# 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:** 357
**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 22, 2017, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7123 "2017-06-22T16:36:27Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Step 1) Always vote R > Step 2) Come to terms with the fact that Trump is the R candidate > Step 3) Figure out a way to convince yourself that Trump is like you > > That’s how my parents did it, at least. Whenever Trump is at his most scripted and restrained, e.g. the 60 minutes interview after the election, or his first congressional address, that’s the _real_ Trump. The crazy, pussy-grabbing clown that you see the rest of the time is an act he puts on to play the media, see. The twice divorced wife beater? Not relevant to the job duties. No, what matters is that he’s a smart businessman who made a fortune being smart. Any derogatory information about his business practices is just sour grapes. Etc, etc. I hear you, but I can’t really believe it. It’s no secret which one is the “real” Trump. When he’s s scripted, he’s clearly straining to read and understand other people’s words. When he’s pussy grabbing and _making America Great_, he’s spontaneous and authentically boorish. ---
**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 22, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7124 "2017-06-22T16:37:20Z")
People (like my dad) have exchanged the truth and reality for the pursuit of winning. Having your side win is all that matters, even if it means the truth is to be ignored. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7125 "2017-06-22T16:42:59Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I honestly can’t wrap my head around it. I can understanding voting for Romney, McCain, or even GW Bush. But for the life of me, I cannot comprehend support for Trump. I’d like to think most people are not generally idiots or otherwise deplorable, but I’ve run out of alternative explanations for these people. It’s depressing. There’s a few groups of people who voted for trump. You got your deplorables, your racist and bigot and whatnot. I do not know that % that this cohort makes up, but it is not insignificant. These are the ones who want to see the travel bans and build the wall and deportations, not because they think that they will be good for the country, but because they want to see suffering of “the other”. Then you got your one issue voters. Abortion, guns, religious stuff like that. The SC seat being held open by Mcconnell was a big hand there. These people voted for Trump because they won’t vote for a gun grabbing, baby killing, jesus hating librul. Many people stand by their vote for trump because he nominated gorsuch, as opposed to whoever clinton would have nominated. Then you got all your hoodwinked folks. All the people who believed trump’s promise that they would get their jobs back, that they would get a better healthcare system, that we would be a world leader in fighting terrorism. They got conned. Just as if they were driving off the used car lot in what they think is the best deal evAr, based on that slick talking car salesman, they think they got a good deal with trump. And, just as a person who got talked into buying a car that breaks down after 5 miles isn’t going to readily admit that they made a mistake, that they were gullible enough to believe the lies, these people will take a while to come around to the idea that they really were mislead, that they really did vote in such a way to compound their problems rather than solving them. As I’ve said before, these people can be fooled on the rhetoric and spin, but you cannot fool their pocketbooks. They will know if they and their friends and families are doing better financially. They will vote based on that. Democrats were not doing enough to address the issues that they faced, so they voted for republicans instead. Soon they will realize that the republicans refuse to even acknowledge, much less address and solve the issues that they face, and they will switch back to the democrats. ---
**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 22, 2017, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7126 "2017-06-22T16:47:09Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > People (like my dad) have exchanged the truth and reality for the pursuit of winning. Having your side win is all that matters, even if it means the truth is to be ignored. True. And these people do not want to admit, ever, that they were played for fools. They will do anything to maintain the illusion that they are not suckers. Who wants to admit they were fooled? Who wants to admit that they fell for a con? ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7127 "2017-06-22T16:49:57Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > People (like my dad) have exchanged the truth and reality for the pursuit of winning. Having your side win is all that matters, even if it means the truth is to be ignored. To make a serious point you won’t accept; liberals have also exchanged truth and reality … for denial: The USA is no longer a representative democracy, and there is barely a liberal who can even begin to pull their head out the sand. ---
**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 22, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7128 "2017-06-22T16:51:59Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > New sign on Trump’s desk. > “The bus stops here.” ::applause:: I love this. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7129 "2017-06-22T16:55:59Z")
I’ve blown my entire Soros check already on rent boys, illegal drugs, and communist banners. I am helping our economy. ---
**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 22, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7130 "2017-06-22T16:58:38Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > To make a serious point you won’t accept; liberals have also exchanged truth and reality … for denial: The USA is no longer a representative democracy, and there is barely a liberal who can even begin to pull their head out the sand. I don’t understand what you’re saying. Liberals believe that, or liberals don’t understand that? ---
**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 22, 2017, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7131 "2017-06-22T17:02:19Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > We all got paid by George Soros. > > I’m still waiting for my check, btw. That Nigerian guy? Didn’t you answer his emails? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7132 "2017-06-22T17:03:46Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > True. > > And these people do not want to admit, ever, that they were played for fools. They will do anything to maintain the illusion that they are not suckers. Who wants to admit they were fooled? Who wants to admit that they fell for a con? And to make it even harder - Who wants to admit they where fooled by a fool. And conned by an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![SingleMalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/singlemalt/32/3961_2.png) [@SingleMalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SingleMalt)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7133 "2017-06-22T17:21:22Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > If Trump doesn’t hire a bunch of homeless crackheads he is clearly a Big Ol’ Meanie. Well, have you even submitted a resume? ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7134 "2017-06-22T17:23:28Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I honestly can’t wrap my head around it. I can understanding voting for Romney, McCain, or even GW Bush. But for the life of me, I cannot comprehend support for Trump. I’d like to think most people are not generally idiots or otherwise deplorable, but I’ve run out of alternative explanations for these people. It’s depressing. Ya got that right! Weird, wild stuff goin’ on… ---
**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 22, 2017, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7135 "2017-06-22T17:45:00Z")
Trump says he doesn’t have any tapes of his conversations with Comey. [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-06-22/trump-said-to-not-have-recordings-of-conversations-with-comey](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-06-22/trump-said-to-not-have-recordings-of-conversations-with-comey) Well, I guess that settles _that_. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7136 "2017-06-22T19:12:48Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I honestly can’t wrap my head around it. I can understanding voting for Romney, McCain, or even GW Bush. But for the life of me, I cannot comprehend support for Trump. I’d like to think most people are not generally idiots or otherwise deplorable, but I’ve run out of alternative explanations for these people. It’s depressing. I know in the case of my parents, they genuinely believe that Democrats are the cause for all the ‘bad things’ going on in this country. The recession? Democrats. High unemployment? Democrats. Terrorist attacks? Democrats. Because in their view, the Democrats are the corrupt party. The party with their hand in the banks and Wall Street and the lobbyists. They’re the party that makes decisions and laws based on what company has ‘donated’ the most money to them. That the Democrats are the party of the rich, elite who care only about their own wallets. While Republicans are the party of the people. People like them. The party who cares about good, old fashioned, American values. Who want to HELP the American people over helping themselves. I can only guess that they feel this way from a mix of getting their news solely from Fox and Hannity and wearing blinders to anything else, stubbornly ignoring news that’s from the ‘evil, liberal media’. I’ve tried getting into discussions with them but it never ends well. They feel MY news sources are skewed and biased and thus refuse to listen to anything I offer. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7137 "2017-06-22T19:49:10Z")
> [@Truman\_Burbank](#): > > BTW, has anyone else noticed how intelligent and incisive **The Tooth** is? Intelligent and _incisor_, anyway. > [@AngelSoft](#): > > They feel MY news sources are skewed and biased and thus refuse to listen to anything I offer. Well that’s the rub, isn’t it? When it comes to things that you not personally experiencing or personally an expert in- how many people know enough about, say, economics to evaluate whether Senator Bob Smith’s proposed policy is full of hooey?- you have to take the word of someone who does know. And you can’t just read a right-biased and a left-biased newspaper and split the difference- by this point they’re reporting two separate realities. And so you have to basically pick one side to believe, based on what makes the most sense to you, and disregard the other side as a bunch of nutjobs reporting from Planet Banana Pudding. It’s almost like a religious movement; We are the faithful, the enlightened, the keepers of the truth, and They are the lost flock, following their false prophets down to Hell. Because our [del]book[/del] paper says we’re right, you see. I’m not trying to suggest a moral equivalency between the sides; I picked my sect, and I believe in it, I really do. But it haunts me, how much of what I “know” is really what other people know, and how the exact some thing can be said for the people I violently disagree with. ---
**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 22, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7138 "2017-06-22T20:02:39Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Trump says he doesn’t have any tapes of his conversations with Comey. > [Trump's Tape Blunder Risks Fresh Legal Jeopardy in Russia Probe - Bloomberg](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-06-22/trump-said-to-not-have-recordings-of-conversations-with-comey) > > Well, I guess that settles _that_. Has anyone asked Putin if he has any tapes? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7139 "2017-06-22T20:02:45Z")
k9bfriender, that was a really incisive analysis – thank you. I think you nailed it; there was a confluence of multiple subsets with different rationales, each of which settled on Trump. And here we are. I think the most significant is the 2nd one, the single-interest voters. If you’re right, then the open Supreme Court seat turned out to be pivotal: some significant portion of voters pushed the button for Trump because they wanted to make sure a Republican president filled that vacancy. Which means that Mitch McConnell made a huge gamble, crapping on the constitution and Senate procedures, to keep that seat open. It paid off in spades. That motherfucker has a lot to answer for. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7140 "2017-06-22T20:03:18Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > What is the point of asking for immunity if loser Donald is just going to pardon you? Can you issue pardons for FUTURE crimes? Then Trump could just sign a slew for all his friends/family/minions clearing them of anything they have/are/will be doing, and it’s all good. For that matter, can he pardon himself? ---
**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 22, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7141 "2017-06-22T20:12:22Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#): > > I know in the case of my parents, they genuinely believe that Democrats are the cause for all the ‘bad things’ going on in this country. The recession? Democrats. High unemployment? Democrats. Terrorist attacks? Democrats. Because in their view, the Democrats are the corrupt party. The party with their hand in the banks and Wall Street and the lobbyists. They’re the party that makes decisions and laws based on what company has ‘donated’ the most money to them. That the Democrats are the party of the rich, elite who care only about their own wallets. While Republicans are the party of the people. People like them. The party who cares about good, old fashioned, American values. Who want to HELP the American people over helping themselves. There are undoubtedly plenty of reasons to be against the Democratic Party. The ones you list just have no basis in reality. (or pale in comparison to the other party’s conduct on those issues). ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7142 "2017-06-22T20:51:56Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Can you issue pardons for FUTURE crimes? Then Trump could just sign a slew for all his friends/family/minions clearing them of anything they have/are/will be doing, and it’s all good. > > For that matter, can he pardon himself? [No, to both.](http://www.heritage.org/constitution/#!/articles/2/essays/89/pardon-power) > [@](#): > > The only limits mentioned in the Constitution are that pardons are limited to offenses against the United States (i.e., not civil or state cases), and that they cannot affect an impeachment process. > [@](#): > > A pardon can be issued from the time an offense is committed, and can even be issued after the full sentence has been served. It cannot, however, be granted before an offense has been committed, which would give the President the power to waive the laws. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=356) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=358)