# 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:** 1910
**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 27, 2019, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38185 "2019-10-27T00:18:18Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > 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. This is the essence of Trump’s effect: no one knew, before, how freely a politician could lie and get away with it. It wouldn’t work without the FoxNews bubble. But given some degree of news-siloing, as it turns out, anything goes. You can say you’re doing Wonderful Thing A and never be called on the fact that you are not doing Wonderful Thing A. Also, and more importantly, you will never be called on the fact that you are actually doing Corrupt-and-Destructive Thing B. Folks like Rick Scott and Tom Cotton and Marco Rubio and Joni Ernst have taken notice: you betcha. ---
**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 27, 2019, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38186 "2019-10-27T01:39:35Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > “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??? These are the people who will elect, or not, our next President. Why am I still surprised at the ignorance of the average voter? _Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people_ Widely attributed to American author and social critic H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) but not found exactly verbatim in his published works > **[Trump voter shifts stance on impeachment. Here’s why | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/10/24/north-carolina-voters-trump-impeachment-savidge-pkg-ebof-vpx.cnn)** > > CNN’s Martin Savidge speaks to North Carolina voters about their thoughts on the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38187 "2019-10-27T01:58:47Z")
> [@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. Fuck John Kelly. According to the cite, he regrets he’s not still enabling Trump, he regrets that Trump is going to be impeached, and he’s speaking at some right wingnut get-together that also features Devin Nunes and Sarah Huckabee Sanders. He’s a disgrace to his former uniform. ETA: oh yeah, and he’s now making big bucks on migrant “housing facilities,” which last seen had children sleeping on concrete floors. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38188 "2019-10-27T02:11:29Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > 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. He was only ‘draining the swamp’ so he could import his own. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38189 "2019-10-27T02:32:43Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > He was only ‘draining the swamp’ so he could import his own. I prefer to think of it as him “draining the swamp” {;);)} so that he could install a sewer. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38190 "2019-10-27T03:27:57Z")
Well, apparently [we have looted Syria’s oil](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/26/us/politics/trump-syria-oil-fields.html). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38191 "2019-10-27T03:39:13Z")
Been very busy lately, so I’m late to the party. Excuse me if this has already been mentioned. But referring to that “phony emoluments clause” in the Constitution shows precisely how seriously he takes his oath to uphold said Constitution. As if anyone needed to have that pointed out. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38192 "2019-10-27T03:56:47Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Well, apparently [we have looted Syria’s oil](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/26/us/politics/trump-syria-oil-fields.html). From : Donald Trump To : Smedley Butler Object : RE : War is a racket “You say that like it’s a bad thing ? IDGI” ---
**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 27, 2019, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38193 "2019-10-27T04:03:18Z")
No date on it, but it says “1 day ago” White House Cybersecurity Chief has resigned with a scathing letter of resignation. > **[White House cybersecurity chief quits, says leadership is inviting an attack](https://thenextweb.com/news/white-house-cybersecurity-chief-quits-says-leadership-is-inviting-an-attack)** > > White House computer security Chief Dimitrios Vistakis gave the White House one helluva resignation notice earlier this week when he quit over practices he dubbed “absurd” including the systemic purging of cybersecurity staff. > They say that ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38194 "2019-10-27T04:20:09Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > No date on it, but it says “1 day ago” > White House Cybersecurity Chief has resigned with a scathing letter of resignation. > [White House cybersecurity chief quits, says leadership is inviting an attack](https://thenextweb.com/politics/2019/10/25/white-house-cybersecurity-chief-quits-says-leadership-is-inviting-an-attack/) Wait, wasn’t Rudy supposed to be in charge of The Cyber? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38195 "2019-10-27T08:56:03Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > No date on it, but it says “1 day ago” > White House Cybersecurity Chief has resigned with a scathing letter of resignation. > [White House cybersecurity chief quits, says leadership is inviting an attack](https://thenextweb.com/politics/2019/10/25/white-house-cybersecurity-chief-quits-says-leadership-is-inviting-an-attack/) Perhaps \* The Next Web\* isn’t the best source, considering they couldn’t be arsed to spell his name right even though it was correct in the article they used for a source. TNW: Dimitrios Vistakis versus Actual Name: Dimitrios Vastakis Using the latter makes verifying the story much easier, with multiple semi-capable sources. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38196 "2019-10-27T09:39:00Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > _[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.”_ A sad thing is that this isn’t getting more traction. We have a sitting president who is afraid of black college students. [Time Magazine reports](https://time.com/5711384/trump-hbcu-benedict-college-students/) that only 7 people were handpicked to be there, and that the lock down was due to coordination with the Secret Service, for “safety reasons.” So either Trump is abusing security to keep people away who might criticize him, or he’s so racist he’s actually scared black college students might be “thugs” who would hurt him. ---
