# 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:** 1659
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33165 "2019-06-01T23:28:41Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I’ve been expecting that since the Inauguration. The only thing holding Trump back from demanding full control over all government-generated statistics, I would guess, is that some GOP business magnates have made known their own need for actually-accurate numbers (in order to make decisions). If Trump’s major enablers have said ‘don’t monkey with the numbers,’ he’d refrain from meddling. > > But if the pressure intensifies enough, Trump will push hard to make sure that any and all statistics are fictionalized to make him look good. (Only journalists—and whistle-blowers willing to take the risk of talking to them—can let us know if that’s happening, I’d suspect.) I’m reminded how during the campaign Trump would often claim the economic stats were fake…unemployment was really like 35% under Obama. Now, those same stats are real if Trump thinks they make him look good: “Bestest economy in the history of history!!!” And now, if the economy turns a downturn, Trump will be the one ordering up fake stats. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2019, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33166 "2019-06-02T00:29:25Z")
I asked Pedro Nicolaci de Costa, former economic reporter for Business Insider, now head of Communications for the Economic Policy Institute if he had any inkling the mumbers were being cooked and he said “none whatsoever, but it’s a fair question”: > In regards to the unemployment figures and what Individual-1 has to say about them, I found the following chart useful: > **[John Thornton on LinkedIn: The Liar in Chief, graphed:](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6540338753070776320)** > > The Liar in Chief, graphed: ---
**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:** [June 2, 2019, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33167 "2019-06-02T02:58:40Z")
[Off the wall interview](https://twitter.com/theJeremyVine/status/1134509543612911617) with corrupt televangelist, who previously laid hands on and prayed for Trump at Trump Tower [during his campaign](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ18exdhR6I). ---
**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:** [June 2, 2019, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33168 "2019-06-02T05:42:53Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP5Xv7QqXiM) Warren Zevon, Lawyers, Guns and Money- How was I to know, she was with the Russians too? I’m hiding in Honduras, I’m a desperate man. My dream for Trump. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2019, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33169 "2019-06-02T06:56:35Z")
By the way, if’n anyone noticed, Billy Graham’s devilspawn has called for there to be a national day of [prayer for the Cheeto-Faced Ferret-Wearing ShitGibbon](https://twitter.com/franklin_graham/status/1132754733305745408?s=21) today (Sunday). ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33170 "2019-06-02T11:53:49Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > By the way, if’n anyone noticed, Billy Graham’s devilspawn has called for there to be a national day of [prayer for the Cheeto-Faced Ferret-Wearing ShitGibbon](https://twitter.com/franklin_graham/status/1132754733305745408?s=21) today (Sunday). Oh, rest assured I am praying for Trump. I just have to assume it isn’t in the way Graham is hoping. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2019, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33171 "2019-06-02T15:10:28Z")
Can’t remember who, but for a while somebody’s sig was something like, _WWJD? Well, I’m picturing throwing my enemies into a lake of fire, but I hope that’s not what they have in mind._ ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33172 "2019-06-02T15:51:09Z")
I’m not sure that this fits the thread, exactly, but I thought it should be noted: [Pentagon tells White House to stop politicizing military](https://apnews.com/3dba0b327e8e45e5b9589db4bb735505) > [@](#): > > The Pentagon has told the White House to stop politicizing the military, amid a furor over a Trump administration order to have the Navy ship named for the late U.S. Sen. John McCain hidden from view during President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Japan. > > A U.S. defense official said Patrick Shanahan, Trump’s acting defense chief, is also considering sending out formal guidance to military units in order to avoid similar problems in the future. > > Shanahan confirmed details about a Navy email that said the White House military office wanted the USS John McCain kept “out of sight” when Trump was in Japan about a week ago. The internal Navy email came to light last week, triggering a storm of outrage. > > Trump, who long feuded with McCain, has said he knew nothing about the request, but added that “somebody did it because they thought I didn’t like him, OK? And they were well-meaning, I will say.” > > Shanahan told reporters traveling with him to South Korea on Sunday that he is not planning to seek an investigation by the Pentagon’s internal watchdog into the matter “because there was nothing carried out” by the Navy. He added that he still needs to gather more information about exactly what happened and what service members did. “Nothing carried out by the Navy”? What the fuck have we all been hearing about for the past few days then? :dubious: ---
