# 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:** 1348
**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:** [November 7, 2018, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26945 "2018-11-07T13:23:16Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Few things whet Trump’s appetite more than the thought of a political gladiator match with Nancy Pelosi. The first step Democrats have to make is nominating someone to Speaker who can be relatively likable. Yes, thump is already LOVING the prospect of two more years of bare-knuckle combat with the Dems in the House. He’s bored if there’s not a dogfight going on. And they can subpoena his tax returns until the cows come home, but he will NEVER release them, and no one can/will make him. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2018, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26946 "2018-11-07T13:25:50Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Yes, thump is already LOVING the prospect of two more years of bare-knuckle combat with the Dems in the House. He’s bored if there’s not a dogfight going on. > > And they can subpoena his tax returns until the cows come home, but he will NEVER release them, and no one can/will make him. Yeah, I think the Dems need some political aikido - use Trump’s energy against him. Having Pelosi as the antagonist would be a nightmare. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26947 "2018-11-07T13:39:02Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Yes, thump is already LOVING the prospect of two more years of bare-knuckle combat with the Dems in the House. He’s bored if there’s not a dogfight going on. > > And they can subpoena his tax returns until the cows come home, but he will NEVER release them, and no one can/will make him. He, personally, wouldn’t have the choice, the subpoena would go to the IRS. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26948 "2018-11-07T14:20:48Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > I’m not exactly happy there wasn’t a Blue “Tsunami”, but at least we now have a real “Check and Balance” for Traitor Trump. > > That’ll do for now. And we can stop pretending that Susan Collins (R-ME) is an “important swing vote”. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26949 "2018-11-07T14:34:21Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > You make some good points. > > The problem I see is that it’s better to let the prosecutors prosecute, and leave the politics to the politicians. Having House Democrats trying to litigate the Russia investigation is problematic even if they produce some bombshells, because no matter what they release to the public, it will be viewed through the prism of politics. If I were the House Democrats, I would move to create an independent commission, similar to the 9/11 Commission, to look into Russian interference in our elections. This will probably die in the Senate, but when Democrats get accused over partisanship they can say “we tried to do a non-partisan inquiry, but the Republicans wouldn’t agree to it.” They can then proceed with their own investigation. > [@](#): > > What I had hoped is for a serious body blow that would have forced Republicans in the House, the Senate, and the Legislatures to stop and say “Whoa, maybe it’s time to think of getting off the Trump train.” Not that I expected it, but the sobering reality is that it just didn’t happen. So yes, the Dems can call for witnesses and tax returns, but it’s not going to have the same impact. I have the same feeling that a cancer patient has when he finds out his cancer is in remission. Your problems aren’t over, but at least the cancer isn’t spreading further. > [@](#): > > I think the Democrats are going to have to wait for Republicans to make political mistakes and capitalize when they do. One of the first and most serious mistakes could be the lawsuit against Obamacare. Dems ought to be ready to pounce on that and make it an issue. That’s going to cause millions to lose health care coverage, and it’s going to piss voters off and more importantly, expose one of the most blatant lies that people somehow bought in this past election: that Republicans actually care about the issue of healthcare coverage. Republican voters won’t be able to delude themselves when they receive that notice in the mail that they lost their health insurance. Sadly, that may be the only thing that motivates them in the right direction. > [@](#): > > If they miss the opportunity to capitalize on that, if they miss the opportunity to capitalize on helping distressed farmers struggling in the wake of Trump’s trade war, because they’re focused on trying to litigate the Russia investigation, that’ll be one hell of a missed opportunity. I think the Democrats can walk and chew gum at the same time. They can do both. It’s probably not wise to put Russia front and center though. Just quietly investigate. Don’t make too much fuss about in the absence of any bombshells. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2018, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26950 "2018-11-07T14:49:27Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > … > Republican voters won’t be able to delude themselves when they receive that notice in the mail that they lost their health insurance. Sadly, that may be the only thing that motivates them in the right direction… Yeah, but they and thump will blame the Democrats. > [@](#): > > I think the Democrats can walk and chew gum at the same time. They can do both. It’s probably not wise to put Russia front and center though. Just quietly investigate. Don’t make too much fuss about in the absence of any bombshells. I agree. Let’s not gum that thing to death right now. Wait until the Dems can detonate an explosion right in the Oval Office (metaphorically speaking). ---
**Author:** ![Celidin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Celidin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celidin)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26951 "2018-11-07T17:50:06Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > I think the Democrats can walk and chew gum at the same time. They can do both. It’s probably not wise to put Russia front and center though. Just quietly investigate. Don’t make too much fuss about in the absence of any bombshells. Yes. And let’s also tackle all the other things that are wrong with this administration, start with the blatant corruption and graft-peddling of certain current-and-former cabinet members. There’s just so much going on, all of it needs to be looked at. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26952 "2018-11-07T17:58:45Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > I’m not exactly happy there wasn’t a Blue “Tsunami”, but at least we now have a real “Check and Balance” for Traitor Trump. > > That’ll do for now. And none too soon. I just listened to a few grueling minutes of the Not-so-Great Pumpkin taking questions from the press, and _Jesus H. Twerking Christ_. I realize that “Trump is an idiot who has no fucking idea what he’s talking about” isn’t exactly breaking news, but he could’ve just stood there making armpit fart noises and his answers would’ve made just as much sense. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26953 "2018-11-07T18:09:39Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Yes, thump is already LOVING the prospect of two more years of bare-knuckle combat with the Dems in the House. He’s bored if there’s not a dogfight going on. No, Trump likes having somebody he can use as a punching bag. He has no interest in being in a fight with somebody who can hit back. He’s just a bully and like most bullies, he lacks what it takes to be a fighter. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26954 "2018-11-07T18:13:45Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > No, Trump likes having somebody he can use as a punching bag. He has no interest in being in a fight with somebody who can hit back. He’s just a bully and like most bullies, he lacks what it takes to be a fighter. Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz disagree. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26955 "2018-11-07T18:16:36Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz disagree. …but not too strongly, since they’re whiny little man-baby sycophants (except for maybe Jeb, who seems to have disappeared into the aether). ---
**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:** [November 7, 2018, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26956 "2018-11-07T18:18:41Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz disagree. I’ve highlighted the key words every way I can find. Do I need to figure out some way to make blink tags work? > [@](#): > > No, Trump likes having somebody he can use as a punching bag. He has no interest in being in a fight _ **with somebody who can hit back** _. He’s just a bully and like most bullies, he lacks what it takes to be a fighter. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2018, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26957 "2018-11-07T18:19:07Z")
> [@Celidin](#): > > Yes. And let’s also tackle all the other things that are wrong with this administration, start with the blatant corruption and graft-peddling of certain current-and-former cabinet members. Why start with cabinet members? Let’s go directly to Trump’s blatant corruption and graft-peddling. He’s the most personally corrupt President we’ve ever had. Let’s get it on record before 2020. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2018, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26958 "2018-11-07T18:20:52Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > And none too soon. I just listened to a few grueling minutes of the Not-so-Great Pumpkin taking questions from the press, and _Jesus H. Twerking Christ_. This is one of those moments that makes you ask yourself: “Is **he** on LSD, or am **I**?” ---
