# 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:** 2004
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40065 "2020-01-23T03:59:54Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Reading through this - they’re only asking for the money to be paid back? > > Does this rise to the level of an actual criminal complaint / prosecution? This is a lawsuit against the corporate entities involved in the fraud. This is the mechanism for recovering the money. Now there MAY end up being a separate criminal case against the INDIVIDUALS involved in the scheme. Or not. It would be up to prosecutors to decide if any of the actions are chargeable offenses. The main “crime” in the lawsuit seems to be one of overcharging, and I doubt that, in and of itself, rises to a crime. Now if they have further evidence of illegalities, they may charge some people. But it looks like Rick Gates helped them out a lot here, and this may have been part of his larger plea agreements. IANAL. We will see. ---
**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:** [January 23, 2020, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40066 "2020-01-23T05:55:13Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The State Department is cracking down on “birth tourism” by requiring women “observed to have a body size/shape resembling a pregnant lady" to take a pregnancy test. I’m sure a lot of overweight women are gonna be happy with that decision. > [https://thehill.com/policy/international/travel-warnings/479461-us-to-impose-visas-restrictions-for-pregnant-women](https://thehill.com/policy/international/travel-warnings/479461-us-to-impose-visas-restrictions-for-pregnant-women) Somebody should contact Trump’s Christian supporters and tell them that by placing a special penalty on pregnancy, Trump is encouraged women to have abortions. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40067 "2020-01-23T06:03:39Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > This is a lawsuit against the corporate entities involved in the fraud. This is the mechanism for recovering the money. > > Now there MAY end up being a separate criminal case against the INDIVIDUALS involved in the scheme. Or not. It would be up to prosecutors to decide if any of the actions are chargeable offenses. The main “crime” in the lawsuit seems to be one of overcharging, and I doubt that, in and of itself, rises to a crime. Now if they have further evidence of illegalities, they may charge some people. > > But it looks like Rick Gates helped them out a lot here, and this may have been part of his larger plea agreements. IANAL. We will see. I was thinking along the lines of conspiracy to defraud. the Trumps knew they were being over charged but were allowing it to get more money into their own entity. the way I read that it…all parties knew but it was a way to get money from the charity to the trumps … ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40068 "2020-01-23T14:24:19Z")
Wow, the [Dunning-Krueger](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mnuchin-says-thunberg-should-study-economics-in-college-before-calling-on-divestment-of-fossil-fuel) is strong in this one. Mnuchin is the guy whose knowledge of economics begins and ends with a complete misunderstanding of the Laffer curve. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40069 "2020-01-23T14:34:42Z")
Shifting from the center ring of this mismanagement circus, let’s turn the spotlight on Trump Treasury Secretary Mnuchin, who snarked that Greta Thunberg had no business calling for fossil-fuel divestment until she studied economics.:dubious: 1. I studied econ in college and I recall that negative externalities are a well-documented and generally-accepted concept. Facile cheerleaders for the free market as god think it can solve all problems, most actual economists don’t. 2. This remark is ripe for the rejoinder that she should study a real science, like the ones telling us that global climate change is real and causing great harm, not a mere social science like economics. Heck, Thunberg’s message is that we need to listen to the scientists!:smack: 3. A doggerel verse popped into my head when I read this story: > [@a Munchkin](#): > > I represent the financiers’ guild, the financiers’ guild, the financiers’ guild. > And on behalf of the financiers’ guild, I tell you to fuck off. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40070 "2020-01-23T14:35:55Z")
Ninja’d! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40071 "2020-01-23T14:40:43Z")
You said the same thing I did, just with more detail. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40072 "2020-01-23T14:41:15Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > I was thinking along the lines of conspiracy to defraud. the Trumps knew they were being over charged but were allowing it to get more money into their own entity. > > the way I read that it…all parties knew but it was a way to get money from the charity to the trumps … That’s kind of where I was going with “further evidence of illegality”. It seems to clearly be a scheme to funnel the Inaugural Committee Funds back to the privately held Trump Organization for the benefit of the Trump Family. But the evidence against the individuals isn’t laid out it this lawsuit so I’m not sure how strong it is. And it would have to be really damn strong for anyone to charge Ivanka Trump. ---
