# 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:** 1634
**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:** [May 20, 2019, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32665 "2019-05-20T23:06:36Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > It will be appealed immediately to the DC Appeals Court - whose Chief Judge is Merrick Garland. Ooooo… _\_ ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32666 "2019-05-20T23:08:54Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Well, looks like we have [Judge Ahmit Mehta](https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/20/politics/mazars-trump-records/index.html) says he “has told the accounting firm Mazars it will need to turn over Donald Trump’s accounting records from before he was President to the Democratic-controlled House Oversight Committee.” I have a very unfair judge (Obama’s pick) working with the 18 Angry Democrats to throw the election and trying to stop MAGA 2020. Dems don’t care about the REAL COLLUSION!!! Aw fuck it, I’m not smapti ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32667 "2019-05-20T23:45:13Z")
On a more serious note, I think the consequence of this ruling will be more pressure from Trump’s personally trained rottweiler, I mean, Attorney General. I smell something fishy about Barr’s connections with Russia and something tells me he’s just as deep in the Russian quicksand as Trump and Kushner. I think Trump is going to start using the DoJ to start going after his enemies. It’ll be interesting to see whether people in the FBI and federal prosecutors’ offices carry out his orders or refuse and get fired/resign. It’s coming to that. Will also be interested to see if Don McGahn complies with the House requests for testimony, and what the DoJ does if he does. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32668 "2019-05-21T00:15:27Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Ooooo… _\_ Probably a stay by an Appeals judge by midnight… ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32669 "2019-05-21T00:17:55Z")
Kris Kobach made some completely reasonable and not at all completely insane demands to grace the job of immigration czar with his presence: 1. Office in the West Wing. 2. Walk-in privileges with the president. 3. Assistant to the President rank - at highest pay level for WH senior staff. 4. Staff of 7 people (2 attorneys, 2 research analysts, 1 scheduler, 1 media person, 1 assistant). 5. POTUS sits down individually with Czar and the secretaries of Homeland Security, Defense, Justice, Ag, Interior, and Commerce, and tells each of the Secretaries to follow the directives of the Czar without delay, subject to appeal to the President in cases of disagreement. 6. 24/7 access to either a DHS or DOD jet. Czar must be on the border every week. 7. Ability to spend weekends in KS with family on way from border back to DC, unless POTUS needs Czar elsewhere. 8. Security detail if deemed necessary after security review. 9. Serve as the face of Trump immigration policy - the principal spokesman on television and in the media. 10. Promise that by November 1, 2019, the president will nominate Kris Kobach to be DHS Secretary, unless Kobach wishes to continue in Czar position. > **[A Would-Be Trump Aide’s Demands: A Jet on Call, a Future Cabinet Post and...](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/20/us/politics/kris-kobach-trump.html)** > > Those are among 10 conditions that Kris Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state, has given the White House if he is to become the administration’s “immigration czar.” ---
**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:** [May 21, 2019, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32670 "2019-05-21T00:30:35Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > On a more serious note, I think the consequence of this ruling will be more pressure from Trump’s personally trained rottweiler, I mean, Attorney General. I smell something fishy about Barr’s connections with Russia and something tells me he’s just as deep in the Russian quicksand as Trump and Kushner. I think Trump is going to start using the DoJ to start going after his enemies. It’ll be interesting to see whether people in the FBI and federal prosecutors’ offices carry out his orders or refuse and get fired/resign. It’s coming to that. > > Will also be interested to see if Don McGahn complies with the House requests for testimony, and what the DoJ does if he does. Many have called on House Democrats to order U.S. Marshals to bring McGahn in, should McGahn refuse to comply with the subpoena requesting his testimony. But of course Barr is in charge of the U.S. Marshal Service. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32671 "2019-05-21T00:33:22Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Kris Kobach made some completely reasonable and not at all completely insane demands to grace the job of immigration czar with his presence: > > 1. Office in the West Wing. > 2. Walk-in privileges with the president. > 3. Assistant to the President rank - at highest pay level for WH senior staff. > 4. Staff of 7 people (2 attorneys, 2 research analysts, 1 scheduler, 1 media person, 1 assistant). > 5. POTUS sits down individually with Czar and the secretaries of Homeland Security, Defense, Justice, Ag, Interior, and Commerce, and tells each of the Secretaries to follow the directives of the Czar without delay, subject to appeal to the President in cases of disagreement. > 6. 24/7 access to either a DHS or DOD jet. Czar must be on the border every week. > 7. Ability to spend weekends in KS with family on way from border back to DC, unless POTUS needs Czar elsewhere. > 8. Security detail if deemed necessary after security review. > 9. Serve as the face of Trump immigration policy - the principal spokesman on television and in the media. > 10. Promise that by November 1, 2019, the president will nominate Kris Kobach to be DHS Secretary, unless Kobach wishes to continue in Czar position. > > [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/20/us/politics/kris-kobach-trump.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/20/us/politics/kris-kobach-trump.html) Yeah, a ‘Czar’ who is not Senate confirmed gets to tell Cabinet Secretaries what to do… ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32672 "2019-05-21T00:50:41Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I have a very unfair judge (Obama’s pick) working with the 18 Angry Democrats to throw the election and trying to stop MAGA 2020. Dems don’t care about the REAL COLLUSION!!! > > Aw fuck it, I’m not smapti “Wo, Dems will stop at nothing for a do-over of the very conflicted Mueller witch hoax, which proved conclusively that there is no O! Now they have an Obama judge making bad rulings against Trump. Mitch and Senate Republicans must fix!” ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32673 "2019-05-21T01:31:18Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > “Wo, Dems will stop at nothing for a do-over of the very conflicted Mueller witch hoax, which proved conclusively that there is no O! Now they have an Obama judge making bad rulings against Trump. Mitch and Senate Republicans must fix!” \ ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32674 "2019-05-21T02:58:31Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Probably a stay by an Appeals judge by midnight… Nope. I missed that both parties agreed to a 7 day stay to follow Mehta’s ruling. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32675 "2019-05-21T03:33:02Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > In this case, I have a feeling “dr” means “duck & run.” nah - ‘distract with rants’ ---
**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:** [May 21, 2019, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32676 "2019-05-21T14:18:03Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > 18 angry Democrats now? Last year it was only 13. > [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia. > > “13 Angry Democrats” sounded a bit too much like Jesus and his twelve disciples. He’ll probably settle on [57](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jI3BYCAGfs). ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32677 "2019-05-21T16:32:54Z")
As _Vox_ puts it, we now have a new rally cry v2.0: “Lock them up!” [Trump’s troubling response to “lock them up!” chants during his Pennsylvania rally](https://www.vox.com/2019/5/21/18633879/trump-montoursville-pennsylvania-rally-lock-them-up-bill-barr) _The chants were disturbing. Trump’s response to them was even worse._ > [@](#): > > With special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation mostly in the rearview mirror and William Barr installed as the protective attorney general Trump hoped Jeff Sessions would be, the president went on the attack during his speech Monday evening in Montoursville, Pennsylvania, reviving his baseless treason accusations against the FBI and Democrats. > > “We caught ’em — they were spying,” Trump said, referring to the counterintelligence investigation of his campaign that began in 2016 and followed normal procedures. “They were spying on our campaign. I’ll tell you what — if that ever happened to the other side, this thing would’ve been over two years ago, and you know, it would have been treason. They would’ve called it treason. And that’s what it is — it was treason. And it should never be allowed to happen to another president again. Ever, ever, ever.” > > Trump’s accusation is transparently meritless, but that’s beside the point. Heading into his 2020 reelection campaign, Trump — with help from Barr — is trying to establish a narrative that the entire investigation into his campaign’s contacts with Russia stemmed from anti-Trump bias in the law enforcement and intelligence communities, not his campaign’s secretive contacts with people in the Kremlin’s orbit. Trump wants to portray himself as a victim and Obama-era officials as bad actors who had it out for him from the beginning. Donald Trump, always the victim for some reason(s). Can’t imagine what those reasons could be… Obviously, this is a man with nothing to hide. And if you go looking for that nothing, you’re committing treason. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32678 "2019-05-21T17:10:30Z")
A number of Democrat committee members are now calling for an impeachment inquiry to begin, including: Rep. Jackie Speier, House Intel Committee Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Committee Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Committee on Oversight and Reform Rep. Jamie Raskin, Judiciary and Oversight Committees Rep. David Cicilline, House Judiciary Committee ---
**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:** [May 21, 2019, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32679 "2019-05-21T17:20:52Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > A number of Democrat committee members are now calling for an impeachment inquiry to begin, including: > > Rep. Jackie Speier, House Intel Committee > Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Committee > Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Committee on Oversight and Reform > Rep. Jamie Raskin, Judiciary and Oversight Committees > Rep. David Cicilline, House Judiciary Committee Why? The Republicans won’t vote to convict if he is impeached. He will declare victory from the highest. ---
**Author:** ![slumtrimpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@slumtrimpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slumtrimpet)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32680 "2019-05-21T17:32:11Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Why? The Republicans won’t vote to convict if he is impeached. > He will declare victory from the highest. Fine. Make them own it. - He’s been impeached by the house and here’s why. Now you guys explain why he shouldn’t be - ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32681 "2019-05-21T17:39:20Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Why? The Republicans won’t vote to convict if he is impeached. If the Senate vote were today, no. But remember that it took months of hearings, and then the “smoking gun” tape, for the tide to turn against Nixon. If the electoral tide turns (more strongly) against Trump too, the party will do the expedient thing, as always. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32682 "2019-05-21T17:42:05Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Why? The Republicans won’t vote to convict if he is impeached. > He will declare victory from the highest. An impeachment inquiry would [strengthen Congress’ hand](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/10/democrats-impeachment-trump-1315838) when trying to get access to sensitive documents and testimony, as they can point to them being needed for an ongoing legal matter. The White House is stonewalling on all oversight investigation, so things are at an impasse and Congress cannot perform their constitutional oversight role. An impeachment inquiry would be the logical next step. There’s also the fact that the contents of the Mueller report provides the grounds for impeachment of Trump, and many think that not impeaching would set a bad precedent for the future of the United States and its presidents. Just because the Republican Party is institutionally corrupt, and will acquit Trump in the Senate, doesn’t mean the Democrats shouldn’t do the right thing. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32683 "2019-05-21T17:46:06Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > As _Vox_ puts it, we now have a new rally cry v2.0: “Lock them up!” > > [Trump’s troubling response to “lock them up!” chants during his Pennsylvania rally](https://www.vox.com/2019/5/21/18633879/trump-montoursville-pennsylvania-rally-lock-them-up-bill-barr) > > _The chants were disturbing. Trump’s response to them was even worse._ Combined with his plans to pardon accused war criminals, this is particularly disturbing. He and his sycophantic fans think he’s the fount of justice, that the law is whatever he wills it to be, like a pre-Enlightenment monarch.:eek: [Flash of brilliance]Trump is Henry VIII! Mood swings becoming policy! Sparing or condemning people around him at will! Expecting utter loyalty but giving none in return! Being overweight and eating unhealthily but pretending he’s healthy as a horse. He hasn’t beheaded any wives yet, though. :p[/FoB] ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32684 "2019-05-21T17:59:33Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Why? The Republicans won’t vote to convict if he is impeached. > He will declare victory from the highest. So? When does honor require the consent of the dishonorable? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1633) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1635)