# 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:** 1670
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33385 "2019-06-06T02:58:27Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [You might appreciate this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JOpPNra4bw); it’s a 2 minute sketch from _That Mitchell and Webb_ Look, a brilliant comedy program from a decade or so ago. > > After you watch it:[spoiler]Okay, now think about the Oakland Raiders, the No Fear logo, the Terminator, biker-type t-shirts, Ed Hardy shirts… lots and lots of skulls in current popular American culture. > > Now ask yourself the question: are we the baddies? How do you think we look to the rest of the world?[/spoiler] That’s a great sketch. I was just watching it again the other night. I’ve long known we were the baddies to a lot of the world. Now, we’re the baddies to pretty much everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33386 "2019-06-06T04:34:38Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [You might appreciate this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JOpPNra4bw); it’s a 2 minute sketch from _That Mitchell and Webb_ Look, a brilliant comedy program from a decade or so ago. > > After you watch it: By that standard, I can tell you where Armageddon will begin. Sweden. They love skulls as decoration so much they’re even worn as part of brides’ dresses, used to decorate baguette handbags (those tiny ones which are barely good enough to hold a hotel keycard, a keychain would make the handbag look pregnant), formal footwear… it’s like _el día de los muertos_ but with more black, more death metal and year-round. ---
**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 6, 2019, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33387 "2019-06-06T11:07:26Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > I wonder how those Trump supporters who claim their need to force women to bear children against their will is based on concern for children’s well-being feel about this. I expect they’re fine with it but I’m always willing to be surprised. I’ve already seen the spin. It is - and I am neither kidding nor exaggerating - “Democrats want to give free tuition to illegals”, often paired with some claim about how Democrats hate veterans. No it doesn’t make sense, but that’s the norm now. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33388 "2019-06-06T11:49:55Z")
Only the best people. See Trump rationalize: [Trump admits his Cabinet had ‘some clinkers’](https://news.yahoo.com/trump-admits-his-cabinet-had-some-clinkers-090000216.html) > [@](#): > > They were the best people, the finest in the land, tasked with returning the nation to greatness. Only some of them had fallen by the wayside. They had not known it was improper to secretly communicate with Russian diplomats during the presidential transition (national security adviser Michael Flynn, 24 days in the Trump administration); they had not figured that good-government types might get to asking questions about $25,000 flights between Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia (Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, 231 days). > > Yet even as the total number of inquiries and investigations into his Cabinet approached 50, Trump retained unwavering — or at least apparently unwavering — confidence in the men and women he said, during the presidential campaign, would be far superior to the public servants who came before them. > > That much was clear when I spoke to Trump in February in the Oval Office. > > A sheet of paper lay on a strikingly barren Resolute desk, which Trump appeared to use only for ceremonial occasions. With some weariness — the dinner hour was drawing close, dusk settling over the South Lawn — he picked up the sheet and began reading. > > Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: “has been fantastic.” > > Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao: “has been great.” > > Labor Secretary Alex Acosta: “has been great.” > > Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson: “has done a very good job.” > > Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar: “fantastic.” > > Energy Secretary Rick Perry: “has been great.” > > Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue: “he’s been great.” > > Attorney General William Barr: “will be … really outstanding.” > > White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney: “People are liking him a lot. I think he’s doing a good job. I’m very happy with him.” > > … > > “There are those that say we have one of the finest Cabinets,” Trump claimed. That is not a commonly held view. In fact, it is difficult to think of anyone even halfway credible — Republican or Democrat — who has said anything approaching that. Even some of Trump’s most ardent supporters have expressed dismay at the people he has hired, which is why it fell to Fox News primetime anchor Laura Ingraham to push Trump to fire Scott Pruitt, the impressively corrupt administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. > > … > > Trump contradicted this [more than 100 key administration positions that remained unfilled], unsurprisingly, because it did not fit his radiant vision of his own administration, however warped that vision was. “I have 10 people for every job,” he added. “The hard part is choosing, because I have great people.” > > Trump did allow that there been “some clinkers,” by which he presumably meant people like EPA administrator Pruitt and HHS head Price, both of whom left the administration in disgrace, as did several other of their colleagues. “The finest Cabinet” I guess that settles that. Although, this was interesting: > [@](#): > > And he had little respect for Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who had only gotten the job because she was connected and rich. I’ve always wondered how much Erik Prince was involved in that. [Prince was trying to establish back-channels to Russia.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/blackwater-founder-held-secret-seychelles-meeting-to-establish-trump-putin-back-channel/2017/04/03/95908a08-1648-11e7-ada0-1489b735b3a3_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.e4a2509ae22d) Was “Oh, by the way, my sister gets to be Education Secretary.” part of the deal? ---
