# 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:** 396
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7904 "2017-07-10T17:09:31Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > If you believe a hostile foreign government is interfering in an American election and someone from inside that gov’t wants to meet, you immediately do three things: > > 1. Inform the FBI. > 2. Inform the CIA. > 3. Inform all other political parties who have candidates in that election. Yeah, I mean tell the DNC. Just to be technical, you’re done at 1. This isn’t the CIA’s job. > [@](#): > > WHY would you not send a family member on such a mission? To avoid what has indeed come to pass, namely, **being accused of collusion**. :smack: Not to mention the fact that the election might have been interfered with. The Trumpists won’t accept this emotionally, but of course everyone knows, rationally, that \*\*the appearance of a conflict of interest IS a conflict of interest. \*\* Collusion between Trump Jr., Kushner, and Manafort and the Russians is now a proven fact. The moment they walked into that room to get dirt on Clinton, they were colluding with a foreign agent to influence the outcome of the election. And of course, worse will reveal itself. This is just what a newspaper has managed to dig up. A law enforcement agency will dig up far more. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2017, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7905 "2017-07-10T17:11:49Z")
> [@BeepKillBeep](#): > > In the other thread on who is the leader of the Blessed Leader Fan Club, I chose Okrahoma, and it posts like that which show what I’m talking about it. It isn’t just dumb, there’s a real effort by Okrahoma to try to make these actions make sense. I love it! It is hilarious watching him work. I prefer not to recognize his existence or that of the other trolls at all. > [@bobot](#): > > What if you’ve heard that a presidential candidate is running a kiddy ring out of a pizza joint? I understand that the proper course of action there is to show up at the place with a gun and straighten that shit out RIGHT NOW. And what if the FBI and CIA are in on it, too?? OMG!! :eek: Emails…Emails…Emails… \<_runs screaming into the void…_\> ---
**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:** [July 10, 2017, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7906 "2017-07-10T17:28:18Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Collusion between Trump Jr., Kushner, and Manafort and the Russians is now a proven fact. The moment they walked into that room to get dirt on Clinton, they were colluding with a foreign agent to influence the outcome of the election. > > And of course, worse will reveal itself. This is just what a newspaper has managed to dig up. A law enforcement agency will dig up far more. Absolutely correct. And as to your last point - I think it may be just what a pissed off intelligence community has decided to leak to an even more pissed off media community. Pissing off both the intelligence services AND the media? Great plan, Trump. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7907 "2017-07-10T17:34:09Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > 1. IOKIARDI I’m slipping, I guuess. I’ve no idea what this means. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2017, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7908 "2017-07-10T17:39:45Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Absolutely correct. And as to your last point - I think it may be just what a pissed off intelligence community has decided to leak to an even more pissed off media community. > > Pissing off both the intelligence services AND the media? Great plan, Trump. Interestingly, this particular story originated from 3 apparently coordinated leaks from within the White House. **Fiveyearlurker** posted this link in another thread: [Vox Speculates on Why They Did This](https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/7/10/15947100/donald-trump-jr-russia-leaks). ---
**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:** [July 10, 2017, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7909 "2017-07-10T17:40:12Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I’m slipping, I guuess. I’ve no idea what this means. It’s okay if a Republican does it. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2017, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7910 "2017-07-10T17:40:23Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I’m slipping, I guuess. I’ve no idea what this means. It’s OK if a republican does it. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7911 "2017-07-10T17:57:08Z")
Saw a cute meme: Vlad: “I didn’t hack you” Donald: “I believe you, Vladimir, say no more!” Barack: “Here’s my long form birth certificate.” Donald: “I need to see the birth canal!” ---
**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:** [July 10, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7912 "2017-07-10T18:10:52Z")
A new book claims that Steve Bannon, of all people, advised Trump not to fire Comey. When Bannon is the smartest guy in the room, you got problems. > **[Report: Bannon Warned Trump ‘You Can’t Fire The FBI’ Amid Comey Chaos](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/report-bannon-warned-trump-against-firing-comey)** > > Chief White House strategist Steve Bannon warned President Donald Trump that backlash would ensue if he fired James Comey as head of the FBI, according to a book excerpt published by New York Magazine. By the way, remember how GWB called Karl Rove “Turd Blossom”? Bannon’s nickname has to be “Gin Blossom”, doesn’t it? Jeez, the guy is just a collection of splotches. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2017, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7913 "2017-07-11T00:18:07Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > A new book claims that Steve Bannon, of all people, advised Trump not to fire Comey. When Bannon is the smartest guy in the room, you got problems. I think Bannon is plenty smart. That’s never been his problem, that’s his white supremacist views and the desire to tear it all down. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2017, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7914 "2017-07-11T01:27:40Z")
