# 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:** 1328
**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:** [October 19, 2018, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26545 "2018-10-19T14:28:30Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > From the fight between The Walrus and Kelly. Does Trump think a border is a lemonade stand? _BEEP!_ Sorry. Any sentence/question containing both the words “Trump” and “think” is automatically invalidated. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26546 "2018-10-19T14:38:05Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > From the fight between The Walrus and Kelly. Does Trump think a border is a lemonade stand? I think Trump should go with a live-on-TV version of Thunderdome–Two Men Enter, One Man Leaves. That’s rating gold, Donny! Gold! ---
**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:** [October 19, 2018, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26547 "2018-10-19T15:36:42Z")
[Just 1 in 4 thinks Kavanaugh told entire truth](https://apnews.com/bcd192055e694f2b9365f0c321483fad) > [@](#): > > Overall, 39 percent said they believe Kavanaugh was mostly honest but was hiding something when he testified last month before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the drama’s most unforgettable day. Another 31 percent said he was largely lying, and 25 percent said he was totally truthful. Six in 10 Republicans, including 57 percent of men and 64 percent of women, said they think Kavanaugh was entirely truthful when he appeared before the Judiciary panel. [/quote] > [@](#): > > Fewer than 1 in 10 Democrats, men and women, said they think Kavanaugh was fully candid during his appearance. Just over half said he was mostly lying while the rest said he was largely truthful but was hiding something. Other numbers from the same poll: > [@](#): > > Overall, 43 percent disapprove of Kavanaugh’s confirmation while 35 percent approve. More independents disapprove than support his confirmation, 35 percent to 17 percent, while the remaining respondents do not have a strong opinion either way. > [@](#): > > Nearly two-thirds of college-educated women said Ford was treated unfairly, a potentially damaging finding for House Republicans defending competitive suburban districts in next month’s elections. > [@](#): > > Around 1 in 3 said that since Kavanaugh’s confirmation they have a lot of confidence in the Supreme Court. The rest have only some or hardly any confidence in the nation’s highest court. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26548 "2018-10-19T16:13:58Z")
Reading [this](https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/19/mueller-investigation-findings-914754) didn’t make me too happy. > [@](#): > > President Donald Trump’s critics have spent the past 17 months anticipating what some expect will be among the most thrilling events of their lives: special counsel Robert Mueller’s final report on Russian 2016 election interference. > > They may be in for a disappointment. > [@](#): > > When Mueller is finished, he must turn in a “confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions” — essentially why he chose to bring charges against some people but not others. His reasoning, according to veterans of such investigations, could be as simple as “there wasn’t enough evidence” to support a winning court case. > > Then, it will be up to DOJ leaders to make the politically turbo-charged decision of whether to make Mueller’s report public. > [@](#): > > Trump personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani said earlier this summer that the White House had reserved the right to block the release of information in Mueller’s final report that might be covered through executive privilege. It’s unclear how salient that legal argument may be, but the president’s attorneys have been saying for months that a White House signoff will be needed because the Justice Department also falls inside the executive branch. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26549 "2018-10-19T17:37:14Z")
Yeah. There’s zero chance that the White House will voluntarily release anything in the Mueller report unless he comes back with a recommendation of Nobel Prizes for everybody. We can hope that either Rosenstein releases it anyway; it gets leaked (highly likely); or Mueller shares his findings with other jurisdictions (like SDNY) who will share. ---
**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:** [October 19, 2018, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26550 "2018-10-19T17:42:38Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Yeah. There’s zero chance that the White House will voluntarily release anything in the Mueller report unless he comes back with a recommendation of Nobel Prizes for everybody. We can hope that either Rosenstein releases it anyway; it gets leaked (highly likely); or Mueller shares his findings with other jurisdictions (like SDNY) who will share. I can’t see how it could be suppressed for any length of time one way or another. It either gets released or leaked. And this administration has been extremely bad about keeping things hushed up. ---
**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:** [October 19, 2018, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26551 "2018-10-19T18:03:22Z")
\*\*ThelmaLou \*\*crawls back out onto the ledge. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26552 "2018-10-19T18:26:46Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > \*\*ThelmaLou \*\*crawls back out onto the ledge. Ohhhh, no you don’t. You’re not going **asahi** on us just yet… 😃 (Kidding, kidding…) One thing I’ve noticed here and on other boards and talking to some people, the paranoia is rising at the time the GOPers want it too. We don’t have any investigation results yet (barring those already indicted), we had Dr. Ford bear her memories at her own risk to lose and be made fun of. Even by the president, which we know that person would have an impeachment on their hands if it were anybody else. We have GOP candidates denying holocausts, denying global warming and denying gun control. And this is making a lot of people scared. SO scared, they may not even vote. We’re seeing polls that are predicting we will NOT take senate, MAYBE we get one seat over repubs in the house. We see polls for 2020 presidential elections where the Dems are too diverse and seem to have less chance of ousting the bigotry that made Douche L’Orange’s dictatorship possible. Stop giving in. We’ve got a lot of young people, some school-shooting victims, voting for the first time. Getting their message out. We’ve got people who didn’t vote in 2016 who damn well will vote now. So let’s TRY to have some faith. Or not. Back to business… ---
