# 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:** 2059
**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:** [March 9, 2020, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41165 "2020-03-09T21:53:01Z")
> [@tripthicket](#): > > I look forward to the day this thread (and every other Trump-titled thread) is closed and locked. As the one who started this thread, I couldn’t agree more! Let the congregation scream, **“A-MEN!!”** ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41166 "2020-03-09T21:55:07Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > As the one who started this thread, I couldn’t agree more! Let the congregation scream, **“A-MEN!!”** Just think: a year from now – God and the electorate willing – the only mention of Trump in the news may be the occasional announcement of an indictment. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41167 "2020-03-09T23:36:48Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Every time Trump goes out in public wearing that stupid red hat, the cost of the trip should be billed to the RNC since he’s basically turning it into a campaign appearance. The worst were the “look how busy I am!” pics in a suit and tie and hat, like a redneck at a funeral. That’s the one with the phone to his ear and none of the line buttons lit up. ---
**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:** [March 10, 2020, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41168 "2020-03-10T00:50:50Z")
Trump is too busy [being paranoid](https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-reportedly-told-aides-fears-184658580.html) to worry about niceties such as obeying campaign laws: > [@](#): > > Vanity Fair reports that Trump — a self-professed germaphobe — is “melting down over this.” Perhaps not shockingly, he’s focused on the media, in particular, one person close to the White House said. That reportedly includes him telling aides last week that he was concerned journalists would purposefully contract COVID-19 in an attempt to infect him on Air Force One. Also from that article: > [@](#): > > he reportedly wants the Justice Department to “open an investigation of the media for market manipulation” Because, you know, if the market looks good, he gets all the credit; if the market’s tanking, it can’t be his fault but that of his worst enemy, a free press. I think it’s about time for Ms. Pelosi to start a second round of impeachment proceedings. ---
**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:** [March 10, 2020, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41169 "2020-03-10T01:20:48Z")
> [@](#): > > …That reportedly includes him telling aides last week that he was concerned journalists would purposefully contract COVID-19 in an attempt to infect him on Air Force One. It really IS all about him, isn’t it? Talk about shit-for-brains! ---
**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:** [March 10, 2020, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41170 "2020-03-10T01:34:44Z")
So now he’s proposing a payroll tax cut. Like this is going to help out all of the hourly workers at Costco who are staying at home because they have no more toilet paper and Purell to sell. LOL! Payroll tax cut - why didn’t we think of this sooner?!:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41171 "2020-03-10T02:13:19Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Just think: a year from now – God and the electorate willing – the only mention of Trump in the news may be the occasional announcement of an indictment. And the renaming of various edifices. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41172 "2020-03-10T02:14:51Z")
The bastards haven’t tested for positive, but hopefully self-quarantining Doug Collins and Matt Gaetz can [pass on a special something](https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/09/collins-gaetz-had-contact-with-trump-before-coronavirus-self-quarantine.html) to their Dear Leader. One can always dream… ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41173 "2020-03-10T02:24:54Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > So now he’s proposing a payroll tax cut. Tax cuts fix everything. Especially when it’s a tax cut that directly affects an entitlement program. Those are the best tax cuts. ---
**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:** [March 10, 2020, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41174 "2020-03-10T02:31:40Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > Tax cuts fix everything. Especially when it’s a tax cut that directly affects an entitlement program. Those are the best tax cuts. Well, most things. For everything else, there’s thoughts and prayers. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41175 "2020-03-10T02:48:00Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Well, most things. For everything else, there’s thoughts and prayers. I follow the Republican Party twitter account, and several days ago when they posted something about coronavirus, I replied to the effect of “are you going with prayers or tax cuts to fix this”. I was _just kidding!_:mad: ---
**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:** [March 10, 2020, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41176 "2020-03-10T04:11:08Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Well, most things. For everything else, there’s thoughts and prayers. Don’t forget open carry. (It occurs to me that they like open carry because it gives them an excuse to parade around with a strap-on.) ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41177 "2020-03-10T04:34:09Z")
Trump’s solution to everything seem to be bombast, lawsuits or Tweets. It will be an epic meltdown when he realizes that they are all ineffective against a viral epidemic. Just as ineffective as tax cuts from the Republicans. ---
**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:** [March 10, 2020, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41178 "2020-03-10T04:39:59Z")
Individual 1 told aides he’s afraid journalists will try to purposefully contract coronavirus to give it to him on Air Force One and has asked the Secret Service to bar anyone who has a cough from the White House grounds. [“He’s Definitely Melting Down Over This”: Trump, Germaphobe in Chief, Struggles to Control the Covid-19 Story | Vanity Fair](https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/03/trump-germaphobe-in-chief-struggles-to-control-the-covid-19-story)? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41179 "2020-03-10T04:51:53Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Individual 1 told aides he’s afraid journalists will try to purposefully contract coronavirus to give it to him on Air Force One and has asked the Secret Service to bar anyone who has a cough from the White House grounds. > [“He’s Definitely Melting Down Over This”: Trump, Germaphobe in Chief, Struggles to Control the Covid-19 Story | Vanity Fair](https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/03/trump-germaphobe-in-chief-struggles-to-control-the-covid-19-story)? To be fair, if I had a press pass I might seriously consider this. ---
