# 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:** 1772
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35425 "2019-08-14T16:45:21Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Might start a “upcoming recession” thread for this one, but want to park it here for now: > > Yield on 2 year treasuries is higher than on 10yr treasuries for the first time since 2007. Look at linked chart and notice the correlation between this fact and recessionary periods. > > [https://twitter.com/TheStalwart/status/1161579949180051457?s=19](https://twitter.com/TheStalwart/status/1161579949180051457?s=19) > **[Warning of possible recession sends ripple through U.S. markets and Dow...](https://www.chicagotribune.com/2019/08/14/warning-of-possible-recession-sends-ripple-through-us-markets-and-dow-plummeting-800-points/)** > > The threat of a recession doesn’t seem so remote anymore for investors in financial markets. The yield on the closely watched 10-year Treasury fell so low Wednesday that, for the first time s… The Dow is heading in the proper direction to break 25,000 again! Trump reportedly “Jubilant!” ---
**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:** [August 14, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35426 "2019-08-14T16:46:23Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > > > On the lighter side of the trump news, some people in NYC want to rename the street that trump tower is on. > > > > [Guess who they want to name it after?](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-tower-obama-renaming-petition_n_5d537d82e4b05fa9df069011?fbclid=IwAR0Cj2almyRFJred3lzzAZ4dAW03hgdhFnFDf0RSBT726KCOh-2dAUdiMhk) > > > [@](#): > > > > As Newsweek noted, however, Rowin’s petition fails to meet one important requirement for street renaming in New York. City rules dictate that the person being honored should be deceased. > > If that’s the case, let’s name it after the America-hating fuckstick. As fast as possible. The fix is easy; Simply name it Barack Hussein Obama Senior Avenue ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35427 "2019-08-14T16:51:56Z")
More on that Pennsylvania speech: > [@](#): > > Conservative attorney George Conway ― husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway ― used a single word to describe the wild claims and outright lies made by Trump at an energy plant outside of Pittsburgh. > > “Wut.” > > The speech was technically an official White House event on energy and manufacturing, but instead resembled one of Trump’s campaign rallies, complete with attacks on rivals and critics and more than a few outlandish claims. > > At one point, as he has done some 75 times before according to the Toronto Star, Trump took credit for signing the Veterans Choice health care program into law. > > It was actually signed by President Barack Obama in 2014. > > At another point, he suggested the main U.S. export to Japan is wheat. > > “They send us thousands and thousands, millions, of cars,” Trump said. “We send them wheat. Wheat! That’s not a good deal.” > > But the website of the U.S. Trade Representative ― part of the Executive Office of the President ― notes that wheat is just $698 million of $120.4 billion in U.S. exports to Japan. > **[George Conway Runs Out Of Words To Describe Trump's Latest Bonkers 'Rally'](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/george-conway-runs-out-of-words-for-trump_n_5d539b52e4b05fa9df06a087)** > > Husband of Kellyanne Conway live-tweets Trump's bonkers rally-like event in Pennsylvania. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35428 "2019-08-14T17:03:09Z")
His eyesight is failing! That’s it! He has trouble reading the teleprompter! He’s too vain to wear glasses or admit his eyesight is bad. He has trouble reading prompter and tries to cover by …whatever the hell that was! ---
**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:** [August 14, 2019, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35429 "2019-08-14T17:13:06Z")
> [@America Hating Fuckstick](#): > > “They send us thousands and thousands, millions, of cars,” Trump said. “We send them wheat. Wheat! That’s not a good deal.” It’s a good idea to the farmers that grow wheat! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35430 "2019-08-14T17:13:40Z")
And yet more comments on the speech: [https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/14/politics/donald-trump-pennsylvania-speech-energy/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/14/politics/donald-trump-pennsylvania-speech-energy/index.html) > [@](#): > > 1. “I love the unions and I love the workers and, you know, when I built buildings in New York, I built them exclusively with unions. People don’t understand that. I was exclusive.” > > Donald Trump and unions went steady. I did not know that! And away we go! > > 1. “Remember that – and remember that, Pennsylvania – you know, Pennsylvania has the best numbers they’ve ever had in the history of this state, and that’s for a very good reason, and you know what that reason is – hello, here I am.” > > The unemployment rate in Pennsylvania for June was 3.8%, the lowest it’s been since 1976. That’s good! It’s not the “best numbers they’ve ever had in the history of the state” but it’s good! Also, I am going to start using the phrase “hello, here I am” a lot more often. As in, “Hey kids, there’s a reason you’re here. Hello, here I am!” > > 1. “This Shell petrol chemical plant in Beaver County, Pennsylvania – I did very well here. We did very well – how many points did we win by? Does anybody know?” > > Good thing this official White House speech sounds nothing at all like Donald Trump’s stump speech! (Trump won Beaver County, in western Pennsylvania, by 18.5 points in 2016.) > > 1. “Unlike those big windmills that destroy everybody’s property value, kill all the birds.” > > Donald Trump vs. the windmill, part 1 billion. > > … ---