**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 6, 2019, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33389 "2019-06-06T11:54:19Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > That would be satisfying in a way. But on the other hand, we’re all better than he is. No question. And no one wants to give that up by descending into rudeness. You’re right, of course. \*\< **ThelmaLou** slaps her own hand\> \* A girl can fantasize though… ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33390 "2019-06-06T12:17:29Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > “The finest Cabinet” [Sign](https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/womens-march-on-washington-london-new-york-paris-signs-world/3/) which has also appeared in protests during the current visit (the linked sample is from 2 years ago). ---
**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 6, 2019, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33391 "2019-06-06T20:07:58Z")
Leave your jaw at the door, please. Shitgibbon visits Ireland, [shows his keen grasp](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/06/trump-ireland-visit-controversy-hard-border-wall-brexit-varadkar-nailed-it.html) of international affairs and issues and stuff. - “[COLOR=“DarkOrange”] **I think it will all work out very well, and also for you with your wall, your border** ,” he said at a joint press conference.\*[/COLOR] Build a wall between Ireland! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33392 "2019-06-06T20:50:31Z")
No, just between NI and RoI. It will definitely work out very well and is quite a novel approach that no one has thought of before. ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33393 "2019-06-06T21:16:35Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > By that standard, I can tell you where Armageddon will begin. > > Sweden. They love skulls as decoration so much they’re even worn as part of brides’ dresses, used to decorate baguette handbags (those tiny ones which are barely good enough to hold a hotel keycard, a keychain would make the handbag look pregnant), formal footwear… it’s like _el día de los muertos_ but with more black, more death metal and year-round. As someone who grew up in Sweden: … _What!?_ ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33394 "2019-06-06T22:48:05Z")
As regards the Mexico tariffs, I feel like the odds are pretty good that Mexico will simply decide to say, “Fuck it”, and tank everything. To offer a simile, we might China like a competing salesman. The US decided that they’d rather just raise their price on their customers, hoping that will cover their expenses while they take more time off to stay home and masturbate to porn. And so China just swoops in and steals all of those customers. They don’t give a fuck. Sure, they’re also one of the people to have gotten stiffed by the US, and that hurts for a while, but long term it’s all gravy. But the relationship between the US is more like a husband and wife. Hubby has turned abusive and the wife has been trying to work with him to get him to calm down and stop drinking so much. But she doesn’t really have anywhere that she can go. Either she has to take the abuse or…not. There is some chance that Mexico will simply cave and do as its told. And a very good chance that the Senate will override the Emergency Declaration (if it comes out). But we’re probably pretty close to Mexico just cutting off everything - making it illegal to ship anything over the border or allow any person through. If that happens, I guess say goodbye to toothpaste, beer, cars, and everything else: > **[10 popular products in the US you didn't know were made in Mexico](https://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/30/10-popular-products-in-the-us-you-didnt-know-were-made-in-mexico.html)** > > The proposed tariffs on Mexican imports will impact US consumers. Here are some coveted products you may not know are made in Mexico. ---
**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 6, 2019, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33395 "2019-06-06T23:13:47Z")
Woman in England delivers a strange and confusing message as she [stabs a baby-shitgibbon balloon](https://youtu.be/CFhbv7VEFGY) with a pair of scissors and rants about how he is the greatest american president ever. Medics treated her bleeding hand. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2019, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33396 "2019-06-06T23:34:44Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > But the relationship between the US is more like a husband and wife. Hubby has turned abusive and the wife has been trying to work with him to get him to calm down and stop drinking so much. But she doesn’t really have anywhere that she can go. Either she has to take the abuse or…not. …and she’s going through his briefcase looking for technical information to steal. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2019, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33397 "2019-06-06T23:38:35Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Woman in England delivers a strange and confusing message as she [stabs a baby-shitgibbon balloon](https://youtu.be/CFhbv7VEFGY) with a pair of scissors and rants about how he is the greatest american president ever. Medics treated her bleeding hand. I didn’t think the British said “fucking” in public. It’s not English. It’s Simply Not Done. ---
