# 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:** 2124
**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 13, 2020, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42466 "2020-04-13T00:58:32Z")
[And a great big (or in the orange clown’s case, teenie tiny) middle finger to the United States Postal Service](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-postal-service-drop-dead-982458/): > [@](#): > > \*\*Trump to U.S. Postal Service: Drop Dead > > The president made it clear that he would veto the coronavirus relief bill if it included any emergency funding for the agency\*\* > > “We told them very clearly that the president was not going to sign the bill if [funding for the Postal Service] was in it,” an official from President Trump’s administration told the Washington Post when discussing the $2 trillion Coronavirus Relief Aid that passed weeks ago. > > Trump made it clear that he would veto the bill if it included any emergency funding for the agency that is already on unsteady ground, a situation that has been worsened by the coronavirus pandemic. The Post’s source added, “I don’t know if we used the v-bomb, but the president was not going to sign it, and we told them that.” > > According to the report, the president is using a false claim that higher internet shipping rates imposed on companies like Amazon, FedEx and UPS would increase the USPS’s budget and help its 600,000 plus workers. _More at the link._ So, while people are dropping dead all around the country, Trump, based on a lie he made up, will screw the USPS and everyone else in the country at the same time because, apparently, he doesn’t like one person who points out his lies and incompetence. ---
**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 13, 2020, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42467 "2020-04-13T01:11:51Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > [And a great big (or in the orange clown’s case, teenie tiny) middle finger to the United States Postal Service](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-postal-service-drop-dead-982458/): > > _More at the link._ > > So, while people are dropping dead all around the country, Trump, based on a lie he made up, will screw the USPS and everyone else in the country at the same time because, apparently, he doesn’t like one person who points out his lies and incompetence. And because he wants to destroy confidence in voting by mail. In case it’s not already clear, **the GOP have absolutely ZERO intentions of having a normal election in 2020.** Good night, democracy. ---
**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 13, 2020, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42468 "2020-04-13T02:57:27Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > And because he wants to destroy confidence in voting by mail. He made damn sure to send his vote in by mail for Florida, though; didn’t he? That reminds me. Has the state of New York’s tax department (whatever it’s called) made a determination that his filing a change of residence to Florida was not in good faith, as in fraudulent? ---
**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 13, 2020, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42469 "2020-04-13T06:17:49Z")
[Yep](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=22232043&postcount=42356); a week ago, I saw [this coming](https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-retweets-threat-fire-fauci-2020-4): > [@](#): > > Trump retweeted a threat to fire Fauci after he said the US’s slow response to COVID-19 has cost lives Competence, knowledge, education, concern, compassion, doing the right thing…all of those are foreign languages to that orange clown. ---
**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 13, 2020, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42470 "2020-04-13T07:21:24Z")
Someone has to be responsible. He [CFSG] has already staked out the position that it’s not him. ---
**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 13, 2020, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42471 "2020-04-13T07:31:46Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Someone has to be responsible. He [CFSG] has already staked out the position that it’s not him. Yeppers. Amazing how he thinks [irresponsible[sup]2[/sup]](https://www.thefreedictionary.com/irresponsible) actually means [unaccountable[sup]2[/sup]](https://www.thefreedictionary.com/unaccountable), isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42472 "2020-04-13T17:51:09Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Good night, democracy. Fuck your whiny, weepy attitude. If this is what “democracy” gets us, we ought not mourn its passing. ---
**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:** [April 13, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42473 "2020-04-13T18:16:05Z")
Individual 1 says he, and not the governors, has the authority to reopen the economy. What ever happened to that old states’ rights drumbeat? > **[Trump falsely claims he can force states to reopen even if their governors...](https://www.alternet.org/amp/trump-falsely-claims-he-can-force-states-to-reopen-even-if-their-governors-say-its-too-dangerous-2647810454)** > > President Donald Trump has just unleashed a dramatic claim – some might call it a threat – that only he can re-open the country, after the vast majority of governors issued stay at home orders to protect the public from the spread of the coronavirus... ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42474 "2020-04-13T20:23:35Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Individual 1 says he, and not the governors, has the authority to reopen the economy. What ever happened to that old states’ rights drumbeat? > [Trump falsely claims he can force states to reopen even if their governors say it’s too dangerous - Alternet.org](https://www.alternet.org/2020/04/trump-falsely-claims-he-can-force-states-to-reopen-even-if-their-governors-say-its-too-dangerous/amp) He’s being completely consistent with conservative hypocrisy. When it comes to guns, they want states’ rights. Drugs - that of course calls for federal enforcement. What’s odd to me is that either of those positions would be fine from a pragmatic point of view, or at least possibly defensible. But my sense is that many conservatives feel compelled to declare themselves for states’ rights as an ideological position. And then, mumble, mumble, mumble when it turns out they don’t really mean it. ---
