# 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:** 1832
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2019, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36625 "2019-09-18T23:27:04Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > When you don’t have health insurance anymore, and cars become less safe, funerals are going to start looking better and better. Cheaper cars, more jobs in the funeral industry! Win win! I bet you’re tired of so much winning! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2019, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36626 "2019-09-18T23:34:15Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Cheaper cars, more jobs in the funeral industry! Win win! I bet you’re tired of so much winning! Hmmm, what sectors will rake in profits from the Trump years? Funeral Homes; Bullet-Proof Vests in kid sizes, and for grandma too; Home Surgical Suites if you can’t get insurance… I tells ya, we could make out like bandits! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2019, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36627 "2019-09-18T23:57:42Z")
My grandparents did quite well as funeral directors, if I had to I could resume the family trade… ---
**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 18, 2019, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36628 "2019-09-18T23:58:02Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Yup. Once again (actually, as always) Trump is just being spiteful and a complete fucking moron. > > Automakers, US and otherwise (it’s all global) aren’t going to throw away 40 years of tech. Tech that has made their cars more reliable. More efficient in MANY ways (look at the horse power they are getting out of 4 cylinders) and mostly MORE DESIRABLE and just start throwing 4 barrel carbs on V8’s. Any truth to the rumor that Trump is ordering the railroads to bring back steam locomotives that burn lots of that sweet, sweet clean coal? ---
**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:** [September 19, 2019, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36629 "2019-09-19T00:14:59Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > My grandparents did quite well as funeral directors, if I had to I could resume the family trade… That would be quite an undertaking. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36630 "2019-09-19T00:18:45Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > That would be quite an undertaking. Famers are going to have plenty of fallow land. ---
**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 19, 2019, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36631 "2019-09-19T00:59:29Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > That would be quite an undertaking. 😛 ---
**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 19, 2019, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36632 "2019-09-19T01:56:04Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > My grandparents did quite well as funeral directors, if I had to I could resume the family trade… > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > That would be quite an undertaking. You could make a killing ---
**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:** [September 19, 2019, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36633 "2019-09-19T02:09:14Z")
You guys have pretty much killed this topic. It’ll probably get buried on page 2 or 3. ---
**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 19, 2019, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36634 "2019-09-19T02:13:46Z")
That’s a rather grave assessment on the matter. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36635 "2019-09-19T02:16:21Z")
I was in a UPS store the other day, when an old dude gave the young dude behind the counter some things to pack and label for shipping. The old dude said “Do you ever dream about your job?” Which I considered an ass move. So I said “I dream about my job ALL THE TIME! I’m a MORTICIAN!” ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36636 "2019-09-19T02:25:35Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Or Schiff could call a hearing and subpoena the whistleblower himself. Washington post tonight reporting that the whistleblower reporter that the questionable activity was Trump making a concerning promise to a world leader. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trumps-communications-with-foreign-leader-are-part-of-whistleblower-complaint-that-spurred-standoff-between-spy-chief-and-congress-former-officials-say/2019/09/18/df651aa2-da60-11e9-bfb1-849887369476\_story.html](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trumps-communications-with-foreign-leader-are-part-of-whistleblower-complaint-that-spurred-standoff-between-spy-chief-and-congress-former-officials-say/2019/09/18/df651aa2-da60-11e9-bfb1-849887369476_story.html) ---
**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 19, 2019, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36637 "2019-09-19T03:01:24Z")
Pork slaughterhouses are now responsible for inspecting themselves. > **[Trump is about to make the pork industry responsible for inspecting itself.](https://www.motherjones.com/food/2019/04/trump-is-about-to-make-the-pork-industry-responsible-for-inspecting-itself/)** > > Yikes. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36638 "2019-09-19T03:20:15Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Washington post tonight reporting that the whistleblower reporter that the questionable activity was Trump making a concerning promise to a world leader. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trumps-communications-with-foreign-leader-are-part-of-whistleblower-complaint-that-spurred-standoff-between-spy-chief-and-congress-former-officials-say/2019/09/18/df651aa2-da60-11e9-bfb1-849887369476\_story.html](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trumps-communications-with-foreign-leader-are-part-of-whistleblower-complaint-that-spurred-standoff-between-spy-chief-and-congress-former-officials-say/2019/09/18/df651aa2-da60-11e9-bfb1-849887369476_story.html) This is troubling: > [@](#): > > Legal experts said there are scenarios in which a president’s communications with a foreign leader could rise to the level of an “urgent concern” for the intelligence community, but they also noted that the president has broad authority to decide unilaterally when to classify or declassify information. So to sum up: The president has the legal authority to say basically anything he wants to foreign leaders without the intelligence community IG’s office getting involved. Unless it’s some seriously fucked-up shit, then the IG’s office will get involved. Oh and, by the way, the IG’s office is involved. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36639 "2019-09-19T03:57:52Z")
Guess who he had a call with a few days prior? I’d give you ten guesses, but I’m sure you’d get it with the first. He had a call with Putin on July 31 when they supposedly talked about Siberian wildfires. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36640 "2019-09-19T04:02:33Z")
The Post article mentions a phone call. Trump and Putin had a phone call on July 31, which seems to line up chronologically. Several reporters and analysts I follow on Twitter are speculating that the troubling promise was made during this call. ETA: too slow! ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36641 "2019-09-19T04:13:50Z")
The Russian summary of the July call indicated that Putin saw the offer of help as a sign that full bilateral relations could be restored at some point. How you get from firefighting assistance to fully normalized relations is a bit murky. Unless, say, Trump offered that in exchange for help in his reelection or something. Hypothetically. Recall that when Trump called Putin to offer help fighting Siberian wildfires, he wasn’t doing jack to help California fight its fires. FWIW, George Conway retweeted, without comment, one of the analysts who speculated that the Putin call was when the troubling promise was allegedly made ---
**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:** [September 19, 2019, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36642 "2019-09-19T04:27:50Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Pork slaughterhouses are now responsible for inspecting themselves. > [Trump Is About to Make the Pork Industry Responsible for Inspecting Itself – Mother Jones](https://www.motherjones.com/food/2019/04/trump-is-about-to-make-the-pork-industry-responsible-for-inspecting-itself/) The free market will take care of it. Slaughterhouses that kill off all their customers with trichinosis will surely go out of business. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2019, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36643 "2019-09-19T04:33:09Z")
Also on September 9, CNN broke the story of the spy being hastily exfiltrated from Russia. It could be that in the call with Putin, Trump blabbed something that could have led to the Russians identifying the source. Or Trump promised to divulge intelligence that would have revealed the source. At around this time, Trump also froze some military aid to Ukraine. The aid was unfrozen when Schiff started demanding a copy of the whistleblower’s report. ---
**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:** [September 19, 2019, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36644 "2019-09-19T05:07:05Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Pork slaughterhouses are now responsible for inspecting themselves. > [Trump Is About to Make the Pork Industry Responsible for Inspecting Itself – Mother Jones](https://www.motherjones.com/food/2019/04/trump-is-about-to-make-the-pork-industry-responsible-for-inspecting-itself/) What the everloving fuck? That’s exactly how the dogmeat “industry” operates in South Korea and other countries. Take a wild guess and how well they self-police. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1831) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1833)