# 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:** 174
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3461 "2017-04-18T22:57:00Z")
> [@ZebraShaSha](#): > > I’m ready for the indictments to start, any day now. There should be loads of tape on these treasonous dickwads, just need the axe to fall… Who is going to issue indictments of Trump? Mitch McConnell? Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3462 "2017-04-18T23:01:32Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Second time, too. > [Trump wins trademark case in China](http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1033428.shtml) > > Quite the coinky-dink. I don’t think you and other breathless anti-Trumpers understand what trademark applications are and why they are approved or not approved. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2017, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3463 "2017-04-18T23:03:06Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > So, he blames it on the French? Well, sure, why not? Its really the Dutch, of course, but Europe, close enough. I don’t think Trump knows that there are different countries in Europe. > [@ZebraShaSha](#): > > I’m ready for the indictments to start, any day now. There should be loads of tape on these treasonous dickwads, just need the axe to fall… There. Is. No. One. To. Stop. Him. Like the man says: > [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Who is going to issue indictments of Trump? Mitch McConnell? > > Stranger ---
**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:** [April 18, 2017, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3464 "2017-04-18T23:04:54Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > I don’t think you and other breathless anti-Trumpers understand what trademark applications are and why they are approved or not approved. Cut the crap. He fought the thing for ten years and 5 days after his election, the case was decided in his favor. If this was Clinton, you’d be screaming for her to be locked up without a trial. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3465 "2017-04-18T23:33:32Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > I don’t think you and other breathless anti-Trumpers understand what trademark applications are and why they are approved or not approved. That’s some epic scale delusion. I love you die-hard Trump supporters. You guys are almost as comical as Trump himself. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3466 "2017-04-18T23:37:31Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > I don’t think you and other breathless anti-Trumpers understand what trademark applications are and why they are approved or not approved. Absolutely right. There’s nothing to worry about as long as all these benefits for the Trump family suddenly flowing out of China are not accompanied by Trump reversing his stance on the one-China policy, or China being a currency manipulator, or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3467 "2017-04-19T01:48:06Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Who is going to issue indictments of Trump? Mitch McConnell? > > Stranger The AG of NY, Eric Schneiderman, hired Preet Bharara as a prosecutor after he was ousted by Sessions. There’s a lot of smoke around Trump’s ties to organized crime, especially Russian money laundering. Schneiderman has active investigations into the Trump organization, they could bring RICO or other charges to multiple people connected to Trump, even the bloated orange himself. Comey, the CIA, and both houses of Congress have active investigations into Trump’s ties to Russia. Just the other day it was revealed that multiple American allies – Germany, Estonia, the UK, etc – all turned over “evidence” to the FBI et al. There’s a lot of smoke that Trump’s family might be implicated in this evidence. None has been leaked, yet. There’s also a little bit of smoke around McConnell and Ryan themselves. The fringe-ier parts of the internet that are quasi-believable say they’re on tape discussing Russian money laundering, though I don’t believe it… yet. Though it is known that the RNC was also hacked, but none of the documents were released, so any number of Republicans could be being blackmailed. Watergate took a year. There’s so much damaging stuff on Trump it’s only a matter of time. Manafort, Page, Flynn alone – but also, Kushner has done a lot of really, really questionable things, quite a few are borderline actionable. … The working theory is that Russia hacked voter databases, the data was “washed” through servers that connect to Trump, then Russia used aggressive fake news, etc micro-targeted using the stolen voter databases on online platforms like Facebook to suppress or increase voter morale. Notice how it was announced the voter databases for the Georgia special election were hacked? Same deal. In turn, Trump et all agreed to lift sanctions, among other things – like removing Ukraine from the Rebublican platform during the RNC. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3468 "2017-04-19T01:56:39Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Who is going to issue indictments of Trump? Mitch McConnell? > > Stranger If the political heat gets high enough, Mr Turtle would knife his Mom. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2017, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3469 "2017-04-19T01:58:28Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Cut the crap. > He fought the thing for ten years and 5 days after his election, the case was decided in his favor. > > If this was Clinton, you’d be screaming for her to be locked up without a trial. Careful, now, this here is a Great Debate, you would not want to say anything that might hurt **Shitstain McSnowflake** ’s feelings ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3470 "2017-04-19T02:26:10Z")
> [@ZebraShaSha](#): > > The AG of NY, Eric Schneiderman, hired Preet Bharara as a prosecutor after he was ousted by Sessions. There’s a lot of smoke around Trump’s ties to organized crime, especially Russian money laundering. Schneiderman has active investigations into the Trump organization, they could bring RICO or other charges to multiple people connected to Trump, even the bloated orange himself. > > Comey, the CIA, and both houses of Congress have active investigations into Trump’s ties to Russia. Just the other day it was revealed that multiple American allies – Germany, Estonia, the UK, etc – all turned over “evidence” to the FBI et al. There’s a lot of smoke that Trump’s family might be implicated in this evidence. None has been leaked, yet. New York state cannot prosecute Trump while he is in office; he can invoke executive privilege and defer any subpoena or warrant until he leaves office. And while scandal may drive a wedge between Trump and a few Republicans in the Senate, Trump has made it clear he cares fuck all about scandals or overt corruption. It would take a mass defection that would split the GOP before they would impeach Trump, and the only way that happens is if there is assurance that Pence–a favorite of the F[DEL]ascist[/DEL]reedom Caucus but not many else–would be able to enter the role free of association to the scandal and carry on into a successful re-election campaign. > [@elucidator](#): > > If the political heat gets high enough, Mr Turtle would knife his Mom. Of this I have no doubt. However, McConnell–whose ellipsoid visage I would like to get silk screened on a speed bag–has basically tied a piece of piano wire around his nutsack and hooked the other end on Trump’s ridiculously long red necktie. If Trump goes down, McConnell goes with him, and that basically splits the Republicans in the Senate. Unless Pence can distance himself from the morass–and probably even if he can’t (witness Gerald Ford)–his hypothetical 2020 re-election campaign is stillborn, and whomever the Democrats run–please, Liz Warren, just because I want to see more Kate McKinnon impressions–is the kind of actual shoe-in that Hillary Clinton never could be. The GOP has actually royally fucked itself by being so overwhelmingly successful in the election that they now have no one to blame for their failures, and the institutional endorsement of Trump–they even forced Ted Cruz to endorse and campaign for him after the two men were basically half a hand away from a pistol duel over insulting each other’s wives–is now a bear trap that they have to delicately extract themselves from. And Putin is loving the shit out of this; it wouldn’t surprise me if he has Russian intelligence deliberately leak information about Trump campaign contacts with said intelligence, although I think what he really wanted was an impotent and scandal-ridden Clinton to mock and threaten because Angela Merkel won’t give him the satisfaction. Those fucking Russians, they have such a dry sense of humor. They’ll drag a joke out for decades and kill millions of people just for the right comedic effect. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3471 "2017-04-19T02:40:56Z")
Death is easy, comedy is hard. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3472 "2017-04-19T03:24:52Z")
> [@ZebraShaSha](#): > > The AG of NY, Eric Schneiderman, hired Preet Bharara as a prosecutor after he was ousted by Sessions. No comment on the rest of the stuff, but Eric Schneiderman hired one of Preet’s [former staff attorneys](http://www.syracuse.com/state/index.ssf/2017/03/schneiderman_bharara_trump.html). Mr. Bharara is now at the [NYU School of Law](http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/preet-bharara-job-nyu-school-law-article-1.3004162) as a Distinguished Scholar in Residence. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3473 "2017-04-19T21:53:58Z")
[Some NFL players skip White House visit.](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/sports/-new-england-patriots-visit-white-house-donald-trump.html?partner=rss&emc=rss) > [@](#): > > During a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House on Wednesday, President Trump singled out several members of the New England Patriots, including wide receiver Danny Amendola, calling for them to raise a hand or step forward for acknowledgment. But Amendola was not there, nor were two dozen or more other players for the Super Bowl champions. > > The customary White House visit for sports champions has become especially fraught since Trump was elected, with many athletes saying they would reject an invitation for political reasons. The issue was stark on Wednesday, when a relatively small contingent of Patriots players and team personnel flanked the president. > > The Boston Globe reported that only 34 players attended. The White House did not immediately respond to an email asking for a count of players attending and a comment on the turnout… Compare the [two pictures](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/sports/-new-england-patriots-visit-white-house-donald-trump.html?partner=rss&emc=rss) – the number of players who attended when Obama was President and the number who just attended Trump’s White House. The pics speak for themselves, don’t they? Or, do they? I’m waiting for Trump to claim that more NFL players attended this year than in 2015 just like he claimed (using photos as “evidence”) that more people attended his inauguration than Obama’s. Any bets? ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3474 "2017-04-19T22:01:48Z")