**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:** [March 10, 2020, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41180 "2020-03-10T06:53:16Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Trump’s solution to everything seem to be bombast, lawsuits or Tweets. It will be an epic meltdown when he realizes that they are all ineffective against a viral epidemic. > > Just as ineffective as tax cuts from the Republicans. I’m looking forward to the time when [this Sunday comic is true](https://www.gocomics.com/doonesbury/2019/09/15) and that his chosen strategies are ineffective against actual law. > [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Individual 1 told aides he’s afraid journalists will try to purposefully contract coronavirus to give it to him on Air Force One and has asked the Secret Service to bar anyone who has a cough from the White House grounds. > [“He’s Definitely Melting Down Over This”: Trump, Germaphobe in Chief, Struggles to Control the Covid-19 Story | Vanity Fair](https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/03/trump-germaphobe-in-chief-struggles-to-control-the-covid-19-story)? [Cough, cough.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=22180260&postcount=41259) ---
**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:** [March 10, 2020, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41181 "2020-03-10T11:43:55Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > To be fair, if I had a press pass I might seriously consider this. Hell, I’d take one for the team, give myself Ebola, and French him. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41182 "2020-03-10T11:50:24Z")
DoJ is apparently trying to get Coronavirus to spread in immigrant communities. Or is there some non completely evil reason for this? > **[Trump administration orders immigration courts to remove coronavirus posters–...](https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article241046076.html)** > > Immigration court staff nationwide were ordered by the Trump administration to take down all coronavirus posters from courtrooms and waiting areas. ---
**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:** [March 10, 2020, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41183 "2020-03-10T12:17:35Z")
I smiled all the way through this article. 🙂 **[We Are Watching the Probable Demise of Trump’s Reelection in Real Time](https://a.msn.com/r/2/BB10Xaad?m=en-us&referrerID=InAppSharehttp://)** > [@](#): > > …The obvious factor distinguishing the coronavirus and the probable recession from the Access Hollywood tape, firing James Comey, and all the rest is that they have a tangible impact on the lives of Americans. (Or, to put it more precisely, Americans who have voting representation, unlike Puerto Ricans.) Trump’s continuous din of scandals and gaffes is unintelligible to many Americans who either do not follow the news closely, or follow Trump-controlled news organs, and who have instead judged his presidency by the direct experience of peace and prosperity. Trump has done one very big thing very well: He rebranded the economic expansion he inherited as his own creation, like the licensing deals he makes to splash the Trump name over hotels and resorts other people built. Trump’s handling of the coronavirus turns his greatest strength into perhaps his greatest liability. > > A somewhat less obvious factor is that Trump’s own mismanagement has demonstrably contributed to these disasters. The entire crisis has grown out of Trump’s constitutional aversion to long-term planning. In his autobiography, Trump boasted that he does not even plan his days, but simply reacts to events as they happen. That process is now dominated by cable news, and especially the stock market, which is Trump’s narrow and highly distorted prism for understanding the entire economy. He dissolved the skilled team of pandemic experts he inherited from Obama on the overt calculation that it wasn’t a priority. “Who would have thought … we’d be having this subject?” he mused. > > At some point Trump may retreat to the defense that the coronavirus is an external disaster for which he can’t be blamed. But a series of leaks have documented his direct responsibility. > > In January, the Washington Post reports, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar “was having trouble focusing Trump’s full attention on his coronavirus briefing … Why did you push me to insert myself into a controversial political issue? Trump demanded.” > … > > Trump seemed totally oblivious to the danger of hardening his public image as the national-level equivalent of the mayor in Jaws, blithely ignoring reports of a gigantic shark because he didn’t want to hurt the tourism season. > … > > But it seems more likely that Trump has finally made his unfitness for office so blatant that even his own supporters will notice. The American economy, its health infrastructure, and perhaps more are plunging into foreseeable crisis. And every step Trump has taken along the way seems almost calculated to expose him to maximal blame. Trump is now quite likely to lose his reelection, and we will look back at the last few weeks as the time when he sealed his own fate. Whole article worth reading. It will send you off with a lilt in your step, if not an actual song in your heart. We knew only a disaster that \*hurt \*people would hurt _him_. ☹ [Ba-RUMP Ba-RUMP Ba-RUMP!](https://youtu.be/BX3bN5YeiQs) ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41184 "2020-03-10T12:28:41Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I smiled all the way through this article. > 🙂 > > **[We Are Watching the Probable Demise of Trump’s Reelection in Real Time](https://a.msn.com/r/2/BB10Xaad?m=en-us&referrerID=InAppSharehttp://)** > Whole article worth reading. It will send you off with a lilt in your step, if not an actual song in your heart. We knew only a disaster that \*hurt \*people would hurt _him_. ☹ > > [Ba-RUMP Ba-RUMP Ba-RUMP!](https://youtu.be/BX3bN5YeiQs) And yet, his approval rating hasn’t blipped. People are still trying to apply conventional wisdom, or any wisdom at all, to the support for Trump. The GOP voters and, in particular, Trump supporters do not care. If something makes Trump look bad, then it is fake. If it is undeniably not fake, then it is the Democrats fault. How? Why? Doesn’t matter. This is a post-truth world. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=2058) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=2060)