# 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:** 2123
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42446 "2020-04-11T23:20:23Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > I pointed out in another thread that when Nicolle Wallace duplicated the gesture (in reference to a similar comment), she used her middle finger. Which **may** have been inadvertent, but certainly appropriate. Is there a video of that, or a picture? Would love to see it. ---
**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:** [April 12, 2020, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42447 "2020-04-12T00:06:08Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > Is there a video of that, or a picture? Would love to see it. It took a while — I thought MSNBC had episodes on its website, but either I misremembered or their policy changed — but I found a somewhat blurry version [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRtRrvtWH1s). No guarantees how long it will remain available. The relevant part of the clip is right at the beginning (about 1:00). ---
**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:** [April 12, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42448 "2020-04-12T00:16:09Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > …[https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/gao-border-patrol-needlessly-spent-12m-at-texas-facility/2020/04/10/b79264d4-7b74-11ea-a311-adb1344719a9\_story.html](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/gao-border-patrol-needlessly-spent-12m-at-texas-facility/2020/04/10/b79264d4-7b74-11ea-a311-adb1344719a9_story.html) > > "U.S. Customs and Border Protection needlessly spent around $12 million last year to guard, house and feed as many as 2,500 people in a private detention center in Texas that never held more than 68 detainees on any given day, according to a report from a congressional watchdog. > > Over five months, Customs and Border Protection paid $5.3 million for 650,000 meals that were never ordered, according to the Government Accountability Office report released Thursday." > > **Who might have benefitted from the food contracts? The private security firms? The construction of the facility?** … My emphasis. Not only are the profits-to-supporters-of-Trump 95% of the point of the Administration’s border policy (with the other 5% being the sweet, sweet racism), profits-to-supporters-of-Trump IS THE ENTIRE POINT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. According to Trump and those making $$$$$$$$$, of course. > [@](#): > > _How the Trump administration has stood in the way of PPE distribution > States are competing for supplies, and manufacturers aren’t sure who to ship PPE to first._ > By Terry [Nguyenterry.nguyen@voxmedia.com](mailto:Nguyenterry.nguyen@voxmedia.com) Apr 4, 2020, 2:10pm EDT > …A number of governors — including Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker — have said they’ve seen orders for masks and other needed equipment canceled because the federal government outbid them. This has led to some finding creative ways to disguise their orders to mask them from the Trump administration. > > Baker’s administration worked with Patriots owner Robert Kraft, the Chinese UN ambassador, and other Chinese officials to secure a shipment of 1.2 million face masks to the state. **The governor told reporters Thursday he worked with the Kraft family to create a “‘private humanitarian mission’ to keep the Feds from finding out” about the mask shipment and seizing it** , according to reporter Adam Gaffin — > > …Trump administration policy has left other states having to make similar extraordinary efforts to obtain PPE — for example, Illinois legislators rushed to deliver a $3.4 million check to a middleman at a McDonald’s parking lot so that the supplier he represented wouldn’t cancel the deal in favor of other, potentially more lucrative offers. … > **[The Trump administration has made getting necessary medical equipment difficult](https://www.vox.com/2020/4/4/21208122/ppe-distribution-trump-administration-states)** > > States are competing for supplies, and manufacturers aren’t sure who to ship PPE to first. Corner the market–control availability of life-saving equipment–award equipment to those making concessions or contributions to Trump------the ways to profit are endless. And that’s what the pandemic is, to Trump: a way to profit, and a way to extend his power via creation of loyal oligarchs. my emphasis in quoted article ---
**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:** [April 12, 2020, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42449 "2020-04-12T00:57:20Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > My emphasis. > > Not only are the profits-to-supporters-of-Trump 95% of the point of the Administration’s border policy (with the other 5% being the sweet, sweet racism), profits-to-supporters-of-Trump IS THE ENTIRE POINT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. According to Trump and those making $$$$$$$$$, of course. > > [How the Trump administration has stood in the way of PPE distribution - Vox](https://www.vox.com/2020/4/4/21208122/ppe-distribution-trump-administration-states) > > Corner the market–control availability of life-saving equipment–award equipment to those making concessions or contributions to Trump------the ways to profit are endless. > > And that’s what the pandemic is, to Trump: a way to profit, and a way to extend his power via creation of loyal oligarchs. > > my emphasis in quoted article Bingo. The stimulus, along with the expansion of executive power, is laying the groundwork toward a permanent kleptocratic government. American democracy is the one on the ventilator now. