# 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:** 1649
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2019, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32965 "2019-05-27T19:50:46Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > You’re full of shit. I don’t post unreferenced comments, I post links to news stories. So you can go away now. You post links to past history-it is like getting your news from the newspapers found in the bottom of old drawers. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2019, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32966 "2019-05-27T20:01:46Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > The sad thing is that there is a non-zero possibility that he did bring it up, even without Twitter egging him on. He mentioned it once. I think he got away with it. ---
**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:** [May 27, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32967 "2019-05-27T20:22:58Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > He mentioned it once. I think he got away with it. When _everyone_ recognizes you as an utter baffoon, you can “get away with” all manner of your ridiculous bubboonery and everyone will just shake their heads, saying it is just derigger. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32968 "2019-05-27T21:05:09Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > (…) I don’t post unreferenced comments, I post links to news stories. (…) Is this a whoosh where you are ironically emulating the subject of this thread? (doubling down, insulting, adding BS to bolster the BS) If so; well played. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2019, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32969 "2019-05-27T21:06:00Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > He mentioned it once. I think he got away with it. Basil? ---
**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 27, 2019, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32970 "2019-05-27T21:25:19Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Basil? Speaking of whom, today there was this interchange on Twitter: > [@](#): > > John Cleese‏Verified account @JohnCleese 55m55 minutes ago > **The Fairmont Macdonald hotel in Edmonton has a concierge desk. But no concierge. She’s out of town today. Probably back Wednesday, the solitary lady at Reception guesses N American hotels are chronically understaffed. Having enough staff for guests is slightly less profitable** > 136 replies53 retweets532 likes > > Danny Doyle‏ @Danny\_T\_Doyle 40m40 minutes ago > Replying to @69L46 @JohnCleese > **You know you’ve hit rock bottom in the hotel industry when Basil Fawlty is advising you on how to better your service…** > 1 reply5 retweets84 likes Apologies for the derail, but it was a nice moment. (My bolding.) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2019, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32971 "2019-05-27T21:39:52Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > > [@QuickSilver](#): > > > > He mentioned it once. I think he got away with it. > > When _everyone_ recognizes you as an utter baffoon, you can “get away with” all manner of your ridiculous bubboonery and everyone will just shake their heads, saying it is just derigger. The other thing, aside from Trump’s buffoonery, is how susceptible he is to flattery and everyone in the world knows it. So on his current trip to Japan, the Japanese PM invited him to a “basho”, which is apparently one of six annual grand sumo tournaments, and the trophy for the winner was Trump-themed. And today, Trump will meet Naruhito, the new Japanese emperor, and he’s the first foreign leader to meet him. Later there will be a big banquet. Perhaps if any other American president were visiting, they would also have the honor of being the first foreign leader to meet the new emperor, but there wouldn’t be the naked flattery. ---
**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 27, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32972 "2019-05-27T21:41:02Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Some amusing twittery going on. Memorial Day '16, CFSG [wondered whether Obama](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-obama-pearl-harbor-tweet_n_5ceb5c4ce4b0512156f45e86) ever discusses the Pearl Harbor attack while meeting with Japanese leaders. Since he is in Japan this Memorial Day weekend, others have wondered the same about the guy who brought up the subject 3 years ago. I still believe that Bush was ill at the Japanese Prime Minister’s dinner because some of Bush’s crew, captured by the Japanese, were eaten. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2019, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32973 "2019-05-27T23:18:02Z")
[Adam Kinziger](https://twitter.com/RepKinzinger/status/1132647552082485249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1132647552082485249&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffpost.com%2Fentry%2Fadam-kinzinger-donald-trump_n_5ceb708ae4b00356fc2460e8) makes the second very recent Republican congressman to take a strong stance against Trump. I consider this extremely important. There are many soft Republicans who will ignore any criticism from Democrats, no matter how warranted. The exact same criticism coming from a Republican cannot so easily be brushed off. And two different guys is much more powerful than one lone critic. ---
**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:** [May 27, 2019, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32974 "2019-05-27T23:19:22Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I still believe that Bush was ill at the Japanese Prime Minister’s dinner because some of Bush’s crew, captured by the Japanese, were eaten. On little clumps of rice wrapped with kelp? ---
**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:** [May 27, 2019, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32975 "2019-05-27T23:42:01Z")
> [@drfidelius](#): > > basil? “don’t mention the war!” ---
**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:** [May 27, 2019, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32976 "2019-05-27T23:45:58Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > The sad thing is that there is a non-zero possibility that he did bring it up, even without Twitter egging him on. Trump: “HEY, what about PEARL HARBOR?” Abe: “Qu’est-ce que c’est?” ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32977 "2019-05-28T09:56:48Z")
The cult of Trump has infected our professional military. > [@](#): > > Airmen onboard the USS WASP wearing patches on their jumpsuits that read “Make Aircrew Great Again.” The patches include an image in the center in the likeness of President Trump. [https://twitter.com/vmsalama/status/1133203283227529217/photo/1](https://t.co/rQKAyrcDte) ---
