# 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:** 1846
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36905 "2019-09-24T18:17:55Z")
Trump just tweeted that he will release the transcript tomorrow. Not, like the white house has been known to [edit](http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-white-house-keeps-editing-its-transcripts-curious-ways) those. ---
**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 24, 2019, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36906 "2019-09-24T18:23:19Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Trump just tweeted that he will release the transcript tomorrow. Not, like the white house has been known to [edit](http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-white-house-keeps-editing-its-transcripts-curious-ways) those. It will have the name “Biden” crossed out and “Bad Man” written in using sharpie. ---
**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 24, 2019, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36907 "2019-09-24T18:26:16Z")
On a more serious note, it should be made completely crystal clear that ANY attempt to change or alter a transcript to make things move favorable for Trump will result in lengthy prison terms for anyone and everyone responsible and anyone who knew about it and said nothing. Time to play hardball. No more lying. No more obstruction. No more coverups. ALL will be held criminally responsible for their actions at this point. Want to cover up for Trump? Right. I’m sure he’ll have your back when you are sentenced to 15 years in prison. Want to think that through again? ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36908 "2019-09-24T18:29:11Z")
Also, since the whisteblower report was about a series of things, trying to weasel out of one of them while keeping the report hidden is not acceptable. On edit, Schiff has it [covered](https://twitter.com/RepAdamSchiff/status/1176564220407767042). ---
**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:** [September 24, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36909 "2019-09-24T18:30:08Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > California has failed to show that they are addressing air quality issues? At the same time that Team Imbecile wants to strip them of their right to tougher vehicle emissions/fuel economy standards?? > How fuckin stupid are Republicans, anyway??? > (There aren’t enough slap yourself in the face emoticons for this one.) > :smack: “\*EPA officials acknowledged they had not sent any similar letters to other states \ ***and denied the letter was politically motivated**.” ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36910 "2019-09-24T19:11:41Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Trump just tweeted that he will release the transcript tomorrow. Not, like the white house has been known to [edit](http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-white-house-keeps-editing-its-transcripts-curious-ways) those. It’s a trap. The transcript must not contain any obvious quid pro quo, or Trump wouldn’t have caved in so quickly. Which just means that the quid pro quo came in a conversation from Rudy Giuliani. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36911 "2019-09-24T19:12:53Z")
> [@](#): > > “I put no pressure on them whatsoever. I could have. I think it would probably, possibly have been OK if I did. But I didn’t. I didn’t put any pressure on them whatsoever,” Trump said Monday. He"thinks" it would probably, possibly be OK if he pressured the Ukraine? Mother of all that’s holy and bright-, he thinks that would be _ **OK** _??? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36912 "2019-09-24T19:14:22Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Just what I was thinking. One sentence. Straightforward. Of course, the Republicans will try to Obfuscate and throw mud… but just keep repeating: > > The President of the United States extorted the head of a sovereign state by withholding Congressionally-allocated taxpayer funds to force that state to generate compromising evidence against a political opponent. Suggested Edit: Strike “[DEL]generate[/DEL]”; substitute “concoct” (emphasizing the point that there ain’t no “there” there). ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36913 "2019-09-24T19:18:12Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Also, since the whisteblower report was about a series of things, trying to weasel out of one of them while keeping the report hidden is not acceptable. > > On edit, Schiff has it [covered](https://twitter.com/RepAdamSchiff/status/1176564220407767042). God, I hope the WB turns out to be a woman. ---
**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 24, 2019, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36914 "2019-09-24T19:18:21Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > He"thinks" it would probably, possibly be OK if he pressured the Ukraine? > > Mother of all that’s holy and bright-, he thinks that would be _ **OK** _??? Most of Trump’s base think that it would be just fine if Trump worked closely with Russia during the next election. They’d be OK with changing votes, voter intimidation, hacking the voting machines, throwing away ballots… ANYthing, as long as the evil Democrats are kept out of power forever, and we can have a nice Authoritarian Dictatorship like they want. ---
**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 24, 2019, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36915 "2019-09-24T19:19:26Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > God, I hope the WB turns out to be a woman. In that eventuality, I guarantee Trump will call her “nasty” ---
**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:** [September 24, 2019, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36916 "2019-09-24T19:25:39Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > God, I hope the WB turns out to be a woman. That _would_ be a surprise to Mrs. Bolton. 