**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:** [October 19, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26553 "2018-10-19T18:28:57Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Ohhhh, no you don’t. You’re not going **asahi** on us just yet… 😃 > > (Kidding, kidding…) > > … I wouldn’t rant like **asahi**. I’d just sit on the ledge and quietly suck my thumb. I’m clinging to hope. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26554 "2018-10-19T18:52:14Z")
> [@cuauhtemoc](#): > > Reading [this](https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/19/mueller-investigation-findings-914754) didn’t make me too happy. From the article: “That’s the word POLITICO got from defense lawyers working on the Russia probe…” Sure, let’s believe those guys, they have no reason to present the sunniest possible picture of the Russia investigation on behalf of their clients. Come on, y’all, they’re blowing smoke to keep the scent of doom off them before midterms. Come down from the ledge. ---
**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:** [October 19, 2018, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26555 "2018-10-19T19:00:40Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > From the article: “That’s the word POLITICO got from defense lawyers working on the Russia probe…” Sure, let’s believe those guys, they have no reason to present the sunniest possible picture of the Russia investigation on behalf of their clients. > > Come on, y’all, they’re blowing smoke to keep the scent of doom off them before midterms. Come down from the ledge. I know. I’m trying to keep my wits about me. The few I have left. ---
**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:** [October 19, 2018, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26556 "2018-10-19T19:14:35Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I can’t see how it could be suppressed for any length of time one way or another. It either gets released or leaked. And this administration has been extremely bad about keeping things hushed up. Maybe not for any length of time. But can it be suppressed for eighteen days? Yes, probably. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26557 "2018-10-19T19:34:16Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I know. I’m trying to keep my wits about me. The few I have left. You can have some of mine, never did me much good, best as I can tell. ---
**Author:** ![Celidin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Celidin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celidin)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26558 "2018-10-19T19:57:07Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I know. I’m trying to keep my wits about me. The few I have left. I too saw the article from Politico and got worried. But remembered again that Mueller’s office isn’t the one leaking this shit, it’s all coming from the side that wants you worried and despondent! Fuck those guys. Then I saw a Twitter thread from [Seth Abramson](https://twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/1053329609670967297) that brought stuff into context for me. > [@Seth Abramson](#): > > I’m getting emails from people saying they are “tired” or “losing hope” or “fearful nothing will happen” and I admit these notes make me angry. Mueller is KICKING TRUMP’S ASS in a timeframe NO ONE imagined was possible and Trump critics act like someone’s spit in their coffee. Okay, yeah. But no one really big yet, right? But then he reminds us… > [@](#): > > THE RESULTS > > TRUMP’S CAMPAIGN MANAGER > Charged > Convicted > Cooperating > > TRUMP’S DEPUTY CAMPAIGN MANAGER > Charged > Convicted > Cooperating > > TRUMP’S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR > Charged > Convicted > Cooperating > > TRUMP’S PERSONAL ATTORNEY/RNC DEPUTY FINANCE CHAIR > Charged > Convicted > Cooperating > [@](#): > > RESULTS (CONTINUED) > > TRUMP’S LONGEST-SERVING NATIONAL SECURITY AIDE > Charged > Convicted > Cooperating > > TRUMP’S FRIEND/ADVISER > Lies Confirmed > Charges Expected Soon > > TRUMP’S SHADOW NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR > Perjury Confirmed > Charges Likely > > TRUMP’S SON > Lies Confirmed > Charges Likely > [@](#): > > RESULTS (CONTINUED) > > Key Cooperating Witnesses: > > Sam CLOVIS, Trump Campaign National Co-Chair > Carter PAGE, Trump National Security Adviser (his earliest NatSec hire) > George NADER, Saudi/Emirati Emissary to the Trump Campaign/White House > > And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. That’s a lot of witches. Have faith! Mueller’s Team is quiet now, because they’ve been pretty quiet the entire time. but there’s a lot more to come. A lot more. ---
**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:** [October 19, 2018, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26559 "2018-10-19T20:17:12Z")
Ms. Huckabee-S is apparently [violating the Hatch Act again.](https://www.newsweek.com/g00/sarah-huckabee-sanders-may-have-violated-hatch-act-over-hillary-clinton-2020-1179035) (I saw a link about “Sanders” breaking the law and clicked only because Bernie popped into mind. A _Trump official breaks law_ story is like _Dog bites Man_, but having clicked, I thought I’d share.) ---
