# 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:** 1668
**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:** [June 5, 2019, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33345 "2019-06-05T11:13:44Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Does “our” refer to the US or Michigan? Sorry, “our” refers to the US. Re: Michigan, I forgot where I saw it but I think (IIRC) Michigan is 2nd only to Texas in terms of the percentage of imports it gets from Mexico. ---
**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:** [June 5, 2019, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33346 "2019-06-05T11:25:24Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > … > The weather changes both ways?? What the hell does that even MEAN? :smack: Trump believes that climate/weather/atmosphere are all the same thing. He’s attemptng to downplay the impact of climate change by saying: sure, sometimes the weather is bad, but it’s also good sometimes. God help me, 2 years in and I’m learning to speak Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33347 "2019-06-05T11:29:26Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > So, the POTUS goes for a state visit hosted by perhaps our closest ally, and the response is mockery and mass protests? Mmmm, I can almost taste the greatness. Mind you, bringing his extended clan on a state visit was in itself taking the piss. > [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > I have no idea which thread it goes in. The latest from POTUS on climate change, from an interview with Piers Morgan:: > > What a strange little man he is. I assume you mean Trump, but in future when referring to a conversation between Trump and Morgan, always be sure to indicate which odious lying asshole you are specifically referring to. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33348 "2019-06-05T11:35:29Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Sorry, “our” refers to the US. > > Re: Michigan, I forgot where I saw it but I think (IIRC) Michigan is 2nd only to Texas in terms of the percentage of imports it gets from Mexico. Lots of automotive components get made in Mexico, then get shipped to Michigan for assembly - that way things can be made more cheaply, but they can still say “Made in the USA”, or “Assembled in the USA” if they’re a little more honest. ---
**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 5, 2019, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33349 "2019-06-05T11:49:21Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Not that sweet. Liz just hates the ideas of having to miss any of her festive dog funerals. Now I’m thinking of [_Coraline_](https://youtu.be/7Oj8ssipPaI?t=48), specifically Spink and Forcible’s Scotties. ---
**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 5, 2019, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33350 "2019-06-05T12:05:56Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Mexico wouldn’t just hit Texas; they would hit other states, including Michigan. Currently, Mexico is our largest trading partner, moving ahead of China (thanks to tariffs). Arizona’s biggest trade partner certainly is, to the point where [both senators](https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/economy/2019/05/30/president-trump-mexico-tariffs-arizona-business-leaders-politicians-us-economy/1293525001/), one D and one R, have stated it’s a bad idea. At least some of the representatives as well, although my Google-fu is too weak to parse out how many or what their party affiliation is. Governor [del]Douchey[/del] Ducey (R) is all for it. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33351 "2019-06-05T12:16:37Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Great motorcade photo. Love to have heard his observations while driving down the basically empty streets. Surely something like this? > [@Trump](#): > > All those stories about protests in London? Fake News! ---
**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:** [June 5, 2019, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33352 "2019-06-05T12:18:19Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Arizona’s biggest trade partner certainly is, to the point where [both senators](https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/economy/2019/05/30/president-trump-mexico-tariffs-arizona-business-leaders-politicians-us-economy/1293525001/), one D and one R, have stated it’s a bad idea. At least some of the representatives as well, although my Google-fu is too weak to parse out how many or what their party affiliation is. > > **Governor [del]Douchey[/del] Ducey (R) is all for it.** Yep, and that’s a problem that Republicans have created for themselves. They have campaigned on anti-Hispanic racism. There will be many who will encourage the president to double down on his threats and some will be disappointed if he doesn’t go through with it. For some, racism is more important than economics. ---
**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 5, 2019, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33353 "2019-06-05T12:22:06Z")
A NYTimes reader’s comment on Pubbies’ resistance to Mexico tariffs. > [@](#): > > So: When Trump praises neo-Nazis we hear silence. > When Trump insults women, the disabled, Muslims and all and sundry we hear nothing. > When Trump lies, obstructs justice and self-deals we hear silence. > When Trump wants to limit voting rights, workers’ rights, minority rights and LGBTQ rights we hear silence. > When Trump seeks to destroy the environment we hear nothing. > When Trump fills Washington with the lowest of the low we hear silence. > When Trump wants to destroy the social safety net we hear silence. > When Trump condemns our allies and embraces our numerous enemies we hear silence. > But when he threatens their pocketbooks, the GOP speaks up. > This tells us more about the Republicans than it does about Trump, and it ain’t good. They are a despicable, hypocritical bunch. They need to go. Well said. ---
**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:** [June 5, 2019, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33354 "2019-06-05T12:27:29Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > A NYTimes reader’s comment on Pubbies’ resistance to Mexico tariffs. Well said. It’s not their pocketbook; the smarter republicans who have a few brain cells understand that people are tolerating Trump’s bullshit because the economy is growing. Trump’s policies are threatening that growth, and there are already some very clear warning signs right now indicating that the economy might contract later in the year. Even if the economy as a whole does not slow down, some critical parts of the economy that are a major part of their constituency - Rust Belt manufacturing and agriculture - are already beginning to feel the bite of tariffs. Some GOP Senators actually do get it: right-leaning independents who oppose impeachment now might feel differently about it if the economy nosedives. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33355 "2019-06-05T12:28:24Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Trump believes that climate/weather/atmosphere are all the same thing. He’s attemptng to downplay the impact of climate change by saying: sure, sometimes the weather is bad, but it’s also good sometimes. > God help me, 2 years in and I’m learning to speak Trump. I took it to mean Trump also thinks global cooling will occur. We need to get ready for the next ice age–then those fossil fuels will come in handy. MAGA!!! [‘He gets to decide’: President escalates his fight against climate science](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/he-gets-to-decide-trump-escalates-his-fight-against-climate-science-ahead-of-2020/2019/02/28/6e12dbbc-3aa3-11e9-a2cd-307b06d0257b_story.html?utm_term=.da2984c6aa39) > [@](#): > > From the earliest days of his administration, President Trump has been at war with his own government over climate change. > > He upbraided his first economic adviser by telling him that he didn’t care that American executives backed the Paris climate agreement because “my voters don’t live on Park Avenue.” _He has told aides that he thinks the Earth’s climate will begin cooling again, so there is no need to act forcefully before then._ > > … > > Trump sees the climate debate as a war of political messaging, according to several current and former administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk frankly. Convinced that the scientific literature on climate change is funded and directed by liberals, he has said on repeated occasions that he expects the climate to change back to colder average temperatures.\* It amounts to an endorsement of the “global cooling” forecast some researchers made in the 1970s.\* [my italics] The man is an idiot. Unfortunately, to quote Neil deGrasse Tyson: “The good thing about science is that it’s true whether or not you believe in it.” ---
**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 5, 2019, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33356 "2019-06-05T13:49:23Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > It’s the 'good people on both sides" bullshit rewrapped for another situation. The dumbfuck knows just a little about greenhouse gas. Just enough to think of the atmosphere. And when discussing climate change, he talks about the atmosphere. Because like his supporters, he is a fucking clown. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > The weather changes both ways?? What the hell does that even MEAN? :smack: > [@bobot](#): > > Trump believes that climate/weather/atmosphere are all the same thing. He’s attemptng to downplay the impact of climate change by saying: sure, sometimes the weather is bad, but it’s also good sometimes. > God help me, 2 years in and I’m learning to speak Trump. You were closer the first time. It’s a rhetorical device con men use to gain advantage. It makes them appear sympathetic to BOTH sides and potentially gets someone to “open up” about something, since they think they are talking to a kindred spirit. Con men never take a position on anything until they know the mark’s position. ETA: It also helps that you don’t have to actually know anything about anything to say that there are “good arguments for both perspectives” or some such. ---
**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 5, 2019, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33357 "2019-06-05T13:53:40Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Trump believes that climate/weather/atmosphere are all the same thing. But our climate it [_clean!_](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/05/donald-trump-tells-prince-charles-us-is-clean-on-climate-change) ---
**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:** [June 5, 2019, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33358 "2019-06-05T13:57:58Z")
From that link: “I did say, ‘Well, the United States right now has among the cleanest climates there are based on all statistics.’ And it’s even getting better because I agree with that we want the best water, the cleanest water. It’s crystal clean, has to be crystal clean clear.” Motherfucker. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33359 "2019-06-05T14:57:56Z")
Remember a joke from years ago, heard in Arizona. Bad news, good news. Bad news, next year we drink sewer water. Good news, there’s not enough to go around. ---
**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 5, 2019, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33360 "2019-06-05T15:11:18Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > It’s not their pocketbook; the smarter republicans who have a few brain cells understand that people are tolerating Trump’s bullshit because the economy is growing. Trump’s policies are threatening that growth, and there are already some very clear warning signs right now indicating that the economy might contract later in the year. Even if the economy as a whole does not slow down, some critical parts of the economy that are a major part of their constituency - Rust Belt manufacturing and agriculture - are already beginning to feel the bite of tariffs. > > Some GOP Senators actually do get it: right-leaning independents who oppose impeachment now might feel differently about it if the economy nosedives. Here’s some news: [Companies add fewest jobs in 9 years in May](https://apnews.com/cd74d06a482a4f8ab55541bc1e401c93) > [@](#): > > U.S. companies added the fewest jobs in nine years, a private survey found, as manufacturers, construction firms and mining companies cut workers. > > Payroll processor ADP said Wednesday that businesses added just 27,000 jobs in May, the fewest since March 2010. Jobs in construction fell 36,000 and in manufacturing by 3,000. > > The figures come just after ADP reported strong hiring in April, when companies added 271,000 jobs, the most in nine months. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, which helps compile the data, said the broader hiring trend is probably closer to the average of the two month’s gains, at around 150,000. > > That is down from last year’s average monthly gains of about 225,000. > > “The economy’s growth rate has slowed sharply from last year,” Zandi said. “That is now starting to show up in the job market.” > [@](#): > > Growth could slow to as low as 1.5% at an annual rate in the April-June quarter, down from a nearly 3% pace last year. A weaker global economy and fading stimulus from the Trump administration’s tax cuts is dragging on the U.S. economy. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33361 "2019-06-05T15:37:32Z")
And the Treasury yield curve is inverted. > **[Interest Rate Statistics](https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financing-the-government/interest-rate-statistics?data=yieldYear&year=2019)** > > NOTICE: See Developer Notice on changes to the XML data feeds. Daily Treasury PAR Yield Curve Rates This par yield curve, which relates the par yield on a security to its time to maturity, is based on the closing market bid prices on the most... ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33362 "2019-06-05T15:55:22Z")
I heard a rate cut is coming. How will that affect things? ---
**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 5, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33363 "2019-06-05T16:37:47Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Remember a joke from years ago, heard in Arizona. > > Bad news, good news. Bad news, next year we drink sewer water. Good news, there’s not enough to go around. Or sardonically: The good news is that we can drink sewer water. The bad news is that there’s not enough to go around. ---
**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 5, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33364 "2019-06-05T16:39:38Z")
**’luci** ’s is way funnier eh [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1667) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1669)