# 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:** 1379
**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 27, 2018, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27565 "2018-11-27T15:25:39Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > …I think Trump will eventually come to his senses on the trade war. And I’ll bet you more Zimbabwean dollars than you can imagine that President Empty-Headed Animal Food Trough Wi-_per_ will just double down instead, and claim that he’s _already_ clobbering the unfair Chinese in the trade war and how thankful we should be for it. Of course I don’t have the faintest how Il Douche would try to substantiate such a bonkers claim, and trying to get inside his head is probably not the most advisable thing. I fear Navarro is too in lockstep with His Cheetoship to get canned - the former makes too good a footman for the latter. > [@asahi](#): > > …\*t looks like cutting defense spending or social security and medicare will be the great debate of 2019. If congress prioritizes social security and medicare over defense spending, I’ll eat my chapeau. A great interview last night by PBS’s excellent Amna Nawaz had Scott Shuchart (formerly of Dept. of Homeland Security and now senior immigration fellow at the Center For American Progress) talking about the border situation. Starts at [0:18.](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-trumps-border-decisions-represent-completely-new-american-policy) ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27566 "2018-11-27T17:11:06Z")
> [@JB99](#): > > I’m really perplexed by that as well. There are Afghan nomads who have cell phones. They charge them with solar panels and car batteries. I don’t know why people assume poor countries don’t have cell phones. And please don’t forget that OVER 99% of poor people in this country [own a refrigerator.](https://www.mediamatters.org/research/2011/07/22/fox-cites-ownership-of-appliances-to-downplay-h/148574) ---
**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:** [November 27, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27567 "2018-11-27T17:32:19Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [Check out the picture with this AP article](https://apnews.com/251fb824cd784f5c9fdbe468b724779c) about tonight rally at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. > > I’ve long wondered about the size of the crowds … I find that image perplexing. Evidently he is on stage at an auditorium that is set up with a steep seating arrangement so that the whole audience will have a pretty good view of the stage. The podium is set up facing away from the seats (presumably toward the cameras, which must be backstage). So the attendees get to have a good view of his back (perhaps there is a Jumbotron behind the camera, so that they can see his face). Why the fuck would someone go to a rally in order to look at the speaker’s ass? Are his words even distinguishable from his farts? And, good lord, I cannot even begin to imagine seeing that face on a giant Big Brother display. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27568 "2018-11-27T18:27:32Z")
So they can be seen on camera with ihr fuhrer. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27569 "2018-11-27T18:41:51Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Why the fuck would someone go to a rally in order to look at the speaker’s ass? . Well, for the hard-core Trump cultist, it’s a chance to bask in The Leader’s presence. Also, they are selected to be behind the podium and in camera view: **‘Plaid shirt guy’ thinks he was kicked from Trump rally for not being excited enough** > **['Plaid shirt guy' thinks he was kicked from Trump rally for not being excited...](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2018/09/08/plaid-shirt-guy-removed-donald-trump-montana-rally/1241835002/)** > > Tyler Linfesty — also known as “plaid shirt guy” — was removed from his position behind Donald Trump at a rally in Billings, Montana, Thursday. > [@](#): > > Tyler Linfesty — who became knows as “plaid shirt guy” on social media — was removed from his position behind Trump at a rally in Billings, Montana Thursday. Afterward, Secret Service looked at his ID and told him to leave, Linfesty told CNN Friday. > > He said no one specifically told him why he was being kicked out, but he suspects he wasn’t showing the proper amount of excitement during Trump’s speech. > > Linfesty, a high school senior, said the people set to stand behind the president were told: “you have to be enthusiastic, you have to be clapping, you have to be cheering for Donald Trump.” > > He said he and his friends were asked to wear Make America Great Again hats, but he declined. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27570 "2018-11-27T18:43:37Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Of course I don’t have the faintest how Il Douche would try to substantiate such a bonkers claim… Everyone is saying he would substantiate those claims the same way he substantiated his claims about wide-spread voter fraud. ---
**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 27, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27571 "2018-11-27T18:43:54Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Out of curiosity, why would you think they would do that? They have the Senate, the Supreme Court, the Presidency. Economy is doing good. Unemployment is down. What would make you believe that their party is fucked for good? > > I’m not a Republican, but if I was, I could look at the country and just say “Hey, we are doing pretty well, why change anything?” Because they’re practicing Ponzi politics. They’re going for whatever works in the short term while ignoring the long term consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27572 "2018-11-27T18:55:26Z")
> [@PatriotX](#): > > Everyone is saying he would substantiate those claims the same way he substantiated his claims about wide-spread voter fraud. The only things wide spread about that man are his ass and his knees. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27573 "2018-11-27T18:57:56Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > So they can be seen on camera with ihr fuhrer. And or Trump probably thinks it makes him look more popular. If he had a brain he would never let that many (or anyone) behind him. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27574 "2018-11-27T18:59:51Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > The only things wide spread about that man are his ass and his knees. What an absolutely horrific image. Bone chilling. Broken me to my core. Caused involuntary spasms from my sphincter north. Grisly beyond human expression. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2018, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27575 "2018-11-27T19:00:25Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > And I’ll bet you more Zimbabwean dollars than you can imagine that President Empty-Headed Animal Food Trough Wi-_per_ will just double down instead, and claim that he’s _already_ clobbering the unfair Chinese in the trade war and how thankful we should be for it. Of course I don’t have the faintest how Il Douche would try to substantiate such a bonkers claim, and trying to get inside his head is probably not the most advisable thing. I figure eventually it’ll go down like this: the tariffs will keep negatively affecting Americans until the grumbling from his own base starts to become unbearable. At which point, Trump will declare that we have “won the trade war” and remove the tariffs because we are victorious, despite no supporting evidence. And his followers will crow about the glorious victory, even though we accomplished nothing other than shooting ourselves in the foot for a while. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27576 "2018-11-27T19:06:53Z")
> [@happy lendervedder](#): > > what an absolutely horrific image. Bone chilling. Broken me to my core. Caused involuntary spasms from my sphincter north. Grisly beyond human expression. POTUSOATSE is one meme we definitely don’t need. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27577 "2018-11-27T19:13:08Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > I figure eventually it’ll go down like this: the tariffs will keep negatively affecting Americans until the grumbling from his own base starts to become unbearable. At which point, Trump will declare that we have “won the trade war” and remove the tariffs because we are victorious, despite no supporting evidence. And his followers will crow about the glorious victory, even though we accomplished nothing other than shooting ourselves in the foot for a while. You made me think of this: **Destroying a Quote’s History in Order to Save It** A famous Vietnam War dispatch is now 50 years old, but the origins of the phrase are older than that. [https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2018-02-09/destroying-a-quote-s-history-in-order-to-save-it](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2018-02-09/destroying-a-quote-s-history-in-order-to-save-it) > [@](#): > > This week marks the 50th anniversary of the journalist Peter Arnett’s Vietnam dispatch for the Associated Press that included the much-misquoted quotation “It became necessary to destroy the town to save it.” The phrase has become among the most iconic in our political discourse. During last month’s brief government shutdown, Tom Hicks Jr., who co-chaired Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, compared Democrats to “the apocryphal commander in the Vietnam War” who was willing to “destroy the village to save it.” **Last year a columnist for MarketWatch suggested that President Trump was willing “to destroy America in order to ‘save’ it.”** [my bold] I was telling Trumpsters during the campaign who wanted Trump to disrupt DC and upset the status quo that any idiot with a book of matches can burn a house down; to rebuild one you need an architect, contractors, labor, building materials,… ---
**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 27, 2018, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27578 "2018-11-27T19:26:15Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > If he had a brain… If Little Donnie Fail-Fail had a brain, he’d take it out and play with it. If brains were dynamite, Little Donnie Fail-Fail wouldn’t have enough to blow his nose. ---
**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 27, 2018, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27579 "2018-11-27T20:03:41Z")
The commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection contradicts Trump’s claims that the tear gas used at the border is a “very minor form” of tear gas. [Trump's Border Chief Knocks Down President's Claim About 'Minor Form' Of Tear Gas | HuffPost Latest News](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-tear-gas-kevin-mcaleenan-knocks-down_us_5bfcef69e4b0eb6d93133281)? ---
**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 27, 2018, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27580 "2018-11-27T21:46:07Z")
Trump thinks Generals make $5 million a year. [https://taskandpurpose.com/trump-dunford-pay/](https://taskandpurpose.com/trump-dunford-pay/)? ---
**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 27, 2018, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27581 "2018-11-27T22:00:33Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > POTUSOATSE is one meme we definitely don’t need. ok I was eating lunch, there… ---
**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 27, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27582 "2018-11-27T22:01:39Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Trump thinks Generals make $5 million a year. > [https://taskandpurpose.com/trump-dunford-pay/](https://taskandpurpose.com/trump-dunford-pay/)? Which puts them solidly in the middle class, as envisioned by Trump and pals. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27583 "2018-11-27T22:16:28Z")
[quote=“Little\_Nemo, post:27559, topic:774070”] This video is from a guy who was at a Trump rally and recorded his own footage of the event. He shows how large the hall actually was and how people were packed into a small section of it that was shown on camera while the rest of the hall was mostly empty. [/QUOTE] That was great, thanks for sharing. Of course Trump packs the people in behind him because the assumption would be that the rest of the place was also filled. News organizations with eyes toward credibility should cover these events and pan the cameras about. “Jim, I’m here at the rally and the crowd is really packed in directly behind and in front of Trump. I’m going to head the other direction and set up a monster truck rally in the space left in the auditorium. Jim, back to you in the studio, Jim.” ---
**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 27, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27584 "2018-11-27T22:48:46Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Clinton received 40% of the vote there. In 2012, Obama received 10% of the white vote in Mississippi, lowest of any state (neighboring Alabama was next with 15%). For context, in that election Obama received 48% of the white vote in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and 51% in Iowa. The Gulf Coast South is full of really fucked up white people. (They also gave LBJ single digit vote totals in 1964 when he was winning in a landslide natiowide.) :mad: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1378) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1380)