# 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:** 1350
**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:** [November 8, 2018, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26985 "2018-11-08T01:26:22Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Don’t be disappointed. That is such a pussy word. > Be like the Parkland students. Be PISSED!!! > … Good to know you read the first four words of my post. The rest of it is actually fairly relevant to our current situation as Americans, by the way. Trump was proven, yesterday, to be something of a fizzle as a force in Republican politics. Republican politicians will have taken note. (As for being pissed: I find there are limits to the utility of being sloshed this early in the day. YMMV.) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26986 "2018-11-08T01:27:03Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Trump is telling Jim Acosta, the press, and everyone else how America works. > > Again, America voted for this – TWICE!!! Homer: Oh, what does it matter, we’re doomed! (a seagull flies into view) Flanders: Wrong, we’re saved! Seagulls always stay near land. They only go out to sea to die! (it squawks and spirals into the ocean) Homer: (triumphant) Woo-hoo! See that, boy? Your old man was right! We _are_ doomed! In your face, Flanders! ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26987 "2018-11-08T01:29:17Z")
I would love one of our Trump apologists to watch that video, and tell me that Sarah Sanders isn’t knowingly and ridiculously lying about Jim Acosta assaulting that woman. I think there’s a commandment about bearing false witness, Sarah. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26988 "2018-11-08T01:36:56Z")
White Nationalist group [hanging out at the White House](https://www.thedailybeast.com/a-white-nationalist-leader-just-posted-pics-from-his-white-house-visit/body). You know. No biggie. ---
**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 8, 2018, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26989 "2018-11-08T01:45:01Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Homer: Oh, what does it matter, we’re doomed! > > (a seagull flies into view) > > Flanders: Wrong, we’re saved! Seagulls always stay near land. They only go out to sea to die! > > (it squawks and spirals into the ocean) > > Homer: (triumphant) Woo-hoo! See that, boy? Your old man was right! We _are_ doomed! In your face, Flanders! Spin it, explain it how you want. I was right, and everyone here knows it. You’re just mad because you were smug and thought you were schooling me. You unfortunately don’t do this humility thing. That’s okay, though. I accept your apology. ---
**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 8, 2018, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26990 "2018-11-08T01:46:25Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > White Nationalist group [hanging out at the White House](https://www.thedailybeast.com/a-white-nationalist-leader-just-posted-pics-from-his-white-house-visit/body). You know. No biggie. As I’ve explained, they need each other. The White House needs the extremists, and the extremists need the legitimacy of the White House. And they both have what they want. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26991 "2018-11-08T01:52:08Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > White Nationalist group [hanging out at the White House](https://www.thedailybeast.com/a-white-nationalist-leader-just-posted-pics-from-his-white-house-visit/body). You know. No biggie. Was he invited or was he “one of more than twenty-five thousand people who came to the White House Fall Garden Tour, which is open to the public” according to the article and snapped a self promoting selfie. Not that I like trump or the nazi fuck sticks who support him, but this may not be quite as outrageous as presented. . ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26992 "2018-11-08T01:52:54Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I was right, and everyone here knows it. You are being uncharacteristically optimistic when you assume that “everyone here” thinks you’re right. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26993 "2018-11-08T01:54:32Z")
> [@Precambrianmollusc](#): > > Was he invited or was he “one of more than twenty-five thousand people who came to the White House Fall Garden Tour, which is open to the public” according to the article and snapped a self promoting selfie. > > Not that I like trump or the nazi fuck sticks who support him, but this may not be quite as outrageous as presented. > . _“Sources familiar with how the Trump White House operates had told The Daily Beast that Casey could not have reached the location in which he was pictured on the kind of tour that occurs more commonly than the garden ones.”_ Also, I don’t see 25000 people in that picture. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26994 "2018-11-08T02:07:26Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Spin it, explain it how you want. I was right, and everyone here knows it. You’re just mad because you were smug and thought you were schooling me. You unfortunately don’t do this humility thing. That’s okay, though. I accept your apology. Your ego is certainly a match for Loser Donald’s, I’ll concede you that. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26995 "2018-11-08T02:15:05Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > _“Sources familiar with how the Trump White House operates had told The Daily Beast that Casey could not have reached the location in which he was pictured on the kind of tour that occurs more commonly than the garden ones.”