# 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:** 1461
**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:** [January 10, 2019, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29205 "2019-01-10T20:12:55Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Chris Cillizza’s recap and annotations of Trump’s remarks: > > [29 outrageous lines from Donald Trump’s wild, impromptu, news conference on the White House lawn](https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/10/politics/trump-lawn-press-conference/index.html) > > Some samples: > > Can you imagine someone you work with rambling on like this while giving a presentation in a company meeting? > > People would be looking at each other asking “Who hired this idiot?” > > Yet, I give you The President of the United States of America. Well, #17 certainly proves #5. Remember the scene in The Naked Gun when Drebbin was outfitted as the umpire and was stunned when the first pitch came and he realized that he had to make the call? Then he made a few calls and started feeling more comfortable. 2 years in Trump is approaching the place where he starts moonwalking as he makes the calls while Randy Newman music plays. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29206 "2019-01-10T20:27:57Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > After longingly gazing at Master… he notices Master… Now I wish Pence’s name was Larry, to match the image in my head. ‘Master loves Larry! Master feeds Larry!’ ---
**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, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29207 "2019-01-10T20:36:10Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Glad I’m not the only one that feels there is a lot off with Pence. He doesn’t seem human. > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I’m pretty sure I saw his skin suit slip a little. I just think of Madame Tussaud, every single time. If I had to buy into the “lizard people” thing, he’d probably be at the top of my list, along with Carter Page, Scott Pruitt and Kieth Cassidy. > [@Grrr](#): > > “This is everybody’s fault but mine.” > > Homer Simpson. Robert Plant would like a word with you. From the most-unsurprising-news-in-the-world dept.: Turtle McTurlteFace puts the kibosh on spending bill [to reopen gov’t.](https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/10/politics/senate-blocks-vote-congress-shutdown/index.html) “So John, should I just…sign it then, huh, huh?” UH, YEAH ASSHOLE, YOU FUCKING SHOULD. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29208 "2019-01-10T20:38:56Z")
To me, Pence looks like some kid drew a face on a popsicle stick then made a wish. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29209 "2019-01-10T20:43:40Z")
He looks like an Anything Muppet. The man has waves of banality radiating from his poreless skin. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29210 "2019-01-10T21:00:08Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Robert Plant would like a word with you. Well, Blind Willie Johnson would like a word with you… ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29211 "2019-01-10T21:04:48Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Now I wish Pence’s name was Larry, to match the image in my head. ‘Master loves Larry! Master feeds Larry!’ Many more [DEL]defections[/DEL] departures and the WH will indeed start to look like Scortch. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29212 "2019-01-10T21:23:45Z")
[Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, to testify publicly before Congress](https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/10/politics/michael-cohen-testify-congress/index.html) Well, this might be interesting. From this story: > [@](#): > > Cohen addressed his relationship with Trump at his sentencing, saying he had “blind loyalty to this man that led me to choose a path of darkness over light.” > “Recently, the President tweeted a statement calling me ‘weak,’ and he was correct, but for a much different reason than he was implying,” Cohen said at the time. “It was because time and time again I felt it was my duty to cover up his dirty deeds rather than to listen to my own inner voice and my moral compass.” ---
**Author:** ![flip-68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@flip-68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flip-68)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29213 "2019-01-10T21:24:25Z")
I love that he said “The buck stops with everybody” - it’s something he obviously thought was clever but really reveals how he won’t accept responsibility for anything. Such a shameful contrast with the original phrase. ---
**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 10, 2019, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29214 "2019-01-10T21:40:32Z")
Ahead of Trump’s visit to McAllen, Texas, people put up a sign saying “Welcome to McAllen, the safest city in America” > **[Historic Cine El Rey sign welcoming President Trump to the Valley](https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/historic-cine-el-rey-sign-welcoming-president-trump-to-the-valley/)** > > A day before President Trump makes his Valley visit, a welcome sign is now up. It reads “Welcome to McAllen– The 7th Safest City in America. ” It’s posted at the historic Ci… ---
**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:** [January 10, 2019, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29215 "2019-01-10T21:53:11Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Ahead of Trump’s visit to McAllen, Texas, people put up a sign saying “Welcome to McAllen, the safest city in America” > [Historic Cine El Rey sign welcoming President Trump to the Valley | KVEO-TV](https://valleycentral.com/news/local/historic-cine-el-rey-sign-welcoming-president-trump-to-the-valley) No; they didn’t. Please read your own cites and post accurately. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29216 "2019-01-10T21:55:44Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Turtle McTurlteFace puts the kibosh on spending bill [to reopen gov’t.](https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/10/politics/senate-blocks-vote-congress-shutdown/index.html) > [@](#): > > McConnell objected to the move, saying that “political stunts are not going to get us anywhere.” What a sack of shit that man is. ---
**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 10, 2019, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29217 "2019-01-10T21:58:37Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > No; they didn’t. Please read your own cites and post accurately. Nobody put the sign up? Or nobody put the sign up in McAllen? Or nobody put the sign up ahead of Trump’s visit? Which of these things is incorrect? Why do you insist on criticizing me? ---
**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 10, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29218 "2019-01-10T22:13:19Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Nobody put the sign up? Or nobody put the sign up in McAllen? Or nobody put the sign up ahead of Trump’s visit? Which of these things is incorrect? > > Why do you insist on criticizing me? The sign says (although hard to read) “7th safest city in America”, and the text in the article makes that clear (and that 7th is an old rating, and they are apparently #11 now (still pretty good)). ---
**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, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29219 "2019-01-10T22:17:16Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I’m pretty sure I saw his skin suit slip a little. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Now I wish Pence’s name was Larry, to match the image in my head. ‘Master loves Larry! Master feeds Larry!’ > [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > I just think of Madame Tussaud, every single time. If I had to buy into the “lizard people” thing, he’d probably be at the top of my list, along with Carter Page, Scott Pruitt and Kieth Cassidy. > … [The Real Mike Pence.](https://goo.gl/images/5KagqQ) ---
**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, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29220 "2019-01-10T22:47:50Z")
Maybe Pence dips into the [Celebrity Varnish (trademark symbol)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRF3oSjdFsc) ---
**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:** [January 10, 2019, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29221 "2019-01-10T22:59:25Z")
[“Trump administration lays groundwork to declare national emergency to build wall”](https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/trump-administration-lays-groundwork-to-declare-national-emergency-to-build-wall/2019/01/10/e8902698-14fa-11e9-b6ad-9cfd62dbb0a8_story.html?utm_term=.82455777a486) > [@](#): > > The White House has begun laying the groundwork for a declaration of national emergency to build President Trump’s border wall, including searching for unused money in the Army Corps of Engineers budget, two people with knowledge of the preparations said Thursday. > > \ > > Asked about a timetable for such a declaration, the president said he would see how it goes with Congress. > > But on Capitol Hill there were no signs of progress, and instead lawmakers of both parties were widely bracing for Trump to declare a national emergency. > > Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), when asked whether he felt Trump declaring a national emergency was inevitable, responded: “Considering how Democrats are not negotiating, yes.” > > Democrats were exploring their options on how to respond, both legally and legislatively. Yes, absolutely, this is a national emergency. Impoverished, exhausted migrant families showing up at the border in sporadic groups is an emergency on par with a motherfucking hurricane. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2019, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29222 "2019-01-10T23:11:58Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Nobody put the sign up? Or nobody put the sign up in McAllen? Or nobody put the sign up ahead of Trump’s visit? Which of these things is incorrect? Folacin explains well: > [@Folacin](#): > > The sign says (although hard to read) “7th safest city in America”, and the text in the article makes that clear (and that 7th is an old rating, and they are apparently #11 now (still pretty good)). > [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Why do you insist on criticizing me? I’ve said it all before, but I’ll say it again: you post A LOT of links, usually with very little descriptive text, and quite often that descriptive text does not accurately describe what is at the link. This website is about fighting ignorance, and spreading misinformation does not in any way further that cause. In fact, it sets the cause back IMO. All I’ve ever asked is that you be more accurate in your descriptions, **Rick** , but it seems that being prolific or being the first to post something is more important to you than being accurate or correct. I keep hoping that you’ll reverse those, even if it means that once in a while somebody else brings a bit of news to the Straight Dope before you do. ---
**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 10, 2019, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29223 "2019-01-10T23:15:24Z")
**Step 1:** Ignore disasters such as Hurricane Maria hitting Puerto Rico. **[Step 2:](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/trump-could-take-billions-disaster-areas-fund-wall-n957281)** > [@](#): > > President Donald Trump has been briefed on a plan that would use the Army Corps of Engineers and a portion of $13.9 billion of Army Corps funding to build 315 miles of barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to three U.S. officials familiar with the briefing. > > The money was set aside to fund projects all over the country including storm-damaged areas of Puerto Rico through fiscal year 2020, but the checks have not been written yet and, under an emergency declaration, the president could take the money from these civil works projects and use it to build the border wall… **Step 3:** Assign wall contracts to your shell companies, your relatives’ shell companies, your cronies’ shell companies, your Russian oligarch creditors’ shell companies… **Step 4:** Profit! ---
**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, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29224 "2019-01-10T23:52:46Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > **Step 1:** Ignore disasters such as Hurricane Maria hitting Puerto Rico. > > **[Step 2:](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/trump-could-take-billions-disaster-areas-fund-wall-n957281)** > > **Step 3:** Assign wall contracts to your shell companies, your relatives’ shell companies, your cronies’ shell companies, your Russian oligarch creditors’ shell companies… > > **Step 4:** Profit! Note that Trump will keep needing additions to his slush fund—and still there will never be any more than a “show” piece of The Wall. Because to stay in power, he HAS to have a massive pile of money to hand out to all those who might be able to keep him in power. Whether the handouts will carry any actual obligation to do something toward building a wall, is highly doubtful. There will be umpteen “delays” that are “caused by Democrats.” Somehow the big beautiful Wall is always on the verge of being finished, but We Can’t Show You Any Footage of it because that would Give Away Security Secrets, etc. Give in to this would-be tin-pot dictator, and his demands will only escalate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1460) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1462)