# 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:** 2025
**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:** [February 11, 2020, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40485 "2020-02-11T16:51:46Z")
He’s not the Messiah; he’s a [del]very naughty boy[/del] stupid petulant narcissistic asshole. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2020, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40486 "2020-02-11T17:35:48Z")
It seems [the cluelessness continues](https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a30870485/donald-trump-curb-your-enthusiasm-larry-david-maga-hat-tweet-explained/), unabated. He found a clip from a TV show about an asshole who just wants to be left alone, so he starts wearing a maga hat. Somehow, the CFSG saw the segment as being supportive of him. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40487 "2020-02-11T17:45:03Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > I’m sure a pardon is already scheduled for November 4, 2020. [Justice Dept. to reduce sentencing recommendation for Trump associate Roger Stone, official says, after president calls it ‘unfair’](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/justice-dept-to-reduce-sentencing-recommendation-for-trump-associate-roger-stone-official-says-after-president-calls-it-unfair/2020/02/11/ad81fd36-4cf0-11ea-bf44-f5043eb3918a_story.html) > [@](#): > > The Justice Department plans to reduce its sentencing recommendation for longtime President Trump confidant Roger Stone, after top officials were apparently blindsided by the seven-to-nine year penalty prosecutors urged a judge to impose, a senior Justice Department official said Tuesday. > > In a stunning rebuke of career prosecutors that will surely raise questions about political meddling in the case, a senior Justice Department official said the department “was shocked to see the sentencing recommendation in the Roger Stone case last night.” > > “That recommendation is not what had been briefed to the department,” the official said. “The department finds the recommendation extreme and excessive and disproportionate to Stone’s offenses. The department will clarify its position later today.” > > The statement came hours after President Trump tweeted of the sentence prosecutors recommended, “This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!” The senior Justice Department official, though, said the decision to revise prosecutors’ recommendation came before Trump’s tweet. Well, good to know that Trump had no influence in this decision. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40488 "2020-02-11T18:08:03Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > [Justice Dept. to reduce sentencing recommendation for Trump associate Roger Stone, official says, after president calls it ‘unfair’](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/justice-dept-to-reduce-sentencing-recommendation-for-trump-associate-roger-stone-official-says-after-president-calls-it-unfair/2020/02/11/ad81fd36-4cf0-11ea-bf44-f5043eb3918a_story.html) > > Well, good to know that Trump had no influence in this decision. IANAL, but if I were representing Jeff Bezos, I would use this as part of the attempt to depose Trump and Esper… ---
**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:** [February 11, 2020, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40489 "2020-02-11T19:20:16Z")
DOJ gives over $500,000 to an anti-human trafficking organization called “Hookers For Jesus”. The organization requires people they’re helping to attend church services, doesn’t allow them to read secular magazines, and has no history of helping male or foreign victims. > **[DOJ Gave $500K Anti-Human Trafficking Grant to 'Hookers for Jesus'](https://www.newsweek.com/doj-gave-500k-grant-hookers-jesus-instead-established-anti-trafficking-groups-report-1486596)** > > The U.S. Justice Department is under fire after a whistleblower complaint revealed that the DOJ's anti-human trafficking grant program gave over $1 million to Hookers for Jesus and the Lincoln Tubman Foundation rather than recommended organizations. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40490 "2020-02-11T19:26:09Z")
Its too ridiculous not to be true. _Oh, tempura! Oh, morays_! ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40491 "2020-02-11T19:26:31Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > [Justice Dept. to reduce sentencing recommendation for Trump associate Roger Stone, official says, after president calls it ‘unfair’](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/justice-dept-to-reduce-sentencing-recommendation-for-trump-associate-roger-stone-official-says-after-president-calls-it-unfair/2020/02/11/ad81fd36-4cf0-11ea-bf44-f5043eb3918a_story.html) To quote Chidi from _The Good Place_, “This broke me.” If this happens, I’m just _done_. This would show that the GOP believes themselves to be above the law- if you’re the President’s friend, you don’t need to worry about being held responsible for your actions. As far as I’m concerned, this means that the US legal system is completely corrupt- and without the rule of law, what’s the point? ---
**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:** [February 11, 2020, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40492 "2020-02-11T19:40:24Z")
Russian news outlets are praising Individual 1’s acquittal, as it will speed up the destruction of the United States. [Russians Think Triumphant Trump Is More Their Man Than Ever](https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-acquitted-is-more-russias-trump-than-ever)? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40493 "2020-02-11T19:56:03Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > To quote Chidi from _The Good Place_, “This broke me.” > > If this happens, I’m just _done_. This would show that the GOP believes themselves to be above the law- if you’re the President’s friend, you don’t need to worry about being held responsible for your actions. As far as I’m concerned, this means that the US legal system is completely corrupt- and without the rule of law, what’s the point? It’s still the judge who actually passes the sentence (IANAL). So there’s still the possibility that the judge will tell the DOJ to “fuck off and let me do my job.” ---
