# 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:** 2077
**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:** [March 15, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41525 "2020-03-15T16:06:16Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > [Trump offers ‘large sums’ for exclusive access to coronavirus vaccine](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/15/trump-offers-large-sums-for-exclusive-access-to-coronavirus-vaccine) > > _German government tries to fight off aggressive takeover bid by US, say reports_ > > Looks like Trump is apparently attempting to buy his way out of a disaster he helped exacerbate with the added bonus of sticking it to non-Americans. And, I’m willing to bet a lot of MAGAsses will say this is an example of the benefit of having a genius businessman like Trump in charge. Even here in The Pit, I can’t say what I think about this. ---
**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 15, 2020, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41526 "2020-03-15T16:09:37Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Even here in The Pit, I can’t say what I think about this. Don’t need to. I think we can all read your mind. :mad: ---
**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 15, 2020, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41527 "2020-03-15T16:30:04Z")
“America First”. He wasn’t kidding or exaggerating. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41528 "2020-03-15T17:21:37Z")
Lying, that’s what he was doing. It’s Trump first. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41529 "2020-03-15T17:50:37Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > And, I’m willing to bet a lot of MAGAsses will say this is an example of the benefit of having a genius businessman like Trump in charge. \<…\> This makes no sense: why spend a ton of money on a vaccine for a “disease” that doesn’t exist? And if it did exist — which it doesn’t — wouldn’t be any worse than a cold? Of course, the doublethink is strong in these people. Verrrrrrrry strong.… ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41530 "2020-03-15T18:11:19Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > \<…\> > > This makes no sense: why spend a ton of money on a vaccine for a “disease” that doesn’t exist? And if it did exist — which it doesn’t — wouldn’t be any worse than a cold? > > Of course, the doublethink is strong in these people. Verrrrrrrry strong.… I saw a post on Facebook today which suggested that if Trump announced that the general election would be postponed due to coronavirus concerns, the “pandemic” would disappear overnight. The scary thing is that some of his supporters probably still think this is a “Democrat Party” and mainstream media hoax designed to make Trump look bad. ---
**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:** [March 15, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41531 "2020-03-15T18:16:34Z")
And right on time, now is the perfect moment to [issue a full pardon](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-flynn/trump-considering-full-pardon-for-ex-adviser-michael-flynn-idUSKBN212121?il=0) for Michael “Pal-O-Putin-N-Erdoğan” Flynn! (Reuters) > [@](#): > > U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he is considering a full pardon for his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, who had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about dealings with Russia’s ambassador before Trump took office. > > Flynn sought to withdraw the guilty plea in January, arguing that prosecutors violated his rights and duped him into a plea agreement. Trump said the FBI and Justice Department had “destroyed” Flynn’s life and that of his family, and cited an unspecified, unsubstantiated report that they had lost records related to Flynn. Because you can’t take your eye off the ball of what’s important. ---
**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:** [March 15, 2020, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41532 "2020-03-15T18:23:08Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > why spend a ton of money on a vaccine for a “disease” that doesn’t exist? And if it did exist — which it doesn’t — wouldn’t be any worse than a cold? [Whuuuuuuut? :eek:](https://www.rawstory.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Trump-supporter-1280x720.png) ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41533 "2020-03-15T18:28:27Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > I saw a post on Facebook today which suggested that if Trump announced that the general election would be postponed due to coronavirus concerns, the “pandemic” would disappear overnight. > > The scary thing is that some of his supporters probably still think this is a “Democrat Party” and mainstream media hoax designed to make Trump look bad. Trump and the GOP have transcended ‘[the big lie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_lie)’. Whereas Goebbels et al used it selectively, the Trumpists use it continuously, for every issue. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41534 "2020-03-15T18:33:39Z")
Pretty sure ODF was speaking to the logic flaws of the GOP and not their own views. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41535 "2020-03-15T18:35:50Z")
