# The Trump Administration: A Clusterfuck in the Making

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070>\
**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:** 2082

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**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 19, 2020, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41626 "2020-03-19T15:24:18Z")

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> [@jsc1953](#):
>
> Have you noticed that since last Friday, Trump has been doing a passable imitation of a president?

I’ve noticed no such thing.

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**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41627 "2020-03-19T15:26:12Z")

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> [@Slash1972](#):
>
> Did you see the press conference where he announced he was invoking it? It was clear that he had no idea what it was or what it did. 🙂

I suspect Trump wants to start building Sherman tanks. One of the women behind him looked like she was going to break out in tears.

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**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41628 "2020-03-19T15:37:36Z")

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> [@Ike\_Witt](#):
>
> I wonder how the stock market would be reacting if Trump actually did something at the beginning, rather than call it another hoax? I have no doubt that the markets would still be down but maybe a more gradual decline rather than a fall off a cliff.

Kinda like Flatten the Curve only upside down.

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**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:** [March 19, 2020, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41629 "2020-03-19T15:41:29Z")

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[Steve Mnuchin doesn’t understand money, how much stuff costs](https://apnews.com/0373a78b0aacc49d1f6bd8901c8ccc67)

> [@](#):
>
> The payments would be $1,000 per adult and $500 per child so that a family of two parents and two children would receive $3,000, Mnuchin told Fox Business Network. The goal is to get that money out in three weeks, he said.
> 
> “That’s a lot of money for hard-working Americans,” Mnuchin said.
> 
> He said such families would receive another $3,000 six weeks later if the national emergency still exists.

No; that’s not a lot of money for hard-working Americans. For a hard-working American like myself, that’s $167/week. Fuck off and die you ignorant smug prick. I’ll bet that corporate people end up getting way more than $1000/each. Assholes, the lot of them.

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**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 19, 2020, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41630 "2020-03-19T16:15:44Z")

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> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> [Steve Mnuchin doesn’t understand money, how much stuff costs](https://apnews.com/0373a78b0aacc49d1f6bd8901c8ccc67)No; that’s not a lot of money for hard-working Americans. For a hard-working American like myself, that’s $167/week. Fuck off and die you ignorant smug prick. I’ll bet that corporate people end up getting way more than $1000/each. Assholes, the lot of them.

I’ve been saying this all along. A one-time payment of $1,000. Are you kidding me?? Do these people think a household can exist on a couple thousand dollars a month?

[It reminds me of when Kenneth Lay of ENRON fame (infamy) asked “us to pity him for being down to his last million.”](http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/?p=9118)

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**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 19, 2020, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41631 "2020-03-19T17:04:39Z")

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> [@Slash1972](#):
>
> Did you see the press conference where he announced he was invoking it? It was clear that he had no idea what it was or what it did. 🙂

Probably just as well, otherwise golf carts and Big Macs would be classified as essential products.

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**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41632 "2020-03-19T17:11:15Z")

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> [@ThelmaLou](#):
>
> Do these people think a household can exist on a couple thousand dollars a month?

Well, a lot of households (more than there really should) already do and several more can do so in a pinch, especially if mortgage, insurance, and local utilities do their part as well.

But agreed a one-time payment will only blunt the worst of the effects. We’re already seeing disastrous effects on personal finances. If the emergency lasts through the summer, one or two more of these just won’t cut it.

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**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41633 "2020-03-19T18:14:05Z")

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Maybe I’m cynical, but to me all this talk of sending checks to everyone feels like they’re just trying to buy votes.

It reminds me a lot of when GWB was running for president and going on about how he was going to give all the budget surplus money back to the people. “It’s your money!” Which I’ve always compared to Jack Nicholson’s Joker in Tim Burton’s “Batman” where he’s giving away free money to everyone, just before he gasses them.

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**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:** [March 19, 2020, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41634 "2020-03-19T18:20:21Z")

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> [@Shoeless](#):
>
> Maybe I’m cynical, but to me all this talk of sending checks to everyone feels like they’re just trying to buy votes.

I think it is a yes and no thing. Keeping the economy sputtering along at least is the most important thing, if it gets Trump votes it is a bonus for him.

But what are the other options? You know Republicans want to cut taxes for businesses and give more money to rich people. But if the bottom end of the economy is stagnant then consumer spending will go down. If consumer spending goes down the Republicans will want to cut more business taxes and give even more money to the rich.

