# 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:** 144
**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:** [March 30, 2017, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2861 "2017-03-30T20:35:11Z")
I wonder if the Nationals can get Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton to throw out the first pitch. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2862 "2017-03-30T20:45:48Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I wonder if the Nationals can get Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton to throw out the first pitch. That would be _wonderful_! ---
**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:** [March 30, 2017, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2863 "2017-03-30T21:08:02Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Dear Og, ol’ Abe could put some words together. Of course, Lincoln did have the advantage of a top-notch prep school/Ivy League education. Oh…wait… ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2864 "2017-03-30T21:13:12Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I wonder if the Nationals can get Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton to throw out the first pitch. Or Alec Baldwin. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2865 "2017-03-30T22:02:21Z")
Now, Universe, I know I haven’t been a very good pantheist, but if you could just give me this one sign… ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2866 "2017-03-30T22:20:53Z")
[EPA tries to praise Trump, ends up insulting him instead](https://secure.politico.com/story/2017/03/epa-climate-release-donald-trump-criticism-236701): > [@](#): > > An EPA effort to showcase praise for President Donald Trump’s climate moves went awry today — and instead accused Trump of choosing “to recklessly bury his head in the sand.” > > The criticism came in a quote from Democratic Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware, which EPA inaccurately attributed to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a strong supporter of the coal industry and Trump’s order. > > “President Trump has chosen to recklessly bury his head in the sand,” said the quote, which appeared at the top of the EPA press release’s litany of reactions to Trump’s climate order. The quote added that the order “calls into question America’s credibility,” and said the president and Administrator Scott Pruitt "have chosen to shirk our responsibility, disregard clear science and undo the significant progress our country has made.” > > … > > “An internal draft was mistakenly sent with a quote that belonged to Senator Carper but was wrongly attributed to Senator Capito, whom we originally meant to quote,” an EPA spokesman said in an email. “We apologize for the error and are making sure that our process is improved as we build our team.” The funny thing is: Trump’s team is so incompetent, it’s difficult to tell whether this was an honest mistake or deliberate sabotage from an anti-Trump EPA employee. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2017, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2867 "2017-03-30T22:27:24Z")
So… they put in a quote slamming the President in a piece meant to showcase praise… and then mis-attribute it? I’m thinking purposeful sabotage. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2868 "2017-03-30T23:32:55Z")
Trump is burying his head in the sand? Sounds like he’s looking for oil. That won’t sit well with the coal miners. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2017, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2869 "2017-03-31T00:35:27Z")
Finally, Trump has done something I can get behind. “‘We Must Fight Them’: Trump Goes After Conservatives of Freedom Caucus” [https://nyti.ms/2oCGpGG](https://nyti.ms/2oCGpGG) > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON — President Trump declared war on the conservatives of the House Freedom Caucus on Thursday, suggesting Republicans should “fight them” in the 2018 midterm elections if they do not back his agenda… Although our reasons are different. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2870 "2017-03-31T01:09:43Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Finally, Trump has done something I can get behind. > > “‘We Must Fight Them’: Trump Goes After Conservatives of Freedom Caucus” > [https://nyti.ms/2oCGpGG](https://nyti.ms/2oCGpGG) > > Although our reasons are different. He’s so stupid. “Progressives” against committed Democrats should pay attention to the failing strategy. Please. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2871 "2017-03-31T03:23:24Z")
Flynn wants [immunity](http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/30/politics/michael-flynn-immunity-testimony/index.html). ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2872 "2017-03-31T04:28:31Z")
I just heard that from Robert Reich. Reich was thinking they should give Flynn some kind of limited immunity. Considering how short the little fabulist’s life is likely to be outside of protective custody, I suppose that’s a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2873 "2017-03-31T04:46:30Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > I just heard that from Robert Reich. Reich was thinking they should give Flynn some kind of limited immunity. Considering how short the little fabulist’s life is likely to be outside of protective custody, I suppose that’s a good idea. Someone in another thread posted [this link](https://www.justsecurity.org/39426/explainer-flynns-request-immunity/) analyzing Flynn’s offer. In a nutshell, it says that if Flynn really had the goods on anyone higher up the food chain, and was willing to give them up, the negotiations for him to testify would be going on in private. He would let the investigators know what information he had, then work out a deal for immunity, then testify in public. By making the offer the way he did, no investigating agency would agree to it. They’re not going to give him immunity until they know what he has to say. And making the offer in public looks like he’s trying to force the hands of the FBI and congressional committees; which is a sure way to piss off the very groups he should be making nice with to get a deal done. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2017, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2874 "2017-03-31T04:46:40Z")