> **[Trump Jr. Was Told in Email of Russian Effort to Aid Campaign (Published 2017)](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/10/us/politics/donald-trump-jr-russia-email-candidacy.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share)** > > The president’s son was told in an email that the Russian government wanted to help Donald J. Trump’s election bid last year. Everyone in that meeting should get life sentences. Will they? Guess we’ll see. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2017, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7915 "2017-07-11T01:53:04Z")
Also, Trump is cancelling a new FBI building. Out of spite? You judge. > **[Federal government cancels costly, decade-long search for a new FBI headquarters](https://t.co/2cnwJgHXKL)** > > A massive effort spanning the Obama and Trump administrations falls apart, leaving the agency back at square one. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7916 "2017-07-11T03:28:09Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > For a slight change of pace, Trump actually tries to be a helpful person when one of the Marines guarding Marine One loses his hat in the wind. > > [Trump stopping to pick up Marine's hat blown away by wind is president's latest viral moment - ABC News](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-stopping-pick-marines-hat-blown-wind-presidents/story?id=48528095) > > It’s actually kind of a nice, if slightly awkward, moment. Poor guy lost his lid, and Trump tried to help. I think Trump is 99 and 44/100 percent pure douchebag, but for a second there he seemed like an OK sort. It was nice of him to retrieve the Lance-Corporal’s cover, _but Trump failed to return the salute of the Staff Sergeant and therefore hates the military_, if the standards put forth by Fox News are to have any meaning at all. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2017, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7917 "2017-07-11T03:36:45Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > It was nice of him to retrieve the Lance-Corporal’s cover, _but Trump failed to return the salute of the Staff Sergeant and therefore hates the military_, if the standards put forth by Fox News are to have any meaning at all. Ha! I didn’t pay attention to that. He doesn’t respect our troops!! To be honest I don’t particularly like the President returning salutes, and if the Trump presidency brings an end to the practice, I will at least give him credit for that. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2017, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7918 "2017-07-11T03:38:09Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > It was nice of him to retrieve the Lance-Corporal’s cover, _but Trump failed to return the salute of the Staff Sergeant and therefore hates the military_, if the standards put forth by Fox News are to have any meaning at all. I thought the President wasn’t supposed to salute at all. According to the standards put forth by Fox News. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7919 "2017-07-11T03:45:15Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I thought the President wasn’t supposed to salute at all. According to the standards put forth by Fox News. Coffee cup in the hand? No. Dog in the hand? Okay. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7920 "2017-07-11T04:11:01Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > A new book claims that Steve Bannon, of all people, advised Trump not to fire Comey. When Bannon is the smartest guy in the room, you got problems. Bannon’s not dumb, he’s just vile. Scratch that. He’s vile. He makes Cruela deVille look like Angelina Jolie. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2017, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7921 "2017-07-11T06:10:55Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Also, Trump is cancelling a new FBI building. Out of spite? You judge. > > [https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/2017/07/10/e25c1080-65af-11e7-9928-22d00a47778f\_story.html?utm\_term=.466cd9a85c0c](https://t.co/2cnwJgHXKL) Well, at least Fox Mulder’s office is safe. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7922 "2017-07-11T07:23:53Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > Ha! I didn’t pay attention to that. He doesn’t respect our troops!! > > To be honest I don’t particularly like the President returning salutes, and if the Trump presidency brings an end to the practice, I will at least give him credit for that. I know Obama was crucified for it, but the PotUS is a civilian, and the [US Army regulations](http://jacksonville.com/reason/fact-check/2016-04-15/story/fact-check-obama-reagan-and-should-presidents-return-salutes) state: “The President of the United States, as the commander in chief, will be saluted by Army personnel in uniform. “Civilian personnel, to include civilian guards, are not required to render the hand salute to military personnel or other civilian personnel. “Salutes are not required to be rendered or returned when the senior or subordinate, or both are in civilian attire.” ---
**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:** [July 11, 2017, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/7923 "2017-07-11T12:17:23Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > I know Obama was crucified for it, but the PotUS is a civilian, and the [US Army regulations](http://jacksonville.com/reason/fact-check/2016-04-15/story/fact-check-obama-reagan-and-should-presidents-return-salutes) state: > > “The President of the United States, as the commander in chief, will be saluted by Army personnel in uniform. > > “Civilian personnel, to include civilian guards, are not required to render the hand salute to military personnel or other civilian personnel. > > “Salutes are not required to be rendered or returned when the senior or subordinate, or both are in civilian attire.” Yeah, one of the reasons I wish Presidents would just stop doing it altogether is that no matter what a Democrat does – salute, don’t salute, handshake, fist bump – the right wing media goes nuts. A Republican could drop his pants and wave his ass in response to a salute, and Fox News would applaud him for his common touch. But whatever a Democrat does with respect to the military is wrong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=395) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=397)