# 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:** 1698
**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 27, 2019, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33945 "2019-06-27T20:54:25Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Hey run this by me again; I forgot: what happens if they send out census forms with the citizenship question on them anyway? :dubious: Democrats will be outraged! However, Nancy and Chuck will “reluctantly” allow it. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33946 "2019-06-27T21:10:19Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > They want states like California under counted and thus less representation. That doesn’t make a lot of sense. It also hits other border states like Texas and Arizona. In some ways, harder than states like California because there’s enough extremist wingnuts in those states who would gleefully lose Congressional representation (and federal dollars) to do this. There should be bipartisan support against it but somehow there’s not. While Congressional representation might be part of the thinking, it seems like treating minorities and immigrants (here lawfully or not) like dirt is the main draw, like cutting off the nose to spite the face. Here’s a [Texas Monthly article](https://www.texasmonthly.com/news/what-texas-lose-census-doesnt-include-every-texan/) going over the issue. And a [Fivethirtyeight article](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-citizenship-question-could-cost-california-and-texas-a-seat-in-congress/) with much the same conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33947 "2019-06-27T21:11:42Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > So you’re saying he would … > > Palin comparison? > > …YEAAAHHHH! Hold still. _gropes around for blunt instrument_ ---
**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 27, 2019, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33948 "2019-06-27T21:38:58Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > SCOTUS ruled today that the citizenship question can not be added to the 2020 census. Big loss for Trump. > > So what did he do? [Let’s delay the census](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-says-he-asked-lawyers-if-census-could-be-delayed-after-supreme-court-decision-on-citizenship-question/ar-AADw42R). > > Sure. It’s not like it’s constitutionally mandated, or anything… I hope Tan the Conman does pull that stunt. ---
**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 27, 2019, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33949 "2019-06-27T22:03:23Z")
I find [stuff like this](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-diplomacy-tillerson/an-uneasy-tenure-how-tillerson-found-himself-cut-out-by-kushner-idUSKCN1TS2MS) simply jaw-dropping in how unacceptable it is (Reuters): > [@](#): > > In one of the most awkward moments of his time as U.S. secretary of state, Rex Tillerson realized his Mexican counterpart was in Washington only when he walked into a restaurant and found him dining with President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner. > [@](#): > > On another occasion, neither Tillerson nor Jim Mattis, who was then secretary of defense, knew Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates planned to blockade their regional rival Qatar even though Kushner and another Trump adviser, Steve Bannon, had been told about it at a secret dinner with their governments. > [@](#): > > Tillerson said he and Mattis learned about the 2017 blockade of Qatar during a joint visit to Australia, which left them scrambling to determine the extent of the crisis and safety of U.S. assets in the Gulf. ---
**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:** [June 27, 2019, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33950 "2019-06-27T22:21:33Z")
_Should_ congressional districts be based on population including undocumented immigrants? I dunno. I would like to make them citizens, but it might make more sense to go based on voters (so no kids or prisoners either). ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33951 "2019-06-27T22:48:39Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > _Should_ congressional districts be based on population including undocumented immigrants? I dunno. I would like to make them citizens, but it might make more sense to go based on voters (so no kids or prisoners either). It would take a constitutional amendment to change it > [@](#): > > Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. ---
**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 27, 2019, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33952 "2019-06-27T23:06:36Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Hey run this by me again; I forgot: what happens if they send out census forms with the citizenship question on them anyway? :dubious: **[Despite Trump administration denials, new evidence suggests census citizenship question was crafted to benefit white Republicans](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/despite-trump-administration-denials-new-evidence-suggests-census-citizenship-question-was-crafted-to-benefit-white-republicans/2019/05/30/ca188dea-82eb-11e9-933d-7501070ee669_story.html?utm_term=.0b3e73c3fb98)** > [@](#): > > May 30, 2019. Just weeks before the Supreme Court is expected to rule on whether the Trump administration can add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, new evidence emerged Thursday suggesting the question was crafted specifically to give an electoral advantage to Republicans and whites. > > The evidence was found in the files of the prominent Republican redistricting strategist Thomas Hofeller after his death in August. It reveals that Hofeller “played a significant role in orchestrating the addition of the citizenship question to the 2020 Decennial Census in order to create a structural electoral advantage for, in his own words, ‘Republicans and Non-Hispanic Whites,’ ” plaintiffs’ lawyers challenging the question wrote in a letter Thursday morning to U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman, one of three federal judges who ruled against the question this year. The lawyers also argued that Trump administration officials purposely obscured Hofeller’s role in court proceedings. > … > > The files show that Hofeller concluded in a 2015 study that adding a citizenship question to the 2020 Census “would clearly be a disadvantage to the Democrats” and benefit white Republicans in redistricting. Hofeller then pushed the idea with the Trump administration in 2017, according to the lawyers’ letter to Furman. > … > > Hofeller’s files also reveal that in August 2017 he helped ghostwrite a draft Justice Department letter to the Commerce Department requesting a citizenship question and coming up with a rationale — to help enforce the Voting Rights Act, the plaintiffs’ lawyers said. He then gave this letter to Gore, the principal deputy assistant attorney general, in October 2017, they said. > … > > The Justice Department letter “bears striking similarities to Dr. Hofeller’s 2015 study, stating that\*\* a citizenship question on the Census was essential to advantaging Republicans and white voters,”\*\* the letter to Furman said. It added: “Based on this new evidence, it appears that both Neuman and Gore falsely testified about the genesis of DOJ’s request to Commerce in ways that obscured the pretextual character of the request.” > > Critics of the question blasted the administration after the news broke. > > “Republican political operatives plainly want to deny communities of color the health care, education and other services they need in order to consolidate GOP power and a whiter electorate,” said Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. > … My bold. