# 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:** 1684
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2019, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33665 "2019-06-18T17:19:27Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Under the law, it doesn’t matter if the request was made to satisfy some Congresscritter’s idle curiosity about whether or not the Dotard writes the numeral “7” with a little slash through the middle. Sorta. AfaIct, Congress must have a legislative purpose. By default Congress determines what is or is not a legitimate legislative purpose. The Courts have ruled that a legitimate legislative purpose is something on which “legislation could be had”. The Courts also ruled that they will default to giving Congress the benefit of the doubt whenever possible. So, the net effect is very similar to what you posted — perhaps indistinguishable. ---
**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 18, 2019, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33666 "2019-06-18T17:22:42Z")
Patrick Shanahan, the Boeing bigwig who took his support of Trump to the Max, has decided to withdraw his nomination for SecDef. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2019, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33667 "2019-06-18T17:49:42Z")
Trump is pushing for a new (and so far unapproved, at least for the VA) drug for veterans suffering from depression. > **[The controversial ketamine-like drug that Trump is pushing on veterans](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/17/spravato-ketamine-like-drug-that-experts-doubt-and-trump-is-pushing-on-veterans)** > > The president has touted the drug’s benefits and offered to help a senior VA official negotiate the purchase of the drug Totally fucking nuts. Inappropriate and potentially harmful as hell. ---
**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 18, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33668 "2019-06-18T17:55:59Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Trump is pushing for a new (and so far unapproved, at least for the VA) drug for veterans suffering from depression. > > [The controversial ketamine-like drug that Trump is pushing on veterans | US news | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/17/spravato-ketamine-like-drug-that-experts-doubt-and-trump-is-pushing-on-veterans) > > Totally fucking nuts. Inappropriate and potentially harmful as hell. What’s Trump’s cut? As an aside, ISTR recall hearing a while back about a trial using ketamine for treatment of acute depression (is that the right term? like, people who show up in the ER ready to kill themselves). I thought it showed great promise for stabilizing those patients who were at immediate risk of self-harm. But, from a skim of the linked article, it sounds like there are a lot of questions about this version of the drug. ---
**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 18, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33669 "2019-06-18T17:59:02Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > I getting to the point where I fear talk of a Final Solution may one day soon start coming out of the mouths of elected officials and some people will actually be on board. The talk will likely start, but to actually DO it would be too expensive. The Nazis were willing to spend the money. Trump and the Pubbies are not. It would cut into their profits. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2019, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33670 "2019-06-18T18:05:41Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Patrick Shanahan, the Boeing bigwig who took his support of Trump to the Max, has decided to withdraw his nomination for SecDef. ISWYDT. 😉 Guess Shanahan isn’t as dumb as he looks. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33671 "2019-06-18T18:08:43Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > The talk will likely start, but to actually DO it would be too expensive. The Nazis were willing to spend the money. Trump and the Pubbies are not. It would cut into their profits. I wish I could agree with you here, my friend. But I’m not so sure. If I recall correctly, Wall was expected to cost 67B. If **DesertDog** ’s calculations are correct, then 12B would be a bargain at twice the price. Irrespective of the cost, this is a sickening development and IMHO, should be abhorrent to all Americans on its face. ---
**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 18, 2019, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33672 "2019-06-18T18:24:44Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Patrick Shanahan, the Boeing bigwig who took his support of Trump to the Max, has decided to withdraw his nomination for SecDef. Aye; [Secretary of the Army Mark Esper is now Acting SecDef.](https://apnews.com/2ee5bafc08a747e6804a5da52e78edc3) > [@](#): > > The post atop the Pentagon has not been filled permanently since Gen. James Mattis retired in January following policy differences with Trump. > > Trump announced in May that he would nominate Shanahan but the formal nomination process in the Senate had been inexplicably delayed > > Shanahan, a former Boeing executive, has been leading the Pentagon as acting secretary since Jan. 1, a highly unusual arrangement for arguably the most sensitive Cabinet position. “Highly unusual” is an interesting way of putting it. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33673 "2019-06-18T18:34:37Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > People had been complaining that Trump didn’t understand the mechanisms and subtleties of government. But it’s far worse – he either doesn’t understand or doesn’t care about the very idea of Democracy. He also doesn’t understand what a deal is. He makes the stupidest pebble in Jackson’s Whole look like a supercomputer. ---
**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 18, 2019, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33674 "2019-06-18T18:46:54Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I wish I could agree with you here, my friend. But I’m not so sure. > > If I recall correctly, Wall was expected to cost 67B. If **DesertDog** ’s calculations are correct, then 12B would be a bargain at twice the price. Yes, but the wall isn’t being built, is it? Just like a million immigrants aren’t going to be deported. Clearly, I’m NOT saying to ignore this as an issue. My comment on the expense was more along the lines of an aside. > [@](#): > > Irrespective of the cost, this is a sickening development and IMHO, should be abhorrent to all Americans on its face. Of course, I completely agree with you on this. History says there’s no such thing as “it can’t happen here.” ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2019, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33675 "2019-06-18T18:48:56Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I wish I could agree with you here, my friend. But I’m not so sure. > > If I recall correctly, Wall was expected to cost 67B. If **DesertDog** ’s calculations are correct, then 12B would be a bargain at twice the price. > > Irrespective of the cost, this is a sickening development and IMHO, should be abhorrent to all Americans on its face. Yeah, Trump’s objection to the suggestion that we just gun down migrants at the border was along the lines of, “You can get away with that in other countries, but not here.” Not outrage at state sponsored mass murder over a misdemeanor, just can’t get away with it. At some point, maybe they will think they can get away with it. ---
**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:** [June 18, 2019, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33676 "2019-06-18T19:09:29Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Patrick Shanahan, the Boeing bigwig who took his support of Trump to the Max, has decided to withdraw his nomination for SecDef. This is by plan - if he keeps appointing ‘temporary’ - none of them ever have to go thru the senate review process. ---
**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 18, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33677 "2019-06-18T21:41:55Z")
Sorry for the cross-posting, but… > **[William Barr’s Justice Department Is Now Openly Running Legal Interference...](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/06/paul-manafort-william-barr-new-york-prison.html)** > > The DOJ is creating the impression that it wants to keep Manafort comfortable while Trump prepares his pardon. > [@](#): > > Donald Trump’s Department of Justice has decided to run interference for Paul Manafort, protecting him from harsh imprisonment and **even questioning the validity of charges brought against him by state prosecutors**. I take it Barr didn’t care for the Supreme Court’s “double-jeopardy” case ruling, which is hardly surprising. I guess the executive branch is asserting that not only is congressional oversight not a thing, but court rulings aren’t a thing either. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2019, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33678 "2019-06-18T21:44:44Z")
It is the era of KING TRUMP, Dear Leader. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2019, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33679 "2019-06-18T22:35:14Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > He also doesn’t understand what a deal is. He makes the stupidest pebble in Jackson’s Whole look like a supercomputer. Is that a Vorkosigan Saga reference? ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2019, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33680 "2019-06-18T23:42:58Z")
> [@simster](#): > > This is by plan - if he keeps appointing ‘temporary’ - none of them ever have to go thru the senate review process. and if background checks turn up something fishy like a complicated old domestic abuse charge, hide it in case you need to get rid of the ‘Acting’ head. ---
**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 18, 2019, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33681 "2019-06-18T23:48:58Z")
[Scenes from Orlando](https://twitter.com/DeanObeidallah/status/1141129651143749632). ---
**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 19, 2019, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33682 "2019-06-19T00:07:00Z")
[**Our Orlando Sentinel endorsement for president in 2020: Not Donald Trump | Editorial**](https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/editorials/os-op-sentinel-not-endorsing-donald-trump-2020-20190618-63ya7cyb5ngf3irllodwxnznui-story.html) > [@](#): > > Donald Trump is in Orlando to announce the kickoff of his re-election campaign. > > We’re here to announce our endorsement for president in 2020, or, at least, who we’re not endorsing: Donald Trump. > > Some readers will wonder how we could possibly eliminate a candidate so far before an election, and before knowing the identity of his opponent. > > Because there’s no point pretending we would ever recommend that readers vote for Trump. > > After 2½ years we’ve seen enough. > > Enough of the chaos, the division, the schoolyard insults, the self-aggrandizement, the corruption, and especially the lies. > > So many lies — from white lies to whoppers — told out of ignorance, laziness, recklessness, expediency or opportunity. > > Trump’s capacity for lying isn’t the surprise here, though the frequency is. > > It’s the tolerance so many Americans have for it. > > There was a time when even a single lie — a phony college degree, a bogus work history — would doom a politician’s career. > … > _\_ > … > > The nation must endure another 1½ years of Trump. But it needn’t suffer another four beyond that. > > We can do better. We have to do better. The whole, quite long editorial is worth reading. Sums up thump nicely. ---
**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 19, 2019, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33683 "2019-06-19T01:00:35Z")
“Good people” on both sides [in Orlando tonight](https://www.thedailybeast.com/proud-boys-orlando-police-stop-far-right-group-from-reaching-anti-trump-protest). ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33684 "2019-06-19T01:11:01Z")
They should have started singing the National Anthem. Then the police would have no choice but to stop everything, remove their helmets and wait until the song was over. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1683) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1685)