# 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:** 296
**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:** [June 2, 2017, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5901 "2017-06-02T15:02:40Z")
I think we might be losing sight of the bigger picture here. As Trump’s behavior becomes more outrageous, it creates a debate chamber in which all we hear is noise and we lose the ability to actually discuss and consider anything. It also forces some of the more rational among his supporters to go to great lengths to rationalize his actions and normalize him, to the point where the absurd becomes the normal. This is how authoritarians gain more power. Everyone is convinced that Trump’s impeachment is near but it reminds me a lot of judo and aikido. What appears to be weakness and vulnerability could be used to reverse the advantage and ultimately win the match. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5902 "2017-06-02T15:09:57Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I think there’s the Trump factor, but there’s also the Steve Bannon factor. Remember that Bannon’s kinda like the 2017 version of Donald Rumsfeld / Dick Cheney / Paul Wolfowitz all rolled up into one. Bannon believes that every treaty and every bureaucracy created after 1945 needs to be demolished. Replaced with what exactly? Can’t tell you that part, but let’s just wait and find out. You are correct about this. Replace it with hobo camps and families living in packing crates lined with newspaper. And no food, of course, because well, that’s not on the gummint. [Bring](https://img.haikudeck.com/mg/PU0262UqC2_1401813937085.jpg) [back](http://userscontent2.emaze.com/images/f984f424-4b78-4539-a7ce-8e86226c0025/30fbdcc9-1210-4da0-bfaf-f146caad4b4c.jpg)[Hoovervilles](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/G5cNfvsOqNk/maxresdefault.jpg)! Steve Bannon isn’t all over the news any more, but he’s still there in the background. My guess is that he has a hidey-hole under DJT’s Oval Office desk (like the place George Costanza in \*Seinfeld \*fixed up under his desk) so he can be out of sight, but still near the acton. He wears gold camo gear so he’ll blend in with the carpeting. Trump took him on the European trip in a trunk with its own oxygen supply. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5903 "2017-06-02T15:12:02Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > What this indicates is a kind of thought and reality bubble. This is not just about taking the United States out of a major international agreement; this is about isolating ourselves from the rest of the world in an extreme manner, which is what autocratic-minded regimes want. The more isolated a society is, the more difficult it is to exchange ideas, including those that might inspire people to oppose the regime. It’s kinda like how a wife-beater chases away all of the wife’s friends and family, so he can really start beating the shit out of her on a regular basis. This is more than just about the environment; it’s another step away from democracy and toward the end of the American republic as we know it. That’s likely why Trump admires Kim Jong-un. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5904 "2017-06-02T15:18:14Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > That’s likely why Trump admires Kim Jong-un. He’d admire him even more if Pyongyang had a luxury hotel with a golden shower in it. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5905 "2017-06-02T15:18:28Z")
> [@Randolph](#): > > I never look at those, but I do so love that each one of those drives **Snowboarder Bo** crazy. Each one of what? ---
**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:** [June 2, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5906 "2017-06-02T15:20:28Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > You are correct about this. Replace it with hobo camps and families living in packing crates lined with newspaper. And no food, of course, because well, that’s not on the gummint. [Bring](https://img.haikudeck.com/mg/PU0262UqC2_1401813937085.jpg) [back](http://userscontent2.emaze.com/images/f984f424-4b78-4539-a7ce-8e86226c0025/30fbdcc9-1210-4da0-bfaf-f146caad4b4c.jpg)[Hoovervilles](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/G5cNfvsOqNk/maxresdefault.jpg)! > > Steve Bannon isn’t all over the news any more, but he’s still there in the background. My guess is that he has a hidey-hole under DJT’s Oval Office desk (like the place George Costanza in \*Seinfeld \*fixed up under his desk) so he can be out of sight, but still near the acton. He wears gold camo gear so he’ll blend in with the carpeting. Trump took him on the European trip in a trunk with its own oxygen supply. Opponents and critics of Trump have taken delight with the apparent fall of Jared Kushner but they might want to be careful what they wish for. Kushner, for all of his faults, was a check on the power of some of the kookier elements within the Trump cabinet. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5907 "2017-06-02T15:27:03Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Trump exited the Paris climate agreement because all of those European leaders urged him to stay in and he just had to show them who is boss. Damn, he really showed 'em! Showed them what an immature, ignorant jackass he really is. We already knew that but he likes to keep reminding us. :smack: Also it was something Obama did. The only coherent agenda that the GOP has had in the last eight years was to oppose Obama, and so Trump is still following that playbook. If during his presidency Obama had deflected an 50 mile wide asteroid that on course to impact in Kansas City, Trump would be calling NASA to see how it could be put back on course. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2017, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5908 "2017-06-02T15:31:43Z")
New question: Will the Supremes uphold the travel ban? > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON — The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court late Thursday to revive its revised ban that limits travelers visiting the United States from six mostly Muslim countries. > > The move sets the stage for a constitutional showdown over the president’s authority to make national security judgments in the name of protecting Americans from terrorism. > > Last week, a federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., said President Trump’s travel ban was a product of religious animus and intolerance, and so violated the First Amendment. Mr. Trump’s national security justifications for the ban, that court said, were a pretext for the religious discrimination suggested by his campaign rhetoric, including his pledge to ban Muslim immigrants from entering the country. > > The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit split along ideological lines in its 10-to-3 decision, with its three Republican appointees in dissent. Shortly after the decision was issued, Attorney General Jeff Sessions vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court. > > In its brief filed late Thursday asking the Supreme Court to consider the case, the Trump administration said the question for the justices was momentous. > … > > [Source](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/02/us/politics/trump-travel-ban-supreme-court.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0) This will be a test of/for Gorsuch. If he gives the ban a thumbs-down, I predict Trump will try to find a way to have him removed from the Court, maybe even disbarred and forced to get a job as a Wal-mart greeter. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5909 "2017-06-02T15:43:37Z")
