# 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:** 2033
**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 17, 2020, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40645 "2020-02-17T17:56:45Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Not even that. That’s why he made Ivanka. …who pays someone else to do it and then takes all the credit, like with her handbag designs. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40646 "2020-02-17T19:34:19Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Just like Evil Goatee Chekov said… Be my little baby…woh oh oh oh ooohhhh ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40647 "2020-02-17T19:47:50Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Not even that. That’s why he made Ivanka. Donald John Trump will follow anything his dick runs into. Doesn’t matter that he is too stupid to understand what a gold digger is. Doesn’t matter one bit. He’s a moron that can’t think beyond where his next hamberder is coming from. That is the president of the USA. We know the facts above to be true. Republicans don’t care as long as they can somehow get a payoff. ---
**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 17, 2020, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40648 "2020-02-17T19:56:09Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Just like Evil Goatee Chekov said… Evil Chekov did not have a goatee. And he was not nearly as evil as evil Sulu (who was also cleanshaven). ---
**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:** [February 17, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40649 "2020-02-17T20:52:57Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Evil Chekov did not have a goatee. And he was not nearly as evil as evil Sulu (who was also cleanshaven). It looked like evil Sulu got shaved _too_ close, truth be told. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40650 "2020-02-17T21:33:33Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Just like Evil Goatee Chekov said… > [@GargoyleWB](#): > > Be my little baby…woh oh oh oh ooohhhh Ddamn! That does work, doesn’t it? > [@eschereal](#): > > Evil Chekov did not have a goatee. And he was not nearly as evil as evil Sulu (who was also cleanshaven). Thanks for the correction. > [@Shatner](#): > > Get a life. 😃 (sorry; I can’t find the Shatner SNL skit on YouTube atm.) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40651 "2020-02-17T21:48:31Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > > [@Shatner](#): > > > > Get a life. > > 😃 > > (sorry; I can’t find the Shatner SNL skit on YouTube atm.) > **[Get A Life! - video Dailymotion](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xmagzq)** > > Watch Get A Life! - dag2007 on Dailymotion [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WUL7q8eyig8/hqdefault.jpg "William Shatner offers sage advice - "Get a life."") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUL7q8eyig8) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40652 "2020-02-17T22:47:41Z")
You totally fucking rock, **Johnny L.A.**! ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40653 "2020-02-18T01:16:28Z")
Evil Spock didn’t have a goatee either; it’s a van dyke. ---
**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 18, 2020, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40654 "2020-02-18T01:26:31Z")
I think we should all enjoy watching a certain person take one of his golf carts and use it to re-enact what the actor who played Chekov 2.0 did with the Jeep. No stunt doubles. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2020, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40655 "2020-02-18T01:48:11Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > It comes down to human nature. The military is an institution, one run by people. Institutions can change over time. Their cultures can change. They can be corrupted. They can be influenced by politics. There are bad apples. There are people who put personal ambitions and ideology over the broader principles that are supposed to define what the institutions stand for (Michael Flynn, anyone?). All this is true. But it appears that Trump’s handlers aren’t counting on the traditional military to provide muscle for harassing “the wrong” people at polling places, keeping demonstrators fearful and few, etc. He’s building up ICE and associated border-patrol forces: > [@](#): > > **Trump administration to deploy Border Patrol officers to sanctuary cities** > Feb. 14, 2020, 6:24 PM EST > By Laura Strickler and Daniella Silva > The Trump administration will deploy 100 tactical Border Patrol officers to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 10 so-called sanctuary cities across the nation, a senior official with the Department of Homeland Security said Friday. > > The decision to deploy the officers comes after the administration has recently repeatedly targeted sanctuary cities that limit cooperation with immigration enforcement authorities. > > … CBP typically detains people along the border, at airports and ports of entry, and has broader authority when operating within 100 miles of a U.S. border, while ICE conducts immigration arrests in the rest of the country. > > … “For three years, the administration has systematically empowered and expanded Customs and Border Protection’s authority, including by ramping up CBP’s budget,” [ACLU official Naureen Shah] said. "Now, far beyond the border, CBP agents are attempting to circumvent local law enforcement to police the nation with zero accountability. [Trump administration to deploy Border Patrol officers to sanctuary cities](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/trump-administration-deploy-border-patrol-officers-sanctuary-cities-n1137261) Only one hundred now, but as people get used to having Trump’s private forces encamped in their cities, the numbers can be increased. There’s really nothing they can’t be counted on to do in Trump’s interest—which can’t really be said for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard, who are (from Trump’s point of view) far too interested in following traditions of non-involvement in civilian affairs. (Though perhaps the Space Force might be more amenable to breaking heads for Trump; we’ll have to wait and see on that one.) Additional information on the build-up of ICE and CBP in the new White House budget: [https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/09/trump-border-wall-cash-billions-112860](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/09/trump-border-wall-cash-billions-112860) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40656 "2020-02-18T05:34:38Z")
