# 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:** 1909
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38165 "2019-10-25T22:46:43Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > The mischief is happening right now — the several thousand voters who (you never know) might make all the difference, who are newly energized now by there being a criminal investigation of investigators. By this I mean folks who were looking for an excuse to mistrust the investigation, and now have it. A very small number — most Trumpists or non-Trumpists are baked in — but surely there are a few out there. ---
**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:** [October 25, 2019, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38166 "2019-10-25T23:04:31Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > With regard to AG Barr’s “Investigate the Investigators” crusade – what are the worst case scenarios? > > Either he finds something substantial, or he doesn’t. > > If he finds something substantial, what could it plausibly be? > If he doesn’t – let’s assume that issuing a statement exonerating the brave men and women of the FBI and praising Mueller is not likely. So what mischief could happen? What could they find that was wrong with the investigation? I’m sure Mueller did nothing illegal. I read somewhere about a “shadowy person” in Ukraine I think that Mueller interviewed, wish I could remember the details. But interviewing a criminal even isn’t wrong, you interview a lot of people. Now if he included that person in the report and it turned out he was lying, well that would be something. But again I trust Mueller would not have made that kind of mistake. It’s just obfuscation to try and cast doubt on the whole process and discredit Mueller. But Mueller exonerated Trump! No collusion! No obstruction! No quid pro quo! Proposed bio (in the style of the long titles fashionable these days)- No Quid Pro Quo: The Presidency of Donald Trump. He Didn’t Give The US Anything, and the US Didn’t Get Anything (Except a Whole Bunch of Trouble) ---
**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:** [October 25, 2019, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38167 "2019-10-25T23:04:49Z")
Hey, this sort of “let’s investigate the emails!” shit worked well enough last time. I’d like to think that we’re jaded enough not to be fooled by it twice, shame on us, but I’m not that optimistic. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38168 "2019-10-25T23:41:24Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Colorado comes from the Spanish word for ‘ruddy’ or ‘red’. Correct. > [@](#): > > ‘Cabbage prayed’ is col rezó (according to the google translation). The joke is based on _col_ = cabbage (also _repollo_), _orado_ = prayed (past participle of _orar_, “to pray.”) _Rezar_ (third person preterit _rezó_) is another word for “to pray.” ---
**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:** [October 25, 2019, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38169 "2019-10-25T23:59:51Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > What could they find that was wrong with the investigation? I’m sure Mueller did nothing illegal. I figure if Mueller or someone on his team did so much as drive through a yellow light at some point while they were conducting the Russia investigation, Barr will throw the book at them. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38170 "2019-10-26T00:10:43Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > I figure if Mueller or someone on his team did so much as drive through a yellow light at some point while they were conducting the Russia investigation, Barr will throw the book at them. I suspect it has less to do with the Mueller investigation itself, and more with the origins of the investigation. That whole FISA court / Carter Page stuff. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38171 "2019-10-26T00:18:45Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Wall Street Journal: “Trump Too Stupid to Be a Crook.” > > [The Wall Street Journal says Trump shouldn’t be impeached because “he was too inept to execute” Ukraine quid pro quo.](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/10/wall-street-journal-editorial-trump-impeach-too-inept-ukraine-quid-pro-quo.html) Is that supposed to be the latest excuse? Fuck that. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2019, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38172 "2019-10-26T00:51:06Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Not really. Ties are almost mandatory, so most every guy in a suit wears a tie (or a bow-tie for penguin events) and it’s a fashion statement to sport anything else. Hats have mostly fallen out of fashion so it’s a deliberate fashion choice to wear one at all - and since anyone with even a pinch of sense knows all of the fancy-assness of hats belongs with bowlers… (Yes it does. I’ll fight you IRL) This really requires a new thread, by the way. In the fall and winter I usually wear a leather cowboy hippie hat. Passersby say “You look like Indiana Jones,” And I think “No, this is a cowboy hippie hat. Indiana Jones wears a felt fedora.” I ALSO own a pearl gray bowler, which I wear when appropriate. Like last winter when I attended the opening of an Art Spiegelman art show in a midtown gallery. With a gray topcoat, tweed vest, cool necktie, and