# 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:** 1826
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36505 "2019-09-15T23:50:50Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Adam Schiff On CBS this morning. > > N.B. The DNI reports directly to POTUS - so “only a few people” is one person… > > [Transcript: Representative Adam Schiff on "Face the Nation," September 15, 2019 - CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transcript-representative-adam-schiff-on-face-the-nation-september-15-2019/) So the DNI is refusing to turn over the document, is not complying with a Subponea - What happens next? Is there an action that can be taken that does NOT need the approval of congress? Does the refusal trigger something else? (ieg - an arrest?) If an individual can simply “ignore” the law - then the law means nothing at all ---
**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:** [September 15, 2019, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36506 "2019-09-15T23:55:22Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > So the DNI is refusing to turn over the document, is not complying with a Subponea - > What happens next? > Is there an action that can be taken that does NOT need the approval of congress? > Does the refusal trigger something else? (ieg - an arrest?) Apparently not. > [@](#): > > If an individual can simply “ignore” the law - then the law means nothing at all Correct. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36507 "2019-09-16T00:00:11Z")
And in a follow up question - If the DNI can “refuse” to provide the whistle blower complaint - could he also go outside the law and punish or take some other action against the whistle blower in retaliation? ---
**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:** [September 16, 2019, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36508 "2019-09-16T00:28:31Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > And in a follow up question - > If the DNI can “refuse” to provide the whistle blower complaint - could he also go outside the law and punish or take some other action against the whistle blower in retaliation? He could, in which case someone might file a complaint with his boss. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2019, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36509 "2019-09-16T00:40:31Z")
So much for checks and balances _(sigh)_ ---
**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:** [September 16, 2019, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36510 "2019-09-16T00:41:23Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Mike Pence says Kentucky Derby winner American Pharaoh bit him. The farm manager says it didn’t happen. > [https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article235066162.html](https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article235066162.html) But (to paraphrase the article) he was sort of OK with being bitten, because he “likes to be around winners” and that’s the price you pay. Which is sort of a metaphor for his past two and and half years. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36511 "2019-09-16T01:05:46Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > So much for checks and balances _(sigh)_ You are ignoring the Constitutional fact of the _unitary executive_, wherein the three separate but equal branches are unified into a transcendent reality. This is an absolute and fundamental part of the Presidential office, and _only_ varies depending on the worthiness of the President. Recently, GeeDubya was so endowed, then the unchanging fact was reversed, and currently is set at its natural condition, with the inauguration of Donald, of House Harkonnen, worst of his name… ---
**Author:** ![kirkrapine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@kirkrapine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kirkrapine)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36512 "2019-09-16T01:48:18Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > A few days ago the inspector general for the intelligence community notified Congress of a whistleblower complaint that was both credible and a matter of “urgent concern.” Rep. Adam Schiff, the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, naturally asked the Director of National Intelligence to provide a copy of the complaint, as required by law. The DNI told him no. Schiff immediately issued a subpoena compelling the information to be provided. > [Director of National Intelligence Tells Congress to Fuck Off – Mother Jones](https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2019/09/director-of-national-intelligence-tells-congress-to-fuck-off/) Well, why did the IG tell Congress about the complaint at all, if he wasn’t prepared to provide any more information than that?! ---
**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:** [September 16, 2019, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36513 "2019-09-16T02:56:40Z")
[This article](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/10/trump-dynasty/596674/) was posted on The Atlantic Monthly’s website a couple of days ago. It’s about the jockeying for power and influence among Trump’s children. It suggests (surprisingly to me) that Donald Jr might be Most Likely To Succeed. Ivanka’s attempts at inserting herself in world affairs(such as at the G20 conference in Osaka) has made her a punchline. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36514 "2019-09-16T03:08:31Z")
She didn’t wear the tiara! When you got a couple of million bucks worth of diamonds on your head, your opinions have much more _gravitas_. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36515 "2019-09-16T03:28:08Z")
> [@kirkrapine](#): > > Well, why did the IG tell Congress about the complaint at all, if he wasn’t prepared to provide any more information than that?! We are talking about two different people. The IG was not the one who refused to provide additional information. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2019, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36516 "2019-09-16T03:47:01Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > But (to paraphrase the article) he was sort of OK with being bitten, because he “likes to be around winners” and that’s the price you pay. Which is sort of a metaphor for his past two and and half years. Not unless the horse bit him hard in the ass, and Pence then turned around and stuffed his head so far up the horse’s ass that he could taste the breakfast oats. Then it would be sort of a metaphor. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36517 "2019-09-16T04:36:38Z")
> [@DinoR](#): > > We are talking about two different people. The IG was not the one who refused to provide additional information. Which raises the question… If the DNI refuses to supply the information, can the IG do It? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36518 "2019-09-16T04:55:17Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Donald, of House Harkonnen, worst of his name… When he was elected there were memes about some duck or other filing for a legal change of name… ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36519 "2019-09-16T13:33:46Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Which raises the question… > If the DNI refuses to supply the information, can the IG do It? Or Schiff could call a hearing and subpoena the whistleblower himself. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2019, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36520 "2019-09-16T15:30:32Z")
Only if he can learn who it is. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36521 "2019-09-16T18:44:17Z")
The subpoena Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36522 "2019-09-16T20:36:10Z")
The Secret Service wants jet skis so they can protect the Trumps because “The First Family is very active in water sports.” Yes, they actually said that. I don’t think jet skis can protect him from Russian prostitutes. > **[The Secret Service Wants Jet Skis to Better Protect Trump and His Family](https://www.newsweek.com/secret-service-wants-jet-skis-protect-trump-family-1459477)** > > The federal agency requested two Kawaski jet skis—watercrafts that each retail from $9,999 to $15,299—and noted security challenges that special agents face when traveling with Trump to places such as Mar-a-Lago and the Hamptons. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36523 "2019-09-16T21:16:35Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The Secret Service wants jet skis so they can protect the Trumps because “The First Family is very active in water sports.” Yes, they actually said that. > I don’t think jet skis can protect him from Russian prostitutes. > [Secret Service Wants Jet Skis to Protect Trumps: 'The First Family is Very Active in Water Sports'](https://www.newsweek.com/secret-service-wants-jet-skis-protect-trump-family-1459477) So Trump admits he sometimes hits one into a water hazard, eh? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36524 "2019-09-16T21:20:26Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The Secret Service wants jet skis so they can protect the Trumps because “The First Family is very active in water sports.” Yes, they actually said that. > I don’t think jet skis can protect him from Russian prostitutes. > [Secret Service Wants Jet Skis to Protect Trumps: 'The First Family is Very Active in Water Sports'](https://www.newsweek.com/secret-service-wants-jet-skis-protect-trump-family-1459477) You couldn’t make that shit up :D. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1825) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1827)