# 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:** 1449
**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:** [January 7, 2019, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28965 "2019-01-07T00:09:12Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Mongo only pawn in game of life. Aw, Mongo straight. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2019, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28966 "2019-01-07T01:06:42Z")
Mongo like Flash Gordon! ---
**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:** [January 7, 2019, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28967 "2019-01-07T01:10:00Z")
Notice the small hands. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2019, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28968 "2019-01-07T01:11:45Z")
At first we were shocked and dismayed when Grandpa showed up at Sunday dinner with his underpants on his head. But [now](https://imgur.com/a/fD1ttH0)we wish it was \*just \*at Sunday dinner. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28969 "2019-01-07T01:15:27Z")
I wouldn’t suspect Trump of colluding with Mongo, but Torgo, I could believe. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2019, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28970 "2019-01-07T01:46:10Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > At first we were shocked and dismayed when Grandpa showed up at Sunday dinner with his underpants on his head. But [now](https://imgur.com/a/fD1ttH0)we wish it was \*just \*at Sunday dinner. Speaking truth to power: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CxpyZtzvTJ0/hqdefault.jpg "Panty on Your Head") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxpyZtzvTJ0) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28971 "2019-01-07T01:47:33Z")
So here’s some scary reading from The Atlantic, summarising the emergency powers Congress has granted to the President by statute over the years. Includes the power to shut down electronic communications, which may include the internet (although there are obviously technical issues about that). > **[The Alarming Scope of the President's Emergency Powers](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/01/presidential-emergency-powers/576418/)** > > From seizing control of the internet to declaring martial law, President Trump may legally do all kinds of extraordinary things. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28972 "2019-01-07T02:01:28Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Loser Donald [decrees it to be Fake News](https://www.rawstory.com/2019/01/trump-rages-cnn-opposition-party-reporting-tsa-sickout-shutdown-continues/) that TSA employees are calling out en masse. > > [Actual TSA employees beg to differ.](https://komonews.com/news/local/tsa-officers-at-sea-tac-on-verge-of-quitting-over-lack-of-pay) > > SAD! About that … They are not allowed to strike. They are not allowed to have a 'slow down". They ARE “allowed” (required) to work for free, for the duration - with no real guarantee of back pay. They are (I believe) not allowed to get another job in the meantime due to conflict of interest laws (which obviously do NOT apply to Tump and his cronies). So what happens when they lose their homes, can’t buy food, etc … and just walk away from it all? Will the filthy bastard arrest them? It wouldn’t surprise me. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28973 "2019-01-07T02:03:19Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > My number was 130-something. I joined the Air Force. > > * * * > > Trump says that former Presidents told him that they wish they had built the wall. Those former Presidents say, '“Nope.” > [https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/04/trump-former-presidents-border-wall-1082562](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/04/trump-former-presidents-border-wall-1082562) Gee. He lied. What a fucking big surprise. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28974 "2019-01-07T02:07:11Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Chump’s defense of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan pushes him even further into traitor territory than he already was. It’s long been a given that Republicans are self-centered, but they were always at least patriotic, if often over the top. I never thought I would see the day when a Republican president gave public blowjobs to a de facto Russian dictator and his party stood firmly behind him. Nice to see I’m not the only one who sees him in that light - as a traitor. The Trump party members (they are not Republicans anymore) that stand by him are traitors TOO. ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28975 "2019-01-07T02:34:57Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > About that … > > They are not allowed to strike. They are not allowed to have a 'slow down". They ARE “allowed” (required) to work for free, for the duration - with no real guarantee of back pay. > They are (I believe) not allowed to get another job in the meantime due to conflict of interest laws (which obviously do NOT apply to Tump and his cronies). > > So what happens when they lose their homes, can’t buy food, etc > > … and just walk away from it all? > > Will the filthy bastard arrest them? > > It wouldn’t surprise me. So they aren’t allowed to just quit and take another job if they can find one? I can believe the rest of it being required, but saying they are not allowed to quit and must keep what they are doing, for no pay, sounds like…well, slavery. It also seems like a pretty good basis for a lawsuit. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28976 "2019-01-07T02:43:56Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Trump says that former Presidents told him that they wish they had built the wall. Those former Presidents say, '“Nope.” > [https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/04/trump-former-presidents-border-wall-1082562](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/04/trump-former-presidents-border-wall-1082562) > > > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > > > NAME THEM, you God-Damned Liar! > > DISCLAIMER: that retort was aimed, not at **Rick Kitchen** , but at the America-hating fuckstick Tan the Conman was probably talking about some of the presidents who he’s not aware have been dead for years, if not decades, or even centuries. His lying isn’t restricted to the improbable, nor even the possible. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2019, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28977 "2019-01-07T02:53:31Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Tan the Conman was probably talking about some of the presidents who he’s not aware have been dead for years, if not decades, or even centuries. His lying isn’t restricted to the improbable, nor even the possible. He got a call about it just the other day from his good friend Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who many people are just now finding out about all the tremendous things he’s been doing for China. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2019, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28978 "2019-01-07T03:12:17Z")
