# 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:** 1372
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27425 "2018-11-23T16:58:34Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > So HE is what we should be thankful for, eh? Maybe he’s going to issue an Executive Order renaming it “Trumpsgiving.” :dubious: And come February, Trump’s Day instead of Presidents Day. After all, he’s the bestest President _ever._ ---
**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 23, 2018, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27426 "2018-11-23T17:23:05Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > But believable only to his base, though, so - no, not really believable. I read it that way at first but the “believable” story under discussion is “The US President seriously suggested that we build a wall across the Sahara”. With any previous President the assumption would be either that it had been intended as a joke or that the Spanish minister had misheard or was delusional. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27427 "2018-11-23T17:26:09Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > And come February, Trump’s Day instead of Presidents Day. After all, he’s the bestest President _ever._ [‘Me, me, me, me… _Me!_’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZhpqjMZoDk&t=19m36s) (The image is green because it’s in Captain Subtext mode – Truth helmet activated.) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27428 "2018-11-23T18:47:22Z")
The stupid fuck is trying to stay out of prison, cause, you know you can’t send a President to prison. He never expected to get the job. He never knew that it actually involved this work thing. He wanted to just start the anti Hillary network and rake in the dough and be on teeevee. Now that his criminal activity is under close scrutiny, someone has informed him that the only way he is gonna stay out of prison is to stay in office. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27429 "2018-11-23T20:35:57Z")
The US - China trade war is starting to [reap what’s been sowed.](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-grains/harvesting-in-a-trade-war-u-s-crops-rot-as-storage-costs-soar-idUSKCN1NQ0GA) And this is only part of it: > [@](#): > > In Louisiana, up to 15 percent of the oilseed crop is being plowed under or is too damaged to market, according to data analyzed by Louisiana State University staff. Crops are going to waste in parts of Mississippi and Arkansas. Grain piles, dusted by snow, sit on the ground in North and South Dakota. And in Illinois and Indiana, some farmers are struggling to protect silo bags stuffed with crops from animals. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27430 "2018-11-23T20:57:05Z")
I wished they asked every farmer they interviewed in that story who they voted for. ---
**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 23, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27431 "2018-11-23T21:14:37Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > The US - China trade war is starting to [reap what’s been sowed.](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-grains/harvesting-in-a-trade-war-u-s-crops-rot-as-storage-costs-soar-idUSKCN1NQ0GA) > > And this is only part of it: We can only hope that this administration’s sheer incompetence will become so obvious that even his supporters will stay home in 2020. I’m skeptical, unfortunately ---
**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 23, 2018, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27432 "2018-11-23T21:17:28Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I wished they asked every farmer they interviewed in that story who they voted for. I suspect that if the trade war’s adverse effects begin to get enough attention, he’ll get China to the negotiating table and declare victory. The next 3 months are going to be turbulent, and the next year could be a roller coaster. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27433 "2018-11-23T21:26:41Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > But believable only to his base, though, so - no, not really believable. So you think Trumpists are the only ones who believe Trump might really have told Borrell that Spain should build a wall across the Sahara? ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27434 "2018-11-23T21:58:54Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > So you think Trumpists are the only ones who believe Trump might really have told Borrell that Spain should build a wall across the Sahara? Nope, but they’re the only ones who’d buy into Donny’s ridiculous proposal, hence my addressing of Trump’s telling of tall tales believable as told, but if the focus here is how the proposal was being proffered to the Spanish president, then fine, we can move along, then. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27435 "2018-11-23T22:06:33Z")
missed edit window - er, make that Spanish Prime Minister.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27436 "2018-11-23T22:13:35Z")
I doubt this will improve Trump’s mood. Which people are saying is light, so very, very light. Anything else reported is Fake News! Why, the Republicans had the bigglyest midterm win ever in recorded history! So much winning!!! **Judge allows lawsuit against Trump Foundation to proceed, rejects Trump claim that he can’t be sued** ‘The lawsuit accuses the president of misusing his charitable foundation for his own personal and political purposes.’ > **[Judge allows lawsuit against Trump Foundation to proceed, rejects Trump claim...](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/judge-allows-lawsuit-against-trump-foundation-proceed-rejects-trump-claim-n939526)** > > The lawsuit accuses the president of misusing his charitable foundation for his own personal and political purposes. > [@](#): > > A lawsuit accusing President Donald Trump of misusing his charitable foundation for his own personal and political purposes will move forward after a Manhattan judge refused Trump’s bid to throw the case out. > > … > > [The judge] also found that contrary to the foundation’s argument, the attorney general’s suit had made allegations of wrongdoing that were strong enough to let the case go forward. > > The suit charges that foundation funds were used to pay off Trump-owned companies’ legal obligations, including a $100,000 payment to a charity that was mandated in the settlement of a lawsuit. > > … > > It also accuses Trump of illegally using his foundation to further his political ambitions, citing an Iowa fundraiser for veterans that was a thinly-disguised campaign event. The campaign also told the foundation which charities it should give to, the suit says. Trump’s favorite charity is himself. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27437 "2018-11-23T22:24:00Z")