sneakers. (Spiegelman was wearing a fedora.) ---
**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:** [October 26, 2019, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38173 "2019-10-26T00:58:45Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > With regard to AG Barr’s “Investigate the Investigators” crusade – what are the worst case scenarios? > Either he finds something substantial, or he doesn’t. > If he finds something substantial, what could it plausibly be? > If he doesn’t – let’s assume that issuing a statement exonerating the brave men and women of the FBI and praising Mueller is not likely. So what mischief could happen? > [@JKellyMap](#): > > The mischief is happening right now — the several thousand voters who (you never know) might make all the difference, who are newly energized now by there being a criminal investigation of investigators. Yes, this will confuse some voters, and confirm for the wavering that Trump is an Innocent Victim (retch). But more than that: this is a message to everyone working for the CIA, FBI, and every other part of the government, that if you find _anything_ that could make Trump look bad, or _anything_ that would imply Russia is interfering in US election (or other matters), _ **you had better keep your damn mouth shut** _. It’s official notice that we are not a rule-of-law nation, anymore; we are a ‘protect Donald Trump at all costs’ nation. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38174 "2019-10-26T01:06:14Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Yes, this will confuse some voters, and confirm for the wavering that Trump is an Innocent Victim (retch). > > But more than that: this is a message to everyone working for the CIA, FBI, and every other part of the government, that if you find _anything_ that could make Trump look bad, or _anything_ that would imply Russia is interfering in US election (or other matters), _ **you had better keep your damn mouth shut** _. > > It’s official notice that we are not a rule-of-law nation, anymore; we are a ‘protect Donald Trump at all costs’ nation. Excellent (but scary) point. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38175 "2019-10-26T14:17:26Z")
In a normal administration, this would be a major scandal instead of just side news. DOD [awards](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/25/technology/dod-jedi-contract.html) huge contract to Microsoft over Amazon: “The Department of Defense on Friday awarded a $10 billion technology contract to Microsoft over Amazon in a contest that was closely watched after President Trump ramped up his criticism of Amazon’s founder, Jeff Bezos, and said he might intervene.” Trump [directed the award](https://taskandpurpose.com/snodgrass-mattis-book) of the contract to Microsoft over Amazon for political reasons: "Writing about how Mattis always tried to translate the president’s demands into ethical, well-meaning outcomes, Snodgrass reveals that Trump called Mattis in the summer of 2018 and directed him to “screw Amazon” out of a chance to bid on a $10 billion cloud networking contract. Trump has long held a grudge against Amazon and its CEO Jeff Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post. He’s accused Amazon of scamming the Postal Service (it’s not), and has railed against The Post as a “lobbying tool for Amazon,” often after the paper reports on news unfavorable to the president. Snodgrass writes: “Relaying the story to us during Small Group, Mattis said, 'We’re not going to do that. This will be done by the book, both legally and ethically.” ---
**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:** [October 26, 2019, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38176 "2019-10-26T16:30:39Z")
CFSG [making an appearance at](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-criminal-justice-hbcu-lynching_n_5db33872e4b006d4916e28b7?sjg) Benedict, a historically black college, “ **We’ll never let up on our efforts to ensure that our justice system is fair for every single American. And I have my own experience, you know that. You see what’s going on with the witch hunt. It’s a terrible thing that’s going on in our country,** ” I am the victim here, he says. Just like a black person being mistreated by the cops. _[Benedict sophomore Nia Byas also said](https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article236652858.html#storylink=cpy) the campus was on “lockdown.” Other local media outlets have quoted Benedict College students saying they were asked not to leave their dorm rooms during the president’s visit. … Students were largely left out of (CFSG)’s speech … on criminal justice to approximately 300 people, according to a previous article from The State. Roughly 10 of those were students, according to the article. “Sure, I would love to go to the event,” said (senior Kevin) Reese, who is neither a supporter nor an opponent of (CFSG)’s. “Just to hear a sitting president, I wouldn’t want to miss that.”_ ---