**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:** [May 28, 2019, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32978 "2019-05-28T10:35:26Z")
Well yeah, this so-clled president is the first to let them have a “happy” Memorial Day! Onboard the appropriately named USS WASP: “I have to wish you all a very happy Memorial Day,” Trump said. “On this Memorial Day evening in the United States, Americans are concluding a sacred day of remembrance, reflection and prayer.” Before appearing on the USS Wasp, Trump and first lady Melania Trump visited a Japanese destroyer, the J.S. Kaga, docked nearby. Standing alongside Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump delivered the same “happy Memorial Day” message to the Japanese forces." > **[Trump wishes troops 'happy Memorial Day' as he heads home from Japan](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-wish-troops-happy-memorial-day-he-heads-home-japan-n1010631)** > > The president wraps up his trip to Japan with a visit to U.S. troops he dubbed as "daring and mighty warriors in the Pacific.” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32979 "2019-05-28T11:57:22Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > The cult of Trump has infected our professional military. > > [https://twitter.com/vmsalama/status/1133203283227529217/photo/1](https://t.co/rQKAyrcDte) That is against the rules, without a doubt. ---
**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 28, 2019, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32980 "2019-05-28T12:20:44Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > The cult of Trump has infected our professional military. > > [https://twitter.com/vmsalama/status/1133203283227529217/photo/1](https://t.co/rQKAyrcDte) > [@Czarcasm](#): > > That is against the rules, without a doubt. “Who ya gonna call?” ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32981 "2019-05-28T12:57:05Z")
Rank-busters, I would think. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32982 "2019-05-28T13:23:26Z")
Lynne Patton, the imminently qualified (sarcasm emoji) regional leader of HUD in the New York area, states that she may be violating the Hatch Act and [she just doesn’t care](https://www.newsweek.com/trump-hud-official-lynne-patton-says-doesnt-care-broke-law-1436816). ---
**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 28, 2019, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32983 "2019-05-28T13:52:55Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Lynne Patton, the imminently qualified (sarcasm emoji) regional leader of HUD in the New York area, states that she may be violating the Hatch Act and [she just doesn’t care](https://www.newsweek.com/trump-hud-official-lynne-patton-says-doesnt-care-broke-law-1436816). I saw this story yesterday. :smack: It’s worth quoting a couple of lines: > [@](#): > > …“Just retweeted this amazing tweet from both of my Twitter accounts–professional and personal. It may be a Hatch Act violation. It may not be. Either way, I honestly don’t care anymore,” Patton wrote. “These people are determined to try to ruin and discredit a good man.” > > Responding to criticism for posting the comments, she tweeted on Sunday: “What part about ‘I don’t give a [s\*\*t]’ don’t you understand?” > … Good soldier, following her Fuehrer’s example. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32984 "2019-05-28T14:17:37Z")
> **[Remember when Trump said he'd revoked Brennan's security clearance?](https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/remember-when-trump-said-hed-revoked-brennans-security-clearance-msna1235606)** > > Last summer, the White House announced the revocation of former CIA Director John Brennan's security clearance. It now appears that never actually happened. > [@](#): > > **Remember when Trump said he’d revoked Brennan’s security clearance?** > > Last summer, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters that Donald Trump was considering a bold move. As the president’s chief spokesperson acknowledged at the time, Trump was considering revoking the security clearances of former intelligence officials who’ve criticized him, raising the specter, as NBC News put it, of a president “using his office to lash out at his political enemies.” > > The next day, then-House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) shrugged off the White House rhetoric. Referring to the president, Ryan told reporters, “I think he’s trolling people, honestly.” > > Team Trump seemed to prove otherwise: it soon after announced the revocation of former CIA Director John Brennan’s clearance for accessing classified information. The motivation wasn’t subtle – the president was retaliating against a critic, while sending a signal to other potential detractors – and it drew swift condemnations from a variety of circles. > > Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman at the time, described Trump’s move as “a banana republic kind of thing.” > > … > Nearly a year later, the New York Times reported over the holiday weekend on the president’s antagonism toward his own country’s intelligence community. The article noted: > > _The White House said a month later that the president was ordering the revocation of Mr. Brennan’s clearance. But the White House never followed through with the complex bureaucratic work it would have taken to strip the clearance, according to a person familiar with the process._ > > Oh. So in this case, it was “a banana republic kind of thing” in a country where the authoritarian leaders are kind of lazy. Between this and what Bob Woodward reported in his book **Fear** about Trump’s short attention span, and tendency to forget things not placed on his desk, it appears that Trump strongly resembles the Red Queen from _Alice in Wonderland_[, screaming “Traitor!” instead of “Off with their Heads!” and then not following through, either because it would be boring, or he forgot, or he considered it below his dignity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1648) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1650)