This was my favorite story of the day, **dasmoocher**. Reuters included a quote from AG Barbara Underwood (my new favorite hero): “The Trump Foundation functioned as little more than a checkbook to serve Mr. Trump’s business and political interests. There are rules that govern private foundations - and we intend to enforce them.” ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27438 "2018-11-23T22:43:09Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > This was my favorite story of the day, **dasmoocher**. Reuters included a quote from AG Barbara Underwood (my new favorite hero): “The Trump Foundation functioned as little more than a checkbook to serve Mr. Trump’s business and political interests. There are rules that govern private foundations - and we intend to enforce them.” Trump owes EVERYONE. Including Putin. That’s gonna be the findings of this. I’m probably more in the black than he is. Can’t get blood out of a trumpit (turnip is the original phrase for those that wonder). ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27439 "2018-11-23T23:48:00Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I don’t know what to make of Kelly’s signing the order, only that it’s a disturbing order and series of actions coming out of the White House, with most of the Republicans in the Senate barely batting an eye. > > What concerns me is that his behavior leads me to believe he’s looking to create some kind of national emergency as an excuse to expand his powers, which he’s attempting to do already even absent of such an emergency. From the appointment of Whitaker as AG to his declarations on asylum to his use of the military along the border, Trump is going full-on autocrat. The president is governing by decree, and more significantly, the current Congress, which remains in power for another 2 months, is doing nothing to stop him. > > John Roberts’ comments signal that he might be the ‘swing’ justice when it comes to stopping Trump. That fact only makes the health of Ruth Bader Ginsburg all the more important. You are, again, ignoring the fact that he has poked a stick in the eyes of the military, the FBI, and the intelligence services. And the majority of the public is strongly opposed to him. That gives him no leverage to be an autocrat. Dubya and Dick could have done it in September 2001, but fortunately we only got the PATRIOT Act, which wasn’t good but was not a tenth as bad as it could have been. > [@enipla](#): > > The stupid fuck is trying to stay out of prison, cause, you know you can’t send a President to prison. > > He never expected to get the job. > He never knew that it actually involved this work thing. > He wanted to just start the anti Hillary network and rake in the dough and be on teeevee. > Now that his criminal activity is under close scrutiny, someone has informed him that the only way he is gonna stay out of prison is to stay in office. Accurate. Did you ever see the photo of the moment he was declared the winner? Donny Jr. is having an orgasm, but Senior has a look on his face that encompasses everything you are saying. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2018, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27440 "2018-11-24T02:39:26Z")
Along with the Manhattan judge’s smackdown on Trump’s bid to scuttle investigations into his charity indiscretions, [Democrats on the U.S. House intelligence panel will investigate U.S. President Donald Trump’s response to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-khashoggi-usa-house/us-house-panel-to-probe-trumps-saudi-ties-washington-post-idUSKCN1NS22R) > [@](#): > > The committee will investigate the U.S. intelligence assessment of Khashoggi’s death as well as the war in Yemen, the stability of the Saudi royal family and the kingdom’s treatment of critics and the press, among other topics, U.S. Representative Adam Schiff told the Washington Post. ---
**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 24, 2018, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27441 "2018-11-24T02:52:40Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Some people, most famously Bill Maher, have worried aloud that even if Trump is defeated for reelection, he will not actually leave in January 2021. I have always thought this fear was overblown; but I think stories like these show definitively that there is pretty much zero risk of this happening. I agree. I really don’t see this scenario happening with Trump. He’s repeatedly demonstrated that he’s barely able to function as President when he actually holds the office and has an entire administration propping him up. I can’t see him having the capabilities to carry out an illegal coup. I doubt Trump could successfully hold up a convenience store if you dropped him off in the parking lot, put the gun in his hand, and pointed to where the cash register was. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2018, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27442 "2018-11-24T03:03:34Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I agree. I really don’t see this scenario happening with Trump. He’s repeatedly demonstrated that he’s barely able to function as President when he actually holds the office and has an entire administration propping him up. I can’t see him having the capabilities to carry out an illegal coup. I doubt Trump could successfully hold up a convenience store if you dropped him off in the parking lot, put the gun in his hand, and pointed to where the cash register was. He couldn’t shoot because to do so would require him to personally fire the gun. ---
**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 24, 2018, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27443 "2018-11-24T03:34:00Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > You are, again, ignoring the fact that he has poked a stick in the eyes of the military, the FBI, and the intelligence services. . That might be true, but he has the power to replace opposition, and he has a democratically-elected Senate that will back whatever he does. Again, let’s look at the reality here: he has fired the FBI director because he wasn’t loyal. He has fired the attorney general because he wasn’t loyal. He has replaced the attorney general with someone he made ‘acting AG’ who hasn’t even been confirmed by the Senate. You’re thinking of this situation as though it’s hypothetical – I’m telling you that **this is happening now**. You - don’t - get - it. > [@SlackerInc](#): > > You And the majority of the public is strongly opposed to him. If only that were reflected in the 2016 elections for president and 2018 elections for Senate. It’s not. Come back to reality, my friend. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2018, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27444 "2018-11-24T03:35:23Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I agree. I really don’t see this scenario happening with Trump. He’s repeatedly demonstrated that he’s barely able to function as President when he actually holds the office and has an entire administration propping him up. I can’t see him having the capabilities to carry out an illegal coup. I doubt Trump could successfully hold up a convenience store if you dropped him off in the parking lot, put the gun in his hand, and pointed to where the cash register was. LOL! Also accurate. If Trump were a pliable stooge for the FBI, military, and intelligence services, OTOH, he wouldn’t necessarily need to be competent: they might be willing to take care of all the deets for him (although that still seems very unlikely). But as it stands, he’s just got no chance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1371) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1373)