# 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:** 326
**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:** [June 12, 2017, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6502 "2017-06-12T13:11:57Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It’s just a matter of time. Of course he’ll fire Mueller. > It’s a cute idea until you think of how incredibly stupid it is. I was going to just quote the part about firing Mueller, but the second part fit so well without the quote from digs I left it in. Trump’s firing of Comey is the most strategically stupid thing Trump has done so far, IMO. But like you, I believe he has much stupider stuff to show us, and I believe that a Saturday Night Massacre event involving Sessions, Rosenstein and Mueller is inevitable. The big question in my mind is what the precipitating event will be. Will it be the first subpoena of a close advisor, like Jared Kushner? Or will it be when Trump himself is subpoenaed? ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6503 "2017-06-12T13:18:40Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I got the straight dope from a Brit _mate o’ moin_ (they just LOVE it when you try a bad cockney accent). Apparently, there is hope that the Blue States could rejoin the UK, or ‘create joinder’ with Canada. really? ---
**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:** [June 12, 2017, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6504 "2017-06-12T13:53:22Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I have to give Sarah Huckabee the benefit of the doubt - when my daughter gets a hold of my phone, long strings of emojis ensue as well. Fortunately she usually just sends them to my wife and not the entire country. the more important aspect of this is not “this is what happens when you’re kids get ahold of your phone” but that her phone was left unlocked such that it _could_ happen. What else is on her personal device that could be exposed should someone more nefarious decide to snatch it? ---
**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:** [June 12, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6505 "2017-06-12T14:16:54Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > really? Uh, oh, I got someone’s hopes up. I’m sure the problems with any kind of “take our marbles and leave the game” would far outweigh the advantages. I mean, even deciding who gets to be included; does Austin get to come along, even though the rest of Texas stays? But the biggest advantages to asking for Commonwealth status? Colorful banknotes, and no Trump. The biggest negative is that I’m not sure I could take the British weather. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2017, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6506 "2017-06-12T14:18:07Z")
[re: The possibility that the Blue States could rejoin the UK] [QUOTE=JackieLikesVariety] really? [/QUOTE] Uh, oh, I got someone’s hopes up. I’m sure the problems with any kind of “take our marbles and leave the game” would far outweigh the advantages. I mean, even deciding who gets to be included; does Austin get to come along, even though the rest of Texas stays? But the biggest advantages to asking for Commonwealth status? Colorful banknotes, and no Trump. The biggest negative is that I’m not sure I could take the British weather. ---
**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 12, 2017, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6507 "2017-06-12T14:31:00Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > Yes. Nixon had his first special prosecutor fired. Note, as stated, that Nixon HAD him fired. Nixon did not fire Cox himself. I’m assuming it’s because the Special Prosecutor is under the direct authority of the Attorney General, not the President. Not that Trump is likely to respect (or even know about) such chain of command niceties. From [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_Night_Massacre): > [@](#): > > … > Nixon ordered Attorney General Richardson to fire Cox. Richardson refused and resigned in protest. Nixon then ordered Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus to fire Cox. Ruckelshaus also refused and resigned.[3] > > Nixon then ordered the Solicitor General of the United States, Robert Bork, as acting head of the Justice Department, to fire Cox. Both Richardson and Ruckelshaus had given personal assurances to Congressional oversight committees that they would not interfere, but Bork had not. Although Bork later claimed he believed Nixon’s order to be valid and appropriate, he still considered resigning to avoid being “perceived as a man who did the President’s bidding to save my job”.[4] Nevertheless, having been brought to the White House by limousine and sworn in as acting attorney general, Bork wrote the letter firing Cox[5] – and the Saturday Night Massacre was complete.[6]… ---
**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 12, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6508 "2017-06-12T14:33:20Z")
I’ll be ecstatic when Big Daddy Orange fires a family member who makes the mistake of taking a serious job seriously and tries to do the job in a serious and, dare I say, ethical manner, inevitably ticking off bdo. That will be the precipitatong event ---
**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:** [June 12, 2017, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6509 "2017-06-12T14:41:07Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I’ll be ecstatic when Big Daddy Orange fires a family member who makes the mistake of taking a serious job seriously and tries to do the job in a serious and, dare I say, ethical manner, inevitably ticking off bdo. That will be the precipitatong event Sarcasm, **Monty** has it. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6510 "2017-06-12T15:33:58Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > I doubt in 12 months that you will find one sorry Son Of A Bitch who will admit that they voted for this Sack-O-Shit. Besides, DT is The Chosen One. It is so prophesied! [https://store.jimbakkershow.com/product/trump-prophecies-bundle/](https://store.jimbakkershow.com/product/trump-prophecies-bundle/) :dubious: ---
**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 12, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6511 "2017-06-12T15:35:40Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I’ll be ecstatic when Big Daddy Orange fires a family member who makes the mistake of taking a serious job seriously and tries to do the job in a serious and, dare I say, ethical manner, inevitably ticking off bdo. That will be the precipitatong event Precipitatong is my new favorite word. I’m not sure exactly what it means yet, but I like it even better than covfefe. ---
**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 12, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6512 "2017-06-12T15:42:14Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > It seems that the Sceptered Isle will be [spared the cloddish footfalls of Trumpelthinskin](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jun/11/donald-trump-state-visit-to-britain-put-on-hold): > > > [@](#): > > > > Donald Trump has told Theresa May in a phone call he does not want to go ahead with a state visit to Britain until the British public supports him