**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:** [February 11, 2020, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40494 "2020-02-11T20:04:08Z")
Individual 1, who is on record for defending stop and frisk, calls Michael Bloomberg a racist for instituting stop and frisk > **[Trump, who loves stop-and-frisk, says Bloomberg is a racist for defending...](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/02/trump-who-loves-stop-and-frisk-says-bloomberg-is-a-racist-for-defending-stop-and-frisk/)** > > The president refers to himself the "least racist person in the world." ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40495 "2020-02-11T20:12:41Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > It’s still the judge who actually passes the sentence (IANAL). So there’s still the possibility that the judge will tell the DOJ to “fuck off and let me do my job.” Perhaps that is the long game. Then Trump can point to an ‘activist’ judge to justify a pardon. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40496 "2020-02-11T20:19:41Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Perhaps that is the long game. Then Trump can point to an ‘activist’ judge to justify a pardon. As if he needs a justification. Why is Trump concerned about the sentence anyway? He’s just going to pardon him, probably the day after the election. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40497 "2020-02-11T20:50:23Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > [Justice Dept. to reduce sentencing recommendation for Trump associate Roger Stone, official says, after president calls it ‘unfair’](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/justice-dept-to-reduce-sentencing-recommendation-for-trump-associate-roger-stone-official-says-after-president-calls-it-unfair/2020/02/11/ad81fd36-4cf0-11ea-bf44-f5043eb3918a_story.html) > > Well, good to know that Trump had no influence in this decision. An evil but crafty executive would have quietly ordered Barr to go easy on Stone, while maintaining some distance and plausible deniability. But Trump can’t not comment, can’t stop himself from tweeting. He’s a very, very stupid man. (And why? Is he trying to impress his base? I doubt they give a rat’s ass about Stone.) ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40498 "2020-02-11T20:57:56Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > An evil but crafty executive would have quietly ordered Barr to go easy on Stone, while maintaining some distance and plausible deniability. > > But Trump can’t not comment, can’t stop himself from tweeting. He’s a very, very stupid man. > > (And why? Is he trying to impress his base? I doubt they give a rat’s ass about Stone.) Stone’s being rewarded for serving as a loyal soldier in the Trump crime family. Probably doesn’t hurt that he undoubtedly knows where a body or two is buried. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40499 "2020-02-11T21:00:09Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > (And why? Is he trying to impress his base? I doubt they give a rat’s ass about Stone.) Vlad told him to? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40500 "2020-02-11T21:03:16Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Stone’s being rewarded for serving as a loyal soldier in the Trump crime family. Probably doesn’t hurt that he undoubtedly knows where a body or two is buried. Trump crime family? Stone, as I’m sure you know, goes back to Nixon! Knows where a body or two is buried . . . and still has the shovel. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40501 "2020-02-11T22:23:00Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > An evil but crafty executive would have quietly ordered Barr to go easy on Stone, while maintaining some distance and plausible deniability. > > But Trump can’t not comment, can’t stop himself from tweeting. He’s a very, very stupid man. > > (And why? Is he trying to impress his base? I doubt they give a rat’s ass about Stone.) They’re not that stupid. They’re trying to normalize the politicization of the Department of Justice. Nauseating in the extreme, and I wonder about any lawyer in this country who isn’t outraged by this disgraceful debasement of our rule of law. One thing to keep in mind is that the sentencing judge is not in any way bound by the recommendations of either the prosecuting or defense attorneys. The US attorneys for that case could recommend no jail time – and the judge can sentence him to anything she wants within the sentencing guidelines. Whoop, good for these guys!!! Just saw [this](https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/11/politics/roger-stone-sentencing-justice-department/index.html) (CNN): > [@](#): > > Three federal prosecutors have withdrawn from the case against longtime Donald Trump confidant Roger Stone after a decision by top Justice Department officials to disavow and undercut their own federal prosecutors by reducing the government’s recommended sentence against him. > > The stunning and politically charged decision to reduce prosecutors’ recommended sentence of up to nine years came hours after Trump publicly criticized it, immediately raising questions about the Justice Department’s independence from political pressure. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40502 "2020-02-11T22:46:41Z")
According to this [tweet](https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1227361145515847690?s=21), the fourth Prosecutor has resigned. I guess the rule of law was a nice experiment but the divine right of kings is back in vogue… ---
**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:** [February 11, 2020, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40503 "2020-02-11T23:01:21Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > They’re not that stupid. They’re trying to normalize the politicization of the Department of Justice. Nauseating in the extreme, and I wonder about any lawyer in this country who isn’t outraged by this disgraceful debasement of our rule of law. > > One thing to keep in mind is that the sentencing judge is not in any way bound by the recommendations of either the prosecuting or defense attorneys. The US attorneys for that case could recommend no jail time – and the judge can sentence him to anything she wants within the sentencing guidelines. > > Whoop, good for these guys!!! Just saw [this](https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/11/politics/roger-stone-sentencing-justice-department/index.html) (CNN): > > > [@](#): > > > > The stunning and politically charged decision to reduce prosecutors’ recommended sentence of up to nine years came hours after Trump publicly criticized it, immediately raising questions about the **Justice Department’s** **independence** from **political pressure**. The **who’s** **what** from **which** , now? Pretty sure that question had been answered “_There isn’t any_” back in 2017. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40504 "2020-02-11T23:25:34Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > The **who’s** **what** from **which** , now? > > Pretty sure that question had been answered “_There isn’t any_” back in 2017. Whose. That is all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=2024) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=2026)