# 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:** 1837
**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 20, 2019, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36725 "2019-09-20T20:30:23Z")
And none of that helps the farmers build or rebuild their businesses… it’s just handouts to keep them quiet. ---
**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 20, 2019, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36726 "2019-09-20T20:44:14Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Eight times. In case you thought maybe Trump just mentioned investigating Biden in passing, it turns out that [he brought it up eight times](https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-defends-conversation-with-ukraine-leader-11568993176). In a single phone call. And the Assholes who remain loyal to the Trump Party will tell us that it is perfectly acceptable for the President to pressure a foreign government to use all of it’s powers to investigate the President’s main rival in an upcoming election. And to do so not in conjuction with a US investigation, but in cooperation with the President’s own personal lawyer. Nothing wrong with that at all. As long as Trump is the one doing it. Nobody else. And these Assholes who remain in the Republican Party see nothing wrong with this. Nothing at all. And there is nothing at all wrong with the President using his powers to shut down Congress or anyone else even knowing about it. It’s OK If Trump Does It, and Trump can do literally ANYthing he wants, with no consequences whatsoever. I"m sure these assholes would be fine with orders from the President to the CIA to assassinate his political rivals. They’d back this up. Because the President cannot, BY DEFINITION, commit a crime. As long as it’s Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36727 "2019-09-20T20:46:32Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > And none of that helps the farmers build or rebuild their businesses… it’s just handouts to keep them quiet. Quiet, and voting republican. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2019, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36728 "2019-09-20T21:00:08Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > And the Assholes who remain loyal to the Trump Party will tell us that it is perfectly acceptable for the President to pressure a foreign government to use all of it’s powers to investigate the President’s main rival in an upcoming election. … Hey, it’s all good. Just put another flag on your truck, maybe in the window this time, and…Patriot! ---
**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 20, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36729 "2019-09-20T21:13:10Z")
I think a turning point was when Cheney shot a man in the face while drunk, and faced no repercussions whatsoever for it. That may be when Republicans went: “Hey, once you’re in office, you really can do any damned thing you please.” ---
**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 20, 2019, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36730 "2019-09-20T21:19:56Z")
It was particularly telling when the guy with the birdshot in his face actually _apologized_ to the heartless (literally, at one point) guy with the gun who shot him. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36731 "2019-09-20T21:24:09Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Hey, it’s all good. Just put another flag on your truck, maybe in the window this time, and…Patriot! Am I the only one who considers having the US flag on anything other than a proper flagpole _un_patriotic? I mean you’re hardly following the US flag code. I can understand if it’s an identifying patch on a military uniform so we can tell you apart from the Swedes, but if you’ve got it printed on your boxers that ain’t respect. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36732 "2019-09-20T21:27:12Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > Am I the only one who considers having the US flag on anything other than a proper flagpole _un_patriotic? I mean you’re hardly following the US flag code. I can understand if it’s an identifying patch on a military uniform so we can tell you apart from the Swedes, but if you’ve got it printed on your boxers that ain’t respect. So you’re suggesting I cancel my order for star spangled urinal cakes? ---
**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 20, 2019, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36733 "2019-09-20T21:29:57Z")
An American flag is respectful when a Republican puts it anywhere, including caps, stickers or on their shoes. It’s also respectful of the country when a Republican puts up a flag of rebel forces that tried to overthrow the United States of America through an armed insurrection. However, if a \ Liberal \ flys an American flag from a pole in their yard, they are probably doing it sarcastically, as they clearly hate the country. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36734 "2019-09-20T21:30:03Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > So you’re suggesting I cancel my order for star spangled urinal cakes? At this point, given the situation with our country, I’d consider the use of star spangled urinal cakes a valid form of demonstrative protest akin to burning the flag. ---
**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 20, 2019, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36735 "2019-09-20T22:36:19Z")
There are five tall flag poles near the top of the Blues Highway, flying the flags of our city, province and country, and the countries of Norway and USA. Today one of the flags was upside down – the USA’s. I guess Trump was right when he declared us to be a security risk. ---
