# 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:** 1488
**Author:** ![catflea12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@catflea12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catflea12)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29745 "2019-01-19T14:17:22Z")
I know there is not much chance of this happening, but hey, I’m an optimist. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29746 "2019-01-19T14:43:37Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Exactly. The statement from Mueller’s office was not a simple black and white denial. You can be sure that every word in that statement was carefully chosen. Let’s keep our wits about us and not go off into unwarranted extrapolations. Yes, the statement can definitely be taken a number of ways. Pure speculation, but my WAG— based primarily on the failure of the administration to immediately and vociferously deny the allegations (and their circumlocutory spokestooge’s dogged refusal to say “no, it never happened” when pressed) and especially Trump’s own highly uncharacteristic Twitter silence on the matter— is that the foundation of the Buzzfeed story is true (that Trump was pursuing a business deal in Russia and directed Cohen, either explicitly or implicitly, to lie about it). They were (and probably still are) freaking out wondering who said what to whom, and what supporting evidence the investigators have gotten their hands on. That is the only credible reason that we wouldn’t have been subjected to a barrage of “FAKE NEWS!!!” tweets from Trump’s press office/shitter starting at the crack 'o dawn yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29747 "2019-01-19T15:15:16Z")
Trump just mentioned how effective walls have been in places like San Antonio. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29748 "2019-01-19T15:19:47Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Trump just mentioned how effective walls have been in places like San Antonio. How quickly they, uh, _forget_. Wikpedia, on the 1836 Battle of the Alamo: “As Mexican soldiers scaled the walls, most of the Texian soldiers withdrew into interior buildings. Defenders unable to reach these points were slain by the Mexican cavalry as they attempted to escape. Between five and seven Texians may have surrendered; if so, they were quickly executed. Most eyewitness accounts reported between 182 and 257 Texians died, while most historians of the Alamo agree that around 600 Mexicans were killed or wounded.” ---
**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 19, 2019, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29749 "2019-01-19T17:01:51Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Trump has announced a major announcement for 3 PM Saturday. Emergency declaration? Either he will declare himself President for Life, or his methods will become official USA spelling. Well heck, why not both? ---
**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:** [January 19, 2019, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29750 "2019-01-19T17:30:11Z")
CNN is reporting increase in DACA and TPS protection in exchange for border wall funding. > **[Trump's offer of temporary protection for immigrants to end shutdown is a...](https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/01/19/politics/house-democrats-border-security-funding-trump/index.html?r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F)** > > President Donald Trump is expected to propose extending protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients and individuals with temporary protected status in exchange for border wall funding in his remarks Saturday afternoon, a source... ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29751 "2019-01-19T17:34:37Z")
If that’s true I hope Pelosi sticks to her guns - although I understand that the desire to just end this damn thing is going to be strong ☹ ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29752 "2019-01-19T17:41:24Z")
IIRC, that was the premise of a previous compromise offer from Dems to Trump. However, that one offered some pretty major relief to DACA and TPS recipients, and that was what they were willing to get in exchange for the down-payment on the Wall. The new, improved version is unlikely to be as generous, since Rushbutt and Anne of Green Goebbels would go totally apeshit again. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29753 "2019-01-19T17:44:29Z")
So basically Trump is going on TV to negotiate in public? Do we really need to see this? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29754 "2019-01-19T17:55:05Z")
I can’t speak for everyone, but no. Nobody does. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29755 "2019-01-19T18:13:29Z")
Pelosi and the whole Democratic House need to stick to their guns. “We don’t negotiate with hostage takers. Release the federal government workers, and we can talk about anything you like.” If they don’t, Trump/McConnell will pull this shit every single time they want something. Dems need to hold fast this one time – else they’ll be forced to capitulate again and again and again. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29756 "2019-01-19T18:15:01Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > So basically Trump is going on TV to negotiate in public? Do we really need to see this? Like a cornered bank robber, he needs to let others know how many hostages he has… ---
