# 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:** 1458
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2019, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29145 "2019-01-09T23:29:35Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Repeatedly? :dubious: Like when? Well, that means Trump has had to only say something twice and he doesn’t need to mean it. Insincere lip service is possible. ---
**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:** [January 9, 2019, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29146 "2019-01-09T23:42:12Z")
Have we mentioned [beautiful coal](https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/07/politics/pennsylvania-coal-plants-weir-wxc/index.html) lately? > [@](#): > > … But thanks largely to free-market forces, more coal-fired power plants have been deactivated in Trump’s first two years in office then in Obama’s entire first term. … ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2019, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29147 "2019-01-09T23:47:50Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The Coast Guard suggests that its members hold yard sales to tide them over during the shutdown. > [https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2019/01/09/coast-guard-families-told-they-can-have-garage-sales-cope-with-government-shutdown/?utm\_term=.07630420abef](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2019/01/09/coast-guard-families-told-they-can-have-garage-sales-cope-with-government-shutdown/?utm_term=.07630420abef) Haha tide them over! ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2019, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29148 "2019-01-09T23:56:14Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > The White House has responded with, “President Trump supported and passed historic criminal justice reform … and … has repeatedly condemned racism and bigotry in all forms.” > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Repeatedly? :dubious: Like when? It’s a natural mistake – that time he got arm-twisted into stating something resembling an actual condemnation of the Charlottesville Nazi rioters was so painful for him that he gets flashbacks and feels like he’s reliving the terrible moment over and over again. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29149 "2019-01-10T00:07:06Z")
Dumb non-American question: Trump just went on TV as POTUS and solicited funds for Trump the 2020 candidate. Is this legal / kosher in the US? ---
**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:** [January 10, 2019, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29150 "2019-01-10T00:09:14Z")
> [@Apollyon](#): > > Dumb non-American question: Trump just went on TV as POTUS and solicited funds for Trump the 2020 candidate. Is this legal / kosher in the US? Legal, not exactly kosher. The limpdick, lapdog media here is like that nutty, unleashed neighborhood dog that chases cars impulsively. ---
**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 10, 2019, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29151 "2019-01-10T00:11:12Z")
> [@Apollyon](#): > > Dumb non-American question: Trump just went on TV as POTUS and solicited funds for Trump the 2020 candidate. Is this legal / kosher in the US? No, but apparently no one has the balls to call him on it. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29152 "2019-01-10T00:18:43Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Science has shown that internet polls are only slightly more trustworthy than a quoted cite by **Hurricane Ditka** , so I wouldn’t let it worry you too much. Good one. > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Repeatedly? :dubious: Like when? There are nice people on both sides, **'Bo**. > [@asahi](#): > > > [@Apollyon](#): > > > > Dumb non-American question: Trump just went on TV as POTUS and solicited funds for Trump the 2020 candidate. Is this legal / kosher in the US? > > Legal, not exactly kosher. > > The limpdick, lapdog media here is like that nutty, unleashed neighborhood dog that chases cars impulsively. Depends on where and how he does it. If he was in the Oval Office (or White House, anywhere other than the residence), then it is not legal. The Hatch Act says you can’t fundraise from government offices, nor can you use government resources while you do it. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29153 "2019-01-10T00:23:42Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Good one. > > There are nice people on both sides, **'Bo**. > > Depends on where and how he does it. If he was in the Oval Office (or White House, anywhere other than the residence), then it is not legal. The Hatch Act says you can’t fundraise from government offices, nor can you use government resources while you do it. I think the funds solicitation occurred via Twitter. So it technically didn’t happen in the Oval Office, and therefore was technically legal. Morally, he’s a twisted black banana with a greasy black peel. But that wasn’t the question. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29154 "2019-01-10T00:31:21Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Morally, he’s a twisted black banana with a greasy black peel. But that wasn’t the question. Frankly, I’d take the seasick crocodile… ---
**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:** [January 10, 2019, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29155 "2019-01-10T00:49:21Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > … The shutdown is going to significantly impede the ability of the House to investigate the President. Trump doesn’t care about the effects of the shutdown on society and he doesn’t care about the wall. He’ll sit it out, happily saving himself from public shame, all the while blaming the Democrats for endangering the country, and he won’t care a fig that all government services are shutting down and making life difficult for everyone. Eventually, the Democrats will knuckle under and offer him $5b for the wall, and Trump will tell them, “You should have done that back when you were in my good graces. Now it’s $50b and I want to be able to start executing people who come into the country illegally.” Or whatever it is that he knows that they won’t accept. > > He’s playing for time. … Yes, and that’s why, in addition to the avenues you suggest (pointing out the slush-fund nature of his $5 billion demand, and pointing out all the ways his administration _could_ be dealing with actual immigration issues but are not), Democrats need to tie this firmly to Congressional Republicans. “_ **Control your toddler or face the consequences at the ballot box** _” is the message—and it must be made manifest by all of us phone-call-making, letter-to-one’s Senator and Representative-writing, Congressperson’s office-sitting-in citizens. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2019, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29156 "2019-01-10T00:58:06Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Yes, and that’s why, in addition to the avenues you suggest (pointing out the slush-fund nature of his $5 billion demand, and pointing out all the ways his administration _could_ be dealing with actual immigration issues but are not), Democrats need to tie this firmly to Congressional Republicans. > > “_ **Control your toddler or face the consequences at the ballot box** _” is the message—and it must be made manifest by all of us phone-call-making, letter-to-one’s Senator and Representative-writing, Congressperson’s office-sitting-in citizens. Here’s the ugly truth: the economy’s good and the average person thinks this is just more entertainment. The average person will only pay attention when there is a massive economic or national security crisis, which is inevitable. We’re going to have a massive crisis that will shake us to our core. The question will be, how shall we behave then? I advocate taking control of the country from the right wing terrorists and traitors who have betrayed us. The right wing oligarchs have stretched and bent the constitution out of its shape. There will come a time when we have to stretch and bend it back, which will inevitably mean crushing the enemy and throwing them into education camps. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2019, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29157 "2019-01-10T01:20:18Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > …education camps. Should you really go there again if you’re unable to expound on the matter? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29158 "2019-01-10T01:23:25Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Seriously, what is up with Lindsay Graham lately? Ima say he’s positioning himself for 2020. Romney’s trying to look like the leader of what remains of what passes for the grownup wing of the party, and Graham is trying to look like as reliable a toddler as Individual-1. There’s a lot of voters in that wing, as you know. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2019, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29159 "2019-01-10T01:25:58Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Should you really go there again if you’re unable to expound on the matter? We’re past the point of normality. We need to use elections to gain power, and then power to rectify these animals. You will see, and you feel the rage that I feel. One day. I promise. We’re done negotiating. Time for battle. Time to fight. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2019, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29160 "2019-01-10T01:35:45Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > We’re past the point of normality. We need to use elections to gain power, and then power to rectify these animals. You will see, and you feel the rage that I feel. One day. I promise. > > We’re done negotiating. Time for battle. Time to fight. Hey yeah I’m close to your rage level. Well, at least I think I am, but still a little chary (OH I love that word) about the idea of rash, unsubstantiated solutions. I’m gonna need to hear “battle” ideas. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2019, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29161 "2019-01-10T01:44:22Z")
We have a dinner table of 20, and 1 man steals the food of the remaining 19. Who would tolerate such greed? Who but a pathetic little wench such as yourself. I don’t intend to tolerate it. We must demand justice. First at the ballot box, and if the elections are rigged, then we must protest in the streets. This injustice shall not stand. But if it were for the likes of you, well, then I suppose you’d just insist that the head of the table take seconds, and thirds, and fourths, and every man’s meal until his abdomen can’t hold no more. Friend, you are the one who’s being fooled. You are the one being gamed. Stop. Stand up for yourself. Fight the good fight. But protest legally of course. 🙂 ---
**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:** [January 10, 2019, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29162 "2019-01-10T01:58:59Z")
Of course, how lily-livered of me to get you to _maybe_ flesh out your sabre-rattling. But thanks anyway for the transition (I hope) from education camps to “But protest legally of course. :-)” (heh - afterthought) We’ll just go with the latter for now, hm? ::_SMACKS_ **asahi** ’s hands off my fuckin’ fries.:: ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29163 "2019-01-10T02:03:04Z")
**Asahi** , instead of a man swiping dinner, let’s realize this man pays nothing to anyone at any time. He’s thieving more than just dinner. And, unfortunately, I’ll agree with you, partially, that we’re gonna have to re-educate a shitload of people. Especially on basic law and government. Stop waging for battle already. You gotta wait like the rest of us and I think we’ll be surprised come February. Maybe. Probably. ---
**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 10, 2019, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29164 "2019-01-10T02:30:23Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I find your ideas intriguing, and would like to inquire about a newsletter. Papers, drugs. Intereeesting. > [@Apollyon](#): > > Dumb non-American question: Trump just went on TV as POTUS and solicited funds for Trump the 2020 candidate. Is this legal / kosher in the US? As another poster mentioned, there are laws (like Trump gives a hoot about law) which restrict when, where, and how such campaigning is conducted. Another issue is the bit about equal time for other candidates. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1457) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1459)