# 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:** 1995
**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:** [January 9, 2020, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39885 "2020-01-09T13:20:58Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Iran would be stupid to do anything offensive in the short term. They run the real risk of a war that would destroy their regime and country. Now, they have the high road and the assassination has given a boost to their legitimacy and quieted internal dissent. If you’re saying that conflict will continue between Iran and the US and Iran; well, duh. > > Long term, they are getting what they want, the US is divided and ineffective. Allies are going to be hesitant to be pulled in to any conflict initiated by Trump, for the Iranians the tables are slowly turning in their favor. But the US still remains a much stronger nation than they are and they will have to be very careful. America’s influence in the middle east is decreasing and when your enemy is committing unforced errors, get out of the way. And trump is getting what he wants-- in the short term, which is all his brain can handle, namely, headlines that aren’t about impeachment and the opportunity to strut around and pretend he is a statesman. What happens next? There is no _next_, only today’s headlines. ---
**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:** [January 9, 2020, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39886 "2020-01-09T16:35:19Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > I really wish one of the Democratic candidates would say “Iran, if you’re listening, maybe you should hack into the IRS and release Mr. Trump’s tax returns…”. See, the Democrats are actually interested in _not_ provoking him into starting a war with Iran. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2020, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39887 "2020-01-10T01:07:32Z")
Points for [consistency](https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/477548-trump-says-nothings-a-hoax-about-climate-change), [INDENT]“\*\*Nothing’s a hoax about that. It’s a very serious subject. I want clean air; I want clean water. I want the cleanest air with the cleanest water. The environment’s very important to me. I also want jobs. I don’t want to close up our industry because somebody said you have to go with wind or you have to go with something else that’s not going to be able to have the capacity to do what we have to do.\*\*” (AgentOrange)'s remarks came as part of a White House event tied to changes the president announced Thursday to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The changes would relieve agencies from considering climate change as they weigh environmental impacts of major infrastructure projects. [/indent] He likes golf, right? Give him lots of points. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2020, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39888 "2020-01-10T06:06:48Z")
Individual 1’s Nuremberg rally in Ohio tonight, talking about why he didn’t tell the Democrats about the assassination of Soleimani: “We didn’t have time to call up Nancy, who is not operating with a full deck. No, they want us to call — can you imagine? Calling crooked Adam Schiff? We’ve got him lined up, Adam. You little pencil-neck. Nine inches. He buys the smallest shirt collar you can get, and it’s loose. Now, come on, Adam. Schiff is a big leaker. He leaks to crazy CNN.” > **['You little pencil-neck': Trump mocks idea of notifying Adam Schiff about...](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/you-little-pencil-neck-trump-mocks-idea-of-notifying-adam-schiff-about-soleimani-raid)** > > President Trump took aim at Rep. Adam Schiff on Thursday, claiming he would have leaked news of airstrikes on Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani to CNN if he had known about it. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39889 "2020-01-10T10:08:55Z")
> [@Tatterdemalion](#): > > I don’t know about that. I understand he’s very big on the whole quid pro quo thing. Not really, he’s just big on receiving as much quid as possible while letting go of as little quo as he can sue away with. Or any other currency, really, it doesn’t have to be British. Thanks to Michael, Michael, Michael and ThelmaLou. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39890 "2020-01-10T11:01:43Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > What kills me is the way the pundit-sphere is meticulously analyzing every nuance of trump’s behavior “Trump” and “nuance” go together like “nouvelle cuisine” and “Obelix”. Does not compute. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39891 "2020-01-10T13:00:29Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Not really, he’s just big on receiving as much quid as possible while letting go of as little quo as he can sue away with. Or any other currency, really, it doesn’t have to be British. Precisely. Which makes me wonder just how much quid he got for that little bit of quo. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2020, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39892 "2020-01-10T19:35:30Z")
The new President of Ethiopia won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in making peace with Eritrea and calming conditions within the country. Individual 1 says he should have won the prize for “saving” Ethiopia. Ethiopia is going, “uh, whut?” > **[Trump Appears to Take Credit for Ethiopia President's Nobel Prize](https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/ethiopia-trump-nobel-prize/2020/01/10/id/949271/)** > > Video of U.S. President Donald Trump saying he had a hand in the latest Nobel Peace Prize has gone viral in Ethiopia after Trump asserted that he had "made a deal" to save the country. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39893 "2020-01-10T19:47:38Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The new President of Ethiopia won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in making peace with Eritrea and calming conditions within the country. Individual 1 says he should have won the prize for “saving” Ethiopia. Ethiopia is going, “uh, whut?” > [https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/ethiopia-trump-nobel-prize/2020/01/10/id/949271/](https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/ethiopia-trump-nobel-prize/2020/01/10/id/949271/) **MEGA** Make Ethiopia Great Again! ---