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**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:** [March 19, 2020, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41635 "2020-03-19T18:56:06Z")

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And if consumer spending goes up, the Republicans will want to cut more business taxes and give even more money to the rich.

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**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41636 "2020-03-19T21:38:25Z")

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> [@enipla](#):
>
> I suspect Trump wants to start building Sherman tanks.

Now, now, some of his supporters still recall Sherman’s March without fondness. They may have to be M3 Lee tanks. 😛

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**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:** [March 20, 2020, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41637 "2020-03-20T00:28:55Z")

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> [@eschereal](#):
>
> Can wolves hear dogwhistles? If so, I should imagine that CFSG’s speeches would be agitating them greatly. We certainly do not want the wolves fighting the MAGAts for the bones being thrown them.

I think you’ve identified a possible campaign approach that Democrats could be using to reach any and all reluctant voters among the ranks of animal lovers:

* * *

> [@](#):
>
> Vote Republicans out of office because their constant dog-whistles are agitating dogs! And wolves! And possibly foxes and coyotes! We must stop Republicans from distressing our canids!!!

* * *

(Hey, whatever works…)

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**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:** [March 20, 2020, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41638 "2020-03-20T00:56:50Z")

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> [@Shoeless](#):
>
> Maybe I’m cynical, but to me all this talk of sending checks to everyone feels like they’re just trying to buy votes.  
> .

Of course they are, why would you expect anything else? They’ll probably print campaign slogans right on the check.

And I want to know how much taxpayers are paying for these “public-private partnerships”. I’m pretty sure CVS and Walmart and Target aren’t letting the government set up testing centers in the parking lot for free. Public Private Partnership usually means the public bears the risk and the private reaps the benefits.

And now it looks like the drug companies are going to be ripping us off for untested drugs that probably aren’t any more effective than a placebo. Yeah, I’m cynical as fuck.

And I really don’t want to bail out the cruise industry.  
In general, most of their operations are foreign based and they dodge US taxes and regulations in a myriad of ways. And they don’t employ that many Americans and they don’t provide any essential services.  
I like my cruises as much as anyone else, but I can find something else to do on vacations. Don’t give them a dime.

And no whining about how “It’s not their fault”. Individual citizens lose everything all the time due to circumstances beyond their control - mostly medical- and no one in our current government gives a crap about them. Let them sink.

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**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2020, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41639 "2020-03-20T01:30:08Z")

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Republicans giving money to poor folks? Any other signs and wonders?

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**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2020, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41640 "2020-03-20T01:30:44Z")

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> [@Sherrerd](#):
>
> I think you’ve identified a possible campaign approach that Democrats could be using to reach any and all reluctant voters among the ranks of animal lovers…

I still credit Obama’s 2012 re-election to NY Times columnist Gail Collins’s constant repetition of the story of the Mittster strapping the family dog to the roof of the car.

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**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:** [March 20, 2020, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41641 "2020-03-20T01:42:07Z")

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> [@Shoeless](#):
>
> Maybe I’m cynical, but to me all this talk of sending checks to everyone feels like they’re just trying to buy votes.

I thought that was pretty obvious. The Republicans are hoping that voters will ignore all of the terrible mess they’ve made of the country and will just focus on the payoff.

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**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 20, 2020, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41642 "2020-03-20T06:07:59Z")

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> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#):
>
> Of course they are, why would you expect anything else? They’ll probably print campaign slogans right on the check.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the memo line had “In God We Trust” with a hologram of the Orangeanus pretending he’s a competent president. Of course, the hologram would have the jackass wearing his magat hat.

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**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2020, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41643 "2020-03-20T06:12:43Z")

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> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> I thought that was pretty obvious. The Republicans are hoping that voters will ignore all of the terrible mess they’ve made of the country and will just focus on the payoff.

I don’t think they will have enough money to pay off the wrath of this country after this disaster. The shit pile is too big and the president too incompetent for there to be any chance for a legitimate second Trump term. They have everyone’s attention now and the show is ugly.

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**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 20, 2020, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41644 "2020-03-20T06:20:36Z")

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**Biotp** : The jackass-in-chief has alwasy been obviously and disastrously incompetent. It made no difference to his supporters before. That made no difference to them even when he screwed them. Now he’s screwing the entire country. Why do you think that would make them change their minds?

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**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2020, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/41645 "2020-03-20T13:06:37Z")

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Hopefully people who don’t usually follow politics and/or don’t vote will notice this issue?

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