# 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:** 556
**Author:** ![SaneBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SaneBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaneBill)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11104 "2017-09-12T15:26:22Z")
> [@gytalf2000](#): > > Oh, now that is truly scary! We don’t need these religious-nutter fuckwits in office or as judges. YUCK! But on the bright side, if you ever will be dragged into court, just say you were only acting according to your own morale instead of law, and if one follows one’s conscience, one actually can not commit a crime. Right ? ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11105 "2017-09-12T16:02:46Z")
> [@SaneBill](#): > > But on the bright side, if you ever will be dragged into court, just say you were only acting according to your own morale instead of law, and if one follows one’s conscience, one actually can not commit a crime. Right ? Hmmm… hadn’t thought of that! Pretty darn spiffy! 🙂 ---
**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:** [September 12, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11106 "2017-09-12T17:15:20Z")
The President of Notre Dame is horrified that people are daring to question Amy Coney Barrett about her religious views, claiming they are imposing an unconstitutional religious test. > **[Notre Dame President: Feinstein's Litmus Test for Judges Is "Chilling" |...](https://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2017/09/notre-dame-president-letter-dianne-feinstein/)** > > University of Notre Dame President to Dianne Feinstein: "It is chilling to hear from a United States Senator that (faith) might now disqualify someone." ---
**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:** [September 12, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11107 "2017-09-12T17:42:06Z")
She clerked for Scalia. Delightful. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11108 "2017-09-12T19:10:30Z")
Donnie Two Scoops has named Hope Hicks as the new [del]Queen of Bullshit Mountain[/del] [White House communication director](http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/350182-hope-hicks-to-become-trumps-third-white-house-communications-director). Who the hell is Hope Hicks, you ask? Well, she’s a 28-year-old former model friend of Ivanka. She’s the one who wrote this gem: > [@](#): > > President Trump has a magnetic personality and exudes positive energy, which is infectious to those around him. He has an unparalleled ability to communicate with people … He has built great relationships throughout his life and treats everyone with respect. He is brilliant with a great sense of humor … and an amazing ability to make people feel special and aspire to be more than even they thought possible. The best people. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2017, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11109 "2017-09-12T19:18:03Z")
> [@SaneBill](#): > > But on the bright side, if you ever will be dragged into court, just say you were only acting according to your own morale instead of law, and if one follows one’s conscience, one actually can not commit a crime. Right ? No, no. Just find a Biblical quote to back you up. Shouldn’t be too hard. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2017, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11110 "2017-09-12T19:19:20Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > Donnie Two Scoops has named Hope Hicks as the new [del]Queen of Bullshit Mountain[/del] [White House communication director](http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/350182-hope-hicks-to-become-trumps-third-white-house-communications-director). > > Who the hell is Hope Hicks, you ask? Well, she’s a 28-year-old former model friend of Ivanka. She’s the one who wrote this gem: > The best people. You misspelled “the fourth Mrs. Trump”. ---
**Author:** ![bols59](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@bols59](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bols59)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11111 "2017-09-12T19:20:13Z")
**Relax.** ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11112 "2017-09-12T19:21:48Z")
I looked up Amy Coney Barrett’s paper “Catholic Judges in Capital Cases” and the thesis is **exactly the opposite of what is being claimed here**. Like, 180 degrees different. The claim that Barrett argues that judges should place their faith above the Constitution in making judgments is, at least as far as this paper is concerned, an absolute lie. I am no fan of Trump or religious zealots, but fair is fair, and the truth is fairer than lies. Don’t rely on opinionated articles, guys, without checking a few sources. Took me 20 seconds. Actual quote in the concluding paragraph: “Judges cannot - nor should they try to - align our legal system with the Church’s moral teaching whenever the two diverge.” ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11113 "2017-09-12T19:21:59Z")
> [@bols59](#): > > **Relax.** Why? ---
**Author:** ![aktep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11114 "2017-09-12T19:26:02Z")
> [@](#): > > President Trump has a magnetic personality and exudes positive energy, which is infectious to those around him. He has an unparalleled ability to communicate with people … He has built great relationships throughout his life and treats everyone with respect. He is brilliant with a great sense of humor … and an amazing ability to make people feel special and aspire to be more than even they thought possible. That guy sounds awesome! Can he be our President? ---
**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:** [September 12, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11115 "2017-09-12T19:27:39Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Why? It’s just a show. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11116 "2017-09-12T19:27:43Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I looked up Amy Coney Barrett’s paper “Catholic Judges in Capital Cases” and the thesis is **exactly the opposite of what is being claimed here**. Like, 180 degrees different. The claim that Barrett argues that judges should place their faith above the Constitution in making judgments is, at least as far as this paper is concerned, an absolute lie. > > I am no fan of Trump or religious zealots, but fair is fair, and the truth is fairer than lies. > > Don’t rely on opinionated articles, guys, without checking a few sources. Took me 20 seconds. Funny that the Senators in their hearing asked her the same questions those “opinionated articles” were talking about. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11117 "2017-09-12T19:29:09Z")
You’re surprised politicians might be a little partisan? ---
**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:** [September 12, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11118 "2017-09-12T19:40:00Z")
> [@bols59](#): > > **Relax.** Ahem. Welcome? ---
**Author:** ![DragonAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11119 "2017-09-12T20:29:33Z")
Near the end of the [paper in question](http://scholarship.law.nd.edu/law_faculty_scholarship/527/), there is a discussion of how Justice Brennan was asked what he would do when ‘the law’ and ‘faith’ mixed. He said that his decision would be based only on his oath to support his Constitution: > [@](#): > > Senator, [I took my] oath just as unreservedly as I know you did… And… there isn’t any obligation of our faith superior to that. [In my service on the Court] what shall control me is the oath that I took to support the Constitution and laws of the United States and [I shall] so act upon the cases that come before me for decision that it is that oath and that alone which governs. Barrett says that’s not right: > [@](#): > > We do not defend this position as the proper response for a Catholic > judge to take with respect to abortion or the death penalty. In other words, if you’re a Catholic judge, you are legally disqualified from making a decision on abortion or death penalty cases. What is that if not saying that Catholic judges need to place their faith above the Constitution? ---
**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:** [September 12, 2017, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11120 "2017-09-12T21:49:49Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > Donnie Two Scoops has named Hope Hicks as the new [del]Queen of Bullshit Mountain[/del] [White House communication director](http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/350182-hope-hicks-to-become-trumps-third-white-house-communications-director). Who else could he get to take the job? ---
**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:** [September 12, 2017, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11121 "2017-09-12T22:35:25Z")
> [@bols59](#): > > **Relax.** Hi, Frankie! ---
**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:** [September 12, 2017, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11122 "2017-09-12T23:57:20Z")
Sarah Huckabee wants the Justice Department to prosecute Comey for lying to Congress. > **[White House: Justice Department Should 'Look at' Prosecuting James Comey](https://time.com/4938865/sarah-huckabee-sanders-james-comey-prosecution-justice-department-donald-trump/)** > > "I think that's something that certainly should be looked at" ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11123 "2017-09-13T01:51:09Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Sarah Huckabee wants the Justice Department to prosecute Comey for lying to Congress. > [James Comey: White House Suggestions Prosecuting Comey | TIME](http://time.com/4938865/sarah-huckabee-sanders-james-comey-prosecution-justice-department-donald-trump/) And if you asked her about J-Bo’s performance in front of congress, I guess she’d say…well…something, I guess. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=555) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=557)