# 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:** 1509
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30165 "2019-01-30T20:19:45Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > with some amount of grace. :spit-take: ---
**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 30, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30166 "2019-01-30T20:29:11Z")
Individual “Play golf all day, every day” 1 claims that his predecessor did nothing but watch basketball all day. > **[Trump Lied On Obama During White House Visits, Claimed the Former President...](https://www.theroot.com/trump-lied-on-obama-during-white-house-visits-claimed-1832169748)** > > President Donald Trump, the president who spent at least a year of his presidency visiting golf courses that he owns and basically bullshitting the rest of the time, had the audacity to come for arguably one the best presidents to ever do it. ---
**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 30, 2019, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30167 "2019-01-30T20:54:06Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > :spit-take: If he came across as fearful and stressed out in his in-person interviews, he’d have been polling in the toilet a long time ago. Outside of the occasional angry tweet, he’s stayed pretty well the same whether he’s calling the Mueller investigation a witch hunt or complaining that he was misquoted. If you weren’t closely following the news, you would have no sense, watching Trump, that he’s already (in essence) been arrested and charged with crimes. Dude’s a con-artist. It’s one of his few talents. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30168 "2019-01-30T22:08:56Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > If he came across as fearful and stressed out in his in-person interviews, he’d have been polling in the toilet a long time ago. Outside of the occasional angry tweet, he’s stayed pretty well the same whether he’s calling the Mueller investigation a witch hunt or complaining that he was misquoted. If you weren’t closely following the news, you would have no sense, watching Trump, that he’s already (in essence) been arrested and charged with crimes. > > Dude’s a con-artist. It’s one of his few talents. The dude has bravado, and as best I can tell has the ability to usually contain his childish temper tantrums to times when he mistakenly thinks nobody’s watching. Grace means something entirely different from that, and it’s something that Donny Two Scoops is pretty much the polar opposite of. Which is why you’re getting the reactions you are. Unfortunate word choice, basically. ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30169 "2019-01-30T23:29:13Z")
Even the GOP is starting to believe Trump doesn’t know what he’s doing when it comes to trade. > **[U.S. lawmakers move to curtail president's power to levy tariffs](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-tariffs/u-s-lawmakers-move-to-curtail-presidents-power-to-levy-tariffs-idUSKCN1PO2ZC)** > > U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday introduced legislation to limit the president's power to levy import tariffs for national security reasons I can only hope this means the Republicans in Congress are beginning to remember Congress is supposed to serve as a check on the President, including Presidents of your own party. They probably aren’t, but one can hope… ---
**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 30, 2019, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30170 "2019-01-30T23:47:25Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Whatever you might say about Trump, he does do an impressive job of living under pressure with some amount of grace. the problem is, though, > [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > He’s smarter than anyone else anyway, so what does it matter what anyone else thinks? Refer to a book called _The Smartest Guys in the Room_. Individual-1 simply knows better than everyone else around him, so he goes right on ahead with, whatever. Even W. Bush, as much of a dolt and asshole as he was, had the good sense to talk within his circle and get reasonable advice before going out and blorting all over the place. That is a crucial element of “grace”. No-Drama-Obama lulled us into a sense of complacency with his incessant bearing and restraint. This guy, though, moves like a shitstorm raging through a linen store. And no one, not one of us, will be unsoiled after his time plays out. ---
**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 31, 2019, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30171 "2019-01-31T00:03:54Z")
> [@Toxgoddess](#): > > Even the GOP is starting to believe Trump doesn’t know what he’s doing when it comes to trade. > > [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-tariffs/u-s-lawmakers-move-to-curtail-presidents-power-to-levy-tariffs-idUSKCN1PO2ZC](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-tariffs/u-s-lawmakers-move-to-curtail-presidents-power-to-levy-tariffs-idUSKCN1PO2ZC) > > I can only hope this means the Republicans in Congress are beginning to remember Congress is supposed to serve as a check on the President, including Presidents of your own party. They probably