**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 27, 2019, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38197 "2019-10-27T10:15:05Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > So either Trump is abusing security to keep people away who might criticize him, or he’s so racist he’s actually scared black college students might be “thugs” who would hurt him. I really don’t see why you think that’s an “either/or” situation. To me, the answer is both. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38198 "2019-10-27T12:11:02Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > I prefer to think of it as him “draining the swamp” {;);)} so that he could install a sewer. I quipped during the election that he was draining the swamp into his own pocket. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38199 "2019-10-27T13:10:37Z")
An interesting lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. > [@](#): > > **Charles Kupperman vs House of Reps, Trump, Pelosi, Schiff, Engel and Maloney** > > [Plaintiff alleges that Defendants have presented him with irreconcilable commands.] > > WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully prays that this Court: > A. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 and 2202, enter declaratory relief as follows: > …1. Declare whether the subpoena issued by the House Defendants to Plaintiff is authorized by, and valid under, House Rules; and > …2. Declare whether the President’s assertion of immunity from Congressional process on behalf of Plaintiff is valid and binding on Plaintiff. > B. Expedite its consideration and resolution of this case in light of the pending impeachment proceedings. > C. Grant such other and further relief as may be just and proper under the circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38200 "2019-10-27T13:43:56Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > An interesting lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. > > > [@](#): > > > > Charles Kupperman vs House of Reps, Trump, Pelosi, Schiff, Engel and Maloney > > > > [Plaintiff alleges that Defendants have presented him with irreconcilable commands.] > > > > WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully prays that this Court: > > A. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 and 2202, enter declaratory relief as follows: > > …1. Declare whether the subpoena issued by the House Defendants to Plaintiff is authorized by, and valid under, House Rules; and > > …\*\*2. Declare [COLOR=“Green”]whether the President’s assertion of immunity from Congressional process on behalf of Plaintiff is valid and binding on Plaintiff. > > [/COLOR]\*\*B. Expedite its consideration and resolution of this case in light of the pending impeachment proceedings. > > C. Grant such other and further relief as may be just and proper under the circumstances. Should we take it as a positive that this wording suggests that Kupperman and his team are leaving the question open for the moment? ---
**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, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38201 "2019-10-27T14:04:14Z")
You know you’re a moron when… The House issues you a subpoena which Donald Trump instructs you to ignore, and you just can’t decide on your own which to heed. ---
**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 27, 2019, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38202 "2019-10-27T16:52:15Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > I prefer to think of it as him “draining the swamp” {;);)} so that he could install a sewer. No, because a sewer carries the effluent away. He is draining it in order to install a cesspool. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38203 "2019-10-27T17:15:46Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > An interesting lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. > > > [@](#): > > > > **Charles Kupperman vs House of Reps, Trump, Pelosi, Schiff, Engel and Maloney** > > > > [Plaintiff alleges that Defendants have presented him with irreconcilable commands.] > > > > WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully prays that this Court: > > A. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 and 2202, enter declaratory relief as follows: > > …1. Declare whether the subpoena issued by the House Defendants to Plaintiff is authorized by, and valid under, House Rules; and > > …2. Declare whether the President’s assertion of immunity from Congressional process on behalf of Plaintiff is valid and binding on Plaintiff. > > B. Expedite its consideration and resolution of this case in light of the pending impeachment proceedings. > > C. Grant such other and further relief as may be just and proper under the circumstances. On Saturday, an even more interesting [response](https://intelligence.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=748) from the Chairs of the three house committees. > [@Representatives Schiff](#): > > Dr. Kupperman’s lawsuit—lacking in legal merit and apparently coordinated with the White House—is an obvious and desperate tactic by the President to delay and obstruct the lawful constitutional functions of Congress and conceal evidence about his conduct from the impeachment inquiry. Notwithstanding this attempted obstruction, the duly authorized subpoena remains in full force and Dr. Kupperman remains legally obligated to appear for the deposition on Monday. The deposition will begin on time and, should your client defy the subpoena, his absence will constitute evidence that may be used against him in a contempt proceeding. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/38204 "2019-10-27T17:32:04Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > I quipped during the election that he was draining the swamp into his own pocket. I’ve always assumed “swamp” was a code word for “The US Treasury”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1909) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1911)