# 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:** 1390
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27785 "2018-12-05T16:27:38Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > They might also have been saying “Boo-urns!” Nice. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27786 "2018-12-05T17:43:38Z")
Trump apparently recognizes that his policies [will bankrupt the nation](https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-on-coming-debt-crisis-i-wont-be-here-when-it-blows-up), but since the graph shows it wouldn’t blow up while he’s still around, it’s all good. ---
**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:** [December 5, 2018, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27787 "2018-12-05T17:53:29Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Eh. If he wants to claim credit for each of the good days, he should take his lumps for each the down days. Yeah. And maybe he can brag about a year long performance, that’s gotta show something. For example the Dow at the beginning of this year: 24,842 Dow today, 12/5: 25,027. Thats… an increase! ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27788 "2018-12-05T18:38:14Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Trump apparently recognizes that his policies [will bankrupt the nation](https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-on-coming-debt-crisis-i-wont-be-here-when-it-blows-up), but since the graph shows it wouldn’t blow up while he’s still around, it’s all good. Gotta love his response… > [@](#): > > The friction came to a head in early 2017 when senior officials offered Trump charts and graphics laying out the numbers and showing a “hockey stick” spike in the national debt in the not-too-distant future. In response, Trump noted that the data suggested the debt would reach a critical mass only after his possible second term in office. > > “ **Yeah, but I won’t be here,** ” the president bluntly said, according to a source who was in the room when Trump made this comment during discussions on the debt. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27789 "2018-12-05T18:47:20Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Gotta love his response… But wait! I thought Trump was going to Make America Great Again! ---
**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:** [December 5, 2018, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27790 "2018-12-05T18:49:35Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > They might also have been saying “Boo-urns!” Let’s go to the quarry and throw stuff down there! That post is a total win! ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27791 "2018-12-05T19:45:56Z")
> [@galen\_ubal](#): > > [This just came across my Twitter.](https://twitter.com/The_UnSilent_/status/1070120623639326720) > > Winning! Great talking point for those who don’t understand finance. Horrible talking point for those who do. Those who do see a list like this and think, “but what was the percentage decline?”, which is far more important. [None of the top 20 %age declines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_daily_changes_in_the_Dow_Jones_Industrial_Average#Largest_percentage_changes) have occurred during this administration. Please don’t take this as sticking up for Shit-Gibbon. Those who work or have worked in the business, like me, have always hated the news focus on the point number versus the much more important percentage change. ETA: I should finish reading before answering. ---
**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:** [December 6, 2018, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27792 "2018-12-06T00:37:22Z")
Photo of the entire congregation at the Bush funeral putting their hands over their hearts as the Marine escort carries the casket away. Guess who is the only one not with his hand over his heart? [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DtsXM8yVsAACdCc.jpg:large) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DtsXM8yVsAACdCc.jpg:large) ---
**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:** [December 6, 2018, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27793 "2018-12-06T00:54:48Z")
I want these cocksuckers, these fucking bed bugs (republicans) in jail. I want nasty!!! ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27794 "2018-12-06T00:58:20Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Photo of the entire congregation at the Bush funeral putting their hands over their hearts as the Marine escort carries the casket away. Guess who is the only one not with his hand over his heart? > [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DtsXM8yVsAACdCc.jpg:large](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DtsXM8yVsAACdCc.jpg:large) Can’t put your hand over something you haven’t got… ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27795 "2018-12-06T01:00:39Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Photo of the entire congregation at the Bush funeral putting their hands over their hearts as the Marine escort carries the casket away. Guess who is the only one not with his hand over his heart? > [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DtsXM8yVsAACdCc.jpg:large](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DtsXM8yVsAACdCc.jpg:large) He couldn’t remember where it was. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27796 "2018-12-06T01:11:42Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Photo of the entire congregation at the Bush funeral putting their hands over their hearts as the Marine escort carries the casket away. Guess who is the only one not with his hand over his heart? > [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DtsXM8yVsAACdCc.jpg:large](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DtsXM8yVsAACdCc.jpg:large) Ok. Now guess who didn’t recite the Apostles’ Creed along with the rest of the attendees? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27797 "2018-12-06T01:27:21Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Photo of the entire congregation at the Bush funeral putting their hands over their hearts as the Marine escort carries the casket away. Guess who is the only one not with his hand over his heart? > [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DtsXM8yVsAACdCc.jpg:large](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DtsXM8yVsAACdCc.jpg:large) I’m surprised that when everyone stood up, he didn’t take that as a cue to exit stage left. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27798 "2018-12-06T01:48:13Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Photo of the entire congregation at the Bush funeral putting their hands over their hearts as the Marine escort carries the casket away. Guess who is the only one not with his hand over his heart? > [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DtsXM8yVsAACdCc.jpg:large](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DtsXM8yVsAACdCc.jpg:large) 403rd thing that Foxnews would have run an entire month on if Obama had done it. ---