Trump’s deputy chief of staff Katie Walsh is leaving after less than three months. [https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/03/30/senior-white-house-aide-katie-walsh-steps-down/22019240/?a\_dgi=aolshare\_facebook](https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/03/30/senior-white-house-aide-katie-walsh-steps-down/22019240/?a_dgi=aolshare_facebook) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2875 "2017-03-31T06:57:04Z")
RE: Flynn’s immunity Give him total immunity, be lavish in our generosity. To any and all. They just have to tell us _everything_. Every jot and tittle. I don’t need vengeance, I don’t need punishment, I want to know. Period. Full stop. And it may be that its all just some big ol’ misunderstanding, an improbable collection of innocent motives blundering into a mirage of conspiracy. That is possible, and if it is so, the facts laid bare will disclose it, and we can all have a good laugh. Perhaps I shall even exercise my prerogative as Queen of Romania to elevate Trump into the nobility. Some fief in the Carpathians, perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2876 "2017-03-31T11:43:11Z")
I was just watching the last Spicer press meeting and when he said "“If I start going down the path of confirming and denying one thing, we’re going down a very slippery slope,” he said. “I’ve made my position very clear on that.”” [Sean Spicer Gives Bizarre Non-Denial Of News Story That Said White House Sources Helped Devin Nunes | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sean-spicer-devin-nunes-white-house-source_us_58dd4de0e4b0e6ac70934a09) all I could think of was the Gov. of Texas on The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas: [Sidestep - Charles Durning - The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.mp4 - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJG75FJkjr8) Actually the above perfectly illustrates the whole Trump Cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2877 "2017-03-31T12:31:35Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Someone in another thread posted [this link](https://www.justsecurity.org/39426/explainer-flynns-request-immunity/) analyzing Flynn’s offer. In a nutshell, it says that if Flynn really had the goods on anyone higher up the food chain, and was willing to give them up, the negotiations for him to testify would be going on in private. He would let the investigators know what information he had, then work out a deal for immunity, then testify in public. By making the offer the way he did, no investigating agency would agree to it. They’re not going to give him immunity until they know what he has to say. And making the offer in public looks like he’s trying to force the hands of the FBI and congressional committees; which is a sure way to piss off the very groups he should be making nice with to get a deal done. Thank you for the article, it was a very interesting read. It’s a bit disappointing because I really wanted to believe that Flynn’s testimony could sink most of the administration (or at least the giant orange asshole at the top). It’s good that Flynn’s likely ploy to shield himself with tissue paper won’t work, but I’d have been much happier if he had enough dirt to end this whole charade. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2878 "2017-03-31T13:47:57Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > So apparently Donald has turned down the chance to throw out the first pitch on Opening Day. It’s a good bet he’s physically incompetent and might embarrass himself trying to throw a baseball. Certainly the risk factor would be too great. It’s no mystery why he announced his candidacy _on an escalator_. Have you seen him walk down stairs? He always holds the handrail and watches his feet. In one case he was assisted by Melania in a particularly clumsy fashion. Walking a very gentle incline at the White House, he clutched onto Theresa May. I’m not one to ridicule physical defects — I’ve been exercising great care on staircases for many years now. I might do OK on a baseball pitch, but only because I practice with my son off-and-on. Still it seems fair to ridicule this preposterous showman, self-proclaimed superhero who [rode a lion into battle and defeated ISIS with his bare big huge hands.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd_MtxEFw7E&feature=youtu.be&t=2m47s) ---
**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:** [March 31, 2017, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2879 "2017-03-31T13:55:46Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > **It’s a good bet he’s physically incompetent and might embarrass himself trying to throw a baseball.** Certainly the risk factor would be too great. It’s no mystery why he announced his candidacy _on an escalator_. Have you seen him walk down stairs? He always holds the handrail and watches his feet. In one case he was assisted by Melania in a particularly clumsy fashion. Walking a very gentle incline at the White House, he clutched onto Theresa May. > > I’m not one to ridicule physical defects — I’ve been exercising great care on staircases for many years now. I might do OK on a baseball pitch, but only because I practice with my son off-and-on. Still it seems fair to ridicule this preposterous showman, self-proclaimed superhero who [rode a lion into battle and defeated ISIS with his bare big huge hands.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd_MtxEFw7E&feature=youtu.be&t=2m47s) He should watch some videos of previous first pitches. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/2880 "2017-03-31T14:01:27Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > Thank you for the article, it was a very interesting read. It’s a bit disappointing because I really wanted to believe that Flynn’s testimony could sink most of the administration (or at least the giant orange asshole at the top). It’s good that Flynn’s likely ploy to shield himself with tissue paper won’t work, but I’d have been much happier if he had enough dirt to end this whole charade. Maybe Flyn is willing to give damaging testimony. But the people with the power to grant him immunity should be careful how they handle this situation. Right now they have something that Flynn seems to want. That gives them leverage to try and get to the truth of the matter. They shouldn’t just give up that leverage without knowing what they’re getting in return. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=143) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=145)