# 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:** 1590
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31785 "2019-04-09T13:53:10Z")
On CNN yesterday, Bill Kristol - conservative Trump-hater - pointed out that Trump went to the border and told border guards to not let anyone in…ie, he directly ordered government employees to break the law. Kristol opined that that’s kind of impeachable. ---
**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:** [April 9, 2019, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31786 "2019-04-09T14:24:38Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > My guess is that Trump’s started to realize how much his Secret Service detail is seeing. He probably called Alles in for a discussion of what agents would say if put on a witness stand. And Alles wasn’t willing to help in an obstruction of justice conspiracy. I wonder if some agents refused access to the Whitehouse for some golden-shower hookers… ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31787 "2019-04-09T14:40:32Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > On CNN yesterday, Bill Kristol - conservative Trump-hater - pointed out that Trump went to the border and told border guards to not let anyone in…ie, he directly ordered government employees to break the law. Kristol opined that that’s kind of impeachable. Pity that a majority of the Senate is kind of lodged in the president’s colon. ---
**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:** [April 9, 2019, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31788 "2019-04-09T15:18:45Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Kris Kobach? Seriously?? Trump is _still_ trying to find a way to put that clown on the payroll? > [@aurora\_maire](#): > > I caught a few minutes of him on Fox while I was news-channel surfing earlier. Now I know why he was pontificating on how HE would run things - he was auditioning. Here in Kansas, there have been several articles regarding who the Republicans will nominate for Senate next year, as incumbent Pat Roberts is (finally) retiring. Kobach’s name keeps popping up, but the state GOP leaders have made it clear that they do NOT want him in the race, as he just proved that he cannot win a statewide race…against a woman, no less. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31789 "2019-04-09T15:34:02Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think they’re also getting to the point of worrying about the vital third question: “Can I stay out of prison?” Would that they were worried about us peasants with pitchforks. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31790 "2019-04-09T15:38:20Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Rachel Maddow: [Trump accuses _himself_ of bankrolling terrorism.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr1SFn6rNqo) The relevant part is between 4:00 and 5:00 but the whole show is worth watching… Already been taken down. Do you remember the money quote (at least enough to paraphrase it)? ---
**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:** [April 9, 2019, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31791 "2019-04-09T16:15:44Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Already been taken down. Do you remember the money quote (at least enough to paraphrase it)? A few years ago, Trump was involved in the construction of a hotel (never completed) in Baku, Azerbaijan, that was financed in part by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. > **[Donald Trump’s Worst Deal](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/13/donald-trumps-worst-deal)** > > The President helped build a hotel in Azerbaijan that appears to be a corrupt operation engineered by oligarchs tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. ---
**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:** [April 9, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31792 "2019-04-09T16:28:49Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Already been taken down. Do you remember the money quote (at least enough to paraphrase it)? As of this moment, it is [the first thing here](https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show). The premise is that the WH has designated the government of Iran as a terrorist organization (a designation that has never before been applied to a national government, and kind of looks like a form of projection), and ShitGibbon has business ties to people involved with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, so he has supported terrorism by his own definition, which makes him a terrorist. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31793 "2019-04-09T16:32:39Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Already been taken down. Do you remember the money quote (at least enough to paraphrase it)? > **[Donald Trump’s Worst Deal](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/13/donald-trumps-worst-deal)** > > The President helped build a hotel in Azerbaijan that appears to be a corrupt operation engineered by oligarchs tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. this was the article to which ms maddow refered. the building is linked to iran’s revolutionary guard. ---
**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:** [April 9, 2019, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31794 "2019-04-09T16:58:04Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Already been taken down. Do you remember the money quote (at least enough to paraphrase it)? Here’s something of a money quote, from the _New Yorker_ article: > [@](#): > > American companies must insure that they are not receiving funds that originated with any sanctioned entity. Ignorance is not a defense, especially if there is ample warning that a foreign partner could have a link to such an entity. Most firms, upon hearing of even a slight chance of Iranian involvement, conduct due diligence that is much more extensive than what is typical for F.C.P.A. compliance. Erich Ferrari, an attorney who specializes in sanctions-related legal cases, said that before the Trump Organization cashed any checks it should have been certain of “the source of the funds”—“not only the bank it was remitted from but how the Mammadovs actually earned the money they paid.” He said of the Baku deal, “It takes a lot to shock a lawyer, but I’ve had very few clients do so little due diligence.” Sounds a lot like Trump’s way of doing business, eh?. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31795 "2019-04-09T17:53:49Z")
So they’re holding a congressional hearing on white nationalism. Youtube had to shut down the comments because there were so many nazis in it. This should not be considered surprising. Far more interesting: they invited Candace “the problem with Hitler is that he didn’t stay in Germany” Owens to testify. This is what qualifies as an expert on the right these days. A nazi apologist. What the fuck?! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31796 "2019-04-09T18:08:56Z")