**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:** [October 19, 2018, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26560 "2018-10-19T21:06:54Z")
> [@Celidin](#): > > I too saw the article from Politico and got worried. But remembered again that Mueller’s office isn’t the one leaking this shit, it’s all coming from the side that wants you worried and despondent! Fuck those guys. > > Then I saw a Twitter thread from [Seth Abramson](https://twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/1053329609670967297) that brought stuff into context for me. > > Okay, yeah. But no one really big yet, right? But then he reminds us… > > That’s a lot of witches. > > Have faith! Mueller’s Team is quiet now, because they’ve been pretty quiet the entire time. but there’s a lot more to come. A lot more. This is very very good. I like it a lot. Thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26561 "2018-10-19T22:51:09Z")
Now that the Republicans and the Republican president have had the opportunity to steer the boat for a couple of years, the people of the USA have the opportunity to cast informed votes. If the Republicans remain in control of Congress following the mid-terms, the people of the USA can only look at themselves as they continue to lose their grasp on democracy and lose the respect that the free world one had for them but no longer has for them. It is very sad to have watched the USA deteriorate into a laughingstock – an extremely powerful and dangerous laughingstock, but a laughingstock none the less. ---
**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:** [October 19, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26562 "2018-10-19T22:54:24Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Now that the Republicans and the Republican president have had the opportunity to steer the boat for a couple of years, the people of the USA have the opportunity to cast informed votes. If the Republicans remain in control of Congress following the mid-terms, the people of the USA can only look at themselves as they continue to lose their grasp on democracy and lose the respect that the free world one had for them but no longer has for them. > > It is very sad to have watched the USA deteriorate into a laughingstock – an extremely powerful and dangerous laughingstock, but a laughingstock none the less. I like to remember that most people didn’t vote for Trump in 2016. We just unfortunately have an archaic system that gives some people more votes than others and allows a minority of voters to elect a President. ---
**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:** [October 19, 2018, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26563 "2018-10-19T22:59:33Z")
> [@Celidin](#): > > I too saw the article from Politico and got worried. But remembered again that Mueller’s office isn’t the one leaking this shit, it’s all coming from the side that wants you worried and despondent! Fuck those guys. > > Then I saw a Twitter thread from [Seth Abramson](https://twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/1053329609670967297) that brought stuff into context for me. > Okay, yeah. But no one really big yet, right? But then he reminds us… > > [list of indictments and guilty pleas] > > That’s a lot of witches. > Have faith! Mueller’s Team is quiet now, because they’ve been pretty quiet the entire time. but there’s a lot more to come. A lot more. Yes, and a lot of what is to come is going to be state charges. Recall that Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg has been granted immunity with regard to the Michael Cohen case: > [@](#): > > The Trump Organization’s finance boss, Allen Weisselberg, has reportedly been granted legal immunity in the probe into Michael Cohen. > He was summoned to testify earlier this year in the investigation into Cohen, Donald Trump’s longtime former lawyer, US media report. > > Cohen pleaded guilty on Tuesday to handling hush money for Mr Trump in violation of campaign finance laws. > Mr Weisselberg, Chief Financial Officer, is the latest to get immunity. > **[Trump Organization financial chief Weisselberg 'given immunity'](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45301884)** > > Trump Organization finance boss, Allen Weisselberg, gets legal immunity in the Michael Cohen probe. It may be immunity only about Cohen, but you can be certain that information Mr. Weisselberg was able to offer will have been of use to those looking into Trump’s financial shenanigans over many years–including questionable interactions with Russian oligarchs. We go a few weeks with no splashy news from Mueller and we start to worry, but that’s unreasonable. He’s silent not because he has nothing, but to avoid giving Republicans ammunition to use against him (a la _‘he interfered with the election!!1!!!1!!!’_) He’s planned this all out. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26564 "2018-10-19T23:17:22Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Yes, and a lot of what is to come is going to be state charges. Recall that Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg has been granted immunity with regard to the Michael Cohen case: > > [Trump Organization financial chief Weisselberg 'given immunity'](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45301884) Yep. I almost posted something about this but was at work and could not do it justice. I think it could be really important. His CFO has been granted immunity to talk. Hmmm. This is way IMHO, but Cohen almost seems like he could have been a decent guy, but poor lawyer. Swept up in trumps corruption, and now he wants to at least protect his family, and of course, knock some time off his sentence to enjoy a few years. Could the man actually have a conscience? No idea. No links or cites, but something has planted that idea in me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1327) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1329)