# 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:** 1736
**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:** [July 20, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34705 "2019-07-20T20:28:28Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > [Well, Trump finally went far enough to piss off the Evangelicals](https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2019/07/20/despite-trumps-racist-rally-some-christians-are-just-upset-he-said-goddamn/). Good to see they have their priorities. : old rolleyes : ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34706 "2019-07-20T20:53:48Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > [Well, Trump finally went far enough to piss off the Evangelicals](https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2019/07/20/despite-trumps-racist-rally-some-christians-are-just-upset-he-said-goddamn/). That seems about right. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34707 "2019-07-20T20:56:22Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > [Well, Trump finally went far enough to piss off the Evangelicals](https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2019/07/20/despite-trumps-racist-rally-some-christians-are-just-upset-he-said-goddamn/). Oh, the irony… > [@](#): > > Was disappointed to hear you take the Lord’s name in vain tonight (twice). Hope you refrain from that going forward. Other than that, give’em hell! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34708 "2019-07-20T21:51:35Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > [Well, Trump finally went far enough to piss off the Evangelicals](https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2019/07/20/despite-trumps-racist-rally-some-christians-are-just-upset-he-said-goddamn/). I know; right until he used the Lord’s name in vain, I thought he was a God-fearing, pious Christian who attends church every Sunday and keeps the Commandments. This came as _such_ a shock. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34709 "2019-07-20T22:37:37Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Good to see they have their priorities. > > : old rolleyes : Reporters should start saying that Trump realizes he was very wrong to say that and that he is really, really sorry. He will be apologizing soon, in a week, maybe two. Also Obama would never, ever say that. Trump would have to tweet, of course, that he is never wrong, Obama’s a loser and then maybe we will get a dozen “goddamns” from him at the next rally. 😃 ---
**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:** [July 20, 2019, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34710 "2019-07-20T22:46:20Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > [Well, Trump finally went far enough to piss off the Evangelicals](https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2019/07/20/despite-trumps-racist-rally-some-christians-are-just-upset-he-said-goddamn/). I believe the important part is about making money: "if you don’t support me, you are going to be so Goddamn poor.” Let’s see if God or money wins out. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34711 "2019-07-20T23:22:56Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > Reporters should start saying that Trump realizes he was very wrong to say that and that he is really, really sorry. He will be apologizing soon, in a week, maybe two. Also Obama would never, ever say that. Trump would have to tweet, of course, that he is never wrong, Obama’s a loser and then maybe we will get a dozen “goddamns” from him at the next rally. 😃 I think this could actually work. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2019, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34712 "2019-07-21T00:40:22Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I think this could actually work. He’s an easily manipulated dumbass. Throw in some reverse psychology (saying ‘goddamn’ shows how manly you are!) to add to the “fake news” that he is sorry for saying it and start trolling him on a massive scale. No one would be able to convince him that he was being played. Unfortunately, I think the evangelicals would _still_ be able to convince themselves that it’s ok for Trump to say it because God something something. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2019, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34713 "2019-07-21T00:54:27Z")
Maybe. Certainly the genuinely pious will be offended, those who aren’t already disgusted. But how many are they, compared to those who are mostly about fending off cultural change? How many care about holy Hosannas, and how many just want prayers in schools and homos scurrying back into the shadows, out of sight? They cannot have ever believed that this was a man of God, but they could have convinced themselves that he is an instrument of God. Feed the hungry, protect the helpless, that’s for Sunday. The rest of the week, it’s The Business, as usual. ---
**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:** [July 21, 2019, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34714 "2019-07-21T02:25:43Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > He’s an easily manipulated dumbass. Throw in some reverse psychology (saying ‘goddamn’ shows how manly you are!) to add to the “fake news” that he is sorry for saying it and start trolling him on a massive scale. No one would be able to convince him that he was being played. I’ve been saying how easily he’s been played ever since he met with Xi. It’s beyond obvious. And someone else with zero experience in statecraft (Kim) runs to Xi before meeting with Trump to get pointers on how to play the twerp, meets with Trump and plays the twerp like a master, then meets with Xi again to report/thank. > [@](#): > > Unfortunately, I think the evangelicals would _still_ be able to convince themselves that it’s ok for Trump to say it because God something something. Doesn’t that fit in with their “prosperity gospel”? If they’re rich, God showed favor; if they’re poor, then God damned them. Isn’t that the way that works? ---
**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:** [July 21, 2019, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34715 "2019-07-21T03:51:53Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Doesn’t that fit in with their “prosperity gospel”? If they’re rich, God showed favor; **if they’re poor, then God damned them**. Isn’t that the way that works? More like they haven’t yet achieved God’s grace, is how they think of it, so they have to work/pray/religion harder. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2019, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34716 "2019-07-21T05:04:43Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I’m curious why you, and apparently others, think this. That’s why I said I learned something new today. > > Because yesterday, if someone asked me “Do you think CBP should hold unaccompanied kids until a parent or guardian picks them up?”, I would have said “Yes. Of course” and not “Of course not, they should hand them off to airline personnel and then hope for the best!” I’m thinking you perhaps do not realize what “guardian” means. It’s not merely an “acceptable adult” (acceptable by whom?), but someone who is legally and specifically assigned to act as a custodial parent when the actual parents can’t. The exact details on how to assign guardianship and whether custody can be shared between three people will vary by legal system, but in general it does require government (judicial) intervention. In another post you refer to their mother as their guardian. By definition, the mother is not a guardian: a guardian acts in loco parentis, instead of the parents. A parent is not a guardian, a guardian is not a parent, by definition. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2019, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34717 "2019-07-21T20:48:55Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > More like they haven’t yet achieved God’s grace, is how they think of it, so they have to work/pray/religion harder. Heh. To those evangelicals. They will achieve Gods grace one way. They must die to go to heaven. Well, [Ted Knight said it in Caddy Shack](https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t-s&p=caddy+shack+ted+night+where+waiting+movie#id=3&vid=d04f894e228e6831071ffd9fb742bbc0&action=view) I say to Evangelicals, go ahead and get your reward. The sooner the better. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2019, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34718 "2019-07-21T21:06:13Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Maybe. Certainly the genuinely pious will be offended, those who aren’t already disgusted. But how many are they, compared to those who are mostly about fending off cultural change? How many care about holy Hosannas, and how many just want prayers in schools and homos scurrying back into the shadows, out of sight? > > They cannot have ever believed that this was a man of God, but they could have convinced themselves that he is an instrument of God. Feed the hungry, protect the helpless, that’s for Sunday. The rest of the week, it’s The Business, as usual. That’s why I think of this crowd as being atheist six days out of seven (“atheists” in the sense of being without GOD, as opposed to being without a BELIEF in God). ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2019, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34719 "2019-07-21T21:30:02Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > That’s why I think of this crowd as being atheist six days out of seven (“atheists” in the sense of being without GOD, as opposed to being without a BELIEF in God). Lie and cheat for six days out of the week, then get forgiven on the 7th. Only takes a couple of hours out of your weekend. Does sort of seem like a good deal. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34720 "2019-07-22T05:00:35Z")
As a light aside, I saw the remake of _The Lion King_ today. (Excellently done, BTW, and a fine update of the original.) It obviously isn’t intentional, since the story was written 25 years ago, and it’s essentially a reimagining of _Hamlet_, but it occurred to me how much Scar, the villain, has in common with Loser Donald; - He’s insecure and angry about his physical flaws, but convinced of his own superiority - He lusts after a married woman - He has no empathy for others, and uses and manipulates people to get what he wants - He believes the strong have the right to take whatever they want from the weak - He only superficially loves his homeland and only wants power for its own sake - He assumes power by colluding with a foreign enemy - He empowers scavengers whose only interest in the country is pillaging its resources - He only wants yes-men and punishes anyone who gives him advice he doesn’t want to hear - His reign brings about environmental and economic devastation, and persecution against the most vulnerable members of society - He blames all his failures on everyone but himself Unfortunately, the damage Loser Donald is doing won’t be magically undone when his misrule comes to an end. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34721 "2019-07-22T05:55:10Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > As a light aside, I saw the remake of _The Lion King_ today. (Excellently done, BTW, and a fine update of the original.) > > It obviously isn’t intentional, since the story was written 25 years ago, and it’s essentially a reimagining of _Hamlet_, but it occurred to me how much Scar, the villain, has in common with Loser Donald; > > - He’s insecure and angry about his physical flaws, but convinced of his own superiority > - He lusts after a married woman > - He has no empathy for others, and uses and manipulates people to get what he wants > - He believes the strong have the right to take whatever they want from the weak > - He only superficially loves his homeland and only wants power for its own sake > - He assumes power by colluding with a foreign enemy > - He empowers scavengers whose only interest in the country is pillaging its resources > - He only wants yes-men and punishes anyone who gives him advice he doesn’t want to hear > - His reign brings about environmental and economic devastation, and persecution against the most vulnerable members of society > - He blames all his failures on everyone but himself > > Unfortunately, the damage Loser Donald is doing won’t be magically undone when his misrule comes to an end. He also constantly talks about all the bad things that will happen if not re-elected— fake news, bad economy, women, etc.— so, “Be preparrrrrrrred!” ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34722 "2019-07-22T08:07:00Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > He also constantly talks about all the bad things that will happen if not re-elected— fake news, bad economy, women, etc.— so, “Be preparrrrrrrred!” Honestly, it’d only take a few tweaks to turn [the rewritten version of “Be Prepared”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLQ6SRH90s4) into a Trump speech. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2019, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34723 "2019-07-22T15:51:43Z")
The US is hosting the G7 Conference of world leaders next year, and among the locations being considered by the White House is Trump’s own Doral golf resort in Miami, Florida. > **[Trump National Doral is in the mix to host the G7 in 2020](https://www.axios.com/2019/07/22/trump-national-doral-g7-site-2020?__twitter_impression=true)** > > The president has no qualms about criticism for mixing state and personal business. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2019, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/34724 "2019-07-22T17:21:09Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > I’m thinking you perhaps do not realize what “guardian” means. It’s not merely an “acceptable adult” (acceptable by whom?), but someone who is legally and specifically assigned to act as a custodial parent when the actual parents can’t. The exact details on how to assign guardianship and whether custody can be shared between three people will vary by legal system, but in general it does require government (judicial) intervention. > > In another post you refer to their mother as their guardian. By definition, the mother is not a guardian: a guardian acts in loco parentis, instead of the parents. A parent is not a guardian, a guardian is not a parent, by definition. Yes, that’s why I specifically said “parent or guardian”. It’s right there in the post you quoted. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1735) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1737)