**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:** [December 6, 2018, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27799 "2018-12-06T01:48:48Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Ok. Now guess who didn’t recite the Apostles’ Creed along with the rest of the attendees? He probably thinks Apostle’s Creed was that guy Rocky fought in the first one. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27800 "2018-12-06T02:13:46Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > 403rd thing that Foxnews would have run an entire month on if Obama had done it. FOX ‘News’ (next Monday): “After days of controversy, Obama STILL not putting his hand over his heart” ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27801 "2018-12-06T02:15:00Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Photo of the entire congregation at the Bush funeral putting their hands over their hearts as the Marine escort carries the casket away. Guess who is the only one not with his hand over his heart? > [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DtsXM8yVsAACdCc.jpg:large](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DtsXM8yVsAACdCc.jpg:large) Hey! Obama put his feet on the desk! And ate dijon mustard and wore a tan suit once so both sides are bad! Vote Republican. ---
**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:** [December 6, 2018, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27802 "2018-12-06T02:22:02Z")
Hey, look, Bush 41 is gone, in the ground. Let’s focus on what’s really important: hating conservatives. And yes, Goddamn right, I said it: hating conservatives. The lessons of Wisconsin, Michigan, and North Carolina are clear: republicans aren’t people; they’re oligarchs who are trying to steal your country from you. You have no choice but to hate their fucking existence. And when we take power, we take fucking power and put these animals in jail. We have to view the Republican party as American Al Qaida, American Nazis. I don’t care if they’re your family or friends - your family and friends are fucked up and there’s no getting around it, so just accept that they’re defective people and do something to save the country. This Christmas dinner? Tell them to make their own fucking dinner, and piss in their mixed drink when they’re not looking. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27803 "2018-12-06T02:46:36Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > FOX ‘News’ (next Monday): “After days of controversy, Obama STILL not putting his hand over his heart” I had to check the exact caption, but a Trumpster idiot Facebook friend posted a picture a few hours ago of Melania Trump with her hand over her heart (not from today, though). The caption? “The one thing Michelle Obama never did…” And the comment below the pic was: “AND… isn’t it nice to ALSO be able to say merry Christmas again⁉️” I would think that this is just something posted on FB to trigger anti-Trump/pro-Obama people given the timing (and maybe the original is, or is a spoof from a group like America’s Last Line of Defense), but the guy I know who reposted this is one of the dumbest guys I know personally–I may have mentioned he didn’t know the difference between 2 am and 2 pm as a 19 year-old (quote: “I always get confused by those.”)–and probably believes this to be true. Now he’s a 50 year-old, white, blue collar, rabidly anti-liberal guy who feels validated and vindicated by Trump. SAD! ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/27804 "2018-12-06T03:02:26Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Now he’s a 50 year-old, white, blue collar, rabidly anti-liberal guy who feels validated and vindicated by Trump. SAD! The above reminded me of this article: **How Donald Trump appeals to men secretly insecure about their manhood** > **[Analysis | How Donald Trump appeals to men secretly insecure about their manhood](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/11/29/how-donald-trump-appeals-to-men-secretly-insecure-about-their-manhood/?utm_term=.af91a6e4295b)** > > Trump's GOP appeals to those who feel their identity threatened — whether by race, religion or gender. > [@](#): > > But our research suggests that Trump is not necessarily attracting male supporters who are as confidently masculine as the president presents himself to be. Instead, Trump appears to appeal more to men who are secretly insecure about their manhood. We call this the “fragile masculinity hypothesis.” Here is some of our evidence. > > … > > Measuring fragile masculinity poses a challenge. We could not simply do a poll of men, who might not honestly answer questions about their deepest insecurities. Instead we relied on Google Trends, which measures the popularity of Google search terms. As Seth Stephens-Davidowitz has argued, people are often at their least guarded when they seek answers from the Internet. Researchers have already used Google search patterns to estimate levels of racial prejudice in different parts of the country. We sought to do the same with fragile masculinity. > > We began by selecting a set of search topics that we believed might be especially common among men concerned about living up to the ideals of manhood: “erectile dysfunction,” “hair loss,” “how to get girls,” “penis enlargement,” “penis size,” “steroids,” “testosterone” and “Viagra.” (With the exception of “how to get girls,” these are Google “topics” rather than individual search terms. For instance, the topic “erectile dysfunction” includes searches for “erectile dysfunction,” “ED” and “impotence.”) > > … > > We found that support for Trump in the 2016 election was higher in areas that had more searches for topics such as “erectile dysfunction.” Moreover, this relationship persisted after accounting for demographic attributes in media markets, such as education levels and racial composition, as well as searches for topics unrelated to fragile masculinity, such as “breast augmentation” and “menopause.” > > In contrast, fragile masculinity was not associated with support for Mitt Romney in 2012 or support for John McCain in 2008 — suggesting that the correlation of fragile masculinity and voting in presidential elections was distinctively stronger in 2016. Hehe! Trump pretends he’s a tough guy and his male supporters are insecure and identify with that because they know deep down they are not. They’re the real male snowflakes in this country. Too bad we don’t have the data to see if smaller-than-average hand size is positively correlated with Trump support. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1389) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1391)