Oh, btw, from [WaPo](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/03/15/coronavirus-latest-news/#link-EUKM3VBHAVHAVILPTHJTDRTOLY): > [@](#): > > Devin Nunes urges Americans to ‘go to your local pub,’ defying health experts’ warnings ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41536 "2020-03-15T18:39:33Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > … > > Great metaphor! You know what I like most about it? Hurricanes are in the Atlantic, while the Pacific has typhoons. That’s not only how far out of their depth these clowns are, but also how far off they are. > > … Hurricanes and typhoons are the same kind of storm that use different terms based on their geographic location. Hurricanes - Occur in the Atlantic and **Northeast Pacific** Typhoons - Occur in the Northwest Pacific The American Red Cross provides disaster relief and assistance for both hurricanes and typhoons. While we’re most known for responding to hurricanes, typhoons impact U.S. territories in the Pacific including the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam. > **[Hurricane vs. Typhoon](https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/hurricane/hurricane-vs-typhoon.html)** > > What is the difference between a hurricane and a typhoon? You might hear these two terms used to describe the same weather event but the Red Cross has all in the information you need to distinguish between, and prepare for, the two. Fighting Ignorance and all that. Here in [del]Kenya[/del] Hawaii, we get hurricanes. ---
**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:** [March 15, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41537 "2020-03-15T18:40:52Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > why spend a ton of money on a vaccine for a “disease” that doesn’t exist? And if it did exist — which it doesn’t — wouldn’t be any worse than a cold? [I made a meme of this](https://imgur.com/a/CsRXuZU). ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41538 "2020-03-15T18:45:00Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > [Trump offers ‘large sums’ for exclusive access to coronavirus vaccine](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/15/trump-offers-large-sums-for-exclusive-access-to-coronavirus-vaccine) > > _German government tries to fight off aggressive takeover bid by US, say reports_ > > Looks like Trump is apparently attempting to buy his way out of a disaster he helped exacerbate with the added bonus of sticking it to non-Americans. And, I’m willing to bet a lot of MAGAsses will say this is an example of the benefit of having a genius businessman like Trump in charge. I can understand willingness to source a vaccine from anywhere. Makes sense. But _exclusive_ access? That’s just disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41539 "2020-03-15T18:53:50Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Trump and the GOP have transcended ‘[the big lie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_lie)’. Whereas Goebbels et al used it selectively, the Trumpists use it continuously, for every issue. From the link: > [@](#): > > **Usage in Hitler’s psychological profile** > > The phrase was also used in a report prepared during the war by the United States Office of Strategic Services in describing Hitler’s psychological profile:[6] > > His primary rules were: never allow the public to cool off; never admit a fault or wrong; never concede that there may be some good in your enemy; never leave room for alternatives; never accept blame; concentrate on one enemy at a time and blame him for everything that goes wrong; people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; and if you repeat it frequently enough people will sooner or later believe it.[7] Seems familiar. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41540 "2020-03-15T20:10:27Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [I made a meme of this](https://imgur.com/a/CsRXuZU). Can we share this around? And how would you like credit? ---
**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 15, 2020, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41541 "2020-03-15T20:10:31Z")
Steve Mnuchin: Trump Didn’t Lie, Everyone Just ‘Misinterpreted’ His Oval Office Address > **[Steve Mnuchin: Trump Didn't Lie, Everyone Just 'Misinterpreted' His Oval...](https://crooksandliars.com/2020/03/steve-mnuchin-people-just-misinterpreted)** > > Don't believe your lying ears! Individual 1 is threatening to pardon Michael Flynn. [https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1239242219019735042](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1239242219019735042)? ---
**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 15, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41542 "2020-03-15T20:12:26Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > … > Individual 1 is threatening to pardon Michael Flynn. > [https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1239242219019735042](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1239242219019735042)? Anything to distract from coronavirus. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41543 "2020-03-15T20:21:52Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Steve Mnuchin: Trump Didn’t Lie, Everyone Just ‘Misinterpreted’ His Oval Office Address > [Steve Mnuchin: Trump Didn't Lie, Everyone Just 'Misinterpreted' His Oval Office Address | Crooks and Liars](https://crooksandliars.com/2020/03/steve-mnuchin-people-just-misinterpreted) Yeah, just like we all misinterpreted Pearl Harbor. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41544 "2020-03-15T20:54:39Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Yeah, just like we all misinterpreted Pearl Harbor. As Aaron Blake of the _Washington Post_ [put it](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/03/15/steven-mnuchin-says-trump-didnt-get-things-wrong-all-his-coronavirus-address-thats-absurd/): Mnuchin maintains it’s our fault for reading the president’s words literally. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=2076) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=2078)