# 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:** 1852
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2019, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37025 "2019-09-25T22:35:25Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > I saw a comment about Trump’s reference to Crowdstrike, which he mentioned. Trump apparently thinks Crowdstrike framed Russia for the DNC hack, according to the comment. > > If Trump does, the rabbit hole is deeper than I thought. More info: [Trump’s weird reference to “CrowdStrike” during the Ukraine call, briefly explained](https://www.vox.com/2019/9/25/20883373/trump-crowdstrike-ukraine-call-explained) _Trump still thinks his own intelligence agencies are wrong about who hacked the DNC — and he wanted Ukraine’s help to prove it._ > [@](#): > > Trump responded by telling Zelensky, “I would like you to do us a favor though.” He went on to ask him for a confusing favor related to a cybersecurity firm, a billionaire, and a computer server — but its subtext seems to be that Trump wanted help uncovering evidence that he believes would indicate that Russia was framed for hacking the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in 2016. > > “I would like you to find out what happened with this whole situation with Ukraine, they say Crowdstrike … I guess you have one of your wealthy people … The server, they say Ukraine has it,” Trump said, according to the White House. (The ellipses are in the “transcript,” which could be benign pauses or could suggest the White House may have withheld some information, a la Attorney General William Barr’s misleading letter to Congress about the Mueller report ahead of its public release.) > > CrowdStrike, for those who may not remember, was the cybersecurity firm that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) used to investigate hacks against it back in 2016. It concluded that Russia was responsible, a finding later backed up by the US intelligence communities and special counsel Robert Mueller. But Trump apparently still believes that his own intelligence agencies have it wrong. > > … > > But Trump’s reference to “Crowdstrike” is also significant, illustrating as it does the president’s continued fixation on the Russia investigation, not to mention the fact that he continues to disbelieve the consensus conclusion of his own intelligence agencies. ---
**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 25, 2019, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37026 "2019-09-25T22:40:54Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Trump is conducting a … press conference? … right now. It’s live on the TeeVee. I can’t tell what the hell he’s babbling about. Someone needs to tranq him with a dart gun and put him to bed. I feel bad for poor [Daniel Dale.](https://twitter.com/ddale8) At times he sounded like like somebody _did_ tranq him with a dart gun. ---
**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 25, 2019, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37027 "2019-09-25T22:59:55Z")
So are big bad brave Republicans still making fun of 16 year old Greta Thunberg today? That’s been quiet, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2019, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37028 "2019-09-25T23:24:17Z")
To me he always sounds like he’s been tranq’d. ---
**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 25, 2019, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37029 "2019-09-25T23:27:34Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > So are big bad brave Republicans still making fun of 16 year old Greta Thunberg today? That’s been quiet, huh? They are currently seeking out the next person for the Two Minute Hate. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2019, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37030 "2019-09-25T23:36:05Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Individual 1: > Hillary’s emails may be in Ukraine. > “Nancy Pelosi, as far as I’m concerned, unfortunately she’s no longer Speaker of the House.” > [https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/trump-press-conference-pelosi-twitter-jokes-14467585.php](https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/trump-press-conference-pelosi-twitter-jokes-14467585.php) In other news: Tax cuts pay for themselves. Climate change is a hoax. Trade wars are easy to win. Talking snakes are real. Faith healing is highly effective. The angel Moroni inscribed golden plates with the history of the Jews in pre-Colombian America. Hillary ran a pedophile ring out of a pizza parlor. Mueller found no evidence of obstruction of justice. Sending a poor person to the doctor is the same as sending You to the gulag. Who can keep up? ---
**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 26, 2019, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37031 "2019-09-26T00:39:56Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > In other news: > Tax cuts pay for themselves. > Climate change is a hoax. > Trade wars are easy to win. > Talking snakes are real. > Faith healing is highly effective. > The angel Moroni inscribed golden plates with the history of the Jews in pre-Colombian America. > Hillary ran a pedophile ring out of a pizza parlor. > Mueller found no evidence of obstruction of justice. > Sending a poor person to the doctor is the same as sending You to the gulag. > > Who can keep up? War is Peace Freedom is Slavery Ignorance is Strength ---
**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 26, 2019, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37032 "2019-09-26T01:41:56Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > No Quid Pro Quo! > > Deep state! > > Hillary’s emails! > > Witch Hunt! I just saw a composition of tweets, @realCFSG **PRESIDENTIAL HARRASSMENT!** @jenerous _What were you wearing?