cartoon villain agenda. We strongly believe that cartoon villainy is beneficial to the country (or, at least, to us) and really should become the law and policy of the land. Our noble leader Taz has been a bright figurehead, but he does present us with some difficulties, as his brand of cartoon evil can sometimes get out of hand. When he stops spinning and looks around confused, we do our best to wind him up toward the destruction of the various birds, pigs, sheepdogs and wabbits that are hampering our progress. Please be patient with us as we strive toward a country that will offer Evil Opportunity for All.\* [(or – not Taz?)](http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/warnerbroscartoons/images/0/00/Gosamer_300-1-.gif/revision/latest?cb=20110319111412) ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25074 "2018-09-06T19:31:01Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Hitler already knows there’s a Resistance, because he’s not stupid (let’s assume the mayor didn’t give his name or title or location); and the letter gives encouragement to the Allies, to let them know they have friends on the inside. But a true friend would be trying to get Hitler removed, not just inconveniently “frustrated”. ---
**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:** [September 6, 2018, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25075 "2018-09-06T19:38:03Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > The intended audience? Democrats. Frankly, this editorial reads to me like a calculated response from Republicans to reassure Democrats that, hey, there really are grown-ups running things! Don’t worry, we’re keeping his ugliest impulses in check! It’ll all be fine! No reason to vote us all out in November, we’re on _your_ side! Secretly, so you can’t see it, but trust us, it’s true! > > I think it’s a move to sandbag against the blue wave coming on Election Day, to keep it from being as ugly as they fear it’ll be, by reassuring Democrats that there’s already a check against Trump in place. I’m not buying it. I agree. I think this is a pre-election attempt by Republican insiders to reassure voters who are becoming concerned about the ongoing evidence of Trump’s incompetence. It’s gone past the point where they can convincingly claim the incompetence doesn’t exist. So the new line is that people don’t need to worry because the administration can work around it. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25076 "2018-09-06T19:42:32Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > That’s my thinking: They’re essentially poking the insane rabid monkey with a sharp stick, with the hope he’ll lash out and need to be put down. But they can’t put him down until he does something so heinous and insane (or at least threatens to) that the fools still wearing their “We ❤ the Insane Rabid Money” t-shirts will be largely neutralized. It won’t help them. There are too many derplorables who will, at a minimum, stop showing up at the polls if they lose their Insane Rabid Monkey. They’ve tasted too much red meat to be satisfied with the GOP Establishment’s pink slime. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25077 "2018-09-06T20:32:34Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > 1. Now the the president knows that he has been foiled in this way, what are the chances that he will know put every effort to make sure that the al-Assad assassination and pulling out of the Korean trade deal is a top priority just to prove that his staff can’t get away from it. Pretty nil, I gather. He strikes me as not the type to put in much effort regarding anything. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25078 "2018-09-06T20:38:44Z")
> [@Chip\_Dundas](#): > > The President seems to ask a lot of questions on policy because he is new to it as a non politician and outsider. By all indications, he’s asked his caddie what club he should use more than he’s asked his advisers about policy. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25079 "2018-09-06T20:47:12Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Nope. This requires thought and the ability to hold more than one idea in your head at the same time, plus think ahead. All are beyond our donald’s capabilities. > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Pretty nil, I gather. He strikes me as not the type to put in much effort regarding anything. But he does seem to have the ability to hold grudges and act out of spite. So I thought that there was a chance of his saying “You think you can stop me, well let me show you!” ---
**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:** [September 6, 2018, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25080 "2018-09-06T21:03:19Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > By all indications, he’s asked his caddie what club he should use more than he’s asked his advisers about policy. Lies. He takes the clubs out of his bag himself. Anybody who has to ask his cabbie is a loser. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25081 "2018-09-06T21:11:03Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > But he does seem to have the ability to hold grudges and act out of spite. So I thought that there was a chance of his saying “You think you can stop me, well let me show you!” Easily blunted if you hide his phone, it seems. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25082 "2018-09-06T22:19:02Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > They did. > > _[It was included in the article](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/05/opinion/trump-white-house-anonymous-resistance.html),_ as you’d know if you read it. Yes, I would have if I had but I hadn’t and haven’t. So I asked. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25083 "2018-09-06T22:40:58Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > … > The one thing that kind of surprises me is the coming out and saying it but not quite out loud, but then, that’s exactly the kind of behavior we see from the Trump administration (a lot of the time they opt for its sister, “loud and blatant but unclear to anybody who’s been living on the moon”). Speaking on the record and clearly seems something they all have problems doing. Yes, no-one is surprised that this president is being handled - every president no doubt to some degree handled by his staff, do doubt > [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > This presumes that Mike Dense could win an election for president on his own. And while the nation proved in 2016 that it would indeed elect an idiot, the Veep isn’t really the type of idiot who motivates the idiots who vote for idiots. The GOP leaders might believe a calm stable person (who calls his wife mother and can’t be trusted alone with women) will get a lot of support. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/25084 "2018-09-06T22:41:58Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > That only helps if you listen to them. It also helps if you understand what they say. It also helps if you don’t hire advisors solely on the basis of their being friends or relatives so you and they can make big bucks. And why is anyone paying attention to Chip Dundas, an obvious troll? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1253) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1255)