**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:** [January 23, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40073 "2020-01-23T14:50:25Z")
Yeah, team Trump should study climate science before they tell us again what a hoax it is. Trump’s lawyers should study law before they tell us what a witch Hunt the impeachment is. Hannity should study journalism… ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40074 "2020-01-23T14:51:35Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Somebody should contact Trump’s Christian supporters and tell them that by placing a special penalty on pregnancy, Trump is encouraged women to have abortions. Yebbut they’re brown women, so it’s okay. ---
**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:** [January 23, 2020, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40075 "2020-01-23T15:08:00Z")
Double post. I pit bizarre board errors! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40076 "2020-01-23T15:11:10Z")
No way was there any money siphoned off from the Inaugural! Damn, they must have spent every dime and then some on that extravagant display! There hasn’t been such a spectacular event since the Tri-City High School Football Tourney in Buglug County, Nebraska! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40077 "2020-01-23T15:14:01Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > There hasn’t been such a spectacular event since the Tri-City High School Football Tourney in Buglug County, Nebraska! Go Threshers! ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40078 "2020-01-23T19:24:57Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Individual 1 apparently thinks an American invented the wheel. > [Trump Seems to Think an American Invented the Wheel](https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-seems-to-think-an-american-invented-the-wheel) Sure, he wants to protect Thomas Edison, he wants to protect the inventor of the wheel, but you just know he’ll screw Archimedes. ---
**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:** [January 23, 2020, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40079 "2020-01-23T19:33:03Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Individual 1 apparently thinks an American invented the wheel. > [Trump Seems to Think an American Invented the Wheel](https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-seems-to-think-an-american-invented-the-wheel) But… He’s talking about Elon Musk, who has only been an American citizen since 2002. He’s been South African and Canadian longer. I wonder if Individual 1 knows that. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40080 "2020-01-23T19:46:18Z")
Lol, “a lifelong conservative Republican who doesn’t grab women by…anything.” > **[Republican group calls for ‘President Pence’ amid impeachment trial](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/479607-republican-group-calls-for-president-pence-in-new-ad/)** > > A GOP group headed by former Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol is calling on the Senate to oust President Trump and confirm Vice President Pence as his successor.In a press release, Defending Dem… Well, I’m sold! ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40081 "2020-01-23T19:48:10Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Somebody should contact Trump’s Christian supporters and tell them that by placing a special penalty on pregnancy, Trump is encouraged women to have abortions. C’mon you know his “Christian” supporters would have supported the pregnant traveler ban in Bethlehem a couple thousand years ago. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40082 "2020-01-23T20:00:07Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > C’mon you know his “Christian” supporters would have supported the pregnant traveler ban in Bethlehem a couple thousand years ago. Yes, even if they had been told that it’s Jesus that will come out of the womb, they wouldn’t have believed it because the parents were brown folks. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40083 "2020-01-23T20:23:48Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > C’mon you know his “Christian” supporters would have supported the pregnant traveler ban in Bethlehem a couple thousand years ago. Several months ago, when the kids in cages were in the headlines, there was an online article about whether Trump would have denied entry to the Holy Family when they were refugees. The comments section was filled with snipes from irate Christians telling liberals they should read the Bible sometime, because Jesus was never a refugee. These comments confirmed the surveys that show most Christians know next to nothing about the Bible, because the Flight to Egypt is in the second chapter of the New Testament. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40084 "2020-01-23T20:36:48Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Several months ago, when the kids in cages were in the headlines, there was an online article about whether Trump would have denied entry to the Holy Family when they were refugees. The comments section was filled with snipes from irate Christians telling liberals they should read the Bible sometime, because Jesus was never a refugee. > > These comments confirmed the surveys that show most Christians know next to nothing about the Bible, because the Flight to Egypt is in the second chapter of the New Testament. Oh, I hadn’t heard about that! It is amazing how ignorant some of these conservative Christians are. Sad! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=2003) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=2005)