_ ---
**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 26, 2019, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37033 "2019-09-26T02:30:24Z")
Individual 1: “I know a lot of people from Ukraine. They’re great people. I owned something called the Miss Universe pageants years ago … we had a winner from Ukraine … it’s a country with tremendous potential.” There has never been a Miss Universe from Ukraine. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37034 "2019-09-26T02:56:54Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Freedom is Slavery Slavery is States Rights ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37035 "2019-09-26T04:06:37Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Individual 1: > “I know a lot of people from Ukraine. They’re great people. I owned something called the Miss Universe pageants years ago … we had a winner from Ukraine … it’s a country with tremendous potential.” > > There has never been a Miss Universe from Ukraine. Maybe he meant his next future ex-wife ---
**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 26, 2019, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37036 "2019-09-26T04:24:21Z")
New York Times reporter Peter Baker: "Trump says Europe hasn’t done enough to support Ukraine. US aid from 2013-17: $1.3 billion plus $600 million in security assistance. European Union aid since 2014: $16.5 billion. Per master fact-checker @Lindaqiu" > ---
**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 26, 2019, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37037 "2019-09-26T04:30:48Z")
Individual 1 says reporters should investigate Mike Pence. > **[Trump encourages questions to Pence about his own Ukraine calls](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/25/trump-pence-ukraine-phone-calls-1512771)** > > The president also said he could be convinced to release more information on an earlier conversation with Ukraine's president. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37038 "2019-09-26T04:36:31Z")
[The whistleblower complaint has been declassified](https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/25/politics/whistleblower-complaint/index.html), and may be released as early as tomorrow (Thursday), three sources have told CNN. I recall reading that it will be ‘lightly’ redacted. ---
**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 26, 2019, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37039 "2019-09-26T04:48:46Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Individual 1: > “I know a lot of people from Ukraine. They’re great people. I owned something called the Miss Universe pageants years ago … we had a winner from Ukraine … it’s a country with tremendous potential.” > > There has never been a Miss Universe from Ukraine. He was probably thinking about Junior Miss Universe, walking in on the contestants in various states of undress, seeing the lass from Ukraine, and said to himself, “That’s a winner there!” Note: I have absolutely no idea if there is such a contest as Junior Miss Universe, nor do I care. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37040 "2019-09-26T05:06:15Z")
I’m fairly surprised that there wasn’t something like that on the telephone call. " I’ve always liked the Ukraines, lots of beautiful women." ---
**Author:** ![mjmlabs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mjmlabs/32/69_2.png) [@mjmlabs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjmlabs)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37041 "2019-09-26T05:18:19Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Individual 1: > “I know a lot of people from Ukraine. They’re great people. I owned something called the Miss Universe pageants years ago … we had a winner from Ukraine … it’s a country with tremendous potential.” > > There has never been a Miss Universe from Ukraine. True. Totally true. And also amusing. 🙂 But in fairness\* to Future Disgraced Former President Trump, there was a First Runner-Up from Ukraine in 2011. You _could_ call First Runner-Up “a” winner. And I don’t remember … much of anything from 2011, myself. (But then again, I didn’t have “CALL PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE” on my calendar and a bunch of interns to research small-talk nuggets for me, neither.) This is not a hill worth defending at all, in my judgment. There are so many other, far worthier hills. \*I know that that’s an asymmetry. I like to think I’m a better person than Future Disgraced Former President Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37042 "2019-09-26T06:40:57Z")
Okay, how about a test. Trump said “I know a lot of people from Ukraine.” At his next live press conference, he should be asked to name three Ukrainians. I’d be willing to bet money he couldn’t do it. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2019, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37043 "2019-09-26T07:25:17Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Okay, how about a test. > > Trump said “I know a lot of people from Ukraine.” > > At his next live press conference, he should be asked to name three Ukrainians. > > I’d be willing to bet money he couldn’t do it. And he’ll say he was just kidding. Or will promise to pay you the wager and you’ll never get it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/37044 "2019-09-26T09:58:05Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Okay, how about a test. > > Trump said “I know a lot of people from Ukraine.” > > At his next live press conference, he should be asked to name three Ukrainians. > > I’d be willing to bet money he couldn’t do it. I tried to do it and came up with Sergei Prokofiev, Eugene Hütz and Verka Serduchka. I apparently have very eclectic tastes in music. For Trump, we may have to settle for “Find Ukraine on a map without just drawing it in with a Sharpie”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1851) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1853)