**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:** [August 14, 2019, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35431 "2019-08-14T18:04:14Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Let’s compromise and rename it “America Hating Tubman Blvd”. “Fuckstick” has a nice NY attitude to it, but it just won’t fly with the rest of the country. > > “in today’s top news story, disgraced former president trump jumped from his gold-plated penthouse apartment and landed in the middle of Fuckstick Blvd…” No, can’t do that. “Tubman” in honor of Harriet Tubman AND the AHFS. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2019, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35432 "2019-08-14T18:37:21Z")
So, the Law and Order president is blatantly violating the Hatch act, and it doesn’t matter because… there is too much stupid shit to keep track of? Rednecks love it? There is no law anymore? I am going to scratch a hole in my head trying to figure out how the racist crackdown on immigrants is worth all of this to some people. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2019, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35433 "2019-08-14T20:17:45Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > [Warning of possible recession sends ripple through U.S. markets and Dow plummeting 800 points – Chicago Tribune](https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-nw-recession-warning-20190814-hca3pja6qjd6bj75oe73miumry-story.html) > > The Dow is heading in the proper direction to break 25,000 again! Trump reportedly “Jubilant!” Down a neat 800 points today. Lol, just got two notifications on my phone, both of them mentioning “recession”. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35434 "2019-08-14T20:40:53Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > I am going to scratch a hole in my head trying to figure out how the racist crackdown on immigrants is worth all of this to some people. Sure, pretty soon we’ll all be wearing pickle barrels and suspenders and fighting with alley cats over fish skeletons, but at least José and María won’t be stealing those plum poultry processing plant jobs that Americans are clamoring for. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2019, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35435 "2019-08-14T20:55:36Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Down a neat 800 points today. > > Lol, just got two notifications on my phone, both of them mentioning “recession”. I’ll probably get some push-back for this but I’m not sure how responsible Donald Trump would be for any upcoming recession. After all, we’ve had a pretty strong 9-year run, much of which took place while Eurozone economies have been confronted with a choice between default or harsh austerity (not to mention Brexit). So if Trump’s defenders wanted to point out that all good things come to an end, I’d find it hard to completely disagree. I’m sure he’s responsible in some instances, particularly where trade is concerned, but economic expansions eventually run out of steam. What matters more than the recession itself is how a presidential administration responds to it, and that is what will define how we view Trump’s economy. And like you, that’s what worries me. Hoover didn’t cause the initial wave of bank failures and speculative investing that led to an economic crisis in 1928-29, but his policies of taxation without spending and prolonged trade wars pretty much guaranteed we ended up with the Great Depression. For as much shit as I’ve talked about George W Bush, he at least had people who learned those lessons and learned from the failures of a Republican predecessor. Take a look at the fucking circus we have now: I don’t think we have people in place who even remotely know what they’re doing. Trump’s handling of the Fed pretty much tells you all you need to know there, in addition to fighting international trade wars on multiple fronts without any indication as to what his objectives are. The recession is one thing; the response is what will sink us, and I think we’re probably in for a very rough ride once we get further away from shore. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35436 "2019-08-14T21:52:12Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Down a neat 800 points today. > > Lol, just got two notifications on my phone, both of them mentioning “recession”. I’m wondering if I should cash out my 401ks. (Not withdraw the balances; just convert them to cash.) ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35437 "2019-08-14T21:54:38Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > [Warning of possible recession sends ripple through U.S. markets and Dow plummeting 800 points – Chicago Tribune](https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-nw-recession-warning-20190814-hca3pja6qjd6bj75oe73miumry-story.html) > > The Dow is heading in the proper direction to break 25,000 again! Trump reportedly “Jubilant!” Almost back to levels seen in 2017! MAGA! ---
**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:** [August 14, 2019, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35438 "2019-08-14T21:58:55Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I’ll probably get some push-back for this but I’m not sure how responsible Donald Trump would be for any upcoming recession. I go back and forth on how seriously to take you. This is a back moment for you, just FYI. I mean, I seriously am going to have a hard time listening to you again. Did you just say this? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35439 "2019-08-14T23:01:53Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I’ll probably get some push-back for this but I’m not sure how responsible Donald Trump would be for any upcoming recession. After all, we’ve had a pretty strong 9-year run, much of which took place while Eurozone economies have been confronted with a choice between default or harsh austerity (not to mention Brexit). So if Trump’s defenders wanted to point out that all good things come to an end, I’d find it hard to completely disagree. I’m sure he’s responsible in some instances, particularly where trade is concerned, but economic expansions eventually run out of steam. Sure, there’s room for debate on just how much responsibility a president has for the economy during his time in office. Trump, however, has been more than happy to pat himself on the back and claim credit for the good economy during his term so far. It seems only fair that if the economy tanks that Trump gets the blame, too. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2019, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35440 "2019-08-14T23:02:32Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I’ll probably get some push-back for this but I’m not sure how responsible Donald Trump would be for any upcoming recession. After all, we’ve had a pretty strong 9-year run, much of which took place while Eurozone economies have been confronted with a choice between default or harsh austerity (not to mention Brexit). So if Trump’s defenders wanted to point out that all good things come to an end, I’d find it hard to completely disagree. I’m sure he’s responsible in some instances, particularly where trade is concerned, but economic expansions eventually run out of steam. > > What matters more than the recession itself is how a presidential administration responds to it, and that is what will define how we view Trump’s economy. And like you, that’s what worries me. Hoover didn’t cause the initial wave of bank failures and speculative investing that led to an economic crisis in 1928-29, but his policies of taxation without spending and prolonged trade wars pretty much guaranteed we ended up with the Great Depression. For as much shit as I’ve talked about George W Bush, he at least had people who learned those lessons and learned from the failures of a Republican predecessor. Take a look at the fucking circus we have now: I don’t think we have people in place who even remotely know what they’re doing. Trump’s handling of the Fed pretty much tells you all you need to know there, in addition to fighting international trade wars on multiple fronts without any indication as to what his objectives are. > > The recession is one thing; the response is what will sink us, and I think we’re probably in for a very rough ride once we get further away from shore. I’ll partially agree with you on this. Mainly because Trump thinks he’s running a business and we are his employees. Not the other way around, which is reality. His tariff war is “how much money am I making?” ---
**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:** [August 14, 2019, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35441 "2019-08-14T23:40:28Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I’m wondering if I should cash out my 401ks. (Not withdraw the balances; just convert them to cash.) I did this months ago- moved about 75% of my 401k out of stocks and into a mix of cash and bondy things. After the crash I will move it back —\> profit! ---
**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:** [August 15, 2019, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35442 "2019-08-15T00:00:50Z")
I was pretty sure that this would be Bolton when I clicked the headline: [Trump Advisor warns China over Hong Kong Crackdown](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/457484-top-trump-adviser-warns-china-over-hong-kong-crackdown) I wouldn’t say that we’re up to a 50% chance yet, but I would say that we’re probably moving towards Bolton getting the boot. Trump don’t care about Venezuela - he’s happy to let Bolton do whatever he wants, even if it means being the World Police - but he does care about China and the trade war, and Bolton isn’t the sort to give a damn what Trump tells him to do. 1. China tells Trump “no deal” if he or any of his people say anything about Hong Kong 2. Trump tells Bolton to stop 3. Bolton ignores him 4. Bolton fired Actually, maybe it is better than 50% chance. Trump already backed down on Taiwan, back during the election. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2019, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35443 "2019-08-15T00:06:22Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Sure, there’s room for debate on just how much responsibility a president has for the economy during his time in office. Trump, however, has been more than happy to pat himself on the back and claim credit for the good economy during his term so far. It seems only fair that if the economy tanks that Trump gets the blame, too. Not only this (the fact that Trump’s been claiming credit, so he gets the blame, too), but the fact that Trump has actually taken a crowbar to the economy. His meddling with trade–and the results, which also include increasing the dreaded ‘business uncertainty’ to an exponential extent–amounts to far more responsibility for the current situation than is true for most presidents. Most of them refrain from mucking about to the degree that Trump has done. One is tempted to believe that Trump (and/or his disreputable advisors, such as Peter Navarro) are acting on explicit instructions from the Kremlin, on not only trade issues but the tax screw-up and Trump’s pressuring of the Fed on interest rates. But Trump’s ego and stupidity are probably enough explanation for it all. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2019, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/35444 "2019-08-15T00:11:00Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Sure, there’s room for debate on just how much responsibility a president has for the economy during his time in office. Trump, however, has been more than happy to pat himself on the back and claim credit for the good economy during his term so far. It seems only fair that if the economy tanks that Trump gets the blame, too. Naw, it goes way further than this, guys. So much of economic growth depends upon many of the players understanding the rules and being confident enough to form agreements based upon those same rules. Trump has destroyed rule after agreement after accord after treaty after norm after relationship (repeat x!y times) so often that the economic world which existed from 1948-2016 is in shambles (and I think people are beginning to wake up to this fact). And it’s not just “oh, we can elect a Dem and things will go back to normal”, no… omg, not at all. Why should they trust America not to elect another Trump? Why… now given the opportunity to move past the _Pax Americana_… would SE Asia, Europe, even Africa want to go back to those days? And you can’t just say “oops on that destroyed trade agreement. Quid pro ante?” because not a single country will accept that. And then there’s the manner of how Trump has made his changes: Bush 2 and Reagan (and, to a lesser extent, Clinton) created distortions in the market which occurred via policy implementations under a known democratic process - unfortunate, but it happens. The only thing which has occurred in this manner in the Trump administration is the 2017 tax cut for millionaires - _everything else_ has been Executive Ordered, those orders can be reversed at a whim, and Congress is powerless to stop him. And since there is no plan behind his actions, not a single person on this planet knows what the end game it going to be… or even _when_ it will be, for Trump may get reelected. Trump owns the upcoming recession even more than Dubya deserved the blame for 2008 as a lot of the systemic damage was done during the Clinton years (smoot-hawley repeal, derivatives removed from federal oversight, more). But this? This is Donald Trump. And there is no doubt about it [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1771) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1773)