_ > > Also, I don’t see 25000 people in that picture. Yes I took that part to imply he was on the fall garden tour because he got to the location he was pictured, as opposed to regular tours which occor more often and don’t go to that place. The fall garden tour is easily accessible to anyone and so him being there taking a picture is not really an indication of a thing nefarious. I was assuming the 25,000 visitors would be over the period of the few days the tour was available rather than all on one tour. From the fall garden tour website. This event is free and open to the public.  A ticket is required, however, for all attendees (including small children).  The National Park Service (NPS) will distribute free, timed tickets at a tent stationed near the entry point each day beginning at 8:30 AM.  The entry point for all guests, including those going to the NPS tent, will be located near the intersection of 15th Street and Constitution Avenue Northwest. Tickets will be distributed—one ticket per person—on a first-come, first-served basis. . ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26996 "2018-11-08T02:47:42Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Spin it, explain it how you want. I was right, and everyone here knows it. You’re just mad because you were smug and thought you were schooling me. You unfortunately don’t do this humility thing. That’s okay, though. I accept your apology. > [@Kimstu](#): > > You are being uncharacteristically optimistic when you assume that “everyone here” thinks you’re right. As I said before, regarding the foredoom coming from **asahi** , vodka is a hell of a drug. 🙂 More sober estimations that shows, that while we should still work against Trump and the three monkey act senate, the situation is not hopeless: > **[Democratic Governors Will Now Lead a Majority of Americans](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/11/democrats-governors/575185/)** > > The party picked up seven gubernatorial seats from Republicans while defending its own turf. > [@](#): > > Scott Walker’s eight-year run as the union-busting conservative governor of Wisconsin ended on Tuesday night, and Kansas voters rejected Kris Kobach’s bid to take his hard-right views on immigration and voter fraud to the most powerful perch in Topeka. In Maine, voters replaced the combative and uncompromising conservative Paul LePage with a Democratic woman, Janet Mills, running on a message of collaboration. > > In all, Democrats on Tuesday captured seven governorships held by Republicans for the past four or eight years, reversing a swell that had given the GOP a record 70 percent of the nation’s executive mansions as recently as 2016. > **[Tuesday Showed the Drawbacks of Trump's Electoral Bargain](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/11/midterms-repudiation-and-reaffirmation-trump/575143/?utm_source=twb)** > > Important segments of his coalition stood by him, but Democrats made inroads with urban and suburban white voters uncomfortable with his style and values. > [@](#): > > Tuesday Showed the Drawbacks of Trump’s Electoral Bargain > > Important segments of his coalition stood by him, but Democrats made inroads with urban and suburban white voters uncomfortable with his style and values. > [@](#): > > But for the first time in Trump’s national political career, the electoral costs of his approach also came due. House Republicans were swept away in urban and suburban districts, from New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Virginia in the East, to Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit, Des Moines, and Kansas City in the Midwest, to Denver, Tucson, Orange County, and possibly even Salt Lake City in the West. Republicans fell even in suburb-heavy southern districts around Houston, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Charleston, and possibly Atlanta that traditionally have leaned much more reliably red than similar areas in other regions. > > All of these suburban seats were in places where voters are doing best in the buoyant economy, but widespread discomfort with Trump’s style and values ignited a huge backlash among college-educated white voters—primarily women, but also an unusually large number of men. The exit polls put Trump’s approval rating among college-educated white voters at only about 40 percent. Burdened by that verdict, Republican House members were swept away in fast-growing, economically dynamic metro areas. Of course, as Churchill said after Rommel was defeated in Northern Africa: “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” ---
**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:** [November 8, 2018, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26997 "2018-11-08T03:07:15Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > The Young Turks is reporting the White House has revoked Jim Acosta’s press credentials. Every single reporter for every single presser from now until Hell is no longer frozen over (it froze over when Trump became president) should ask the exact same questions that Acosta was asking until either (a) they all get barred or (b) they get an actual answer from the ruddy rump. ---
**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 8, 2018, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26998 "2018-11-08T03:22:36Z")
Food for thought: > **[Adolf Hitler's rise to power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler%27s_rise_to_power)** > > Adolf Hitler's rise to power began in the newly established Weimar Republic in September 1919 when Hitler joined the Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (DAP; German Workers' Party). He rose to a place of prominence in the early years of the party. Being one of its best speakers, he was made the party leader after he threatened to otherwise leave. > In 1920, the DAP renamed itself to the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei – NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers' Party, commonly known as the... The Enabling Act of 1933 allowed Hitler and his Cabinet to rule by emergency decree for four years, though Hindenburg remained President.