# 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:** 1533
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30645 "2019-02-16T21:54:48Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Not if his acting Secretary of Defense asks the acting Secretary of the Interior to transfer the requisite land in Big Bend National Park. > > Then the Military can build at will with no pesky eminent domain lawsuits… Should have said that this scheme would not provide a complete wall, but enough to say “See, I built a big beautiful wall!”. ---
**Author:** ![Grim\_Render](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@Grim\_Render](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grim_Render)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30646 "2019-02-16T21:57:51Z")
It is really easy to get nominated for the Peace Prize. I think Trump has been before. I doubt the PM of Japan would though. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30647 "2019-02-16T22:05:59Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Maybe. I’m trying to temper my reaction, and so this kind of speculation does not help. I have long suspected that it is domestic billionaires causing shenanigans with our government. Russians having sway over Trump I can entertain- there’s an investigation, everybody is going to jail for lying about Russia connections, I think it was Manafort whose communication with Wiki leaks was revealed… but McConnell and pretty much all GOP congresspeople? It is a hell of a conspiracy theory when all we have to go on is douchey behavior on the part of GOPers, hardly a new or surprising thing. > > Is there any more reason to be this suspicious? I see the GOP as a set of fanatical factions- one crazy for ending abortion, one psycho that they are coming to take our guns, one looney because of anti-liberal agitprop, and one willing to harm everyone else if we get tax cuts for the rich. They team up and we get callous asshole government. Do we need to add the Russians to explain it? Are there any hints that the (or some other) Russia investigation includes GOP Congress critters? I’ll termper my reaction as well. Will not include the “men’s room attendant at the White House.” Helluva conspiracy theory. But maybe, just maybe, McConnell is involved. But I would not split the GOP into 4 groups, I would put the first three into one group, the anti-tax cut people into another. They overlap with the others, but there is an argument from reasonable people that we should not increase taxes on the rich. The argument is wrong IMHO, but it is not the argument of a fanatical MAGA hat wearing moron. But in today’s Republican party, you can’t be in the 4th group without being in the first three. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30648 "2019-02-16T22:08:42Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Maybe. I’m trying to temper my reaction, and so this kind of speculation does not help. I have long suspected that it is domestic billionaires causing shenanigans with our government. Russians having sway over Trump I can entertain- there’s an investigation, everybody is going to jail for lying about Russia connections, I think it was Manafort whose communication with Wiki leaks was revealed… but McConnell and pretty much all GOP congresspeople? It is a hell of a conspiracy theory when all we have to go on is douchey behavior on the part of GOPers, hardly a new or surprising thing. > > Is there any more reason to be this suspicious? I see the GOP as a set of fanatical factions- one crazy for ending abortion, one psycho that they are coming to take our guns, one looney because of anti-liberal agitprop, and one willing to harm everyone else if we get tax cuts for the rich. They team up and we get callous asshole government. Do we need to add the Russians to explain it? Are there any hints that the (or some other) Russia investigation includes GOP Congress critters? Pure speculation based on assholeness, of course. And you are right, it may not be russians, it may be American Oligarchs who have blackmail on McConnell. I obviously do not agree that this is good for the country, but that is something that the parties can disagree on without paranoia. However, I don’t see how this is good for his party, or any of its actual goals, either. When someone acts in a way that makes no sense, you tend to wonder and speculate as to what is making them act that way. There are other possibilities; he could see the writing on the wall, know that they will lose majorities in 2020 and not get them back for the foreseeable future, and want to [del]do as much damage to the country[/del] implement as much of the republican agenda as he can. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30649 "2019-02-16T22:09:35Z")
