# 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:** 250
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4981 "2017-05-18T18:55:38Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > He’s so ignorant he might make a Jesus/crucifixion reference. “… since you Jews killed our Lord and Savior. Not many people know that, you know? But I’m OK with that because he was bigly resurrected. Anyway, we forgive you.” ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4982 "2017-05-18T19:04:29Z")
“Hey, I gotta say, when you people nail your critics, you really nail 'em! Seriously with all surety I say unto you the Jews are an efficient race. I wish I had Jews silencing my opponents with the vigor _vih-GUR I love that word, don’t you?_ with the vigor that they show when they’re cooking my books.” ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4983 "2017-05-18T19:08:07Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > 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. (underline mine) Note to Trump: a lot of those people in the long dresses aren’t women. Don’t try to check. ---
**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, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4984 "2017-05-18T19:08:11Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > 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. Toby Keith is coming with Trump to Saudi Arabia to perform a male-only concert. I wonder how popular country music is in Saudi Arabia. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4985 "2017-05-18T19:11:20Z")
[A huge piece of Pig Shit was sent straight to Hell today](http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-me-roger-ailes-dies-20170518-story.html). Yes! No last rites, no funeral, no nothing. Straight to The Burning Pit. Today is starting out to be a Mighty Fine Day! ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4986 "2017-05-18T19:11:37Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > 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. If this were a Netflix Original, I’d stay up a little later just to watch the next episode. Truly binge-worthy stuff we got going on here. Unfortunately, reality… ---
**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, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4987 "2017-05-18T19:23:43Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > He’s so ignorant he might make a Jesus/crucifixion reference. “How can you stand the heat around here? It’s like an oven.” ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4988 "2017-05-18T19:28:15Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > (underline mine) Note to Trump: a lot of those people in the long dresses aren’t women. Don’t try to check. “HEY ! This isn’t a pussy ?!” ---
**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, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4989 "2017-05-18T19:32:48Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > 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). Has this been mentioned yet: > [@McClatchy](#): > > One of the Trump administration’s first decisions about the fight against the Islamic State was made by Michael Flynn weeks before he was fired – and it conformed to the wishes of Turkey, whose interests, unbeknownst to anyone in Washington, he’d been paid more than $500,000 to represent. [http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article151149647.html](http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article151149647.html) This was from late yesterday. I don’t think I saw it in any of the Trump threads, but who the hell can keep track of them all? It seems like the major news bombshells have been dropping in the late afternoon recently. I’m not sure if that’s a time that’s been calculated to have the most impact (or maybe it’s just my perception and not reality). But I’m looking at the clock and thinking, “aren’t we due for another ‘stunning revelation’ in about 30 minutes?” I imagine Trump admin officals looking like Morpheus waiting for the squids to attack. “Here they come…” ---
**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 18, 2017, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4990 "2017-05-18T19:34:59Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > He’s so ignorant he might make a Jesus/crucifixion reference. I am reminded of the episode of _All In The Family_ where Archie’s friend Stretch Cunningham died and Archie only found out he was Jewish when he arrived to deliver a eulogy at what turned out to be a synagogue. He adapted rather awkwardly, explaining that he’d been caught off guard and would try to be careful to “skip over the Jesuses” in the remarks he’d written. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4991 "2017-05-18T19:35:37Z")
The writing is on the wall as [Advisors Urge Trump to Hire an Outside Lawyer](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/18/us/politics/white-house-outside-lawyer-trump.html). Can you say “President Pence”? ---
**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 18, 2017, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4992 "2017-05-18T19:37:30Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > The writing is on the wall as [Advisors Urge Trump to Hire an Outside Lawyer](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/18/us/politics/white-house-outside-lawyer-trump.html). By the same logic he used to convince people to elect him President, obviously he ought to select an “outside lawyer” who has never seen the inside of a law school. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4993 "2017-05-18T19:40:49Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > The writing is on the wall as [Advisors Urge Trump to Hire an Outside Lawyer](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/18/us/politics/white-house-outside-lawyer-trump.html). Pity J. Fred Buzhardt is dead. > [@](#): > > Can you say “President Pence”? I’m sure he’s practicing in front of the mirror, holding one hand up with the other on the family Bible. > [@Steve\_MB](#): > > He adapted rather awkwardly, explaining that he’d been caught off guard and would try to be careful to “skip over the Jesuses” in the remarks he’d written. That’s OK; there will be millions of people listening to him and saying “Jesus … Jesus …” ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4994 "2017-05-18T19:41:38Z")
Doesn’t the WH provide its own legal counsel ? I remember the guy from the _West Wing_. Beardy. Begaveled. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4995 "2017-05-18T19:50:08Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > 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. The rats are starting to pack their bags. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4996 "2017-05-18T19:51:41Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > (underline mine) Note to Trump: a lot of those people in the long dresses aren’t women. Don’t try to check. Hey Trump, see those guys over there in multi-colored baggy outfits and big berets? [Those guys?](https://www.google.com/search?q=swiss+guard&rlz=1C1FLDB_enUS513US513&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi20_O8mfrTAhXEz1QKHW7FDa8Q_AUICigB&biw=1280&bih=655) Go grab their junk, I dare ya. Ignore the axes\*, they’re wusses, you’ll totally pwn them. C’mon, I double-dog dare ya! 🙂 \*Yes, I know they’re halberds. Trump wouldn’t know a halberd from Halliburton. ---
**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, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4997 "2017-05-18T19:53:06Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > The writing is on the wall as [Advisors Urge Trump to Hire an Outside Lawyer](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/18/us/politics/white-house-outside-lawyer-trump.html). > > Can you say “President Pence”? Well, obviously Pence can, since he’s opened a 2020 campaign PAC. ---
**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, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4998 "2017-05-18T19:53:34Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Doesn’t the WH provide its own legal counsel ? I remember the guy from the _West Wing_. Beardy. Begaveled. [White House Counsel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Counsel) > [@](#): > > **Responsibilities** > > The Office of Counsel to the President was created in 1943, and is responsible for advising on all legal aspects of policy questions, legal issues arising in connection with the President’s decision to sign or veto legislation, ethical questions, financial disclosures, and conflicts of interest during employment and post employment. The Counsel’s Office also helps define the line between official and political activities, oversees executive appointments and judicial selection, handles Presidential pardons, reviews legislation and Presidential statements, and handles lawsuits against the President in his role as President, as well as serving as the White House contact for the Department of Justice. > **Limitations** > **Although the White House Counsel offers legal advice to the President,** the Counsel does so in the President’s official capacity, and does not serve as the President’s personal attorney. Therefore, controversy has emerged over the scope of the attorney–client privilege between the Counsel and the President. It is clear, however, that the privilege does not apply in strictly personal matters. **It also does not apply to legislative proceedings by the U.S. Congress against the President due to allegations of misconduct while in office, such as formal censures or impeachment proceedings. In those situations the President relies on a personal attorney if he desires confidential legal advice.** ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/4999 "2017-05-18T19:55:24Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Doesn’t the WH provide its own legal counsel ? I remember the guy from the _West Wing_. Beardy. Begaveled. Yes, there is an official position of White House Counsel (portrayed first by John Larrouquette, then by Oliver Platt). But his job is to advise on the legal impact of government policy. Keeping the president’s sorry ass out of jail is for private counsel. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5000 "2017-05-18T20:04:41Z")
Ah, gotcha. Thanks, guys. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=249) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=251)