**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 13, 2020, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42475 "2020-04-13T20:26:01Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Fuck your whiny, weepy attitude. If this is what “democracy” gets us, we ought not mourn its passing. Democracy didn’t get us Donald Trump or George W. Bush. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42476 "2020-04-13T20:26:40Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Individual 1 says he, and not the governors, has the authority to reopen the economy. What ever happened to that old states’ rights drumbeat? > [Trump falsely claims he can force states to reopen even if their governors say it’s too dangerous - Alternet.org](https://www.alternet.org/2020/04/trump-falsely-claims-he-can-force-states-to-reopen-even-if-their-governors-say-its-too-dangerous/amp) What powers or authorities does the President have to even attempt this? Is he going to send in the troops? Order people arrested? Nationalize every business? Hold hostage the funding for all kinds of related or unrelated things? The article predicts lawsuits if he does anything of the sort? So my question: Does Trump have any powers that the states would need to resist? In other words: Will it be necessary to take Trump to court? Or will it suffice for the states to simply ignore his blatherings? ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42477 "2020-04-13T20:53:37Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Individual 1 says he, and not the governors, has the authority to reopen the economy. What ever happened to that old states’ rights drumbeat? > [Trump falsely claims he can force states to reopen even if their governors say it’s too dangerous - Alternet.org](https://www.alternet.org/2020/04/trump-falsely-claims-he-can-force-states-to-reopen-even-if-their-governors-say-its-too-dangerous/amp) What does that even mean - “Open your store!” “No. It isn’t safe. I don’t want to kill my employees and customers.” “???” What’s the move here? Is he planning on forcing stores to open? And how? Tax the crap out of anyone who doesn’t re-open? That feels unRepublican. “Open your store!” “The city, county, and/or state will fine me.” “Don’t worry, the federal government will pay those fines!” (is that the plan?) It’s the virus’s timeline. ---
**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:** [April 13, 2020, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42478 "2020-04-13T21:04:05Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > He’s being completely consistent with conservative hypocrisy. When it comes to guns, they want states’ rights. Drugs - that of course calls for federal enforcement. > > What’s odd to me is that either of those positions would be fine from a pragmatic point of view, or at least possibly defensible. But my sense is that many conservatives feel compelled to declare themselves for states’ rights as an ideological position. And then, mumble, mumble, mumble when it turns out they don’t really mean it. When it came to CLOSING the economy, he was all states rights blather because “There’s this little thing called the Constitution that I jerk off on every night” or something like that. Even he can’t force states to reopen, he’ll try to pull some shit in order to effectively force them, like cutting the enhanced unemployment benefits and canceling the small business loan forgiveness for people and companies that don’t reopen, regardless of the dictates of their state. I think he’s going to start trying to reopen before the end of the month, no matter what. He’s been dogwhistling to his supporters that the shutdown is a Democrat driven plot and he’s perched on the verge of doing something really stupid. Because he just appointed his National Council to Reopen the Economy. It consists of Jared Ivanka Larry Kudlow Steve Mnuchin Wilbur Ross Robert Lighthizer Mark Meadows I wish this were a joke but it’s not. ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42479 "2020-04-13T22:30:39Z")
He’s coked out of his mind right now. Even by his standards, this press conference is noteworthy. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42480 "2020-04-13T22:36:25Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Democracy didn’t get us Donald Trump or George W. Bush. Yes, it did. Over fifty million people voted for W in 2000, over sixty million for CFSG in '16. That is nearly half the voters. The fact that a close election can be resolved by a procedural quirk does not make less “democratic”. If McCain had won by -10M votes in '08, or Rmoney had won by -5M votes in '12, i might be able to see your point. But these here were close elections, where about half the country was going to be unhappy with the result either way. Unless we come up with something better, this is as “democratic” as you can hope for. ---
**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 13, 2020, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42481 "2020-04-13T22:44:53Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > When it came to CLOSING the economy, he was all states rights blather because “There’s this little thing called the Constitution that I jerk off on every night” or something like that. This is a sign that we’re past the worst part of the crisis. When things were getting worse, Trump announced Pence was in charge, it was a state issue, and he had no responsibilities. Now that things are getting better, he wants to kick everyone else off the stage and take all the credit. Typical Trump; he avoids the battle but he wants to be in the first car of the victory parade. ---
**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 13, 2020, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42482 "2020-04-13T22:48:24Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > This is a sign that we’re past the worst part of the crisis. When things were getting worse, Trump announced Pence was in charge, it was a state issue, and he had no responsibilities. Now that things are getting better, he wants to kick everyone else off the stage and take all the credit. > > Typical Trump; he avoids the battle but he wants to be in the first car of the victory parade. Well, it might be a sign that trump \*\*THINKS \*\*we’re past the worst part of the crisis, but the experts are saying no. Of course, they just want to get on TV and he knows more/better than they do. You are right, however, that if things ever do get better, he will take 110% of the credit. ---
**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 13, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42483 "2020-04-13T22:49:10Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Yes, it did. No, it isn’t. Democracy is when everyone votes and the person who gets the most votes wins. It’s that simple. Trump didn’t get the most votes in 2016. Bush didn’t get the most votes in 2000. ---
**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 13, 2020, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42484 "2020-04-13T22:58:09Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Fuck your whiny, weepy attitude. If this is what “democracy” gets us, we ought not mourn its passing. You’re a fucking slave. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/42485 "2020-04-13T23:43:59Z")
[CNN chyrons](https://twitter.com/KateBennett_DC/status/1249827745938505730) for the “briefing”: > [@](#): > > “ANGRY TRUMP TURNS BRIEFING INTO PROPAGANDA SESSION” > > “TRUMP REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY MISTAKES” > > “TRUMP USES TASK FORCE BRIEFING TO TRY AND REWRITE HISTORY ON CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE” > > “TRUMP MELTS DOWN IN ANGRY RESPONSE TO REPORTS HE IGNORED VIRUS WARNINGS” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=2123) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=2125)