[Feds seize port’s largest cocaine shipment in 25 years](https://abc13.com/feds-seize-ports-largest-cocaine-shipment-in-25-years/5141730/) > [@](#): > > Federal authorities seized two massive shipments of cocaine at the same California port of entry in late January. The total for the two shipments was 221 pounds – the largest at that port in 25 years, according to officials. > > The busts, which were announced on Friday, were both found aboard ships at Port Hueneme in Ventura County, about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles, coming from Central and South America. The first shipment, which was 204.2 pounds, was seized on Jan. 22 on a cargo ship from Ecuador. > > Six days later, the same authorities found a seven-bundle, 17.5-pound shipment of cocaine on a ship from Guatemala. > > Both deliveries were concealed beneath the floorboards of the ships. Yeah, that fucking wall would have stopped this cold. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30650 "2019-02-16T22:27:31Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > The best thing about this “border crisis” is, Trump actually has the gall or stupidity says he didn’t need to do it. Which means it is NOT an emergency. And then goes on vacation again. > > _ **“I want to do it faster. I could do the wall over a longer period of time. I didn’t need to do this, but I’d rather do it much faster…. I just want to get it done faster, that’s all.”** _ > > Trump effectively admitted that he sees this as a matter of convenience: the American policymaking process would take time, and he’d “rather do it much faster.” > > There is no emergency. This is an unconstitutional power grab. The reason he said that was because he and probably his moron base believes that he could have somehow forced congress to give him the money. Big tough guy that he is. He doesn’t want anyone to believe that he couldn’t do it with out this stupid emergency. And once again, since he was allowed to speak, he stepped in his own shit again. He’s a really, really bad con man. This is evident from all his fucked up deals. “I could have robbed the 7-11 with my shear masculine prowess and deal making abilities but used a gun because it’s faster” He’s a fucking moron. We all know that. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30651 "2019-02-16T22:29:54Z")
> [@Ann Coulter](#): > > The only national emergency is our President is an idiot…he is attempting to fool the stupidest part of his base Two people I can’t stand trash talking each other. HA! I’m cooking popcorn here. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30652 "2019-02-16T22:32:56Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Two people I can’t stand trash talking each other. HA! I’m cooking popcorn here. Perhaps they are trying to distance themselves from the traitor. I’ll never forget them. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2019, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30653 "2019-02-16T22:38:39Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > I am seeing some alarming comments to the effect that this is a classic Caesar move- declare emergency, destroy separation of powers, do away with that pesky legislative approval process, end up in a permanent state of emergency known as martial law. > > I’m not sure how to look at this in a more positive way. McConnell seems to be participating in putting an end to the separation of powers. The whole GOP is just nodding along, playing dumb while the structure of our government is eroded. > > **I’ve only written a few lines, and I sound like a raving loony.** Hopefully the courts will stop this, not just to prevent the construction of a dotarded wall, but to prevent the precedent. OTOH, it is too late to prevent all the consequences of this shit show. Harrumph. I hope the end game here is not to address global warming by destroying democracy, then proceeding to kill everybody. You don’t sound like a raving loony. You sound like someone who is paying attention. Don’t be too sure that many Republicans are not involved via Russian money. Remember, the [Russians targeted the NRA as one of their favored channels through which to illegally funnel funds](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/russian-agents-guilty-plea-intensifies-spotlight-on-relationship-with-nra/2018/12/13/e6569a00-fe26-11e8-862a-b6a6f3ce8199_story.html?utm_term=.341fe08f528c). (WaPo) Some of this loot ended up in McConnell’s personal PAC, which was then distributed to his favored Republican candidates. Once all the financial strings are untangled, a lot of Republicans may have been elected with Russian money. I wouldn’t rest my faith in the court at the top of the food chain. Republicans made their move when they stymied Merrick Garland’s nomination (without much fuss from the voters, sadly) and then managed to get their 2 lackeys onto the SCOTUS. After Bush v. Gore and Citizens United, I’m no longer sure if they would balk at _anything_ that undermines the foundational traditions and norms of our democratic republic. I will say this: Top Republicans are acting like they no longer need to be concerned over being held accountable by the citizenry. It worries me a lot. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2019, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30654 "2019-02-16T23:13:10Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > (I’m thinking of a new game for _Thread Games_. If you know who said something, you post the answer and then post another quote. I’ll put an example here.) > _ **“The only national emergency is that our President is an idiot.”** _ > > Who said it? > > Ann Coulter She also said, “the goal of a national emergency is for Trump to scam the stupidest people in his base for 2 more years.” > **[Ann Coulter Goes Rogue On Trump After National Emergency Declaration](https://uproxx.com/viral/ann-counter-trump-national-emergency/)** > > When he’s lost Ann Coulter, you know things are grim. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2019, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30655 "2019-02-16T23:16:11Z")