**Author:** ![slumtrimpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@slumtrimpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slumtrimpet)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33398 "2019-06-06T23:50:07Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I didn’t think the British said “fucking” in public. It’s not English. It’s Simply Not Done. Seriously? “Aw fuckin’ 'ell” is practically the national motto. ---
**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 6, 2019, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33399 "2019-06-06T23:57:30Z")
The Brits say “fucking” on broadcast television. They are not prudes like those stick-up-the-ass Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33400 "2019-06-07T00:00:17Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > …and she’s going through his briefcase looking for technical information to steal. That’s China (and, probably, Russia given the history of the KGB). I’m not sure that Mexico is thinking in terms of boning up their technological capabilities. Their business is to provide cheap land and workforce to the US. And, granted, I don’t know much about Obrador - his policies do seem to be fairly reasonable and forward looking - but I haven’t heard anything about Mexican theft of technology and it seems like a more significant shift than seems likely. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33401 "2019-06-07T00:36:29Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > As regards the Mexico tariffs, I feel like the odds are pretty good that Mexico will simply decide to say, “Fuck it”, and tank everything. > > To offer a simile, we might China like a competing salesman. The US decided that they’d rather just raise their price on their customers, hoping that will cover their expenses while they take more time off to stay home and masturbate to porn. And so China just swoops in and steals all of those customers. They don’t give a fuck. Sure, they’re also one of the people to have gotten stiffed by the US, and that hurts for a while, but long term it’s all gravy. > > But the relationship between the US is more like a husband and wife. Hubby has turned abusive and the wife has been trying to work with him to get him to calm down and stop drinking so much. But she doesn’t really have anywhere that she can go. Either she has to take the abuse or…not. > > There is some chance that Mexico will simply cave and do as its told. And a very good chance that the Senate will override the Emergency Declaration (if it comes out). But we’re probably pretty close to Mexico just cutting off everything - making it illegal to ship anything over the border or allow any person through. > > If that happens, I guess say goodbye to toothpaste, beer, cars, and everything else: > > [https://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/30/10-popular-products-in-the-us-you-didnt-know-were-made-in-mexico.html](https://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/30/10-popular-products-in-the-us-you-didnt-know-were-made-in-mexico.html) That would be a great response. “Fuck you. China is very interested in trading with us.” It would of course hurt, but might, just might get the attention of Trump supporters and make sure he is soundly defeated. It would be unfortunate that it takes a neighbor to tell you that your yard stinks of dog shit. Mexico could gain all the damage that Trump is doing to them by putting a $50 dollar entry tax to any American that flies into the country. Few that can afford a beach vacation in Mexico, and has it all planned out, will not pay it. OR! Make great incentives for Americans to vacation in Mexico and spend their money. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2019, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33402 "2019-06-07T01:11:47Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Leave your jaw at the door, please. Shitgibbon visits Ireland, [shows his keen grasp](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/06/trump-ireland-visit-controversy-hard-border-wall-brexit-varadkar-nailed-it.html) of international affairs and issues and stuff. > > - “[COLOR=“DarkOrange”] **I think it will all work out very well, and also for you with your wall, your border** ,” he said at a joint press conference.\*[/COLOR] > > Build a wall between Ireland! Someone said “Seawall” and Dummy the Don thought they said “See? Wall!” ---
**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 7, 2019, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33403 "2019-06-07T05:17:20Z")
In other news > [@](#): > > President Trump landed in Virginia today and appeared at a press conference with Gov. Ralph Northam. “I think we’re gonna have a beautiful wall, and I think you could also have a beautiful wall between Virginia and West Virginia,” Trump said. Northam just rolled his eyes and declined to comment. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33404 "2019-06-07T06:01:42Z")
> [@Steken](#): > > As someone who grew up in Sweden: > > … _What!?_ When’s the last time you were there? For me it was 4 years ago (for 15 months), and there were Día de los Muertos-inspired notebooks, coloring books, jewelry… Skulls both “Euro-style” and “Mex-style” decorated dresses, blouses, skirts, shoes. And yes, bridal and bridal-party dresses. > [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I’m not sure that Mexico is thinking in terms of boning up their technological capabilities. Their business is to provide cheap land and workforce to the US. And one of their biggest complaints about the relationship is precisely that many US companies treat them banana-republic style: Mexicans get hired as peons, shift-leader on up are American. Even if your engineering degree is from an American university, if you’re Mexican you’re not good enough. (#notallUScompanies) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1669) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1671)