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33953 "2019-06-27T23:15:43Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I hope Tan the Conman does pull that stunt. Me too in the way. I’ve worked three census’s (sp). The bureau takes it VERY SERIOUSLY. The county I work for corrects the Census Bureau’s address info (for our county). If any confidential info gets out, the people that have access to the data are on the hook for 100g and possible prison time. We spin up a server just for census data that very few people have access to. Let him continue to fuck up and perhaps we can be rid of him. He will NEVER be a reasonable or decent person let alone President. ---
**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 27, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33954 "2019-06-27T23:50:01Z")
[Tillerson says Kushner conducted foreign policy without him](https://apnews.com/7fa3d3e354014e0a864601fc8f6f24ff). > [@](#): > > Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson cited an awkward encounter with President Donald Trump’s son-in-law in a restaurant as an example of diplomacy being conducted behind his back when he was in the administration, according to a transcript of a congressional hearing released Thursday. > > Tillerson, who was fired by Trump in March 2018, mentioned the story during a day of closed-door testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee about his rocky, 13-month tenure as secretary of state. He described his surprise to find that he happened to be dining in the same Washington restaurant while Jared Kushner and Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Luis Videgaray had a private meal. > > The former top U.S. diplomat and CEO of ExxonMobil said he “could see the color go out” of the Mexican official’s face when Tillerson greeted them at their table with a smile. ---
**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 28, 2019, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33955 "2019-06-28T00:37:52Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Hey run this by me again; I forgot: what happens if they send out census forms with the citizenship question on them anyway? :dubious: I would hope that Democrats and probably hundreds of other litigants would immediately take the Trump admin to court to force an injunction against the distribution. Anyone hopefully anyone caught violating it would probably be looking at jail time for contempt. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2019, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33956 "2019-06-28T00:38:48Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Why did trump never use Sarah Palin for anything? She was described as a “hot librarian”. Trump is allergic to books. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33957 "2019-06-28T01:10:33Z")
I don’t know if this should be under this thread, or How trump has pissed you off, or stupid republican idea, or "old story I missed, or even “hoaxes I fell for”, but this is purportedly the official poll on trump’s webpage to see how you would rather vote for: 1. Who would you rather see fix our Nation’s shattered immigration policies? 2. Who do you trust more to protect America from foreign and domestic threats? 3. Who would you rather handle our Nation’s economy? 4. Who do you believe is more transparent with the American People? 5. Who do you trust to NOT raise your taxes? 6. Who do you believe will ALWAYS put America FIRST? 7. Who do you believe will keep their promises? 8. Who do you believe will fight for you every day? 9. Who do you believe is better for America? 10. Who will you vote for in 2020? Anyway, I voted all the right answers. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2019, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33958 "2019-06-28T01:18:38Z")
Link? I can’t find that poll. ---
**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 28, 2019, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33959 "2019-06-28T01:19:45Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Hey run this by me again; I forgot: what happens if they send out census forms with the citizenship question on them anyway? :dubious: > [@JohnT](#): > > Democrats will be outraged! However, Nancy and Chuck will “reluctantly” allow it. > [@asahi](#): > > I would hope that Democrats and probably hundreds of other litigants would immediately take the Trump admin to court to force an injunction against the distribution. Anyone hopefully anyone caught violating it would probably be looking at jail time for contempt. I’ll bet 50 quatloos that **JohnT** ’s answer is closer to what happens than **asahi** ’s answer; any takers? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33960 "2019-06-28T01:35:36Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Link? I can’t find that poll. [Here.](https://www.donaldjtrump.com/landing/2020-trump-vs-dem-poll?utm_medium=sms&utm_source=ta&utm_campaign=20190626__pre-dem-debate-poll_djt_djt&utm_content=gop_surveys) At the bottom of the page is “Paid for by Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.” which is also on what looks like an [official campaign site.](https://www.donaldjtrump.com/) Which includes an online shop. From ICANN Whois > [@](#): > > Updated Date: 2019-06-25 > Created Date: 1997-01-20 > Registrar Expiration Date: 2020-07-01 The Trump Organization is the registrant ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33961 "2019-06-28T01:41:53Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Link? I can’t find that poll. Sorry! I meant to add it, but forgot. Thanks, running coach ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33962 "2019-06-28T01:47:42Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Sorry! I meant to add it, but forgot. > > Thanks, running coach Not a problem. How did you get the poll? There’s no link to be found on the website. Cutting the URL to [https://www.donaldjtrump.com/landing](https://www.donaldjtrump.com/landing) brings up a blank page. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33963 "2019-06-28T02:01:19Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Not a problem. > How did you get the poll? There’s no link to be found on the website. > Cutting the URL to [https://www.donaldjtrump.com/landing](https://www.donaldjtrump.com/landing) brings up a blank page. Author Mary Doria Russel’s FB page. My wife’s a big fan. We get all our political news there. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/33964 "2019-06-28T02:22:09Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Why did trump never use Sarah Palin for anything? She was the darling of the stupids. Did she have too much of John McCain’s stink on her? Anyone remember this? [https://images.app.goo.gl/ccWtKcwA33xDwhSk9](https://images.app.goo.gl/ccWtKcwA33xDwhSk9) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1697) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1699)