Current top story on CNN; [What does Trump believe about climate change? His aides won’t say, and you can’t ask him](http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/02/politics/donald-trump-climate-change-belief/index.html) Then they ask about every one of his many spokespeople and every one of them says they don’t know and haven’t asked Trump. :smack::smack::smack: ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5910 "2017-06-02T16:16:32Z")
The Orange One in 2012: “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.” The Orange One in 2014: “This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bullshit has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice.” “NBC News just called it the great freeze - coldest weather in years. Is our country still spending money on the GLOBAL WARMING HOAX?” “Snowing in Texas and Louisiana, record setting freezing temperatures throughout the country and beyond. Global warming is an expensive hoax!” “Ice storm rolls from Texas to Tennessee - I’m in Los Angeles and it’s freezing. Global warming is a total, and very expensive, hoax!” The Orange One in 2015: “Obama’s talking about all of this with the global warming and…a lot of it’s a hoax. It’s a hoax. I mean, it’s a money-making industry, OK? It’s a hoax, a lot of it.” The Orange One in 2016: “Well, I think the climate change is just a very, very expensive form of tax. A lot of people are making a lot of money. I know much about climate change. I’d be—received environmental awards. And I often joke that this is done for the benefit of China. Obviously, I joke. But this is done for the benefit of China, because China does not do anything to help climate change. They burn everything you could burn; they couldn’t care less. They have very—you know, their standards are nothing. But they—in the meantime, they can undercut us on price. So it’s very hard on our business.” Earth to Not-Hillary: China is part of the accords that you just pull out of! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5912 "2017-06-02T16:24:22Z")
Spammer reported. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5913 "2017-06-02T16:55:11Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > Not to mention having to resort now to blowing up [mountains](http://grist.org/article/2010-01-07-science-confirms-that-blowing-up-mountains-harms-mountains/). > > A few West Virginians might not be too pleased about that. Every news story I’ve read indicates that the West Virginians do not care in the least about blowing up the mountains. Their only concern is keeping jobs related to coal and no price (water, air, health) is too high so long as coal mining doesn’t go away. Blowing up mountains isn’t even a slight deterrent, so long as it results in a single job with “coal” somewhere in the title. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5914 "2017-06-02T17:15:37Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > [Bring](https://img.haikudeck.com/mg/PU0262UqC2_1401813937085.jpg) [back](http://userscontent2.emaze.com/images/f984f424-4b78-4539-a7ce-8e86226c0025/30fbdcc9-1210-4da0-bfaf-f146caad4b4c.jpg)[Hoovervilles](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/G5cNfvsOqNk/maxresdefault.jpg)! [Too late.](https://www.google.com/search?q=skid+row&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiRhe6g05_UAhXhx4MKHSHgC8EQ_AUIBygC&biw=1920&bih=936#tbm=isch&q=skid+row+homeless+tents+LA) ---
**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:** [June 2, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5915 "2017-06-02T17:36:52Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > From Day One, we’ve seen that he doesn’t take advice from anyone on any topic. He is a legend in his own mind and sees himself as a really smart guy. He doesn’t read books, he doesn’t need briefings that go on and on for minutes at a time, and he doesn’t accept the fact that anyone else knows more on any topic than he does. I think the absolute opposite is true. He doesn’t understand \*any \*of this shit, and he’s terrified he’s gonna look like an idiot or worse, like he’s less than these people who actually read, and learn, and know. And so he overcompensates like a motherfuck. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5916 "2017-06-02T17:57:09Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > I think the absolute opposite is true. He doesn’t understand \*any \*of this shit, and he’s terrified he’s gonna look like an idiot or worse, like he’s less than these people who actually read, and learn, and know. And so he overcompensates like a motherfuck. Great. Trump is both arrogant and insecure. ---
**Author:** ![SaneBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SaneBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaneBill)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5917 "2017-06-02T18:00:22Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Great. Trump is both arrogant and insecure. But you have to admit that he’s the best on both. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5918 "2017-06-02T18:14:44Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Great. Trump is both arrogant and insecure. In my experience, that’s most often the case. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5919 "2017-06-02T18:19:41Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Great. Trump is both arrogant and insecure. You forgot ignorant and capricious. He’s basically a spoiled four year old with a Twitter account and nuclear launch codes. Stranger ---
**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:** [June 2, 2017, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5920 "2017-06-02T18:22:46Z")
Will Trump try to block Comey’s Congressional testimony? [Will Trump block Comey testimony? White House does not know yet | Reuters](http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-idUSKBN18T1WZ)? ---
**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:** [June 2, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/5921 "2017-06-02T18:28:36Z")
Mike Pence can’t understand why the left is pushing a climate change agenda. > **[Pence: ‘For Some Reason Or Another,’ The Left Cares About Climate Change (VIDEO)](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/pence-for-some-reason-left-climate-change)** > > Vice President Mike Pence said Friday that “for some reason or another, this issue of climate change has emerged as a paramount issue for the left in this country and around the world. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=295) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=297)