# 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:** 1473
**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 14, 2019, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29445 "2019-01-14T19:20:45Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > You’re welcome. I’m working, so I don’t have time to research; but I did find [this](https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=KS): > If you’re interested in clean energy options, your power company may have more information; or search your state’s websites. Well, hot damn! Turns out that my provider started offering that option a few months ago. I must have missed the announcement. I have signed up for 100% clean energy, and it will cost me $2.55 more per month. But well worth it, in my opinion. Thanks again! ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29446 "2019-01-14T19:27:01Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > The US Trade Representative to Canada told the US Senate that Canada was a security threat: > > Sworn testimony in the US Senate: the US government believes Canada is a security risk to the United States. > > [Lighthizer calls Canada a national security threat in defence of steel tariffs - The Globe and Mail](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-lighthizer-calls-canada-a-national-security-threat-in-defence-of-steel/) He doesn’t actually believe that and neither does anybody else, including Individual-1. They have to maintain that “reasoning” because that’s how they’re able to impose tariffs on their own. National security is literally defined as whatever the executive branch says it is. One more thing I hope we fix after this disaster is over. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29447 "2019-01-14T19:28:15Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Well, hot damn! Turns out that my provider started offering that option a few months ago. I must have missed the announcement. > > I have signed up for 100% clean energy, and it will cost me $2.55 more per month. But well worth it, in my opinion. > > Thanks again! We get 100% clean energy. . (or so they say). It’s not very expensive and I feel like we’re doing something to help a little. ---
**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 14, 2019, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29448 "2019-01-14T19:29:55Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Well, hot damn! Turns out that my provider started offering that option a few months ago. I must have missed the announcement. > > I have signed up for 100% clean energy, and it will cost me $2.55 more per month. But well worth it, in my opinion. > > Thanks again! 🙂 ---
**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 14, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29449 "2019-01-14T19:34:50Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > We get 100% clean energy. . (or so they say). It’s not very expensive and I feel like we’re doing something to help a little. [Where I live](https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=WA): > [@](#): > > Washington ranks second in the nation, after California, in the amount of electricity generated from renewable resources. On average, about 80% of the state’s net electricity generation originates from renewable energy, mostly hydroelectric power, and Washington produced about one-eighth of the total electricity generated nationwide from renewables in 2017. Some renewable resources provide energy in forms other than electricity, such as biofuels and thermal energy from the wood used in wood stoves. When the production of those other types of energy is included, renewable resources account for 90% of Washington’s total energy production. ---
**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 14, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29450 "2019-01-14T19:37:53Z")
I don’t believe we have a green power option in Arkansas. We have two nuclear powerplants. ---
**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 14, 2019, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29451 "2019-01-14T19:43:25Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > He doesn’t actually believe that and neither does anybody else, including Individual-1. They have to maintain that “reasoning” because that’s how they’re able to impose tariffs on their own. National security is literally defined as whatever the executive branch says it is. One more thing I hope we fix after this disaster is over. Whether he believes it or not is irrelevant. It is the official position of the Government of the United States. ---
**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 14, 2019, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29452 "2019-01-14T19:50:37Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I don’t believe we have a green power option in Arkansas. We have two nuclear powerplants. If you substitute ‘carbon-free’ for ‘green’, you’re probably doing pretty good. ---
**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 14, 2019, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29453 "2019-01-14T20:07:22Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > If you substitute ‘carbon-free’ for ‘green’, you’re probably doing pretty good. Yep. Especially when we send used fuel to Nevada instead of asking everyone to bury a pound in their back yard. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29454 "2019-01-14T20:35:21Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Whether he believes it or not is irrelevant. > > It is the official position of the Government of the United States. And what Canada has to do going forward is to base all trade decisions and planning on the understanding that the US can and will abrogate any treaty or trade decision at any time based on deluded rantings of a delusional idiot, and the House and Senate will do nothing to stop him. The relationship is broken. ---
**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 14, 2019, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29455 "2019-01-14T20:36:55Z")
Despite Individual 1’s claims that the border must be sealed off because of all of the drugs being shipped across, the drug traffickers testifying in the El Chapo case say they brought drugs in via fishing boats, trains, tractor-trailers and ordinary cars that come into the country at legal ports of entry. [El Chapo trial: Traffickers say drugs aren't coming into the US through open parts of the border | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/12/us/drug-traffickers-el-chapo-trial-drugs-across-border/index.html)? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_McQwark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Steve\_McQwark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_McQwark)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29456 "2019-01-14T20:42:21Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > True. My only hope is that, for the most part, Germany has regained a position of trust and respect in the world, and it only took them about 60 years to do so. We just gotta get these fucking shitheads out of office and make sure that no one like them ever gets elected again. Although, people being people, that’s probably unattainable. This is what I’m pinning my hopes on as well. Once we get our own house back in order, we can eventually regain the trust and respect of our allies. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29457 "2019-01-14T20:45:56Z")
Not so fast, pardner. Historically that would be the case, that the world would know we excise our tumors. But now they know the American electorate, combined with our screwy system, are capable of producing this sort of result. Why would the world have any confidence that we won’t do anything so stupid again? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29458 "2019-01-14T20:58:41Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Not so fast, pardner. Historically that would be the case, that the world would know we excise our tumors. But now they know the American electorate, combined with our screwy system, are capable of producing this sort of result. Why would the world have any confidence that we won’t do anything so stupid again? Exactly. All future Canadian trade decisions will have to be made with the possibility in mind that the US electorate might prefer a leader who makes insanely stupid decisions, and nothing will be done to reign him in. Prior to Canada being declared a security threat by the US Government, pretty much all the talking heads assured us that: 1. Trump would not actually put tariffs against Canada 2. If he tried, his sane advisers would talk him out of it 3. If this didn’t work, the Legislative branch would not allow it 4. Even if it did go through, it would be quickly reversed Well, guess what? They were wrong. The US can and does treat Canada like a security threat for purely political reasons, and no politician had the balls to do anything about it, nor will they do anything about it even now. In future, we won’t make the same mistake. And I am telling my elected officials that. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29459 "2019-01-14T20:59:17Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Not so fast, pardner. Historically that would be the case, that the world would know we excise our tumors. But now they know the American electorate, combined with our screwy system, are capable of producing this sort of result. Why would the world have any confidence that we won’t do anything so stupid again? Right. Dean said to Nixon that there was “a cancer on the presidency.” But in this case, the whole presidency itself is the cancer–not just Trump, but a populace that is stupid and/or racist enough to vote for him. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29460 "2019-01-14T21:03:33Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Despite Individual 1’s claims that the border must be sealed off because of all of the drugs being shipped across, the drug traffickers testifying in the El Chapo case say they brought drugs in via fishing boats, trains, tractor-trailers and ordinary cars that come into the country at legal ports of entry. > [https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/12/us/drug-traffickers-el-chapo-trial-drugs-across-border/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/12/us/drug-traffickers-el-chapo-trial-drugs-across-border/index.html)? Trump’s own DEA pointed it out in its annual report last November–not just about El Chapo’s operation, but drug smuggling overall mostly happens in those ways. ---
**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 14, 2019, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29461 "2019-01-14T21:04:20Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > …a populace that is stupid and/or racist enough to vote for him. I imagine there will be more politicians on the national and state levels eager to be elected by the great unwashed. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29462 "2019-01-14T21:17:01Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Trump’s own DEA pointed it out in its annual report last November–not just about El Chapo’s operation, but drug smuggling overall mostly happens in those ways. This assumes that Trump: 1. Read the report 2. Understand what he read| 3. Is able to remember what he understood. I’d say that your point is moot at #1 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29463 "2019-01-14T21:26:40Z")
That could all be true, but he still is known to just not give a shit about facts that vary from whatever tale he’s spinning at the time. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I imagine there will be more politicians on the national and state levels eager to be elected by the great unwashed. We already saw a lot of Trumplicking in 2018, especially in the primaries. Hello, Governor DeSantis! ---
**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 14, 2019, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29464 "2019-01-14T22:07:19Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Despite Individual 1’s claims that the border must be sealed off because of all of the drugs being shipped across, the drug traffickers testifying in the El Chapo case say they brought drugs in via fishing boats, trains, tractor-trailers and ordinary cars that come into the country at legal ports of entry. > [https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/12/us/drug-traffickers-el-chapo-trial-drugs-across-border/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/12/us/drug-traffickers-el-chapo-trial-drugs-across-border/index.html)? I guess that means a wall across the Gulf of Mexico. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1472) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1474)