# 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:** 249
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4961 "2017-05-18T16:18:36Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Flynn to Senate: “[Documents? To goddamned hell with documents! I don’t have to show you any stinking documents, you goddamned assholes!](http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/18/politics/michael-flynn-lawyer-subpoena/)” > [@AngelSoft](#): > > Wait…I didn’t know you COULD ignore a subpoena. I thought you had to do it? It’s seriously as simple as just saying no? It’s not illegal if the president does it. Or in this case, an ex-member of the president’s staff. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4962 "2017-05-18T16:35:36Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > If you’re just waking up, [Flynn is set to ignore his subpoena](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/top-republican-senate-intelligence-panel-michael-flynns-lawyers-47488061), and as expected [Chaffetz is going to leave well before the end of his term.](http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/18/chaffetz-to-announce-early-departure-from-congress-238550) > > The Chaffetz thing is eating at me. I’m sure that it’s possible that he is getting a better offer from Foxnews, and this is just a brazen money grab. But, Jesus, the guy was elected six months ago, and now doesn’t want the office. Something has changed in the past six months, and I don’t think you have to go full conspiracy theory to suspect there is more to this. Hasn’t he talked about running for governor of UT in 2020? He’s much better off distancing himself from this administration now. He assumed he’d get four years of Clinton investigations and instead he got Trump, who is not exactly popular among Mormons. ---
**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:** [May 18, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4963 "2017-05-18T16:38:33Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > I’m sure a lawyer will be along shortly, but I’m pretty sure it’s not as simple as just saying no! I think this is what you are looking for. > **[Contempt of Congress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contempt_of_Congress)** > > Contempt of Congress is the misdemeanor act of obstructing the work of the United States Congress or one of its committees. Historically, the bribery of a U.S. senator or U.S. representative was considered contempt of Congress. In modern times, contempt of Congress has generally applied to the refusal to comply with a subpoena issued by a congressional committee or subcommittee—usually seeking to compel either testimony or the production of requested documents. > In the late 1790s, declaring cont... ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4964 "2017-05-18T16:46:42Z")
Also, this morning, [Pence started his own PAC](http://time.com/4784340/mike-pence-creates-pac/), which indicates he might be running for (re)election in 2020. ---
**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 18, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4965 "2017-05-18T16:55:06Z")
How long do we have to wait for all of this to finally trumplode? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4966 "2017-05-18T16:55:59Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > I’m sure a lawyer will be along shortly, but I’m pretty sure it’s not as simple as just saying no! Nancy Reagan lied to us! ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4967 "2017-05-18T17:05:33Z")
Payroll as in a monthly cheque? No, but “payroll” as in funding of Trump business ventures by Russians with very close ties to Putin? Yes. [For example](http://www.businessinsider.com/russian-vnesheconombank-trump-toronto-hotel-2017-5), his Toronto hotel that was financed through an intermediary with funds controlled by Putin. The growth of Trump’s fortune has been[inextricably intertwined](https://ig.ft.com/sites/trumps-russian-connections/)with Russian oligarchs, and [Putin holds control](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_oligarch#Oligarchs_during_Putin.27s_presidency) over those oligarchs. At what point does the historical and ongoing advancement of a person’s business interests and personal fortune cross over into a nation’s president being unduly influenced by [a foreign leader who had interfered in the election that led to that person being elected](https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICA_2017_01.pdf)? That’s the fundamental issue that Congress faces. ---
**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:** [May 18, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4968 "2017-05-18T17:33:20Z")
And now returning to petty little domestic scandals: [Feds Subpoena Records for $3.5M Mystery Mortgage on Manafort’s Home](http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/manafort-got-3-5m-mystery-mortgage-paid-no-tax-n759866?ex_cid=SigDig) > [@](#): > > The mortgage document that explains how Manafort would pay back the loan was never filed with Suffolk County, New York — and Manafort’s company never paid up to $36,000 in taxes that would be due on the loan. > > In addition, despite telling NBC News previously that all his real estate transactions are transparent and include his name and signature, Manafort’s name and signature do not appear on any of the loan documents that are publicly available. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4969 "2017-05-18T17:48:11Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#): > > Wait…I didn’t know you COULD ignore a subpoena. I thought you had to do it? It’s seriously as simple as just saying no? If you don’t mind being arrested, yep, it’s no problem . ---
