# 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:** 221
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4401 "2017-05-12T17:07:47Z")
One wonders what he thinks a certified letter is. All it will accomplish is giving people something more to wave around when he tried to change his story again in a week. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4402 "2017-05-12T17:09:24Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > One wonders what he thinks a certified letter is. > > All it will accomplish is giving people something more to wave around when he tried to change his story again in a week. He might think that “certified” means “The post office certifies that the letter is true”. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4403 "2017-05-12T17:13:25Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > In other news, Trump’s tax lawyer acknowledges that Trump has [income from Russia](http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/12/the-associated-press-trump-lawyer-tax-returns-from-past-10-years-show-no-income-of-any-type-from-russian-sources-with-few-exceptions.html) I am so (NOT) surprised 😛😃 I wonder how bigly and yuuuuuge those “exceptions” are. Like buying his properties for many times the actual market price, or giving him “you don’t have to pay it back” type ummm “loans”. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4404 "2017-05-12T17:14:14Z")
[Bluff called.](http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/12/politics/james-comey-dinner-trump/index.html?adkey=bn) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4405 "2017-05-12T17:15:34Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Not to worry, [he’s sending a certified letter to Lindsey Graham attesting to his lack of Russia ties.](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-09/trump-preparing-certified-letter-attesting-to-no-russia-ties) Wow, a certified letter! You can’t go wrong if you send a certified letter! What, no telegram? A telegram is digital. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4406 "2017-05-12T17:17:47Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > He might think that “certified” means “The post office certifies that the letter is true”. That worked to prove Santa Claus exists. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4407 "2017-05-12T17:22:03Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > He might think that “certified” means “The post office certifies that the letter is true”. From the [context](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-preparing-certified-letter-attesting-to-no-russia-ties/2017/05/09/2d0ec5f4-34f6-11e7-ab03-aa29f656f13e_story.html?utm_term=.31e8e05bf7c2), it means “the respected law firm that has examined his business dealings has certified that it is true”. As you would know if you actually looked into it. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4408 "2017-05-12T17:24:18Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > From the [context](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-preparing-certified-letter-attesting-to-no-russia-ties/2017/05/09/2d0ec5f4-34f6-11e7-ab03-aa29f656f13e_story.html?utm_term=.31e8e05bf7c2), it means “the law respected firm that has examined his business dealings has certified that it is true”. > > As you would know if you actually looked into it. Who knew that practicing law was as easy as writing a few letters (e.g. “We certify that our client is innocent”, “We certify that our client already paid this bill”, etc)? ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4409 "2017-05-12T17:26:27Z")
I hereby “certify” in “writing” that each of you are required to pay me 1 bazillion dollars. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4410 "2017-05-12T17:26:42Z")
[Schiff](http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/12/adam-schiff-donald-trump-comey-tapes-238321) demanding Trump turn over tapes. Sorry, “tapes”. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4411 "2017-05-12T17:26:52Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Not to worry, [he’s sending a certified letter to Lindsey Graham attesting to his lack of Russia ties.](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-09/trump-preparing-certified-letter-attesting-to-no-russia-ties) Wow, a certified letter! You can’t go wrong if you send a certified letter! What, no telegram? I am reminded of one of the iterations of the recurring gag in _Peanuts_, where Lucy handed Charlie Brown a signed document declaring that this time she wouldn’t pull the football away. (Graham had better double-check that the document is _notarized_, so he doesn’t leave the same loophole Lucy retroactively exploited in that case.) ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4412 "2017-05-12T17:32:42Z")
I wasn’t sure until the _certified_ letter came. How could it not be true? The letter was _certified_! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4413 "2017-05-12T17:34:24Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > From the [context](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-preparing-certified-letter-attesting-to-no-russia-ties/2017/05/09/2d0ec5f4-34f6-11e7-ab03-aa29f656f13e_story.html?utm_term=.31e8e05bf7c2), it means “the respected law firm that has examined his business dealings has certified that it is true”. > > As you would know if you actually looked into it. That was speculation of what the Ignoramus-In-Chief would think “certified” means. Considering how ignorant Trump is on many subjects that are familiar to kindergartners, there’s a good chance of it being true. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4414 "2017-05-12T17:36:32Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > I am reminded of one of the iterations of the recurring gag in _Peanuts_, where Lucy handed Charlie Brown a signed document declaring that this time she wouldn’t pull the football away. > > (Graham had better double-check that the document is _notarized_, so he doesn’t leave the same loophole Lucy retroactively exploited in that case.) I was thinking of that when I wrote it, remembering Charlie saying “you can’t go wrong if you have a signed document”. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4415 "2017-05-12T17:37:36Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > [Schiff](http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/12/adam-schiff-donald-trump-comey-tapes-238321) demanding Trump turn over tapes. Sorry, “tapes”. Trump has a long history (documented) of “not being able to” provide documents and records when they might not help him. He’s pulled that shit way too many times in court - and gotten away with it. How do you think he’s managed to weather so many bankruptcies and lawsuits??? There are no recordings. And even if there were (which I doubt) he would simply not release them. Can’t find them. Don’t know where they are. They “died in a fire” Whatever bullshit works. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4416 "2017-05-12T17:38:53Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > I wasn’t sure until the _certified_ letter came. How could it not be true? The letter was _certified_! He invented the word “certified”. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2017, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4417 "2017-05-12T17:39:14Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > From the [context](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-preparing-certified-letter-attesting-to-no-russia-ties/2017/05/09/2d0ec5f4-34f6-11e7-ab03-aa29f656f13e_story.html?utm_term=.31e8e05bf7c2), it means “the respected law firm that has examined his business dealings has certified that it is true”. > > As you would know if you actually looked into it. No. “Certified letter” does not mean that. Ever. Different terminology is used for what you mean. Like “sworn deposition”. A “certified letter” is guaranteed for delivery by the carrier, with no relevance to content. If the administration means something other than that, they need to find and use the appropriate word things. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4418 "2017-05-12T17:40:06Z")
Speaking of[clusterfucks:](http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/11/politics/trump-comey-russia-turmoil/index.html) > [@](#): > > Trump’s own official schedule remains empty, leaving some of his allies wondering whether his governing agenda has veered drastically off course. Even the normal parade of photo-ops has been scrapped; instead, Trump signed two executive orders behind closed doors Thursday, avoiding any more questions about his decision to remove Comey from his post. > > It all led to the impression of a commander in chief operating in chaotic isolation while leaving even his closest allies to pick up the pieces. Trump seemed to confirm the situation himself on Twitter Friday morning. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4419 "2017-05-12T17:43:21Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > That was speculation of what the Ignoramus-In-Chief would think “certified” means. > Considering how ignorant Trump is on many subjects that are familiar to kindergartners, there’s a good chance of it being true. Trump invented the term “certified letter”. Isn’t that a great thing? What an amazing guy. ETA: I should have read the whole thread. D’oh! ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4420 "2017-05-12T17:45:35Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > [Schiff](http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/12/adam-schiff-donald-trump-comey-tapes-238321) demanding Trump turn over tapes. Sorry, “tapes”. > [@](#): > > “If the President has ‘tapes’ of his conversations with Director Comey, it is because the president himself made them,” Schiff said in a statement. "For a President who baselessly accused his predecessor of illegally wiretapping him, that Mr. Trump would suggest that he, himself, may have engaged in such conduct is staggering. > > “The president should immediately provide any such recordings to Congress or admit, once again, to have made a deliberately misleading — and in this case threatening — statement,” Schiff added. Nice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=220) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=222)