**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:** [June 2, 2019, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33173 "2019-06-02T16:17:47Z")
Mick “Shithead” Mulvaney: “This is all perfectly fine, perfectly normal.” > **[Mick Mulvaney: 'Not Unreasonable' To Ask Navy To Move John McCain Warship](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mick-mulvaney-trump-john-mccain_n_5cf3dd08e4b0a1997b6bf82b)** > > The acting White House chief of staff said it would be "silly" to fire someone for trying to protect Trump's feelings. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2019, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33174 "2019-06-02T17:47:48Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > By the way, if’n anyone noticed, Billy Graham’s devilspawn has called for there to be a national day of [prayer for the Cheeto-Faced Ferret-Wearing ShitGibbon](https://twitter.com/franklin_graham/status/1132754733305745408?s=21) today (Sunday). May he soon collect the eternal reward he has earned. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33175 "2019-06-02T17:56:12Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Mick “Shithead” Mulvaney: “This is all perfectly fine, perfectly normal.” > > [Mick Mulvaney: 'Not Unreasonable' To Ask Navy To Move John McCain Warship | HuffPost Latest News](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mick-mulvaney-trump-john-mccain_n_5cf3dd08e4b0a1997b6bf82b) From the link: > [@](#): > > Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said it was “not unreasonable” for a White House staffer to ask the U.S. Navy to move the USS John S. McCain warship so President Donald Trump wouldn’t have to see it during his visit to a naval base in Japan. One of the military talking heads on cable was saying it’s not a trivial thing to move the ship on the fly like that. Schedules need to be readjusted, tugs are involved, the ship needs to be prepped,… It’s not like being on your sailboat/powerboat in the harbor and you pull up anchor and motor over someplace else nearby and drop it again. But then again, look at the level of expertise and competence of the people who work in the White House and this doesn’t seem that surprising. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33176 "2019-06-02T18:08:09Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > But then again, look at the level of expertise and competence of the people who work in the White House and this doesn’t seem that surprising. Related to this: [Help Wanted: Trump administration riddled with vacancies](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/help-wanted-trump-administration-riddled-vacancies-n983036) _The president has yet to nominate people for nearly 140 top-level positions, which experts say is hampering his long-term goals._ March 28, 2019 > [@](#): > > An online tracker by The Washington Post the Partnership for Public Service shows that 282 of just over 700 key executive branch jobs — presidential nominations that require Senate approval — are vacant. Of those positions, 127 people have been formally nominated and are awaiting confirmation, and 14 others have been announced but not yet formally nominated. I’m confused. Why aren’t the best people lining up to work for the greatest President in our history (except for possibly Lincoln)? ---
**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:** [June 2, 2019, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33177 "2019-06-02T18:18:41Z")
Individual 1 says he never called Meghan Markle “nasty”. The video clearly shows him calling her nasty. > **[Trump denies calling Meghan 'nasty' despite audio recording](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48491602)** > > The quote was made up by the "Fake News Media", he tweets - despite a recording of the interview. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2019, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33178 "2019-06-02T18:20:58Z")
Well, we made it to Page 666. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33179 "2019-06-02T18:37:19Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Individual 1 says he never called Meghan Markle “nasty”. The video clearly shows him calling her nasty. > [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48491602](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48491602) I listened to the audio. Little Donnie Fail-Fail clearly said, ‘What can I say? I didn’t know that she was nasty.’ His sheep will listen to their Messiah’s words, in his own voice, and conclude he never said them. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33180 "2019-06-02T18:58:36Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Well, we made it to Page 666. End Times for America. Inquiring minds want to know: Is Donald Trump the Anti-Christ or just a going-senile criminal idiot? ---
**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:** [June 2, 2019, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33181 "2019-06-02T19:36:10Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > End Times for America. Inquiring minds want to know: Is Donald Trump the Anti-Christ or just a going-senile criminal idiot? Both. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33182 "2019-06-02T19:36:59Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > From the link: > > One of the military talking heads on cable was saying it’s not a trivial thing to move the ship on the fly like that. Schedules need to be readjusted, tugs are involved, the ship needs to be prepped,… > > It’s not like being on your sailboat/powerboat in the harbor and you pull up anchor and motor over someplace else nearby and drop it again. But then again, look at the level of expertise and competence of the people who work in the White House and this doesn’t seem that surprising. The real issue here is that someone in the White House is acting outside of the military chain of command. That person should be fired immediately. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33183 "2019-06-02T19:38:24Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > By the way, if’n anyone noticed, Billy Graham’s devilspawn has called for there to be a national day of [prayer for the Cheeto-Faced Ferret-Wearing ShitGibbon](https://twitter.com/franklin_graham/status/1132754733305745408?s=21) today (Sunday). and Trump went golfing… ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33184 "2019-06-02T19:47:31Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > The real issue here is that someone in the White House is acting outside of the military chain of command. That person should be fired immediately. Can we fire Jared Kushner for acting outside the State Department? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1658) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1660)