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42450 "2020-04-12T01:46:19Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > It took a while — I thought MSNBC had episodes on its website, but either I misremembered or their policy changed — but I found a somewhat blurry version [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRtRrvtWH1s). No guarantees how long it will remain available. > > The relevant part of the clip is right at the beginning (about 1:00). No longer available. It must be somewhere out there. I can understand why MSNBC would delete it, it crosses a line in some ways, but that is exactly the attitude the press must have. In these daily briefings, otherwise known as Trump rallies, the press can no longer sit there respectfully asking questions and sitting there while he rambles on and on. They need to stand up and say “That is bullshit, Mr. President.” Anyone who does that will be immediately banned, but many others will be there to replace that person. ---
**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 12, 2020, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42451 "2020-04-12T02:52:11Z")
Gentle folk, I now [give you the best mind of our time, the best at everything, especially deciding](https://news.yahoo.com/on-post-covid-19-reopening-trump-weighs-biggest-decision-of-my-life-205828933.html?.tsrc=bell-brknews): > [@](#): > > “I don’t know if I’ve had a bigger decision than that, if you think, right? I mean, think of that decision, somebody said, ‘It’s totally up to the president,’ and it is. I don’t know if I’ve had a bigger decision,” Trump said. “But I’m going to surround myself with the greatest minds. Not only the greatest minds in numerous different businesses, including the business of politics and reason and we’re going to make a decision and hopefully it’s going to be the right decision. I will say this, we want to get it open as soon as we can.” > > Trump said that next week he would announce the formation of an “opening our country council,” designed to coordinate jump-starting the economy, which would include some state governors. But he repeatedly stressed that he would ultimately be the one in charge. > > “I can listen to 35 people. At the end, I’ve got to make a decision, and I didn’t think of it until yesterday, I said, ‘You know, this is a big decision.’ I want to be guided,” Trump said. “I want to be guided by them [Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx], I’m going to be guided by our vice president. I’m going to make a decision based on a lot of different opinions. Some will maybe disagree, and some will — I’d love to see it where they don’t disagree.” _God help us; there’s more–and more off the rails nuttiness–at the link._ A few things stick out. 1. The governors are not part of the president’s administration. Yet again the idiot-in-chief shows he has exactly zero knowledge of the American government. 2. “Opening our country council”? Are you shitting me? Even a five year old would come up with a better name than that. 3. He didn’t think of this issue until fucking yesterday? Then what has been blathering about for the last few weeks? Is he even aware of how long some places have been locked down? For example, Wuhan was stopped for eleven freaking weeks. 4. He wants to be guided by the vice-president? Yeah, I don’t think it works that way. Anyway, look at the nutjob who’s veep now. Hooh boy. 5. Good Lord. Look at this nail he’s hammered into the coffin of stay at home orders: > [@](#): > > Staying at home leads to death also, and it’s very traumatic for this country. Staying at home, if you look at numbers, that leads to a different kind of death, perhaps, but it leads to death also. 1. In closing he blathered this nonsense: > [@](#): > > I’m going to have to make a decision, and I only hope to God it’s the right decision. But I would say, without question, it’s the biggest decision that I’ve ever had to make. He hopes to God? Yeah, right. This is the same clown who demonstrated the depth of his understanding of his stated faith, Christianity, with [this latest gem](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1248619884688199682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw): > [@](#): > > “HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY TO ALL!” This clown is going to get us all killed. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42452 "2020-04-12T03:44:27Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Trump: “We have to get our country open.” > > Question: “Will you say, sir, what metrics you will use to make that decision?” > > Trump: “The metric’s right here.” [Points to head] > [https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1248966782297059328](https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1248966782297059328)? So it’s true, Trump can’t find his ass with both hands, or his other private parts. Guy from New York who thinks everyone is beneath him: “I got your metrics right here.” Points to…his head??? ---