aren’t, but one can hope… Ya… don’t count on it. I have a pretty low bar for Republicans now. Actually very, very low expectations. And yet, they manage to tunnel down under it each time anyway. They will talk a good line, but when it comes down to it, this will never even come up for a vote. The Repubs who run the party won’t allow it. For one, it’s a bipartisan piece of legislation. That cannot be accepted by today’s Republicans. Never. They must oppose Democrats, because they are not just wrong, but EEEEVIL. Secondly, this bill would limit the power of Trump, and give authority back to the Congress. This is in direct opposition to what Trump wants, so the obsequious toadies and pathetic spineless weasels like McConnell will simply never allow this to go for a vote - a vote that would obviously go against Trump. Can’t have that. So don’t even allow a vote. This is how the party works now. ---
**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 31, 2019, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30172 "2019-01-31T00:11:55Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > … One of the odder ones was Wynn Quantrill in **the President’s Analyst**. … > > End of hijack. I hope. Not quite: > [@](#): > > Darn it, Bing. I told you not to play around with my guns. No, I do not want that in the house. That is my car gun. My house gun is already in the house. Now, put that back in the glove compartment, and don’t let me catch you fooling with my guns again. (I can hear Daniels’ voice as clearly as if he were in the room. _Love_ that movie.) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30173 "2019-01-31T00:14:25Z")
The current book I’m reading (fiction) is an apocalyptic thriller centering on the dissolution of the US. Looks like new civil war in the book, it’s a 4 book series. I read another of the authors series about a Yellowstone eruption. I found it immature but entertaining. The science was pretty good. Told my Wife not to bother. I can plow through books, so I thought I would give him another try. Anyway, the author’s forward stated that he was trying to approach the current situation without any bias. It’s absolutely clear he is talking about the Trump Presidency (mentions Mar-a-Lago and other things). Ok. A bit surprised. Then the author puts the ‘Current President’ in front of reporters and the President makes an intelligent, well thought out, ad-hoc, off the cuff speech about current events. Hahahahah. No bias at all. I nearly dumped the book right there. But, after all, it is fiction. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30174 "2019-01-31T00:56:19Z")
Ah, yes. Good old **Zoological Impossibility**. He can crank out a good yarn when he tries. Pity he hasn’t tried in the last decade. ---
**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 31, 2019, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30175 "2019-01-31T01:54:10Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Not quite: > > (I can hear Daniels’ voice as clearly as if he were in the room. _Love_ that movie.) One of the absolute classics. Daniels will be turning 92 at the end of March. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30176 "2019-01-31T02:19:30Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > One of the absolute classics. Daniels will be turning 92 at the end of March. Still haven’t seen **The President’s Analyst**. It must be good though, if James Coburn took the role instead of doing a third Derek Flint movie. I’ve always thought starring in a Derek Flint movie must have been the best gig in the history of Hollywood. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30177 "2019-01-31T02:32:28Z")
> [@Fugazi](#): > > From the link: “the president’s evangelical advisory committee” > > I just don’t have the words to express my outrage that such a committee even exists within the US Government. This is just so fucked up that I can’t believe it’s allowed to be. If you managed to throw out all the other stupid, illegal, immoral, and just plain evil shit that Trump has done, this alone should disqualify him from being President. > [@Broomstick](#): > > I suspect that committee has more to do with Mike Pence than Donald Trump. [Well, Sarah Sanders thinks God wanted Agent Orange to be president](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/427730-sarah-sanders-god-wanted-donald-trump-to-become-president). That at least explains why she seems willing to go down with the ship, and probably Pence too. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30178 "2019-01-31T02:37:54Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > The current book I’m reading (fiction) is an apocalyptic thriller centering on the dissolution of the US. Looks like new civil war in the book, it’s a 4 book series. > > I read another of the authors series about a Yellowstone eruption. I found it immature but entertaining. The science was pretty good. Told my Wife not to bother. > > I can plow through books, so I thought I would give him another try. > > Anyway, the author’s forward stated that he was trying to approach the current situation without any bias. It’s absolutely clear he is talking about the Trump Presidency (mentions Mar-a-Lago and other things). Ok. A bit surprised. > > Then the author puts the ‘Current President’ in front of reporters and the President makes an intelligent, well thought out, ad-hoc, off the cuff speech about current events. Hahahahah. No bias at all. I nearly dumped the book right there. But, after all, it is fiction. > [@silenus](#): > > Ah, yes. Good old **Zoological Impossibility**. He can crank out a good yarn when he tries. Pity he hasn’t tried in the last decade. Okay, I can’t figure it out from these clues. Are you guys talking about Harry Turtledove? ---