**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 21, 2019, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36736 "2019-09-21T00:04:05Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > There are five tall flag poles near the top of the Blues Highway, flying the flags of our city, province and country, and the countries of Norway and USA. Today one of the flags was upside down – the USA’s. I guess Trump was right when he declared us to be a security risk. Flying the flag upside down is a distress signal. Highly appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2019, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36737 "2019-09-21T00:09:51Z")
So this phone call was not the smoking gun to bring down Trump that we hoped it would be. And that is where we are in this country. Even urging a foreign government to go after political rivals won’t mean shit. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2019, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36738 "2019-09-21T00:20:12Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > So this phone call was not the smoking gun to bring down Trump that we hoped it would be. And that is where we are in this country. Even urging a foreign government to go after political rivals won’t mean shit. We don’t know that yet. I wouldn’t be too surprised if nothing came of it, but it’s too soon to say for sure. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2019, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36739 "2019-09-21T00:21:26Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > So you’re suggesting I cancel my order for star spangled urinal cakes? These arent cakes but they may be appropriate. [https://www.ebay.com/i/283430131630?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=283430131630&targetid=807829131762&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9007369&poi=&campaignid=6470498059&mkgroupid=80514858234&rlsatarget=pla-807829131762&abcId=1141156&merchantid=6296724&gclid=CjwKCAjw8ZHsBRA6EiwA7hw\_sWHZ2bIacXTS07p0aiS5eS3qbiXQN0RRpJ8wW3insOm6nEOH\_o8yPxoCDd8QAvD\_BwE](https://www.ebay.com/i/283430131630?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=283430131630&targetid=807829131762&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9007369&poi=&campaignid=6470498059&mkgroupid=80514858234&rlsatarget=pla-807829131762&abcId=1141156&merchantid=6296724&gclid=CjwKCAjw8ZHsBRA6EiwA7hw_sWHZ2bIacXTS07p0aiS5eS3qbiXQN0RRpJ8wW3insOm6nEOH_o8yPxoCDd8QAvD_BwE) ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2019, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36740 "2019-09-21T00:46:19Z")
\*\* > [@davidm](#): > > We don’t know that yet. I wouldn’t be too surprised if nothing came of it, but it’s too soon to say for sure. Wait, didn’t I see a story that said the whistleblower was concerned about several incidents? This could just be the beginning ---
**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:** [September 21, 2019, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36741 "2019-09-21T01:34:08Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Again, we are hearing about this solely because Ukraine seemingly resisted Giuliani’s offer, necessitating a call from the President. > > To that end, what about those countries whom: > > 1. Trump has had secret meetings with (Putin, Helsinki)? > 2. Trump doesn’t have to apply pressure to get them to assist? > 3. Those countries which already interfered in US elections? The “what about those countries” answer may explain why Trump has, reportedly, been fairly calm and in a good mood in recent weeks, able to put aside all worries and freely indulge his artistic side with doodling on weather maps, etc. In other words: he knows he’s been guaranteed another Inaugural. > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I think a turning point was when Cheney shot a man in the face while drunk, and faced no repercussions whatsoever for it. > That may be when Republicans went: “Hey, once you’re in office, you really can do any damned thing you please.” > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > It was particularly telling when the guy with the birdshot in his face actually _apologized_ to the heartless (literally, at one point) guy with the gun who shot him. These are good points. The Republicans have been unmoored from all considerations of ever being subject to laws, for quite some time now. ---
**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:** [September 21, 2019, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36742 "2019-09-21T01:34:40Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > Wait, didn’t I see a story that said the whistleblower was concerned about several incidents? This could just be the beginning It could also be the clain that allegedly Trump brought this up like 6 or 8 times in the same call. And in terms of fallout, I heard on the radio today that Biden was making an appearance at a fundraiser, and was asked by reporters if he had anything to hide in the Ukraine. So there may be fallout. For Biden. (And maybe there _should_ be. But you can bet that the so-called president won’t face shit for asking a foreign nation to dig up dirt on the former V.P. of the United States.) ---
**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 21, 2019, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36743 "2019-09-21T01:43:42Z")
They stuck Abbie Hoffman in jail in 1968 for wearing an American flag shirt. ---
**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 21, 2019, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36744 "2019-09-21T01:47:11Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > We don’t know that yet. I wouldn’t be too surprised if nothing came of it, but it’s too soon to say for sure. Deja Mueller all over again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1836) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1838)