**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:** [October 26, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38177 "2019-10-26T17:42:18Z")
Individual 1 also said that if we hadn’t been in the Middle East, we could have used the money in black neighborhoods. Which, yeah, except we all know that it wouldn’t have gone there. [Trump: Spending on Middle East wars could have been used on inner-city scholarships](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-says-spending-middle-east-wars-could-have-been-used-n1072241)? 10/22/19 Former Individual 1 VA Secretary David Shulkin, in a new book, says serving in the administration was like an SNL sketch. > **[Trump's Ex-VA Secretary Compares Meeting to 'Saturday Night Live' Sketch](https://www.newsweek.com/trump-va-secretary-book-kellyanne-conway-jared-kushner-snl-1466928)** > > Dr. David Shulkin has written in a new book about his time amid the "toxic, chaotic, and subversive" environment of the Trump administration. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2019, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38178 "2019-10-26T20:36:43Z")
10.26.19 CertiPath, a company that Robert Trump is an investor in, was just awarded a $33 million contract with the US Marshals Service. [Company With Ties to Trump’s Brother Awarded $33 Million Government Contract: Report](https://www.thedailybeast.com/company-with-ties-to-trumps-brother-awarded-dollar33-million-government-contract)? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38179 "2019-10-26T20:53:04Z")
Yeah, I give democracy in the USA maybe a fifty-fifty shot at this point. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2019, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38180 "2019-10-26T21:48:57Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > 10.26.19 > CertiPath, a company that Robert Trump is an investor in, was just awarded a $33 million contract with the US Marshals Service. > [Company With Ties to Trump’s Brother Awarded $33 Million Government Contract: Report](https://www.thedailybeast.com/company-with-ties-to-trumps-brother-awarded-dollar33-million-government-contract)? Wanna know the funny part? Trump voters think he’s draining the swamp. You know why they think so? Because he _said_ that’s what he was doing. Yup, that’s where they’re at. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2019, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38181 "2019-10-26T22:18:12Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > CFSG [making an appearance at](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-criminal-justice-hbcu-lynching_n_5db33872e4b006d4916e28b7?sjg) Benedict, a historically black college, > “ **We’ll never let up on our efforts to ensure that our justice system is fair for every single American. And I have my own experience, you know that. You see what’s going on with the witch hunt. It’s a terrible thing that’s going on in our country,** ” > > I am the victim here, he says. Just like a black person being mistreated by the cops. > > _[Benedict sophomore Nia Byas also said](https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article236652858.html#storylink=cpy) the campus was on “lockdown.” Other local media outlets have quoted Benedict College students saying they were asked not to leave their dorm rooms during the president’s visit. … Students were largely left out of (CFSG)’s speech … on criminal justice to approximately 300 people, according to a previous article from The State. Roughly 10 of those were students, according to the article. “Sure, I would love to go to the event,” said (senior Kevin) Reese, who is neither a supporter nor an opponent of (CFSG)’s. “Just to hear a sitting president, I wouldn’t want to miss that.”_ IF ONLY IF ONLY IF ONLY he had said something like, “I’m with you, my brothers, because _I_ know what it is to be _lynched_!” What a quotable moment that would have been. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38182 "2019-10-26T23:00:26Z")
John Kelly apparently has had some harsh words for Trump recently. In response, the president’s press secretary said [the following true quote](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/26/us/politics/trump-john-kelly-impeachment.html)that is not made up and is in the United States, not a totalitarian regime: “I worked with John Kelly, and he was totally unequipped to handle the genius of our great president,” the press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2019, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38183 "2019-10-26T23:03:54Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > John Kelly apparently has had some harsh words for Trump recently. In response, the president’s press secretary said [the following true quote](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/26/us/politics/trump-john-kelly-impeachment.html)that is not made up and is in the United States, not a totalitarian regime: “I worked with John Kelly, and he was totally unequipped to handle the genius of our great president,” the press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement. i can’t figure out whom he’s channeling: Kim Ilsung, Kim Jongun, Kim Jongil, or Annoyed. ---
**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:** [October 27, 2019, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38184 "2019-10-27T00:11:13Z")
“I worked with John Kelly, and he was totally unequipped to handle the genius of our great president,” the press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, said…" Stupid Republican, insane hyperbolic praise is for North Korea. Fucking idiot. God, can the country be free of these fucking morons already??? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1908) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1910)