# 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:** 1415
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28285 "2018-12-20T21:21:25Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > The optics of Trump on a 16 day golf vacation vs government workers with no pay should be interesting… Reminiscent of Nicholas II going dancing after [Bloody Sunday.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Sunday_(1905)) Do I see a pattern here? ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28286 "2018-12-20T21:50:14Z")
Shamelessly stolen yet again: > [@](#): > > Mitch stared at Two-Inch and said, “Fatty Claus, why,” > “Why are you taking our funding bill? WHY?” > But, you know, that Two-Inch was so crooked and slick, > He thought up a lie, more sad than his dick! > “Why, my sweet little turt,” old Fatty Claus lied, > “There’s a border in this country that’s too brown on one side.” > “So I’m taking break at my golf club, my dear.” > “I’ll tweet and cry there, and make the libs disappear.” > And his fib fooled the old man. > Then he patted his head, > And Mitch got back in his terrarium to go back to bed. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28287 "2018-12-20T22:06:18Z")
> [@JB99](#): > > If a single good thing comes out of the Trump experience, it will be people who stop taking things for granted. The destruction of the Republican party was my thought for the only good thing to come out of election day 2016. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28288 "2018-12-20T22:25:36Z")
CNN saying Mattis out. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28289 "2018-12-20T22:28:47Z")
Trump is saying it too: > [@](#): > > Originally Tweeted by **Trump** : > > General Jim Mattis will be retiring, with distinction, at the end of February, after having served my Administration as Secretary of Defense for the past two years. During Jim’s tenure, tremendous progress has been made, especially with respect to the purchase of new fighting equipment. General Mattis was a great help to me in getting allies and other countries to pay their share of military obligations. A new Secretary of Defense will be named shortly. I greatly thank Jim for his service! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28290 "2018-12-20T22:37:03Z")
> [@MacCat](#): > > The destruction of the Republican party was my thought for the only good thing to come out of election day 2016. But what will replace it, the National Socialist American Workers party? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28291 "2018-12-20T22:41:53Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > CNN saying Mattis out. To Trump’s credit, he lasted longer than I expected him to before throwing off his shackles. I was expecting something on the order of 6 months, not 2 years. Of course, all that means is that he’s spent more time digging himself into a hole of sufficient depth that there’s no particular chance that the Senate will let him hire most of the idiots that he would want. He’ll remain shackled or alone in the White House, unable to do much but issue orders to people without the power to enact those orders. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28292 "2018-12-20T22:43:42Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > CNN saying Mattis out. The wheels are coming off. Mattis resigned because of Trump’s random and dangerous Syria pullout. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28293 "2018-12-20T22:49:28Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > CNN saying Mattis out. From resignation letter. > [@Secretary of Defense Mattis](#): > > “Because you have the right to a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects, I believe it is right for me to step down from my position” Where will Trump find a General who is better aligned with him (now that Flynn is gone)? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28294 "2018-12-20T22:53:03Z")
In his resignation letter, he spoke of being “clear eyed about … malign actors”. You don’t see the word “malign” used as an adjective very often. Well, there was that anonymous op-ed from a Trump administration official. But other than that, just not a real common usage. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28295 "2018-12-20T22:57:52Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > In his resignation letter, he spoke of being “clear eyed about … malign actors”. You don’t see the word “malign” used as an adjective very often. Well, there was that anonymous op-ed from a Trump administration official. But other than that, just not a real common usage. I would click a Like button if we had one. ---
**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:** [December 20, 2018, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28296 "2018-12-20T22:59:16Z")
His is a resignation on principle, and baldly stated as such. There is now a SecDef hearing that has to be done on top of the AG hearing which **also** has to be done. It is very possible that we enter March 1st with an “acting” SecDef. It is also increasingly likely that more and more Republicans will get tired of the shit show that their own party leader is making them deal with\*. Think any of them want to spend Christmas in DC? LOL! \*2019 has potential for being a year full of enjoyable schadenfraud. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28297 "2018-12-20T23:05:15Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Where will Trump find a General who is better aligned with him (now that Flynn is gone)? Is Buck Turgidson available? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28298 "2018-12-20T23:10:20Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Is Buck Turgidson available? Trump would hear “I’m not saying we wouldn’t get our hair mussed”, and there’s no way he’d pick Turgidson. Man, that letter. Mattis spends a couple paragraphs talking about how important it us to have allies and stand up to Russia and China, then says Trump needs a Secretary of Defense who shares Trump’s views (i.e., the opposite of what Mattis laid out). Ouch. There is not one word of praise for Trump in that letter. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28299 "2018-12-20T23:11:11Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Is Buck Turgidson available? I was wondering if Vlad had any Generals he could loan to Donnie… ---
**Author:** ![JB99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@JB99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JB99)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28300 "2018-12-20T23:16:02Z")
> [@The Orange Fuckwit](#): > > Does the USA want to be the Policeman of the Middle East, getting NOTHING but spending precious lives and trillions of dollars protecting others who, in almost all cases, do not appreciate what we are doing? Do we want to be there forever? Time for others to finally fight… This is literally the only thing Trump has ever said that I agree with. ---
**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:** [December 20, 2018, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28301 "2018-12-20T23:32:25Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > To Trump’s credit, he lasted longer than I expected him to before throwing off his shackles. I was expecting something on the order of 6 months, not 2 years. > … Why is this to thump’s credit? 😕 Don’t you mean to Mattis’ credit? > [@JohnT](#): > > His is a resignation on principle, and baldly stated as such. > > There is now a SecDef hearing that has to be done on top of the AG hearing which **also** has to be done. It is very possible that we enter March 1st with an “acting” SecDef. It is also increasingly likely that more and more Republicans will get tired of the shit show that their own party leader is making them deal with\*. > > Think any of them want to spend Christmas in DC? LOL! > > \*2019 has potential for being a year full of enjoyable schadenfraud. If the gummint shuts down, does the Cabinet get paid? Do their staffers? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28302 "2018-12-20T23:41:53Z")
> [@JB99](#): > > This is literally the only thing Trump has ever said that I agree with. Actually, the fewer troops we have in foreign quagmires, the better. It’d be nice if they came home in some kind of rational way, rather than on a whim. Trump’s No-Good Very-Bad Week (so far): [ul] [li]Michael “He’s a good man” Flynn had his legal strategy – I’m guilty, but the FBI tricked me – slapped down, hard, by a federal judge at his sentencing. [/li] [li]The Dow is down 5%[/li] [li]Trump caved on funding for the Wall.[/li] [li]As a result of the above, his besties at Fox were very disappointed in him.[/li] [li]Trump flip-flopped on the Wall, pissing off virtually everyone in Washington. [/li] [li]He pulled troops out of Syria against the advice of everyone in the world not named Vladimir.[/li] [li]And as a result of the above, his Sec’y of Defense – the last grown-up in the room – quit on principle, and made absolutely no bones about his reasons.[/li][/ul] And the week’s not over. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28303 "2018-12-20T23:45:14Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Trump’s No-Good Very-Bad Week (so far): > > [ul] > [li]Michael “He’s a good man” Flynn had his legal strategy – I’m guilty, but the FBI tricked me – slapped down, hard, by a federal judge at his sentencing. [/li] > [li]The Dow is down 5%[/li] > [li]Trump caved on funding for the Wall.[/li] > [li]As a result of the above, his besties at Fox were very disappointed in him.[/li] > [li]Trump flip-flopped on the Wall, pissing off virtually everyone in Washington. [/li] > [li]He pulled troops out of Syria against the advice of everyone in the world not named Vladimir.[/li] > [li]And as a result of the above, his Sec’y of Defense – the last grown-up in the room – quit on principle, and made absolutely no bones about his reasons.[/li][/ul] > > And the week’s not over. Right. It’s only Thursday. He hasn’t launched a nuclear missile **yet**. ---
**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:** [December 20, 2018, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28304 "2018-12-20T23:46:43Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Why is this to thump’s credit? 😕 Don’t you mean to Mattis’ credit? I agree. Most people would not be willing to work for a deranged infantile monster. It takes great self-control to do so, and I believe Mattis did it for no personal reward other than the knowledge he was serving his country. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > If the gummint shuts down, does the Cabinet get paid? Do their staffers? The staffers are probably out of luck. Most or perhaps all of the Cabinet members probably set up, not long after ascending to their positions, their own continuing streams of under-the-table income. Will they help out their staffers? I wouldn’t bet on it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1414) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1416)