John Bolton - Leader of the Deep State: > **[Bolton: No troop withdrawal from Syria until ISIS contained, Kurds protected](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/424074-bolton-no-troop-withdrawal-from-syria-until-isis-contained-kurds-protected/)** > > National security adviser John Bolton said Sunday that U.S. forces would not leave Syria until the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is fully defeated and the Trump administration receives ass… The one annoying thing about the Executive branch doing the adulting for Trump, and telling him “No”, is that it saves the Senate Republicans from doing it. While it would be more explosive to see a battle between the Senate and the President, ultimately it’s where we need to get to. On the plus side, Trump fired/lost practically all of his staff before the New Year, and he’s probably thinking that once the shutdown is over, he can start hiring some people that think like him. The reality is, of course, that having broken free of his old chains, the Senate will just throw new, heavier chains on him. His next set of Senate approved appointees are going to be even less favorable to his stupid policy positions than the previous ones were. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2019, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28979 "2019-01-07T03:18:39Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I wouldn’t suspect Trump of colluding with Mongo, but Torgo, I could believe. Torgo could replace Michael Cohen in dealing with Trump’s hookers: > [@](#): > > Torgo: There is nothing to fear, madam. The Master likes you. Nothing will happen to you. He likes you. > > Margaret: Likes me? I thought you said he was dead? > > Torgo: Dead? No, madam. Not dead the way you know it. He is with us always. Not dead the way you know it. He is with us always… ---
**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:** [January 7, 2019, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28980 "2019-01-07T03:42:08Z")
[**Trump says he “can relate” to furloughed federal workers during shutdown**](https://www.axios.com/trump-government-shutdown-furloughed-federal-workers-689049ca-3c63-4f66-b698-4a5094962782.html) > [@](#): > > President Trump told reporters outside of the White House on Sunday that he “can relate” to furloughed federal workers, adding that he expects they “will make adjustments” while they do not receive paychecks during the ongoing government shutdown. > … “Make adjustments”? Like what? Not eating, not taking necessary medication, not putting gas in the car, not spending weekends at their resorts playing golf… oh, wait… ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28981 "2019-01-07T03:51:30Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > On the plus side, Trump fired/lost practically all of his staff before the New Year, and he’s probably thinking that once the shutdown is over, he can start hiring some people that think like him. The reality is, of course, that having broken free of his old chains, the Senate will just throw new, heavier chains on him. His next set of Senate approved appointees are going to be even less favorable to his stupid policy positions than the previous ones were. The reality is that [TtC is thrilled with “acting” appointees in his cabinet. He said it gives him more flexibility](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/06/trump-acting-cabinet-members-give-him-more-flexibility). With that outlook, he’s never going to actually nominate someone to a permanent position. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28982 "2019-01-07T04:20:20Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Yep. I remember that. > > The only thing the ‘Wall’ is about is trumps ego. That’s it. Full Stop. Trump probably thinks he can put his name on it, like he does his"buildings, at regular intervals. In garish gold letters. Or at least hang presidential portraits on it. > [@jsc1953](#): > > I’ve thought of a brilliant way out of the shutdown. “Chuck and Nancy” (I hate the disrespect shown by Trump) say: “Mr President, how about this: we pass a continuing resolution with no funding for the wall, and government re-opens. You then invoke your emergency powers to get the $5.6B for the wall. Everyone declares victory.” > > The sucker falls for it. As soon as he issues his “emergency” order, a judge slaps it down as violating the 1976 Emergency Powers act. Wouldn’t it be easier just to tell Trump that Obama thinks the wall is a great idea and fully supports it? > [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Chump’s defense of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan pushes him even further into traitor territory than he already was. It’s long been a given that Republicans are self-centered, but they were always at least patriotic, if often over the top. I never thought I would see the day when a Republican president gave public blowjobs to a de facto Russian dictator and his party stood firmly behind him. There’s been recent speculation about where Trump is getting his info. Remember Trump saying Montenegro was aggressive and could start WWIII? That was a Russian talking point. Defending the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan? Of course, that’s a Russian talking point. One can picture Trump talking on the phone with Putin, like he does Hannity, to be told what to say in public. The crazy new evidence that Trump’s Russia problem is far worse than we all thought | Will Bunch > **[The crazy new evidence that Trump’s Russia problem is far worse than we all...](https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/trump-russia-scandal-putin-kremlin-talking-points-afghanistan-belarus--20190106.html)** > > Why does the American president keep parroting obscure Kremlin talking points? ---
**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:** [January 7, 2019, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28983 "2019-01-07T04:57:54Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > The reality is that [TtC is thrilled with “acting” appointees in his cabinet. He said it gives him more flexibility](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/06/trump-acting-cabinet-members-give-him-more-flexibility). With that outlook, he’s never going to actually nominate someone to a permanent position. While, for the most part, the Republican party supports Trump (publicly), human history - all of the way back to the Roman Republic - says that every branch of government is very jealous of its powers and does not look fondly on any attempts to subvert or encroach upon them. So far, I don’t believe, they have allowed Trump to sit around without an appointee for very long. I’m not sure how they have accomplished that, but they haven’t. For the most part, Trump has simply moved people around or (like Sessions) refrained from firing people. This time, I expect, he’ll try to stick with all acting appointees. I’m not sure how the Senate will handle it, but I don’t expect them to let it stand. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/28984 "2019-01-07T13:19:57Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > While, for the most part, the Republican party supports Trump (publicly), human history - all of the way back to the Roman Republic - says that every branch of government is very jealous of its powers and does not look fondly on any attempts to subvert or encroach upon them. So far, I don’t believe, they have allowed Trump to sit around without an appointee for very long. I’m not sure how they have accomplished that, but they haven’t. > > For the most part, Trump has simply moved people around or (like Sessions) refrained from firing people. This time, I expect, he’ll try to stick with all acting appointees. I’m not sure how the Senate will handle it, but I don’t expect them to let it stand. Yeah, but what can they do? The Senate can’t unilaterally install some one. The only real stick they have is impeachment, and I don’t see them thinking this rises to that level. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1448) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1450)