**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:** [November 7, 2018, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26959 "2018-11-07T18:25:12Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz disagree. Nonsense. These guys are all his fellow Republicans who have no interest in taking down Trump. The fact that Trump and his followers act like the mild disagreements he has with these people are major battles just demonstrates how incapable Trump is of fighting a real battle. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26960 "2018-11-07T19:51:01Z")
Jeff Sessions has resigned, effective immediately. At Trump’s request. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2018, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26961 "2018-11-07T20:33:59Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > No, Trump likes having somebody he can use as a punching bag. He has no interest in being in a fight with somebody who can hit back. He’s just a bully and like most bullies, he lacks what it takes to be a fighter. He doesn’t want to be IN a fight. He thrives on presiding OVER a fight. He has said that this is his preferred management style (if you can call it that). He believes promoting and creating chaos is the best way to govern/manage. Keep everyone on their toes. > [@](#): > > The Trump Rules > [https://www.axios.com/donald-trump-rules-commandments-business-presidency-ecca0771-d27c-4b2f-b19e-536f6ee2747d.html](https://www.axios.com/donald-trump-rules-commandments-business-presidency-ecca0771-d27c-4b2f-b19e-536f6ee2747d.html) > … > > Crisis is a powerful weapon — fire it indiscriminately. “Forget planning,” a source said. “Wake up every morning, survey the battlefield, let your gut instinct lead you to a crisis to exploit, bet that no one else can thrive in the chaos the way you can. Ratchet up the pressure until everyone else’s pipes burst.” > … ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26962 "2018-11-07T20:40:48Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > He doesn’t want to be IN a fight. He thrives on presiding OVER a fight. He has said that this is his preferred management style (if you can call it that). He believes promoting and creating chaos is the best way to govern/manage. Keep everyone on their toes. Yep - his line is “let’s you and him fight” ---
**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:** [November 7, 2018, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26963 "2018-11-07T21:07:01Z")
Thump throws tantrum at presser. [‘You Are a Rude, Terrible Person’: After Midterms, Trump Renews His Attacks on the Press](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/07/business/media/trump-press-conference-media.html?partner=rss&emc=rss) > [@](#): > > Not for the first time, Mr. Trump appeared most incensed by a question from Jim Acosta of CNN, who challenged Mr. Trump’s characterization of a caravan of migrants in Mexico as an imminent “invasion.” > > “Honestly, I think you should let me run the country — you run CNN,” Mr. Trump replied, his voice rising. “And if you did it well, your ratings would be much better.” > > When Mr. Acosta attempted a follow-up, about the special counsel’s investigation into Russia and the Trump campaign, the president’s patience — what little was left — evaporated. > > “That’s enough, that’s enough,” Mr. Trump said. “Put down the mic.” > > As cameras rolled, a White House aide leaned toward Mr. Acosta and attempted to remove the microphone from his hands. Mr. Acosta held on (“Pardon me, ma’am”) and declined to sit, as Mr. Trump continued to berate him. > > “CNN should be ashamed of itself, having you working for them,” the president said. “You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn’t be working for CNN.” He added, in a reference to the White House press secretary: “The way you treat Sarah Huckabee is horrible. You shouldn’t treat people that way.” > > Jabbing a finger in the reporter’s direction, he said, “When you report fake news, which CNN does a lot, you are the enemy of the people.” > … > > “Sit down!” he shouted several times as April Ryan, a correspondent for American Urban Radio Networks, tried to ask a question about voter suppression. “I didn’t call you. I didn’t call you. I’ll give you voter suppression. Take a look at the CNN polls and how inaccurate they were.” > > As Ms. Ryan persisted, Mr. Trump kept up his scolding. “Such a hostile media, it’s so sad,” he said, accusing Ms. Ryan of interrupting a male reporter’s question. "You rudely interrupted him. You rudely interrupted him.” > > Later, when Yamiche Alcindor of PBS asked about Mr. Trump and white nationalists, the president called her question “racist.” “What you said is so insulting to me,” he told Ms. Alcindor, who, like Ms. Ryan, is a woman of color. > … SNAFU. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26964 "2018-11-07T22:48:14Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Jeff Sessions has resigned, effective immediately. At Trump’s request. [http://time.com/5448197/jeff-sessions-resigns/](http://time.com/5448197/jeff-sessions-resigns/) Holy shit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1347) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1349)