**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 19, 2019, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29757 "2019-01-19T18:18:21Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Pelosi and the whole Democratic House need to stick to their guns. > > “We don’t negotiate with hostage takers. Release the federal government workers, and we can talk about anything you like.” > > If they don’t, Trump/McConnell will pull this shit every single time they want something. Dems need to hold fast this one time – else they’ll be forced to capitulate again and again and again. I wonder if Trump is going to announce that he’s going to start executing government workers one by one until his demands are met… ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29758 "2019-01-19T18:25:34Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > So basically Trump is going on TV to negotiate in public? Do we really need to see this? I wonder if we’re overlooking the (in)significance of the time slot he chose? 3 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon will not likely draw the numbers of a prime time weekday slot. So, does this mean Trump feels whatever he is going to say doesn’t actually amount to a triumph for himself? Maybe he was forced to make concessions his MAGA followers will hate and so he wants to slip it by them relatively quietly? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29759 "2019-01-19T18:30:23Z")
“I’m gonna make them an offer of canned refuse.” ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29760 "2019-01-19T18:36:43Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Pelosi and the whole Democratic House need to stick to their guns. > > “We don’t negotiate with hostage takers. Release the federal government workers, and we can talk about anything you like.” > > If they don’t, Trump/McConnell will pull this shit every single time they want something. Dems need to hold fast this one time – else they’ll be forced to capitulate again and again and again. ```auto "And that is called paying the Dane-geld; But we've proved it again and again, That if once you have paid him the Dane-geld You never get rid of the Dane." - Rudyard Kipling[SUP]1[/SUP] ``` > [@](#): > > “I will gladly pay you Monday for a hamburger today.” - Wimpy Seriously, people need to remember that agreeing to do something for the Congressional Republicans in return for promises to do one thing or the other later on has resulted, every single time, in the Republicans getting what they want and never, ever keeping those promises. I think they’re in a bit of shock that the Democrats are, suddenly, saying, “Nope. Not happening this time. Either you give us something _now_, _ **upfront** _, or you can go whistle. We know your promises aren’t worth the air it took to articulate them.” [SUP]1[/SUP]I know it’s not code, but it’s the only way to get the indents to show up. ---
**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29761 "2019-01-19T19:31:44Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > So basically Trump is going on TV to negotiate in public? Do we really need to see this? It’s like that old joke. People who like sausage and respect the law should never watch either being made. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29762 "2019-01-19T19:57:32Z")
The timing? His first goal is to draw attention away from the women’s march, easily done. Then, he will offer a “compromise”, much like he pretended that switching from concrete to steel was somehow at the Democrats behest. He will not offer anything substantial. He dare not, not with Rush Stinkcheese and the Harridan watching. His goal is as petty as his nature, he wants to pretend he can offer a penny on the dollar and then loudly complain when his fair and reasonable offer is spurned. He will offer some relief about DACA and TPS that will become available at some later date, to be decided after due consideration. OF course, it is distantly possible that his offer would be enough such leniency as to make the offer attractive. If there are mechanisms to ensure he follows through, it may even be a worthy deal. Pencils have erasers, and walls are lengthy and tiresome undertaking. Perhaps pass the five billion to be spent on supplies and materials, we can always use them for something else. And, of course, planning. Thing like this, needs lots of planning. Form committees to explore the prospect of a blue-ribbon panel to examine the various possibilities. ---
**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 19, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29763 "2019-01-19T20:29:50Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > “I will gladly pay you Monday for a hamburger today.” - Wimpy Tuesday, man, it was always Tuesday, that I ever heard. > [@Morgyn](#): > > I know it’s not code, but it’s the only way to get the indents to show up. You could try something like “_And that is called paying the Dane-geld; \_\_But we’ve proved it again and again, That if once you have paid him the Dane-geld \_\_You never get rid of the Dane._” - Rudyard Kipling ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/29764 "2019-01-19T21:18:14Z")
Trump’s giving his shutdown speech right now and, just like during the Oval Office address, sniffing after every sentence. I’m starting to think there’s something to the Adderall snorting rumor. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1487) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1489)