# 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:** 342
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6822 "2017-06-16T13:08:00Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > “Americans should exercise caution before accepting as true any stories attributed to anonymous ‘officials,’ particularly when they do not identify the country — let alone the branch or agency of government — with which the alleged sources supposedly are affiliated. Americans should be skeptical about anonymous allegations” A smart person is skeptical of anything that isn’t proven. Even if the allegations are made openly. For instance, alleging the President of the United States was born in Kenya, that’s something I’d be skeptical of. The level of skepticism should be proportional to the likelihood of the claim being made. For instance, if someone were to claim that thousands of Muslims in New Jersey cheered as the Twin Towers fell, despite a complete absence of any evidence of what, one would assume, would be an extraordinarily outrageous act that would be extremely well documented, you should be quite skeptical of that. Indeed, you should perhaps call into question the honesty and character of the person making the claim. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6823 "2017-06-16T13:16:19Z")
Well, Trump did campaign on [increasing jobs numbers](http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/16/politics/robert-mueller-special-counsel-lawyers/index.html): \*"Special counsel Robert Mueller has brought 13 lawyers on board to handle the Russia investigation, with plans to hire more, according to his spokesman Peter Carr. Mueller has assembled a high-powered team of top investigators and leading experts, including seasoned attorneys who’ve represented major American companies in court and who have worked on cases ranging from Watergate to the Enron fraud scandal."\* ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6824 "2017-06-16T13:26:36Z")
“We need someone to run a federal program to distribute billions of dollars for housing in the New York metropolitan area. Eric, who was that woman with a fake law degree who [planned your wedding?](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/trump-chooses-family-event-planner-run-n-y-housing-programs-article-1.3251314?utm_content=bufferf5ded&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=NYDailyNewsTw) Let’s get her to do it.” ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6825 "2017-06-16T13:27:23Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > A smart person is skeptical of anything that isn’t proven. Even if the allegations are made openly. For instance, alleging the President of the United States was born in Kenya, that’s something I’d be skeptical of. > > The level of skepticism should be proportional to the likelihood of the claim being made. For instance, if someone were to claim that thousands of Muslims in New Jersey cheered as the Twin Towers fell, despite a complete absence of any evidence of what, one would assume, would be an extraordinarily outrageous act that would be extremely well documented, you should be quite skeptical of that. Indeed, you should perhaps call into question the honesty and character of the person making the claim. Heh. Very well said. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6826 "2017-06-16T13:39:49Z")
Trump hires a family friend with no experience and who lied on her resume to oversee billions of dollars of federal money. > **[N.Y. DAILY NEWS: Trump’s new NY HUD director planned Eric Trump’s wedding,...](https://www.politico.com/tipsheets/playbook/2017/06/16/ny-daily-news-trumps-new-ny-hud-director-planned-eric-trumps-wedding-has-no-housing-experience-dems-drub-gop-at-baseball-game-a-record-24-959-tickets-sold-pence-hires-mcguirewoods-cullen-bday-bres-220870)** Federal government is also funneling money into Trump’s DC hotel by holding official meetings there. > Winning! ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6827 "2017-06-16T13:40:32Z")
I have booked a cruise to Cuba in September based on Obama’s "people to people " program. If Trump fucks this up because he thinks he can get a better deal from Cuba then I may m9ve to Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6828 "2017-06-16T14:14:36Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > My initial thought was that Rosenstein made the statement as sop to Trump, to keep him calm for a little while longer. was it not? But now Trump has attacked him in Twitter. Does not Trump yet undrestand that he is now in a universe where his New York tabloid and small city staff intimidation tactics do not work, in fact make his position worse? Attacking this Rosenstain with the self-contradictory statements at this stage only seem to me to make Trump look like he fears the investigation indeed will find substance and he is pouring petrol on the fire thinking he is drowning it… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6829 "2017-06-16T14:29:50Z")
