# 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:** 2106
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42106 "2020-04-02T03:33:33Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > \*\*[The Trump administration is adding an extra barrier for Social Security recipients to get their stimulus check](https://theweek.com/speedreads/906209/trump-administration-adding-extra-barrier-social-security-recipients-stimulus-check)\*\*My Bold. > > Catch-22, anyone? > > Does anyone know the answer to the question “why this fax filing is even necessary”? Put on your Republican hat and explain it from their pov. _Politico_ reports the administration is walking that back at top speed. [https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/01/social-security-recipients-coronavirus-stimulus-160757](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/01/social-security-recipients-coronavirus-stimulus-160757) No “official” statement that I can see. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42107 "2020-04-02T05:03:45Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > _Politico_ reports the administration is walking that back at top speed. > > [https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/01/social-security-recipients-coronavirus-stimulus-160757](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/01/social-security-recipients-coronavirus-stimulus-160757) > > No “official” statement that I can see. > **[Social Security Recipients Will Automatically Receive Economic Impact Payments](https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm967)** > > WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service today announced that Social Security beneficiaries who are not typically required to file tax returns will not need to file an abbreviated tax return to receive an... > [@](#): > > Social Security Recipients Will Automatically Receive Economic Impact Payments > > April 1, 2020 > > WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service today announced that Social Security beneficiaries who are not typically required to file tax returns will not need to file an abbreviated tax return to receive an Economic Impact Payment. Instead, payments will be automatically deposited into their bank accounts. > > “Social Security recipients who are not typically required to file a tax return do not to need take an action, and will receive their payment directly to their bank account,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. > > The IRS will use the information on the Form SSA-1099 and Form RRB-1099 to generate $1,200 Economic Impact Payments to Social Security recipients who did not file tax returns in 2018 or 2019. Recipients will receive these payments as a direct deposit or by paper check, just as they would normally receive their benefits. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42108 "2020-04-02T05:05:03Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > What the ever-loving fuck is this press conference about? . . . It’s so obvious that he doesn’t know what-the-fuck he’s talking about. Most of the time the reporters ask him a question about something that he hasn’t bothered to even think about because he’s too fucking lazy, and then he puts on an act, not actually saying anything, but pretending that he knows what they’re talking about. He’s a total fake, a fraud, and it’s pathetically obvious. A fourth-grader could do the job better job. Those reporters really shouldn’t even bother to show up. It’s embarrassing that they have to pretend to take him seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42109 "2020-04-02T06:24:38Z")
The scary thing is that I could _easily_ be a better president than the Orange One, and I’m not even American. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2020, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42110 "2020-04-02T10:18:34Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > _Politico_ reports the administration is walking that back at top speed. > > [https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/01/social-security-recipients-coronavirus-stimulus-160757](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/01/social-security-recipients-coronavirus-stimulus-160757) > > No “official” statement that I can see. Move along, folks. It never happened. You imagined it. Nuttin’ to see here. > [@guizot](#): > > …Those reporters really shouldn’t even bother to show up. … Some of them are staying away. They’re saying it’s not worth the risk to their safety when they get nothing from him. > [@Sunspace](#): > > The scary thing is that I could _easily_ be a better president than the Orange One, and I’m not even American. Hell, my dog would be a better president. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [April 2, 2020, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42111 "2020-04-02T11:09:26Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Hell, my dog would be a better president. :rolleyes: Mine too. And she died around 40 years ago. That’s how bad that clown is. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42112 "2020-04-02T11:11:20Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Hell, my dog would be a better president. :rolleyes: Yup, my dog actually likes people. Smarter too. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42113 "2020-04-02T11:43:43Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > If Trump’s base keeps insisting on gathering by the 100’s every Sunday this might be a self-limiting problem to at least some degree. Likewise all the MAGA-hatted people who go through my store loudly declaring it all a hoax and refusing to follow the new rules might well reap their own rewards. > > Unfortunately, they are likely to take a few others with them. Move over, Florida -[Texas pastors are claiming a legal right to risk public health.](https://www.vox.com/2020/4/1/21201104/texas-pastors-religious-liberty-coronavirus-stay-at-home-hotze) ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42114 "2020-04-02T12:10:22Z")
I think it’s time to face that we are NEVER going to get adequate Corona testing. The administration has been slow walking this from day 1 because they don’t want the public to know how widespread it is because they think the numbers would make Donald look bad. This petty prick kept a cruise ship offshore because he didn’t want a few dozen people adding the the numbers. They’ll continue to insists the tests are available and deny there is an issue with testing. And his moronic base will continue to believe every word fart that spews from his filthy mouth. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2020, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42115 "2020-04-02T13:52:04Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Some of them are staying away. They’re saying it’s not worth the risk to their safety when they get nothing from him. Apparently they are being allowed in 15 at a time on a rotating basis, unless of course you are a far right news source in which case you can [show up every day.](https://www.axios.com/oann-white-house-correspondents-coronavirus-briefing-8a3dd066-1ed3-4638-9f80-c2d6bc1ed07e.html) > [@BobLibDem](#): > > I think it’s time to face that we are NEVER going to get adequate Corona testing. The administration has been slow walking this from day 1 because they don’t want the public to know how widespread it is because they think the numbers would make Donald look bad. This petty prick kept a cruise ship offshore because he didn’t want a few dozen people adding the the numbers. They’ll continue to insists the tests are available and deny there is an issue with testing. And his moronic base will continue to believe every word fart that spews from his filthy mouth. Also those tests the do have are being funneled to [rural and southern states](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/04/01/scramble-rapid-coronavirus-tests-everybody-wants/) against the advice of medical experts. > [@](#): > > During a Tuesday meeting of the White House coronavirus task force in the Situation Room, Vice President Pence and other officials discussed diverting new tests to areas where there are relatively few cases, according to two individuals familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal deliberations. So we are only left with the question of which corrupt motivation led to the decision. Was it a desire to send the tests to red states or a desire to send it to states with low infection rates to keep the numbers down? Silly me, the answer is obviously both. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42116 "2020-04-02T14:36:26Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I think it’s time to face that we are NEVER going to get adequate Corona testing. The administration has been slow walking this from day 1 because they don’t want the public to know how widespread it is because they think the numbers would make Donald look bad. I have no doubt that that was indeed Trump’s plan – no testing = low numbers. Except that we may not know the number tested, but we’re getting the number of cases and the number of deaths, and there’s no way to spin those numbers. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2020, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42117 "2020-04-02T14:39:11Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Move over, Florida -[Texas pastors are claiming a legal right to risk public health.](https://www.vox.com/2020/4/1/21201104/texas-pastors-religious-liberty-coronavirus-stay-at-home-hotze) Doesn’t that book they are always reading from mention something about following the law? ---
**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:** [April 2, 2020, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42118 "2020-04-02T17:25:22Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I have no doubt that that was indeed Trump’s plan – no testing = low numbers. Except that we may not know the number tested, but we’re getting the number of cases and the number of deaths, and there’s no way to spin those numbers. An historian said that, in the US and UK at least, the 1918 pandemic was bad enough that _everyone_ had a relative or friend who died. My father’s mother, for example, was a victim. Let us hope the current pandemic does not reach that point, no matter how stupidly people act. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42119 "2020-04-02T17:44:14Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I have no doubt that that was indeed Trump’s plan – no testing = low numbers. Except that we may not know the number tested, but we’re getting the number of cases and the number of deaths, and there’s no way to spin those numbers. I think Trump’s plan is to do as little as possible, wait until people stop dying, count up how many people died, put out a number that is higher, claim that was the official estimate all along, and then take credit for keeping the deaths down to their actual number rather than his made up number. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2020, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42120 "2020-04-02T18:36:36Z")
It’s getting awful Dr Strangelove around here. Trump is tossing out a death toll of 100k as a “good job” like Gen Buck Turgidson tosses out. > [@General Turgidson](#): > > Mr. President, I’m not saying we wouldn’t get our hair mussed. But I do say no more than ten to twenty million killed, tops. Uh, depending on the breaks. Of course, he also says in the same movie that maybe the President should be more concerned with the American people than his own image, so there’s that. We’re living in an 60s satire. Only it’s real and not as funny. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42121 "2020-04-02T19:11:13Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Doesn’t that book they are always reading from mention something about following the law? Yes, and The Law states, very clearly: Congress shall make **no law** respecting an establishment of religion, o **r prohibiting the free exercise thereof** ; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; o **r the right of the people peaceably to assemble** , and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Whether or not it is smart to do so, it IS a protected right, and government limiting first amendment rights could end up in the supreme court. And be shot down as blatantly unconstitutional. Nothing in the FA of course, says that churches HAVE to attend services. And the smart ones are suspending services. But they can’t be forced to. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42122 "2020-04-02T19:21:36Z")
The New York Times has an [article](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/02/us/coronavirus-social-distancing.html) that uses cellphone location data to track in which counties people stayed at home and in which they continued to travel as before. The ones where people continued to travel were mostly in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah, frankly Trump territory. The Northeast, Midwest and far West did a much better job of obeying the stay-at-home order. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42123 "2020-04-02T19:25:23Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I have no doubt that that was indeed Trump’s plan – no testing = low numbers. Except that we may not know the number tested, but we’re getting the number of cases and the number of deaths, and there’s no way to spin those numbers. “It would have been a lot worse with anyone else in charge.” - Trump’s winning 2020 campaign slogan. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think Trump’s plan is to do as little as possible, wait until people stop dying, count up how many people died, put out a number that is higher, claim that was the official estimate all along, and then take credit for keeping the deaths down to their actual number rather than his made up number. Aye; you get it. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42124 "2020-04-02T19:25:47Z")
I don’t think that a quarantine prohibits anyone from practicing their religion. And I do think that it has been ruled that quarantines do not violate the constitution -granted the orders may have to come from the CDC but I am not sure. Can a person exercise their rights if it impedes the rights of somebody else? ---
**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:** [April 2, 2020, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42125 "2020-04-02T19:28:54Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > > [@General Turgidson](#): > > > > Mr. President, I’m not saying we wouldn’t get our hair mussed. But I do say no more than ten to twenty million killed, tops. Uh, depending on the breaks. Thanks for the quote. [I made a meme](https://twitter.com/GordonHeliboy/status/1245794476448083968). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=2105) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=2107)