So, Trump snookered the terrorists into investing their terrorism money into a bullshit project. He helped steal money from our enemies! Problem? I think this sort of thing lends credence to such things as Eric Prince’s notion of a openly mercenary defense force. I mean, remember when Poppy Bush lead a military adventure that turned a profit? Visionary minds see the future of capitalism. Bright colors, like, red. Or maybe green, with spatters and spots of red. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31797 "2019-04-09T18:50:05Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Believe me, there is no lack of boot-licking toadies who would gladly round up their fellow citizens and put them behind barbed wire. Seriously. > > People need to stop thinking that what is happening right now is normal. It is not. [The USA has the highest incarceration rate in the world](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_incarceration_rate#Incarceration_rates), [its incarceration is highly racialized](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarceration_in_the_United_States#Ethnicity), and its death by cop rate is the fifth highest in the word and by far the highest of any first world country. That is not normal, but it has become normalized in the USA, in part by Trump and the people who support him, which is horrifying. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31798 "2019-04-09T19:08:00Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > [The USA has the highest incarceration rate in the world](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_incarceration_rate#Incarceration_rates), [its incarceration is highly racialized](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarceration_in_the_United_States#Ethnicity), and its death by cop rate is the fifth highest in the word and by far the highest of any first world country. > > That is not normal, but it has become normalized in the USA, in part by Trump and the people who support him, which is horrifying. It’s been normalized for decades. iDJiT and his dupes have cranked it up to celebration. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31799 "2019-04-10T02:02:50Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > On CNN yesterday, Bill Kristol - conservative Trump-hater - pointed out that Trump went to the border and told border guards to not let anyone in…ie, he directly ordered government employees to break the law. Kristol opined that that’s kind of impeachable. It’s the very definition of impeachable, isn’t it? Refusal to carry out the duties of the office of president of the United States should not be anything other than an immediate impeachment. No discussion, no reminder of what is and isn’t in his job description. A quick run to the impeachment option. > [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > So they’re holding a congressional hearing on white nationalism. > > Youtube had to shut down the comments because there were so many nazis in it. This should not be considered surprising. Far more interesting: they invited Candace “the problem with Hitler is that he didn’t stay in Germany” Owens to testify. > > This is what qualifies as an expert on the right these days. A nazi apologist. What the fuck?! Of course this is what qualifies as an expert on the right. The leader, arguably, of the right is the highest Republican in government, the president, and he’s a freaking Nazi apologist (“There are fine people on both sides”). > [@HelenGawn](#): > > It’s been normalized for decades. iDJiT and his dupes have cranked it up to celebration. [Cajun Man voice]Celebration, motivation, aspiration, inspiration, normalization.[/CMV] ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31800 "2019-04-10T02:40:03Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > So they’re holding a congressional hearing on white nationalism. > > Youtube had to shut down the comments because there were so many nazis in it. This should not be considered surprising. Far more interesting: they invited Candace “the problem with Hitler is that he didn’t stay in Germany” Owens to testify. > > This is what qualifies as an expert on the right these days. A nazi apologist. What the fuck?! I’ve already seen MAGA memes on Facebook about how badly Owens schooled the liberul Congresscritters. I’ve haven’t seen any of it myself, but I’m willing to bet that’s not really accurate. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31801 "2019-04-10T03:14:36Z")
The DHS purge continues: [Acting No. 2 at Homeland Security latest to leave department](https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/09/politics/acting-deputy-secretary-dhs-resignation/index.html) > [@](#): > > The acting deputy secretary of Homeland Security is leaving the department, the latest top-ranking DHS official to exit. > > Claire Grady’s imminent resignation, announced Tuesday night by outgoing Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, paves the way for President Donald Trump’s pick of Kevin McAleenan to lead DHS in an acting capacity. Following Nielsen’s forced resignation Sunday night, Grady was statutorily next in line to become acting secretary. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31802 "2019-04-10T03:21:13Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > The DHS purge continues: > > [Acting No. 2 at Homeland Security latest to leave department](https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/09/politics/acting-deputy-secretary-dhs-resignation/index.html) Twenty-eight years of public service - but not enough to work for Stephen “Wormtongue” Miller… ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31803 "2019-04-10T03:50:26Z")
This is not a hijack, but I need to ask… I’ve been on the outs with an old friend for the past few years because he had betrayed my trust and I just don’t want to get into the details. But aside from that, I have discovered that he is quite the Trump supporter, even going so far as to say that Trump is doing God’s work. I didn’t feel like I could keep silent about something that offends me to the very core of my soul, so I said something about it. I said that if Trump was doing God’s work, then that God must be a really stupid, cruel asshole. Either that, or he had bought into the evangelicals and their hypocracy and their willingness to excuse or ignore anything Trump does as long as he carries out their bidding politically. I added that if he was okay with Trump, he must also be okay with racism, bigotry, cruelty, and so forth. Boy, was he butt hurt and angry about that. He said it’s just Petty politics and stupid things that don’t matter and that I had hurt him to his core. Was I wrong to say what I said? ---
**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:** [April 10, 2019, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/31804 "2019-04-10T03:56:40Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > \ > > Was I wrong to say what I said? No. the truth hurts. It’s his problem, not yours. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1589) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1591)