# 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:** 420
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8384 "2017-07-21T16:45:36Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > So what happens if someone defies the preservation order, destroys documents, and Trump pardons them? That’s a hell of a good question, and I seriously expect that to happen. Hopefully, Meuller will have a plan to deal with it. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8385 "2017-07-21T16:47:10Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > So what happens if someone defies the preservation order, destroys documents, and Trump pardons them? After what he’s said about Jeff Sessions, would anyone trust Trump to pardon them? ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8386 "2017-07-21T16:48:56Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > After what he’s said about Jeff Sessions, would anyone trust Trump to pardon them? Oh, he’ll let any one (or every one of them) of them go under the bus UNLESS he thinks protecting them will protect him. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8387 "2017-07-21T17:12:21Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Picture Trump with epaulets and mirrored shades. Not that hard, is it? Shamon. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8388 "2017-07-21T17:16:12Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Picture Trump with epaulets and mirrored shades. Not that hard, is it? [https://tribzap2it.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/trevor-noah-donald-trump-muammar-gaddafi.jpg](https://tribzap2it.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/trevor-noah-donald-trump-muammar-gaddafi.jpg) ---
**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:** [July 21, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8389 "2017-07-21T17:27:28Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > That’s a hell of a good question, and I seriously expect that to happen. Hopefully, Meuller will have a plan to deal with it. They could still be compelled to testify that they destroyed the documents at trump’s order, and give statements as to what the documents contained. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8390 "2017-07-21T17:29:14Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > They could still be compelled to testify that they destroyed the documents at trump’s order, and give statements as to what the documents contained. How can they be compelled to do anything if they can be pardoned for refusing? ---
**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:** [July 21, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8391 "2017-07-21T17:29:38Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I love this part:So there’s apparently no conflict of interest for Trump to own and continue to profit from his golf club and all his other businesses while he’s President, but if someone else has had a dispute with any one of those businesses at any time in the past, then that’s a conflict of interest for that person and should disqualify them from any role in investigating Trump. basically - they only want trump loyalists investigating trump - that way there would be no conflict of trump interests. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8392 "2017-07-21T17:41:20Z")
Nixon’s Justice Department warned that the president can’t pardon himself. [https://thinkprogress.org/nixons-justice-department-warned-that-the-president-can-t-pardon-himself-f70228c8b9ef](https://thinkprogress.org/nixons-justice-department-warned-that-the-president-can-t-pardon-himself-f70228c8b9ef) > [@](#): > > “Under the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case,” acting Assistant Attorney General Mary Lawton wrote in a brief memo, “the President cannot pardon himself.” I don’t think this is legally binding, but it’s encouraging. ---
**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 21, 2017, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8393 "2017-07-21T17:45:07Z")
To employ an overworn phrase, rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Re pardoning himself, I heard it put this way: A pardon trumps (har!) indictment. Impeachment trumps a pardon. So… there’s that. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8394 "2017-07-21T17:57:12Z")
> [@simster](#): > > basically - they only want trump loyalists investigating trump - that way there would be no conflict of trump interests. Interesting to notice that that was the “logic” ex sheriff Joe Arpaio attempted to create by trying to find dirt on the judge and his family. Anyone that looked at the men Trump admired knew that a Trump administration was going to undermine government institutions in an attempt to save himself and the bill for that costly defense to be sent to the American taxpayer. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8395 "2017-07-21T18:01:46Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I think the quintessential Bananarepublican will always be Richard Libertini from _the In-Laws_. Imagine, the president’s portrait on black velvet. Oh, he was great in that role! Fun ol’ movie! ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8396 "2017-07-21T18:02:11Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Anyone that looked at the men Trump admired knew that a Trump administration was going to undermine government institutions in an attempt to save himself and the bill for that costly defense to be sent to the American taxpayer. I heard they were trying to get the GOP to cover the costs of their defense. Don’t know if that’s true or what came of it. ---
**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:** [July 21, 2017, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8397 "2017-07-21T18:06:22Z")
Government agencies are using tax money which is designed to promote the ACA and help people to learn how to apply for it, to undermine it. > **[Team Trump Used Obamacare Money to Run PR Effort Against It](http://www.thedailybeast.com/team-trump-used-obamacare-money-to-run-ads-against-it)** > > The administration is tasked with overseeing the health care law. Instead, it has made a major social media push to undermine it. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8398 "2017-07-21T18:28:26Z")
The pardon would be the sort of genius move one would expect from a man like Trump! It sweeps aside all of the fake news and lies in one fell swoop. Then he can get back to giving America what it asked for, and giving it good and hard! ---
**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:** [July 21, 2017, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8399 "2017-07-21T18:46:59Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > The pardon would be the sort of genius move one would expect from a man like Trump! It sweeps aside all of the fake news and lies in one fell swoop. Then he can get back to giving America what it asked for, and giving it good and hard! Two Scoops? ---
**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:** [July 21, 2017, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8400 "2017-07-21T18:58:41Z")
The Russian lawyer Orange Junior met with used to be a lawyer for the Russian spy agency. > **[Exclusive: Moscow lawyer who met Trump Jr. had Russian spy agency as client](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-lawyer-exclusive-idUSKBN1A61LZ)** > > The Russian lawyer who met Donald Trump Jr. after his father won the Republican nomination for the 2016 U.S. presidential election counted Russia's FSB security service among her clients for years, Russian court documents seen by Reuters show. ---
**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:** [July 21, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8401 "2017-07-21T19:06:04Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > [And Sean Spicer has left the building…](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/21/us/politics/sean-spicer-resigns-as-white-house-press-secretary.html) The equally nutty SHS is his replacement. ---
**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 21, 2017, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8402 "2017-07-21T19:10:06Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > The equally nutty SHS is his replacement. Indeed, yet she lacks the self-awareness of the absurdity of the whole thing. ---
**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:** [July 21, 2017, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/8403 "2017-07-21T19:31:46Z")
Federal judge refuses to overturn his own injunction against Trump’s executive order preventing sanctuary cities from getting federal funds [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-sanctuary-cities-20170720-story.html](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-sanctuary-cities-20170720-story.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=419) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=421)