**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 31, 2019, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30179 "2019-01-31T02:41:37Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > the problem is, though, > > Refer to a book called _The Smartest Guys in the Room_. Individual-1 simply knows better than everyone else around him, so he goes right on ahead with, whatever. > > Even W. Bush, as much of a dolt and asshole as he was, had the good sense to talk within his circle and get reasonable advice before going out and blorting all over the place. That is a crucial element of “grace”. No-Drama-Obama lulled us into a sense of complacency with his incessant bearing and restraint. > > This guy, though, moves like a shitstorm raging through a linen store. And no one, not one of us, will be unsoiled after his time plays out. At the risk of being repetitive, any future textbooks that discuss the Dunning -Kruger effect are likely to include a picture of Donald J. Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30180 "2019-01-31T02:45:58Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > [Well, Sarah Sanders thinks God wanted Agent Orange to be president](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/427730-sarah-sanders-god-wanted-donald-trump-to-become-president). Steve Bannon is also in [the news](https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2019/01/29/steve-bannon-talks-doing-lords-work-revealing-doc/2716305002/) with his claim that he “was doing the Lord’s work” when he was part of the Trump administration. I guess it’s possible. Neither of them specifically said what god it was they were serving. ---
**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 31, 2019, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30181 "2019-01-31T02:52:37Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Steve Bannon is also in [the news](https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2019/01/29/steve-bannon-talks-doing-lords-work-revealing-doc/2716305002/) with his claim that he “was doing the Lord’s work” when he was part of the Trump administration. > > I guess it’s possible. Neither of them specifically said what god it was they were serving. Lord Voldemort? ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30182 "2019-01-31T02:53:40Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Steve Bannon is also in [the news](https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2019/01/29/steve-bannon-talks-doing-lords-work-revealing-doc/2716305002/) with his claim that he “was doing the Lord’s work” when he was part of the Trump administration. > > I guess it’s possible. Neither of them specifically said what god it was they were serving. Good point. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30183 "2019-01-31T04:17:54Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Okay, I can’t figure it out from these clues. Are you guys talking about Harry Turtledove? A hairy turtledove is a zoological impossibility. Birds have feathers, not hair. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30184 "2019-01-31T04:40:21Z")
[Schumer asks intel chiefs to educate Trump after ‘extraordinarily inappropriate’ criticism](https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/30/politics/schumer-coats-trump-criticism/index.html) > [@](#): > > Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called President Donald Trump’s criticism of US intelligence leaders’ security assessments a threat to the public’s trust in national security in a letter to Trump’s intelligence chiefs Wednesday. > > … > > The New York Democrat called for Coats, FBI Director Christopher Wray and CIA Director Gina Haspel to convincingly explain their findings to Trump in order to present a united front on intelligence matters. > > Schumer urged the three officials “to insist on an immediate meeting with the President to educate him about the facts and raw intelligence underlying the Intelligence Community assessments, and to impress upon him how critically important it is for him to join you and the leadership of our intelligence community in speaking with a unified and accurate voice about national security threats.” > > “He is putting you and your colleagues in an untenable position and hurting the national interest in the process,” Schumer added. Poor Chuck, doesn’t he realize that Trump has the best brain and words and went to the best school? Trump won’t listen to the intelligence chiefs when they’re wrong. Trump’s buddy Vlad has surely already pointed that out to him already how wrong they are and that’s apparently all Trump needs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1508) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1510)