**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:** [April 12, 2020, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42453 "2020-04-12T03:47:59Z")
Remember, it’s the biggest, hugest, most perfect decision ever, by anyone. “I have a hunch …” “I am not responsible”. ---
**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 12, 2020, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42454 "2020-04-12T04:52:24Z")
Someone actually asked that clown a question using the word _metrics_? I’m surprised he didn’t go off on a rant about “foreign systems”. ---
**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 12, 2020, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42455 "2020-04-12T15:57:56Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The White House is criticizing the Voice of America for running official statistics on US coronavirus numbers. > [https://www.politico.com/amp/news/2020/04/10/white-house-attacks-voice-of-america-daily-newsletter-179191](https://www.politico.com/amp/news/2020/04/10/white-house-attacks-voice-of-america-daily-newsletter-179191)? We have always been at war with Eastasia. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42456 "2020-04-12T17:30:16Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Remember, it’s the biggest, hugest, most perfect decision ever, by anyone. > > “I have a hunch …” > > “I am not responsible”. Of course we all know that Trump is merely pretending to be pondering this momentous decision. In actuality, he’s going to do what he’s wanted to do since Day 1: go back to normal. Open businesses. Resume sports. Make Dow go up. Make people happy – except for those who die, but screw them. He doesn’t realize, however, that he doesn’t have much authority to open or close anything besides his mouth. ---
**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 12, 2020, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42457 "2020-04-12T17:40:30Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > He doesn’t realize, however, that he doesn’t have much authority to open or close anything besides his mouth. If he had responded early to the pandemic with Federal guidance/orders, he’d have something who could lift, so he kind of fucked himself here while fucking the rest of us. ---
**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 12, 2020, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42458 "2020-04-12T20:02:47Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > In actuality, he’s going to do what he’s wanted to do since Day 1: go back to normal. For Trump, normal is telling everyone what a great job he’s doing. Right now, he’s annoyed at reality because it’s telling him he’s wrong in a louder voice than usual. ---
**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:** [April 12, 2020, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42459 "2020-04-12T20:15:56Z")
And while I’m no economist, I’m willing to bet that the Dow won’t go up if he “reopens” the country. On the contrary, I suspect it will plummet some more. ---
**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 12, 2020, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42460 "2020-04-12T20:21:52Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Of course we all know that Trump is merely pretending to be pondering this momentous decision. In actuality, he’s going to do what he’s wanted to do since Day 1: go back to normal. Open businesses. Resume sports. Make Dow go up. Make people happy – except for those who die, but screw them. > > He doesn’t realize, however, that he doesn’t have much authority to open or close anything besides his mouth. Would that he would actually exercise the authority to close his fucking mouth. ---
**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:** [April 12, 2020, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42461 "2020-04-12T21:32:30Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > No longer available. It must be somewhere out there. I can understand why MSNBC would delete it, it crosses a line in some ways, but that is exactly the attitude the press must have. In these daily briefings, otherwise known as Trump rallies, the press can no longer sit there respectfully asking questions and sitting there while he rambles on and on. They need to stand up and say “That is bullshit, Mr. President.” Anyone who does that will be immediately banned, but many others will be there to replace that person. Strange, it still works for me. [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRtRrvtWH1s)’s the link again, on the off chance that it got garbled. Regarding your observations, Ms Wallace said (damn near shouted) “Lies!” after playing a clip of a particularly mendacious Trumpism. And she referred to another of his bloviations as “bullshit,” which produced some interesting reactions from the others around