> [@](#): > > President Trump singled out several members of the New England Patriots, including wide receiver Danny Amendola, calling for them to raise a hand or step forward for acknowledgment. I’m fascinated by this. Does this mean his staff didn’t tell him that Amendola wouldn’t be there? Why would that be? Are they incompetent? Or did they tell Trump and he forgot? Or did they not tell him because they’re afraid to tell him? For some reason it is that last that strikes me as most plausible. I can imagine that telling Trump something that might ping his ego has got to be very dangerous for your career. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3475 "2017-04-19T23:31:56Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > The pics speak for themselves, don’t they? Or, do they? I’m waiting for Trump to claim that more NFL players attended this year than in 2015 just like he claimed (using photos as “evidence”) that more people attended his inauguration than Obama’s. Any bets? Don’t be silly. Trump isn’t going to make that claim. that’s what he has Sean Spicer for. > [@BeepKillBeep](#): > > I’m fascinated by this. Does this mean his staff didn’t tell him that Amendola wouldn’t be there? Why would that be? Are they incompetent? Or did they tell Trump and he forgot? Or did they not tell him because they’re afraid to tell him? Why can’t it be all three? A perfect storm of ineptitude, senility, and malice, three words which describe this administration with optimal concision. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3476 "2017-04-20T09:17:19Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > A perfect storm of ineptitude, senility, and malice, three words which describe this administration with optimal concision. Not as concisely as “clusterfuck.” ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3477 "2017-04-20T09:41:49Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > [Some NFL players skip White House visit.](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/sports/-new-england-patriots-visit-white-house-donald-trump.html?partner=rss&emc=rss) > Compare the [two pictures](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/sports/-new-england-patriots-visit-white-house-donald-trump.html?partner=rss&emc=rss) – the number of players who attended when Obama was President and the number who just attended Trump’s White House. > > The pics speak for themselves, don’t they? Or, do they? I’m waiting for Trump to claim that more NFL players attended this year than in 2015 just like he claimed (using photos as “evidence”) that more people attended his inauguration than Obama’s. Any bets? Correction: April 19, 2017 An earlier version of this article included photos comparing the size of the Patriots’ gathering at the White House in 2015 and the gathering on Wednesday. The photo from Wednesday only showed players and coaches; the 2015 photo showed players, coaches and support staff and has been removed. ---
**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:** [April 20, 2017, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3478 "2017-04-20T12:52:20Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Correction: April 19, 2017 > An earlier version of this article included photos comparing the size of the Patriots’ gathering at the White House in 2015 and the gathering on Wednesday. The photo from Wednesday only showed players and coaches; the 2015 photo showed players, coaches and support staff and has been removed. I just saw that. Wonder who made that happen? Hmmm… ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3479 "2017-04-20T12:55:43Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Correction: April 19, 2017 > An earlier version of this article included photos comparing the size of the Patriots’ gathering at the White House in 2015 and the gathering on Wednesday. The photo from Wednesday only showed players and coaches; the 2015 photo showed players, coaches and support staff and has been removed. Sounds like Donald took a page from the Kremlin playbook and had some people airbrushed out of the photo. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/3480 "2017-04-20T13:48:37Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I just saw that. Wonder who made that happen? Hmmm… Probably the NYTimes editorial board, [upon getting a tweet from the Patriots](http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/look-patriots-call-out-new-york-times-for-white-house-photo-tweet-lacks-context/). C’mon guys, let’s not freak out over every little thing. The Times messed up, then immediately and without further indignity corrected the record. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=173) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=175)