😉 ---
**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 24, 2019, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36917 "2019-09-24T19:27:34Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > It’s a trap. The transcript must not contain any obvious quid pro quo, or Trump wouldn’t have caved in so quickly. > > Which just means that the quid pro quo came in a conversation from Rudy Giuliani. As noted by **Fiveyearlurker** , it’s not acceptable. And I would add that it’s misdirection. What Congress has asked for is the whistleblower’s complaint – of which this one transcript is only one small part. It’s a crumb while they try to hide the loaf of bread. I find myself more and more interested to learn who the whistleblower is. I do find the departures of Dan Coats and Sue Gordon more fascinating under the circumstances. Those occurred right in the thick of the timeline of this illegal conduct. I am also interested to note Moscow Mitch’s break with the “administration” on this issue, where he said (noted in another thread, I believe) that he was not given any explanation about why the Ukrainian military aid package approved by Congress had been delayed. It’s worth remembering that Moscow Mitch has occasionally intimated that impeachment remains an option if Trump goes too far. Moscow Mitch is mercenary as hell. Biden is speaking, and very plainly, too. He looks presidential. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2019, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36918 "2019-09-24T19:36:16Z")
Transcript thing is not that big of a deal, for if there is a transcript, there is a recording, therefore the production of a transcript really does little more than confirm the existence of a recording. Which will then have to be matched to the transcript. So let’s get that. ---
**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 24, 2019, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36919 "2019-09-24T19:38:54Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > That _would_ be a surprise to Mrs. Bolton. 😉 I thought that was what he called his mustache. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36920 "2019-09-24T19:42:34Z")
I mean, this guy _put a sharpie to a map then had the NOAA **lie** _ to save himself from embarrassment over a tweet. Think this transcript is going to contain every word, grunt, and sigh? lololol X infinity ---
**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:** [September 24, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36921 "2019-09-24T19:42:42Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I find myself more and more interested to learn who the whistleblower is. I do find the departures of Dan Coats and Sue Gordon more fascinating under the circumstances. Those occurred right in the thick of the timeline of this illegal conduct. > > I am also interested to note Moscow Mitch’s break with the “administration” on this issue, where he said (noted in another thread, I believe) that he was not given any explanation about why the Ukrainian military aid package approved by Congress had been delayed. It’s worth remembering that Moscow Mitch has occasionally intimated that impeachment remains an option if Trump goes too far. Moscow Mitch is mercenary as hell. > > Biden is speaking, and very plainly, too. He looks presidential. I would bet (actually, I don’t bet except in casinos) that it is Coats and Gordon. Can you imagine their testimony and how devastating it will be? People didn’t understand the Mueller Report and Slick Willie Barr’s slanted summary muddied the waters beyond all hope. But this is simple. “I heard individual one say that if Ukraine manufactured dirt on Biden, they could get their military aid.” Fuck the transcripts. If there were 9 calls and one was innocent, you can bet your sweet ass that the one innocent call will have transcripts released. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36922 "2019-09-24T19:49:07Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Most of Trump’s base think that it would be just fine if Trump worked closely with Russia during the next election. They’d be OK with changing votes, voter intimidation, hacking the voting machines, throwing away ballots… ANYthing, as long as the evil Democrats are kept out of power forever, and we can have a nice Authoritarian Dictatorship like they want. This guy was also a clown: > [@](#): > > Originally Posted by **Sideshow Bob** : > Because you need me, Springfield. Your guilty conscience may move you to vote Democratic, but deep down you long for a cold-hearted Republican to lower taxes, brutalize criminals, and rule you like a king. That’s why I did this, to save you from yourselves. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a city to run. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36923 "2019-09-24T19:53:07Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > He"thinks" it would probably, possibly be OK if he pressured the Ukraine? > > Mother of all that’s holy and bright-, he thinks that would be _ **OK** _??? So it’s possible that the transcript release is _not_ a trap – that it is incriminating. But Trump doesn’t realize it, because he thinks everything is OK because he’s the President and he can do whatever he wants. He’s just that stupid…it might be true. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2019, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/36924 "2019-09-24T19:59:56Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I would bet (actually, I don’t bet except in casinos) that it is Coats and Gordon. Can you imagine their testimony and how devastating it will be? People didn’t understand the Mueller Report and Slick Willie Barr’s slanted summary muddied the waters beyond all hope. But this is simple. “I heard individual one say that if Ukraine manufactured dirt on Biden, they could get their military aid.” > > Fuck the transcripts. If there were 9 calls and one was innocent, you can bet your sweet ass that the one innocent call will have transcripts released. The released transcript will be as worthwhile, and as honest, as Barr’s summary. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1845) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1847)