**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:** [May 18, 2017, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4970 "2017-05-18T18:06:21Z")
Trump canceled his trip to the Masada memorial in Israel because the Israeli government would not allow him to land his helicopter ON the monument, but would have to park at the base and take the cable car up. Like Bill Clinton and George W. Bush did. > **[Trump Cancels Masada Trip Over Helicopter Landing](https://www.newsweek.com/trump-cancels-visit-ancient-masada-site-after-israel-blocks-helicopter-landing-611287)** > > Unlike George W. Bush and Bill Clinton he refused to take the cable car to the summit. ---
**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 18, 2017, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4971 "2017-05-18T18:09:32Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > If you’re just waking up, [Flynn is set to ignore his subpoena](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/top-republican-senate-intelligence-panel-michael-flynns-lawyers-47488061), and as expected [Chaffetz is going to leave well before the end of his term.](http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/18/chaffetz-to-announce-early-departure-from-congress-238550) > > . So Flynn is ignoring a subpoena from Congress, risking that they will potentially find him in contempt. This would be a political decision though, and would probably not occur. Is it possible for Mueller to now issue a subpoena for these records? This would seem to be the logical next step. I imagine that if Flynn ignored this demand, he could find himself in a jail cell fairly quickly, with no political shenanigans to shield him. ---
**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 18, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4972 "2017-05-18T18:14:05Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Trump canceled his trip to the Masada memorial in Israel because the Israeli government would not allow him to land his helicopter ON the monument, but would have to park at the base and take the cable car up. Like Bill Clinton and George W. Bush did. > [Trump Cancels Visit to Ancient Masada Site after Israel Refuses Helicopter Landing - Newsweek](http://www.newsweek.com/trump-cancels-visit-ancient-masada-site-after-israel-blocks-helicopter-landing-611287) > [@](#): > > As well as the Masada cancellation, Trump will only spend 15 minutes at the national Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem, a move likely to offend the Israelis. I’m imagining that he just wants to pop into the gift shop, to see if he can buy some Holocaust toys for little Barron. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4973 "2017-05-18T18:22:38Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Trump canceled his trip to the Masada memorial in Israel because the Israeli government would not allow him to land his helicopter ON the monument, but would have to park at the base and take the cable car up. Like Bill Clinton and George W. Bush did. > [Trump Cancels Visit to Ancient Masada Site after Israel Refuses Helicopter Landing - Newsweek](http://www.newsweek.com/trump-cancels-visit-ancient-masada-site-after-israel-blocks-helicopter-landing-611287) On the scale of Trump presidential controversy, this is small potatoes. And yet it is also, at the same time, a perfect encapsulation of the smallness and the narcissism of the man. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4974 "2017-05-18T18:34:08Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I’m imagining that he just wants to pop into the gift shop, to see if he can buy some Holocaust toys for little Barron. I wonder if he’ll manage to actually mention the Jews while he’s there. ---
**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:** [May 18, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4975 "2017-05-18T18:37:34Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > I wonder if he’ll manage to actually mention the Jews while he’s there. And will he compare the Holocaust to how the media is treating him? ---
**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 18, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4976 "2017-05-18T18:39:37Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > I wonder if he’ll manage to actually mention the Jews while he’s there. > [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > And will he compare the Holocaust to how the media is treating him? No and yes. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4977 "2017-05-18T18:44:08Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > And will he compare the Holocaust to how the media is treating him? He’s so ignorant he might make a Jesus/crucifixion reference. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4978 "2017-05-18T18:47:43Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > He’s so ignorant he might make a Jesus/crucifixion reference. Hey - can you see Golgotha from here? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4979 "2017-05-18T18:51:41Z")
I must say I am looking forward to Trump’s foreign trip. With stops in Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank, and the Vatican, the opportunities for gaffes and fuckups are mind-boggling. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4980 "2017-05-18T18:55:08Z")
Trump’s lawyers told him not to have any contact with Flynn after he was fired, to avoid the appearance of witness-tampering. It appears that [he didn’t listen](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/flynn-trump-stay-strong-investigation). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=248) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=250)