coming. > > > > The US president said he did not want to come if there were large-scale protests and his remarks in effect put the visit on hold for some time… > > (Translation: Theresa May has enough problems and told the dolt to bugger off before he makes things even worse for her.) Sigh, if only he could extend the same courtesy to the United States where he is also not wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6513 "2017-06-12T16:04:02Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I’ll be ecstatic when Big Daddy Orange fires\*\* a family member who makes the mistake of taking a serious job seriously and tries to do the job in a serious and, dare I say, ethical manner, \*\*inevitably ticking off bdo. That will be the precipitatong event The bolded part will never happen. None of the Trumpies is able to do a job or be ethical. ---
**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 12, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6514 "2017-06-12T16:22:13Z")
[Sessions requested tomorrow’s hearing be open so the American people know [del]when his boss contradicts him[/del] the truth directly from him.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/sessions-will-testify-in-open-hearing-before-senate-intelligence-committee/2017/06/12/bcd46802-4f80-11e7-91eb-9611861a988f_story.html?utm_term=.dd58f985071f) ---
**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:** [June 12, 2017, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6515 "2017-06-12T16:27:48Z")
Mike Pence [promised a group of Wisconsin business leaders](http://www.wisn.com/article/pence-to-visit-milwaukee-on-saturday/9995964) Saturday that the Trump administration will replace former President Barack Obama’s health care law with a system that gives states greater flexibility over coverage for their residents. NOTE: Wisconsin took _a hybrid approach_ of tightening income eligibility for Medicaid to only those at the poverty level or below. Those making more than poverty were forced to purchase subsidized insurance through the marketplace. Instead of talking to Wisconsin business leaders, I wonder what Pence would have said if addressed the blind, the terminally ill, the hungry, orphans and the long term unemployed. What A “Christian” Prick. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6516 "2017-06-12T16:38:30Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > [Sessions requested tomorrow’s hearing be open so the American people know [del]when his boss contradicts him[/del] the truth directly from him.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/sessions-will-testify-in-open-hearing-before-senate-intelligence-committee/2017/06/12/bcd46802-4f80-11e7-91eb-9611861a988f_story.html?utm_term=.dd58f985071f) Wow. I have no idea what to expect here. Not that I ever know what to expect in American politics anymore, but still. Until recently I would have expected Sessions to parrot whatever insane crap Trump was saying that day. But now, with the reported rift between them, and now Sessions’ apparently following Comey’s example of wanting the testimony to be public (presumably to protect him from Trump’s future lies), I just… no fucking clue what he’s going to say. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6517 "2017-06-12T16:51:40Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Mike Pence [promised a group of Wisconsin business leaders](http://www.wisn.com/article/pence-to-visit-milwaukee-on-saturday/9995964) Saturday that the Trump administration will replace former President Barack Obama’s health care law with a system that gives states greater flexibility over coverage for their residents. > > NOTE: Wisconsin took _a hybrid approach_ of tightening income eligibility for Medicaid to only those at the poverty level or below. Those making more than poverty were forced to purchase subsidized insurance through the marketplace. Instead of talking to Wisconsin business leaders, I wonder what Pence would have said if addressed the blind, the terminally ill, the hungry, orphans and the long term unemployed. > > What A “Christian” Prick. 11th Commandment: The poor shalt not get away with it. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6518 "2017-06-12T16:59:11Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > [Sessions requested tomorrow’s hearing be open so the American people know [del]when his boss contradicts him[/del] the truth directly from him.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/sessions-will-testify-in-open-hearing-before-senate-intelligence-committee/2017/06/12/bcd46802-4f80-11e7-91eb-9611861a988f_story.html?utm_term=.dd58f985071f) Damn I’m curious now. Is he going to jump in a lifeboat or double down. I’m sure he’ll try to commit to neither, so it’s all in the hands of the questioners. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6519 "2017-06-12T16:59:55Z")
Not sure if it’s been mentioned here yet, but it seems that Trump’s [habit of inappropriately calling people up](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-justice-department-lawyer-preet-bharara-phone-calls-uneasy-james-comey-jeff-sessions-a7785456.html)to cultivate a personal relationship, and then firing them when they don’t show proper loyalty is a bit of a pattern with him: > [@](#): > > Preet Bharara, a prominent former US attorney ousted by President Donald Trump, said Sunday that he reported to the Justice Department efforts by the president to “cultivate some kind of relationship” with him, describing a series of phone calls from Trump that made him increasingly uncomfortable. > > In his first sit-down interview since his March removal, Bharara said he reported one of the phone calls to the chief of staff for Attorney General Jeff Sessions because it made him uneasy. He said he was dismissed from the important prosecutor’s job in Manhattan only 22 hours after he finally refused to take a call from the president. I hope this prompts more questions for Mr. Sessions in the upcoming hearing. Sessions was told about Trump making inappropriate contact with Comey. His chief of staff was told about Trump trying to contact Bharara. How many others were contacted by Trump, and actually did give him a personal loyalty oath? ---
**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:** [June 12, 2017, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6520 "2017-06-12T17:01:39Z")
The bullshitter-in-chief declares that he has [passed more legislation](http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/12/trump-legislative-achievements-239429) than anyone except for FDR. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2017, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6521 "2017-06-12T17:05:05Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > The bullshitter-in-chief declares that he has [passed more legislation](http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/12/trump-legislative-achievements-239429) than anyone except for FDR. From the link: > [@](#): > > Many of the bills Trump has signed, such as designating buildings and appointing board members to the Smithsonian, do not have a major, direct impact on Americans,… All I can add is “thank god.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=325) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=327)