Mike Pence made a speech at an international security conference in Munich where he started out by saying, “I bring greetings from the 45th president of the United States of America, President Donald Trump” He stood there expecting applause, and got nothing. > **[PAINFUL: Pence Mentioned Greetings From Trump At A Speech In Munich And Got...](https://crooksandliars.com/2019/02/painful-pence-mentioned-greetings-trump?utm_source=social&utm_medium=facebook&utm_content=10617)** > > Usually, when you mention a President's name in a speech, especially when conveying a message of some sort, you get a round of applause. Not this time. Whoops. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30656 "2019-02-16T23:23:02Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Mike Pence made a speech at an international security conference in Munich where he started out by saying, “I bring greetings from the 45th president of the United States of America, President Donald Trump” > He stood there expecting applause, and got nothing. > [PAINFUL: Pence Mentioned Greetings From Trump At A Speech In Munich And Got ZERO Applause | Crooks and Liars](https://crooksandliars.com/2019/02/painful-pence-mentioned-greetings-trump?utm_source=social&utm_medium=facebook&utm_content=10617) Maybe he should have brought something that was less controversial and repulsive, like dysentery. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2019, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30657 "2019-02-17T00:34:42Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Mike Pence made a speech at an international security conference in Munich where he started out by saying, “I bring greetings from the 45th president of the United States of America, President Donald Trump” > He stood there expecting applause, and got nothing. > [PAINFUL: Pence Mentioned Greetings From Trump At A Speech In Munich And Got ZERO Applause | Crooks and Liars](https://crooksandliars.com/2019/02/painful-pence-mentioned-greetings-trump?utm_source=social&utm_medium=facebook&utm_content=10617) > [@k9bfriender](#): > > Maybe he should have brought something that was less controversial and repulsive, like dysentery. A box of scorpions? Dog poop? A canister of methane gas? I’m thinking about that video of maggots devouring a pizza… He could have brought the maggots AND the pizza… ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2019, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30658 "2019-02-17T00:41:09Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > You don’t sound like a raving loony. You sound like someone who is paying attention. > > Don’t be too sure that many Republicans are not involved via Russian money. Remember, the [Russians targeted the NRA as one of their favored channels through which to illegally funnel funds](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/russian-agents-guilty-plea-intensifies-spotlight-on-relationship-with-nra/2018/12/13/e6569a00-fe26-11e8-862a-b6a6f3ce8199_story.html?utm_term=.341fe08f528c). (WaPo) Some of this loot ended up in McConnell’s personal PAC, which was then distributed to his favored Republican candidates. Once all the financial strings are untangled, a lot of Republicans may have been elected with Russian money. > > I wouldn’t rest my faith in the court at the top of the food chain. Republicans made their move when they stymied Merrick Garland’s nomination (without much fuss from the voters, sadly) and then managed to get their 2 lackeys onto the SCOTUS. After Bush v. Gore and Citizens United, I’m no longer sure if they would balk at _anything_ that undermines the foundational traditions and norms of our democratic republic. > > I will say this: Top Republicans are acting like they no longer need to be concerned over being held accountable by the citizenry. It worries me a lot. I forgot about the NRA bit. I haven’t followed that story too much, and your article is behind a pay wall, but even so, I may be in denial. