# 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:** 347
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6922 "2017-06-17T18:07:38Z")
Surely the president wouldn’t be so obvious as to try to undermine the new sanctions on Russia, approved by the senate near unanimously, right? Nope. Apparently, [they’re that obvious](http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/17/trump-white-house-russia-sanctions-deal-239636?cmpid=sf). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6923 "2017-06-17T19:26:20Z")
As for Pence lawyering up, I’m no Pence fan – just another fucking Republican, albeit a particularly egregious one – but it’s only just prudent to seek legal counsel considering everything that’s going on around him. I don’t necessarily see anything nefarious in the move. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6924 "2017-06-17T19:44:28Z")
Agreed. If it’s raining, you put up an umbrella. And in DC, it’s raining shit. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6925 "2017-06-17T20:33:33Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I thought he refused to go to Camp David because it was too rustic. > Perhaps General Mattis and his security staff convinced him that Mara Largo was not a secure location and too easy to signal intercept. One reason he’s going to Camp David is a recent poll that showed that even his most devoted supporters are bothered by the expense-to-taxpayers and frequency of his trips to Mar-a-Lago. I’ve been trying to find the poll online (it was mentioned yesterday on one of the cable news shows). This may be an older version: > [@](#): > > President Donald Trump is losing support among Republicans, white voters and men, leaving him with a negative 37 - 56 percent job approval rating from American voters, his worst score ever, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. … [Poll Results | Quinnipiac University Poll](https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2442) Chimera, you’re quite right about security being an issue: > [@](#): > > … Trump properties have been hacked before. Last year, the Trump hotel chain paid $50,000 to settle charges brought by the New York attorney general that it had not properly disclosed the loss of more than 70,000 credit card numbers and 302 Social Security numbers. Prosecutors alleged that hotel credit card systems were “the target of a cyber-attack” due to poor security. The company agreed to beef up its security; it’s not clear if the vulnerabilities we found violate that agreement. A spokesman for the New York attorney general declined comment. > > Our experience also indicates that it’s easy to gain physical access to Trump properties… [ProPublica finds lax internet security at four of Trump’s resorts | PBS News](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/propublica-finds-lax-internet-security-four-trumps-resorts/) (I’ll keep looking for a link to the ‘Trump-supporters-bothered-by-frequent-Mar-a-Lago-trips’ survey.) ---
**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 17, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6926 "2017-06-17T20:47:15Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Curiously, typing in “mordor” also gives me a map in Maryland. Specifically, of Mordor Lane in Hanover. > [@Chimera](#): > > I’m in Minnesota. When I went to Google Maps and typed in ‘Mordor’, it gave me Mordor Tattoos in Arlington, Washington. 😛 > [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > Keep in mind that Google follows you all over and through all your devices; it reads your emails, sees your searches, records your voice, knows where you drive, what your bills are, who your friends are and depending on the apps you have, what you eat and when you sleep. The results you get in your Google-based searches, regardless of which Google product you use, will reflect its best attempt to give you a complete result. I was just funnin’ on how back in the day if you tried to use Google Maps for “directions to Mordor” you got a message that “One does not simply walk into Mordor.” I wanted to see if Apple Maps had a similar easter egg (it doesn’t). ---
**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 17, 2017, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6927 "2017-06-17T20:57:24Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I was just funnin’ on how back in the day if you tried to use Google Maps for “directions to Mordor” you got a message that “One does not simply walk into Mordor.” I wanted to see if Apple Maps had a similar easter egg (it doesn’t). Google also had directions to London that included “Swim 3245(whatever was the actual number) miles across the Atlantic Ocean”. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6928 "2017-06-17T21:03:31Z")
> [@andrewm](#): > > He had absolutely no business saying that, and he is now facing ethics complaints in both NY and DC as a result: [http://www.law.com/sites/almstaff/2017/06/15/kasowitz-hit-with-ethics-complaints-in-ny-dc-over-white-house-advice](http://www.law.com/sites/almstaff/2017/06/15/kasowitz-hit-with-ethics-complaints-in-ny-dc-over-white-house-advice) > > When I heard the “Trump lawyer hires himself a lawyer” headline, I initially assumed it was about this incident. That link is behind a registration wall, but I googled and found [this](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/marc-kasowitz-ethics-complaints_us_59445af7e4b0f15cd5bb7593). > [@Huffington Post](#): > > Kasowitz, a member of the New York bar, has been advising Trump and reportedly other members of the president’s staff, even though he is not currently authorized to practice law in the District of Columbia, according to the CfA complaint. He told White House aides it was not yet necessary to hire their own private attorneys, The New York Times reported, citing anonymous sources. Such behavior could be construed as a conflict of interest. > > “By meeting with White House staff within the White House complex and offering the legal opinion that those staffers need not hire counsel, [Kasowitz] may have engaged in the unauthorized practice of law,” the CfA complaint states. “In addition, by advising White House staff members, who are not represented by counsel and who have a reasonable possibility of having interests that conflict with those of Mr. Kasowitz’s client, President Trump, Mr. Kasowitz appears to have violated” a rule of professional conduct concerning conflicts of interest. > > Goldfarb similarly pointed out in his complaint that “there is obviously a very reasonable possibility that [aides’] personal interests are in conflict with those of President Trump’s.” ---
**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 17, 2017, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6929 "2017-06-17T21:41:10Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I was just funnin’ on how back in the day if you tried to use Google Maps for “directions to Mordor” you got a message that “One does not simply walk into Mordor.” I wanted to see if Apple Maps had a similar easter egg (it doesn’t). I just tried that and it gave me the Mordor Tattoos result. I wonder if they take walkins. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6930 "2017-06-17T22:07:00Z")
> [@Catamount](#): > > I just tried that and it gave me the Mordor Tattoos result. I wonder if they take walkins. 😛 If they’re authentic, one cannot simply walk into Mordor Tattoos. It has to be a drive-through. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6931 "2017-06-17T22:11:17Z")
> [@Catamount](#): > > I just tried that and it gave me the Mordor Tattoos result. I wonder if they take walkins. 😛 I would work by appointment only, just so I could put that sign in the window…“Appt only; one does not…” ---
**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 17, 2017, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6932 "2017-06-17T22:21:49Z")
Indiana is paying a law firm $100,000[to help deal with a backlog of public records requests](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/midwest/indiana/ct-indiana-pence-email-public-records-20170617-story.html), most of which seek emails from Vice President Mike Pence’s tenure as governor, including correspondence _**routed through a private [AOL.com](http://AOL.com) account he used to conduct state business**_. Really :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6933 "2017-06-17T22:59:33Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Really? Yup. Pence has his own potentially criminal issues going on. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6934 "2017-06-17T23:07:26Z")
Even Trump’s lawyer is getting a lawyer now. ---
**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 18, 2017, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6935 "2017-06-18T00:09:43Z")
See?? Trump \*\*is \*\*creating jobs… bigly! For lawyers. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2017, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6936 "2017-06-18T00:11:03Z")
Not to mention the great big handjob he’s giving the country. ---
**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 18, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6937 "2017-06-18T00:12:51Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Not to mention the great big handjob he’s giving the country. More like a reacharound. ---
**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 18, 2017, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6938 "2017-06-18T01:51:27Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > More like a reacharound. But no lube. ---
**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 18, 2017, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6939 "2017-06-18T02:03:23Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Not to mention the great big handjob he’s giving the country. Why am I not satisfied? ---
**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:** [June 18, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6940 "2017-06-18T02:14:12Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Why am I not satisfied? Tiny hands. ---
**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 18, 2017, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/6941 "2017-06-18T02:22:01Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Tiny hands. ha! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=346) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=348)