# 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:** 519
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10364 "2017-08-18T20:29:44Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Who is the odd man out, er, in? All 17 now: > [@](#): > > The letter was initially released Friday morning with signatures from 16 of the 17 members. By afternoon, the 17th member, playwright George C. Wolfe, had also resigned. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10365 "2017-08-18T20:33:10Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > That’s what I want to know. And why they stayed. Someone had to stay behind to shut off the lights and make sure nobody left the stove on. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10366 "2017-08-18T20:40:23Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > I, for one, would welcome a Pence Presidency at this point. It would be horrible, but at least it would be competent. But that would mean that damaging things would happen. Better the Howling Yam and all his projects gridlocked. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10367 "2017-08-18T20:40:57Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > If it’s unintentional, I’ll eat Donny’s scalp marmot. I thought it was a [puss caterpillar](https://media.wired.com/photos/593244b358b0d64bb35d094a/master/w_3639,c_limit/Megalopygid-Trump-2.jpg). ---
**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:** [August 18, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10368 "2017-08-18T20:42:56Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > All 17 now: NM **Quicksilver** did it first. And long enough ago that I should have read it. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10369 "2017-08-18T20:47:58Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Who is the odd man out, er, in? [some playwright from Kentucky](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_C._Wolfe) ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10370 "2017-08-18T20:59:03Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I swear I’m not making this up. My Trumpette FB friend just posted that she thinks this is a brilliant strategic move–that Bannon will now be more effective as a free agent than as a member of the administration. I have been tempted to start spreading a conspiracy theory that Trump is a Soros Lizardman playing 12th dimensional chess, and never really left the Democratic party, and has been a 30 year mole set up to tear the GOP down with the most incompetent administration ever. Mostly because I think the only thing that would break the unbreakable Trumpheads is to think he is a deep-state liberal. From your friend it sounds like the time will never be riper to plant it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10371 "2017-08-18T21:00:22Z")
Is the clusterfuck made yet? Are we quibbling over the definition of ‘cluster’? ---
**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:** [August 18, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10372 "2017-08-18T21:11:28Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Is the clusterfuck made yet? Are we quibbling over the definition of ‘cluster’? Everytime we think its fully formed - he fires another person, starting the clusterfucking thing over again. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10373 "2017-08-18T21:19:57Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Is the clusterfuck made yet? Are we quibbling over the definition of ‘cluster’? > [@simster](#): > > Everytime we think its fully formed - he fires another person, starting the clusterfucking thing over again. It’s more like a black hole. It started as a small clusterfuck, but has been sucking in more and more clusterfuckery until now it’s enormous. And it continues to grow every day. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10374 "2017-08-18T21:22:58Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > It’s more like a black hole. It started as a small clusterfuck, but has been sucking in more and more clusterfuckery until now it’s enormous. And it continues to grow every day. A star making clusterfucks next to a black hole sucking the clusterfucks in. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10375 "2017-08-18T21:24:29Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I swear I’m not making this up. My Trumpette FB friend just posted that she thinks this is a brilliant strategic move–that Bannon will now be more effective as a free agent than as a member of the administration. Stop talking to that one, they are intelligence vampires. Just being near them will suck the brains right out of your head. RUN! ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10376 "2017-08-18T21:25:30Z")
> [@steatopygia](#): > > Not sure how to take that. > No way do I believe that Bannon was completely responsible for the incompetent mess that Trump is. > > I do like the Mike/Christ page. John probably means … now that President Bannon has left the building. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10377 "2017-08-18T21:38:53Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Stop talking to that one, they are intelligence vampires. Just being near them will suck the brains right out of your head. RUN! I thought zombies did that. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10378 "2017-08-18T21:50:20Z")
> [@steatopygia](#): > > Not sure how to take that. > No way do I believe that Bannon was completely responsible for the incompetent mess that Trump is. > > I do like the Mike/Christ page. It was a riff combining the “President Bannon” meme and the “Today is the day…” line. Nothing deeper than that. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10379 "2017-08-18T22:00:34Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I swear I’m not making this up. My Trumpette FB friend just posted that she thinks this is a brilliant strategic move–that Bannon will now be more effective as a free agent than as a member of the administration. Well the good thing about FB or other internet interaction is they can’t see your face when you hear/read that. If someone in the same room with me said that, my reaction would be the stereotypical one of pause, eyes go wide, head slowly turns toward speaker in shock and amazement, look of total wtf, face slowly turning red, burst into laughter, fall over from laughing so hard. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10380 "2017-08-18T22:10:36Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > It’s more like a black hole. It started as a small clusterfuck, but has been sucking in more and more clusterfuckery until now it’s enormous. And it continues to grow every day. How about a catastrophy, inside a clusterfuck, wrapped in a debacle; catasfuckcle? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10381 "2017-08-18T22:12:52Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > I, for one, would welcome a Pence Presidency at this point. It would be horrible, but at least it would be competent. Well, and then we’d see who HE would name as VP and fill the cabinet positions with. We may not like them, but they’re likely to at least be marginally competent, and not be trying to utterly destroy the department they get. Would also be something of a fine how-do-you-do to all those who resigned from elected positions to take a job with Trump. In most places that still won’t destroy them as long as they can somewhat distance themselves from Trump ex-post-facto and are in areas that went for Trump anyway. Most of those people are still voting for -R after the name. Then also it depends on how long Pence lasts. He has his own set of legal issues that have just been quietly hiding behind the big Trump circus. So then that VP, becomes President. Last time around, Spiro Agnew resigned as VP and was replaced by Ford in December 1973. Ford became the first unelected President in August 1974 when Nixon resigned. This time it we may well get our second unelected President, if Trump resigns or is impeached, Pence becomes President, he selects a new Vice President, then he too is forced to resign or is impeached. Although I’m not all that up on Pence’s issues and that may be a lot of hot air. In which case Pence may still have a hard time getting decent approval ratings even while backtracking on about half of the Trump Legacy, and would likely face strong primary challengers in 2020 and hand the 2020 election to any democrat not named Hillary Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10382 "2017-08-18T22:58:25Z")
It already is a clusterfuck. However, more fucks keep clustering. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/10383 "2017-08-18T23:03:46Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Well, and then we’d see who HE would name as VP and fill the cabinet positions with. We may not like them, but they’re likely to at least be marginally competent, and not be trying to utterly destroy the department they get. Or they might. And they’d be doing whatever they were doing with the president’s knowledge, consent, and backing. Drastically oversimplifying, there seems to have been basically two types of Trump cabinet members, type 1 was mostly unqualified for the position - their departments are going about their business as best as they can keeping the lights on and the trains running without all the staffing they could really use or a strong directive from the top of the department. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find out that Carson’s still looking for his luggage on the top floor of the HUD building. They’re mostly harmless. Type 2 (Sessions, Pruitt) knew their posts, had very definite agendas, and have been going around getting shit done. And a lot of time, they’re even able to sneak somewhat under the radar when everyone’s attention is focused on the Trump-headline-of-the-minute. They’re actively harmful. With Pence, we get more of these throughout the government and they’ll have the support of a president. On the other hand, Pence is infinitely less likely to decide to go to war with Switzerland. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=518) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=520)