Something just occurred to me. I’m wondering if the emphasis on intimidating Hispanic voters might not be bolstered by them believing their own bullshit. Like they’re scaring away all the illegal voters that went for Hillary and cost Il Douche his landslide popular vote victory. Could they be that fucking stupid? That they are sincerely in pursuit of an enemy they made up in the first place? ---
**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 18, 2020, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40657 "2020-02-18T05:37:59Z")
No, really, he failed to get into a war with Iran, so his plan is to ramp the country up toward internal violent conflict, in the hope that he will get re-elected as a wartime leader. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40658 "2020-02-18T06:33:47Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I seriously doubt it. Sure, if everyone quit at once, that would be a problem, but that’s not what’s happening. It’s attrition - as I said, next man up. We are not talking being killed or disappearing. We are talking _not doing their jobs._ A work slowdown, perhaps. Use your imagination. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40659 "2020-02-18T17:23:11Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Another example of Trump’s ignorance: > > [Trump wanted CIA to kill bin Laden’s son over other high-priority targets: report](https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/cia/483322-trump-wanted-cia-to-kill-bin-ladens-son-over-other-high-priority) > Trump apparently does national security based on Q-score, so to speak. This is entirely unsurprising, and actually evidence of Trump’s ignorance, (which is not to say that his complete ignorance didn’t play a role). To think that Trump would act otherwise is to misunderstand what motivates Trump’s policy. Going after the high value targets recommended by the intelligence community only makes sense if your goal is to make America safer. This is not at all Trump’s goal. Keeping thing a little dicey abroad helps keep up the fear and Xenophobia that keeps him in power. No what matters is pandering to his ignorant base. Killing off some high ranking ISIS commander Ailbabyboobystan, whose name no one can pronounce let alone recognize isn’t going to do much for him. On the other hand killing off another Bin Laden, that that is the sort of thing that is going get the crowd frothing at the mouth at his next rally. > [@asahi](#): > > It comes down to human nature. The military is an institution, one run by people. Institutions can change over time. Their cultures can change. They can be corrupted. They can be influenced by politics. There are bad apples. There are people who put personal ambitions and ideology over the broader principles that are supposed to define what the institutions stand for (Michael Flynn, anyone?). Well, broad culture wise the military does seem to be [turning away from Trump.](https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/12/17/half-of-active-duty-service-members-are-unhappy-with-trump-new-military-times-poll-shows/) 49.9% of the military have an unfavorable view of Trump, (45.1% very unfavorable) compared to 41.6% that have a favorable view (24.3% very favorable). Among the officers its even worse with only 33% of officers having a favorable view. So I don’t see a military dictatorship in Trump’s near future. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40660 "2020-02-18T19:28:05Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Well, broad culture wise the military does seem to be [turning away from Trump.](https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/12/17/half-of-active-duty-service-members-are-unhappy-with-trump-new-military-times-poll-shows/) > > 49.9% of the military have an unfavorable view of Trump, (45.1% very unfavorable) compared to 41.6% that have a favorable view (24.3% very favorable). Among the officers its even worse with only 33% of officers having a favorable view. So I don’t see a military dictatorship in Trump’s near future. God I hope this is true. I am in numerous (perhaps too many) military related Facebook groups and it seems like the majority of the participants are loud, obnoxiously, and stupidly pro-Trump. I hope it’s the noisy minority. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40661 "2020-02-18T20:12:59Z")
[Trump commutes Blagojevich’s sentence, pardons others](https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/18/politics/donald-trump-rod-blagojevich-commutation-sentence/index.html) > [@](#): > > Trump has suggested in his public comments about the case that he believes Blagojevich was simply doing what all politicians do. But not **Him** , of course. > [@The Messiah](#): > > I would think that there have been many politicians – I’m not one of them, by the way – that have said a lot worse over the telephone. ---
**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 18, 2020, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40662 "2020-02-18T20:23:17Z")
Michael fucking Milken? ---
**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:** [February 18, 2020, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40663 "2020-02-18T20:57:31Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Michael fucking Milken? He is setting a precedent to pardon for financial crimes… presumably so some future president pardons him. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/40664 "2020-02-18T21:17:52Z")
I’m trying to come up with Trump’s motivation for some of these actions – figuring he’s 100% motivated by “what’s in it for me?” – and I’m stumped. Is there a sizable contingent of Ohio voters who are thinking “Well, I got no use for Trump, but any friend of Eddie D’s is all right in my book!”? Enough to carry Ohio in November? Not seeing it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=2032) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=2034)