Trump has apparently [reversed himself](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/us/politics/trump-will-allow-dreamers-to-stay-in-us-reversing-campaign-promise.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news) on deporting “Dreamers”. I would like to be able to say that he’s showing some humanity, but knowing Trump, and knowing that he has zero humanity, I’m betting it’s a diversion to try to quiet some of the wolves howling at his heals. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6830 "2017-06-16T14:40:35Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Trump has apparently [reversed himself](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/us/politics/trump-will-allow-dreamers-to-stay-in-us-reversing-campaign-promise.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news) on deporting “Dreamers”. I would like to be able to say that he’s showing some humanity, but knowing Trump, and knowing that he has zero humanity, I’m betting it’s a diversion to try to quiet some of the wolves howling at his heals. To show I’m not a knee-jerk partisan, I’m willing to give credit where credit is due. Nicely done, President Trump (first time I’ve used that phrase). ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6831 "2017-06-16T14:48:37Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Trump has apparently [reversed himself](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/us/politics/trump-will-allow-dreamers-to-stay-in-us-reversing-campaign-promise.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news) on deporting “Dreamers”. I would like to be able to say that he’s showing some humanity, but knowing Trump, and knowing that he has zero humanity, I’m betting it’s a diversion to try to quiet some of the wolves howling at his heals. > [@JKellyMap](#): > > To show I’m not a knee-jerk partisan, I’m willing to give credit where credit is due. Nicely done, President Trump (first time I’ve used that phrase). once someone declares their DACA status, Then they go after the parents. ---
**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 16, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6832 "2017-06-16T15:03:56Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > I have booked a cruise to Cuba in September based on Obama’s "people to people " program. If Trump fucks this up because he thinks he can get a better deal from Cuba then I may m9ve to Canada. Just heard on AP Radio News that there will be no affect on travel. ---
**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 16, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6833 "2017-06-16T15:04:03Z")
> [@Ramira](#): > > was it not? > > But now Trump has attacked him in Twitter. > > Does not Trump yet **undrestand** that he is now in a universe where his New York tabloid and small city staff intimidation tactics do not work, in fact make his position worse? > > Attacking this Rosenstain with the self-contradictory statements at this stage only seem to me to make Trump look like he fears the investigation indeed will find substance and he is pouring petrol on the fire thinking he is drowning it… Bold added. See, that one word “understand”… that’s the crux of it. He clearly does not understand anything, if by that we mean linking ideas together and making mental connections, which lead to meaningful behavior. My dog Sweetie has more understanding, in that sense, than our so-called President. Trump is strictly about gut-level responses to whatever is happening (or he imagines is happening) \*in the moment. \* He only has memories of slights and attacks (or what he thinks were attacks). He has a LONG memory for those. Only those. IOW he appears to be incapable of learning. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6834 "2017-06-16T15:09:20Z")
Rosenstein may have to [recuse himself](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/deputy-attorney-general-privately-acknowledges-recuse-russia-probe/story?id=48080253) from the investigation he inherited from Sessions who had to recuse himself. Rosenstein could be “of interest” in an obstruction case due to the letter Trump had him write about Comey. At this rate, the investigation will be overseen by the DoJ’s janitor. Of more real concern is who picks it up and how likely they are to resist Trump if he decides “Hey, go fire Mueller” or other shenanigans. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6835 "2017-06-16T15:20:42Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > You don’t say? > > [Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein tells Americans to be ‘skeptical’ of anonymous sources](http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/deputy-attorney-general-rod-rosenstein-tells-americans-to-be-skeptical-of-anonymous-sources/article/2626174) > > “Americans should exercise caution before accepting as true any stories attributed to anonymous ‘officials,’ particularly when they do not identify the country — let alone the branch or agency of government — with which the alleged sources supposedly are affiliated. Americans should be skeptical about anonymous allegations” “People are saying” - Trump “A lot of people are saying” - Trump “Everyone says” - Trump So, fuck off. I sincerely hope every last one of those traitor bastards goes to prison - forever. Lock them up. Lock them up. Lock them up. Lock them up. Lock them up. Lock them up. Lock them up. Lock them up. Lock them up. Lock them up. Lock them up. Lock them up. Lock them up. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6836 "2017-06-16T15:22:02Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Bold added. > > See, that one word “understand”… that’s the crux of it. > > He clearly does not understand anything, if by that we mean linking ideas together and making mental connections, which lead to meaningful behavior. My dog Sweetie has more understanding, in that sense, than our so-called President. > > Trump is strictly about gut-level responses to whatever is happening (or he imagines is happening) \*in the moment. \* He only has memories of slights and attacks (or what he thinks were attacks). He has a LONG memory for those. Only those. IOW he appears to be incapable of learning. So Donald Trump is basically [Belkar Bitterleaf](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0335.html) with a Twitter account? ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6837 "2017-06-16T15:26:36Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > **Country**? > > That’s a bit odd, that is. Must have to do with that Russian guy, who said there WERE encounters between him and Sessions. > **[Jeff Sessions also didn't disclose having dinner with a lobbyist for Russian...](https://www.salon.com/2017/06/16/jeff-sessions-also-didnt-disclose-having-dinner-with-a-lobbyist-for-russian-interests/)** > > A Russian lobbyist says he dined twice with Jeff Sessions — that was never disclosed Jeff Sessions also didn’t disclose having dinner with a lobbyist for Russian interests A Russian lobbyist says he dined twice with Jeff Sessions — that was never disclosed > **[Lobbyist for Russian interests contradicts key claim from Jeff Sessions’...](https://www.nydailynews.com/2017/06/15/lobbyist-for-russian-interests-contradicts-key-claim-from-jeff-sessions-testimony/)** > > A lobbyist for Russian state-owned businesses says he attended two dinners hosted by Jeff Sessions — contradicting a key claim the U.S. Attorney General made during his Senate testimony this … Lobbyist for Russian interests contradicts key claim from Jeff Sessions’ testimony > **[Did Sessions Falsely Deny Meetings With Lobbyist For Russia?](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/did-sessions-falsely-deny-meetings-with-lobbyist-for_b_5940d78fe4b04c03fa2616c3)** > > Did Sessions Falsely Deny Meetings With Lobbyist For Russia? Did Sessions Falsely Deny Meetings With Lobbyist For Russia? > **[BUSTED: Key parts of Sessions' testimony were just contradicted by this oil...](https://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/busted-key-parts-of-sessions-testimony-were-just-contradicted-by-this-oil-lobbyist/)** > > An American lobbyist who has worked on behalf of Russian interests has contradicted a key part of Attorney General Jeff Sessions' Senate testimony this week.The Guardian reports that Richard Burt, who served as ambassador to Germany during the... BUSTED: Key parts of Sessions’ testimony were just contradicted by this oil lobbyist Also, Meuller is now looking at the money trail of Kushner and Trump himself… something about money laundering??? You And those trademarks that were suddenly and magically “approved” in China for Trump. And then there’s that whole Emoluments thing. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6838 "2017-06-16T15:31:28Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Rosenstein may have to [recuse himself](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/deputy-attorney-general-privately-acknowledges-recuse-russia-probe/story?id=48080253) from the investigation he inherited from Sessions who had to recuse himself. Rosenstein could be “of interest” in an obstruction case due to the letter Trump had him write about Comey. > > At this rate, the investigation will be overseen by the DoJ’s janitor. Of more real concern is who picks it up and how likely they are to resist Trump if he decides “Hey, go fire Mueller” or other shenanigans. If he does recuse himself, does that mean he can NOT fire Mueller when Trump tells him to? If so, EXCELLENT. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6839 "2017-06-16T15:37:34Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > If he does recuse himself, does that mean he can NOT fire Mueller when Trump tells him to? > > If so, EXCELLENT. Well, I assume the next guy in line would have that authority once (if) Rosenstein steps aside. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6840 "2017-06-16T15:43:13Z")
I suspect the “whole emoluments thing” will go nowhere. Money laundering, on the other hand, is far more concrete and objectively provable; if there’s anything to the suspicions, those will be what bites the hardest (for Kushner if not for Trump). ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6841 "2017-06-16T15:52:46Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I suspect the “whole emoluments thing” will go nowhere. Money laundering, on the other hand, is far more concrete and objectively provable; if there’s anything to the suspicions, those will be what bites the hardest (for Kushner if not for Trump). I beg to differ. There’s no question that Trump is making money from his office. The only question is whether “emoluments” means flat-out gifts, or does it include money in exchange for goods and services. That will wind up a Supreme Court decision (no doubt) and if they decide the latter, Trump is in violation of the Constitution and either needs to divest, get Congressional waivers, or leave. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=341) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=343)