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2019, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30659 "2019-02-17T00:48:44Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > I forgot about the NRA bit. I haven’t followed that story too much, and your article is behind a pay wall, but even so, I may be in denial. From the article: > [@](#): > > Butina’s case exposed how Russia saw the NRA as a key pathway to influencing American politics to the Kremlin’s benefit. And it has intensified questions about what the gun rights group knew of the Russian effort to shape U.S. policy and whether it faces ongoing legal scrutiny. > > ⁞ > > NRA spending on the 2016 elections surged in every category, with its political action committee and political nonprofit arm together shelling out $54.4 million. The bulk of the money — $30 million — went to efforts supporting Trump. That is triple the amount the group devoted to electing Republican Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential race. In that same article, Putin is quoted as saying that neither he nor any of his intelligence services have ever heard of her. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2019, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30660 "2019-02-17T00:58:51Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Mike Pence made a speech at an international security conference in Munich where he started out by saying, “I bring greetings from the 45th president of the United States of America, President Donald Trump” > He stood there expecting applause, and got nothing. > [PAINFUL: Pence Mentioned Greetings From Trump At A Speech In Munich And Got ZERO Applause | Crooks and Liars](https://crooksandliars.com/2019/02/painful-pence-mentioned-greetings-trump?utm_source=social&utm_medium=facebook&utm_content=10617) Boy, those guys NEED an audience of red hatted morons. Anything else, it just doesn’t work. (That video is worth a watch. Nice and short.) ---
**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:** [February 17, 2019, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30661 "2019-02-17T00:59:10Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Mike Pence made a speech at an international security conference in Munich where he started out by saying, “I bring greetings from the 45th president of the United States of America, President Donald Trump” > He stood there expecting applause, and got nothing. > [PAINFUL: Pence Mentioned Greetings From Trump At A Speech In Munich And Got ZERO Applause | Crooks and Liars](https://crooksandliars.com/2019/02/painful-pence-mentioned-greetings-trump?utm_source=social&utm_medium=facebook&utm_content=10617) This makes me wonder about Pence’s IQ. A person of average intelligence would know that the Munich audience members weren’t likely to be either fans of Trump, or interested in ingratiating themselves with Trump (or Pence). A person of average intelligence would, therefore, refrain from waiting for applause. Sure, Pence may have genuinely convinced himself that Trump is God’s Hand at Work—but again, even a delusional theist of average intelligence would know that the Munich audience was highly unlikely to share that view. So what’s left is that Pence is probably a delusional theist of sub-average intelligence. Not a news flash, I guess. But interesting to have it confirmed. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2019, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30662 "2019-02-17T01:10:25Z")
It looks like our system is a bit like a cardboard box. Everything is fine until it gets wet. Once it gets wet, especially if the mold get a foothold, it will never be the same again. (I think we do not want to think about what that liquid soaking our box is) ---
**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:** [February 17, 2019, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30663 "2019-02-17T01:11:18Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > A box of scorpions? > Dog poop? > A canister of methane gas? > I’m thinking about that video of maggots devouring a pizza… **He could have brought the maggots** AND the pizza… He works with the maggots every day. Doesn’t seem to mind. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2019, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/30664 "2019-02-17T01:15:34Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > This makes me wonder about Pence’s IQ. > > A person of average intelligence would know that the Munich audience members weren’t likely to be either fans of Trump, or interested in ingratiating themselves with Trump (or Pence). A person of average intelligence would, therefore, refrain from waiting for applause. > > Sure, Pence may have genuinely convinced himself that Trump is God’s Hand at Work—but again, even a delusional theist of average intelligence would know that the Munich audience was highly unlikely to share that view. > > So what’s left is that Pence is probably a delusional theist of sub-average intelligence. > > Not a news flash, I guess. But interesting to have it confirmed. Or, the intent is specific to be able to show the base how much the other world leaders are disrespecting Trump, and therefore, the presidency, and therefore, the US. We see it, and it strengthens our conviction on the incompetence of the trump admin, but the MAGAts see it, and it strengthens their conviction in America First! policies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1532) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1534)