[85] Hitler immediately set about abolishing the powers of the states and the existence of non-Nazi political parties and organisations. Non-Nazi parties were formally outlawed on 14 July 1933, and the Reichstag abdicated its democratic responsibilities.[86] Hindenburg remained commander-in-chief of the military and retained the power to negotiate foreign treaties. The Act did not infringe upon the powers of the President, and Hitler would not fully achieve full dictatorial power until after the death of Hindenburg in August 1934.[87] Journalists and diplomats wondered whether Hitler could appoint himself President, who might succeed him as Chancellor, and what the army would do. Hitler combined the two positions, so that all governmental power lay in his hands. All soldiers took the Hitler Oath on the day of Hindenburg’s death, swearing “unconditional obedience” to Hitler.[88] ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/26999 "2018-11-08T07:17:03Z")
I love how there are 88 footnotes in the Wikipedia about Adolf Hitler. ---
**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 8, 2018, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27000 "2018-11-08T07:22:28Z")
> [@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. But he’s only able to do this because he’s been surrounded by a government that’s covers for him. They’ve been insulating him from the consequences of his screw-ups. Now he’s lost that. The House no longer has any interest in protecting Trump. In fact, they’ll be happy to see him fall down. ---
**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 8, 2018, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27001 "2018-11-08T07:27:48Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Spin it, explain it how you want. I was right, and everyone here knows it. You’re just mad because you were smug and thought you were schooling me. You unfortunately don’t do this humility thing. That’s okay, though. I accept your apology. No, I think most of us can see you were wrong. You’ve been predicting complete disaster and the end of democracy. But the actual outcome of the election was Trump and the Republican party losing control of the House of Representatives. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27002 "2018-11-08T10:12:12Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Every single reporter for every single presser from now until Hell is no longer frozen over (it froze over when Trump became president) should ask the exact same questions that Acosta was asking until either (a) they all get barred or (b) they get an actual answer from the ruddy rump. This would be awesome. Please send this suggestion to the major news outlets (NY Times, CNN, AP…) — seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2018, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27003 "2018-11-08T11:10:16Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > He’s the most personally corrupt President we’ve ever had. I was going to question the “ever” on historical grounds but then I realized we’re only halfway through his first term, so he’s well within reach of the prize. ---
**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 8, 2018, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27004 "2018-11-08T11:27:03Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Food for thought: > > [Adolf Hitler's rise to power - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler%27s_rise_to_power) > > The Enabling Act of 1933 allowed Hitler and his Cabinet to rule by emergency decree for four years, though Hindenburg remained President.[85] Hitler immediately set about abolishing the powers of the states and the existence of non-Nazi political parties and organisations. Non-Nazi parties were formally outlawed on 14 July 1933, and the Reichstag abdicated its democratic responsibilities.[86] Hindenburg remained commander-in-chief of the military and retained the power to negotiate foreign treaties. > > The Act did not infringe upon the powers of the President, and Hitler would not fully achieve full dictatorial power until after the death of Hindenburg in August 1934.[87] Journalists and diplomats wondered whether Hitler could appoint himself President, who might succeed him as Chancellor, and what the army would do. Hitler combined the two positions, so that all governmental power lay in his hands. All soldiers took the Hitler Oath on the day of Hindenburg’s death, swearing “unconditional obedience” to Hitler.[88] Trump and the Republicans’ campaign theme was that Democrats are a mob. I expect them to continue advancing that theme between now and January. They’re going to test the citizenry with repeated outrages, and they’ll hope that these ‘mobs’ overreact. And once they do, there will be a push to advance ‘emergency’ legislation, though that might not even be necessary. They could charge people with “rioting” in the District or domestic “terrorism,” and threaten them with years in prison. Whether they actually get convicted is beside the point. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1349) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1351)