the table with her. Granted that she’s a third-party commentator rather than an interviewer, she does have the right attitude. Which is kind of remarkable, given that she was Bush XLIII’s communications director and worked on John McCain’s campaign. ---
**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 12, 2020, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42462 "2020-04-12T23:20:16Z")
And in Trump’s world, those doctors trying to get the equipment they need to save lives are doing that [only to get on TV](https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-suggests-doctors-complain-lack-141500695.html): > [@](#): > > Donald Trump has implied doctors and elected officials say they do not have enough personal protective equipment (PPE) and other materials to get on television amid the coronavirus crisis. > > The US president had a row with Jim Acosta, CNN’s chief White House correspondent, over the shortage of PPE, which includes essential gear such as hand sanitiser, gloves, aprons, and face masks, during his coronavirus press briefing. > > Acosta said: “We hear from a lot of people who see these briefings as sort of ‘happy talk’ briefings. And some of the officials don’t paint as rosy a picture of what is happening around the country. If you look at some of these questions – do we have enough masks? No. Do we have enough tests? No. Do we have enough PPE? No.” _More at the link._ Maybe Acosta shouldn’t have said “A lot of people say”. That is, after all, in Trump’s playbook a clear signal to an outright lie. Then Trump went on to using his favorite expression: > [@](#): > > A lot of it is fake news. And the key exchange between Acosta and the orange clown? > [@](#): > > Acosta said: “Doctors and medical officers come on our air and say ‘we don’t have enough tests, we don’t have enough masks’.” > > Mr Trump chipped in: “Well yeah, depending on your air they are always going to say that because otherwise, you are not going to put them on.” ---
**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:** [April 12, 2020, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42463 "2020-04-12T23:39:08Z")
Looks like we’re done counting dead COVID cases – in Republican counties. > **[Federal Support Ends For Coronavirus Testing Sites As Pandemic Peak Nears](https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/08/829955099/federal-support-for-coronavirus-testing-sites-end-as-peak-nears)** > > As the coronavirus pandemic peak approaches, local officials say the federal government is ending support for COVID-19 community-based testing sites. > [@](#): > > Some local officials are disappointed the federal government will end funding for coronavirus testing sites this Friday. In a few places those sites will close as a result. This as criticism continues that not enough testing is available. > > In the Philadelphia suburbs, Montgomery County has a drive-through site that has tested 250 people a day since March 21. > > “It has been a very successful site. We are hoping by the time it closes Friday afternoon that we will have tested a little over 5,000 individuals,” says Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, who chairs the commission in the county of more than 825,000 people. > > … > > Arkoosh says the site, located on a local college campus, will shut down Friday. Similar announcements have been made in Colorado Springs, Colo., and nearby Philadelphia. Don’t count the GOP dead, don’t count the Democrat votes. Don’t follow the money. Yep, authoritarian kleptocracy, here we come. America: 1776 - 2020 ---
**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 12, 2020, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42464 "2020-04-12T23:56:33Z")
So… the pandemic will be declared over in Republican counties because there will be no new cases! (Because we’re not testing any more.) Winning!! That was easy! Why are the Dems making such a fuss? Clearly because they just want to get on TV. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42465 "2020-04-13T00:06:51Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > Strange, it still works for me. [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRtRrvtWH1s)’s the link again, on the off chance that it got garbled. > > Regarding your observations, Ms Wallace said (damn near shouted) “Lies!” after playing a clip of a particularly mendacious Trumpism. And she referred to another of his bloviations as “bullshit,” which produced some interesting reactions from the others around the table with her. Granted that she’s a third-party commentator rather than an interviewer, she does have the right attitude. Which is kind of remarkable, given that she was Bush XLIII’s communications director and worked on John McCain’s campaign. I see it now. I don’t think she was consciously giving the finger but who knows? And it shows not all Republicans are assholes. She has been against Trump for a long time, so has SE Cupp and Steve Schmidt. Unfortunately they are not in the Congress. I don’t want to watch the whole 40 minuutes, when does she say lies and bullshit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=2122) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=2124)