**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:** [January 10, 2020, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39894 "2020-01-10T20:11:23Z")
Pompeo: We killed Soleimani because he was an imminent threat to the US. Reporter: What does imminent mean? Pompeo: At some point in the future, we don’t know when. Iraq: It’s time for the US to pull out US: Make us. [Everything That Happened Since Yesterday In Our Iran Iraq Clusterfuq ... Wait, BREAKING! - Wonkette](https://www.wonkette.com/everything-that-happened-since-yesterday-in-our-iran-iraq-clusterfuq-wait-breaking)? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39895 "2020-01-10T20:58:50Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Pompeo: We killed Soleimani because he was an imminent threat to the US. > Reporter: What does imminent mean? > Pompeo: At some point in the future, we don’t know when. > … > [Everything That Happened Since Yesterday In Our Iran Iraq Clusterfuq ... Wait, BREAKING!](https://www.wonkette.com/everything-that-happened-since-yesterday-in-our-iran-iraq-clusterfuq-wait-breaking)? Insert here a relevant quote about words having meanings – either Lewis Carroll or the Princess Bride, your choice. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2020, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39896 "2020-01-10T21:34:04Z")
Wall Street Journal is reporting that Individual 1 assassinated Soleimani to score points with Senators whose votes he needs to prevent impeachment. > **[Trump’s New National Security Team Made Fast Work of Iran Strike](https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-new-national-security-team-made-fast-work-of-iran-strike-11578619195)** > > White House advisers were cohesive and less inclined than their predecessors to push back against the president’s wishes. They also were less likely to consult in advance with others, including congressional leaders and foreign allies. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39897 "2020-01-10T21:35:06Z")
We’ll, at least he died for a noble cause. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2020, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39898 "2020-01-11T14:05:45Z")
Ya left out the “ig.” ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39899 "2020-01-11T14:13:34Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Pompeo: We killed Soleimani because he was an imminent threat to the US. > Reporter: What does imminent mean? > Pompeo: At some point in the future, we don’t know when. > Iraq: It’s time for the US to pull out > US: Make us. > [Everything That Happened Since Yesterday In Our Iran Iraq Clusterfuq ... Wait, BREAKING!](https://www.wonkette.com/everything-that-happened-since-yesterday-in-our-iran-iraq-clusterfuq-wait-breaking)? Yeah it’s looking more like an occupation again. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39900 "2020-01-11T15:54:22Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The new President of Ethiopia won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in making peace with Eritrea and calming conditions within the country. Individual 1 says he should have won the prize for “saving” Ethiopia. Ethiopia is going, “uh, whut?” > [https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/ethiopia-trump-nobel-prize/2020/01/10/id/949271/](https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/ethiopia-trump-nobel-prize/2020/01/10/id/949271/) Dear Donald, Here in Oslo, we find the thought of you receiving the same award as Martin Luther King or Doctors Without Borders is either hilarious or horrifying. You will never receive a Nobel Prize. It will be a cold day in hell. The sun will go nova first. Why don’t you go lobby the Downtown Athletic Club of New York? You have a better chance at the Heisman Trophy. Love, The Nobel Peace Prize Committee ---
**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:** [January 11, 2020, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39901 "2020-01-11T17:55:20Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Dear Donald, > > Here in Oslo, we find the thought of you receiving the same award as Martin Luther King or Doctors Without Borders is either hilarious or horrifying. > > You will never receive a Nobel Prize. It will be a cold day in hell. The sun will go nova first. > > Why don’t you go lobby the Downtown Athletic Club of New York? You have a better chance at the Heisman Trophy. > > Love, > > The Nobel Peace Prize Committee “…Martin Luther King or Doctors Without Borders…” Or Obama. You know, your nemesis. Hehe. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39902 "2020-01-11T18:11:32Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > “…Martin Luther King or Doctors Without Borders…” > > Or Obama. You know, your nemesis. Hehe. "p.s. We hear the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion is up for grabs this year. p.p.s. You should have heard Obama at last week’s Annual Nobel Prize Winners Get-Together and Happy Hour. He had us in stitches." ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39903 "2020-01-12T06:16:13Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Points for [consistency](https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/477548-trump-says-nothings-a-hoax-about-climate-change), > [INDENT]“\*\*Nothing’s a hoax about that. It’s a very serious subject. I want clean air; I want clean water. I want the cleanest air with the cleanest water. The environment’s very important to me. > > I also want jobs. I don’t want to close up our industry because somebody said you have to go with wind or you have to go with something else that’s not going to be able to have the capacity to do what we have to do.\*\*” > > (AgentOrange)'s remarks came as part of a White House event tied to changes the president announced Thursday to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The changes would relieve agencies from considering climate change as they weigh environmental impacts of major infrastructure projects. [/indent] > > He likes golf, right? Give him lots of points. ## Well, yeah, because wind and solar power take away jobs because they’re not coal, because coal is very good, and wind gives you cancer if it’s coming through turbines. Seriously, though, I die a little inside every time I read anything that spews forth from this jumble-brain’s frothing mouth. I die some more when his base at his rallies eat it up, guffaw, and cheer because they think he’s hilarious and plain-spoken. He says what they’re thinking, after all–which apparently means that they think in word-salad and scattered insults, with lots of _very_ and_really_ thrown in to make it sound serious. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2020, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/39904 "2020-01-12T19:36:01Z")
The Secretary of Defense has seen no intel saying that Soleimani was about to attack US embassies, but if the President believes it, then he believes it must be true. > **[Esper says he "didn't see" specific evidence showing Iranian threat to 4 U.S....](https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/mark-esper-secretary-of-defense-iranian-threat-specific-evidence-didnt-see-face-the-nation-2020-01-13/)** > > The defense secretary told "Face the Nation" he "didn't see" specific evidence showing four embassies were going to be attacked. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1994) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1996)