# 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:** 593
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11844 "2017-10-04T19:46:40Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > John Cleese wins the quote of the day: \*Why would Trump be upset if Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called him a moron ? > > You’d think he’d be grateful for the upgrade\* Yeah, really. Moron rates above imbecile and idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Crybaby\_Boobie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crybaby_boobie/32/545_2.png) [@Crybaby\_Boobie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crybaby_Boobie)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11845 "2017-10-04T19:53:52Z")
It’s Buzzfeed, I know, but: > [@](#): > > One US official expressed confidence in Tillerson’s status due to a so-called “suicide pact” forged between Defense Secretary James Mattis, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Tillerson whereby all three cabinet secretaries vow to leave in the event that the president makes moves against one of them. > > Other Trump insiders point to the potentially hefty tax bill Tillerson would have to pay if he resigns before serving a year in government. > **[Today Tillerson Tried To Kill The "Rexit" Rumors Once And For All](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/johnhudson/tillerson)** > > The secretary of state disputed a report that he called Trump a "moron" and told reporters he's not leaving Foggy Bottom anytime soon. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11846 "2017-10-04T20:08:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Other Trump insiders point to the potentially hefty tax bill Tillerson would have to pay if he resigns before serving a year in government. One year it is then! I eagerly await the departure of all three of them. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11847 "2017-10-04T20:28:43Z")
Only if Trump goes too. Those guys are the closest thing we have to adult supervision (other stories have the Country First pact being Gens. Kelly, Mattis, and McHugh, and Mr. Tillerson), and without them, the Trump administration ain’t gonna get better. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11848 "2017-10-04T20:28:49Z")
Have we covered the paper towel throwing, yet? ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11849 "2017-10-04T20:33:03Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Have we covered the paper towel throwing, yet? I was going to ask about this too. That shit display of a speech patting himself on the back, it really should’ve been TOILET paper thrown instead. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11850 "2017-10-04T20:38:33Z")
In Puerto Rico, Trump offhandedly said that the federal government would be wiping out Puerto Rico’s debt. Today Budget Director Mulvaney said, “Not so much.” > **[Mulvaney quickly walks back Trump vow to wipe out Puerto Rico debt](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/10/04/mulvaney-quickly-walks-back-trump-vow-to-wipe-out-puerto-rico-debt/?utm_term=.8597e9348a7c&wprss=rss_social-postbusinessonly)** > > “I wouldn’t take it word for word,' Mick Mulvaney says. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11851 "2017-10-04T20:40:48Z")
The fact that we still don’t seem to know what happened out in the boondocks of PR has me worried. Drinking water from a creek? Recipe for disaster. Now, if it turns out they are mostly OK and no prob, good. I will be grateful, but sure as fuck Il Douche had nothing to do with it. These are our people, and if they are not our people, who’s people are they? ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11852 "2017-10-04T21:48:27Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Please hurry, Mr. Mueller. Your country depends on you. Where have you gone, Bobby Mueller Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11853 "2017-10-04T21:56:41Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Tillerson called Trump “a moron”. Apparently he called him a “Fucking moron”, which makes even more sense. I actually find this encouraging–not that our president is a fucking moron, but that the people around him recognize what a fucking moron our president is. We’d be in much worse shape if they were all true believers, like our own resident fucking moron **Okrahoma** (no offense, Okra). ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11854 "2017-10-04T23:14:47Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > In Puerto Rico, Trump offhandedly said that the federal government would be wiping out Puerto Rico’s debt. Today Budget Director Mulvaney said, “Not so much.” > [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/10/04/mulvaney-quickly-walks-back-trump-vow-to-wipe-out-puerto-rico-debt/?utm\_term=.8597e9348a7c&wprss=rss\_social-postbusinessonly](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/10/04/mulvaney-quickly-walks-back-trump-vow-to-wipe-out-puerto-rico-debt/?utm_term=.8597e9348a7c&wprss=rss_social-postbusinessonly) It was a “throw away” phrase. A way to fuck with people. A way to bully them and be as spiteful as possible. You hint that you might help or do something for them, and then don’t do it. It’s like those sycophants who thought Trump would hire them, if they debased themselves enough - and then they got nothing. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11855 "2017-10-04T23:23:48Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Apparently he called him a “Fucking moron”, which makes even more sense. > > I actually find this encouraging–not that our president is a fucking moron, but that the people around him recognize what a fucking moron our president is. We’d be in much worse shape if they were all true believers, like our own resident fucking moron **Okrahoma** (no offense, Okra). It’s not encouraging at all. They allow him to remain in office even though he is a fucking moron, clearly senile, and 100% incompetent. They’re just as complicit in treason as Trump and his family are. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11856 "2017-10-04T23:32:28Z")
> [@Catamount](#): > > It’s not encouraging at all. They allow him to remain in office even though he is a fucking moron, clearly senile, and 100% incompetent. They’re just as complicit in treason as Trump and his family are. They cover for him, they try to justify and explain for him, they enable him, they lie for him. They are all complicit. They came to DC, hoping to line their pockets and “work” the government and its laws in their favor, and to destroy the very agencies they were appointed to head. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2017, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11857 "2017-10-05T00:10:55Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > They cover for him, they try to justify and explain for him, they enable him, they lie for him. They are all complicit. They came to DC, hoping to line their pockets and “work” the government and its laws in their favor, and to destroy the very agencies they were appointed to head. And why exactly do they do this? I know some people still think the sun shines out of his ass. And some defend him just to be obnoxious and contrary (lookin’ at you, **Okra** ). And then there’s the family. Fine. But the people who KNOW he is an idiot and even call him that–why is it that they still “justify and explain for him, they enable him, they lie for him.” Maybe I know the answer to this and I’ve forgotten. Someone remind me, please. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2017, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11858 "2017-10-05T00:37:07Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > And why exactly do they do this? I know some people still think the sun shines out of his ass. And some defend him just to be obnoxious and contrary (lookin’ at you, **Okra** ). And then there’s the family. Fine. But the people who KNOW he is an idiot and even call him that–why is it that they still “justify and explain for him, they enable him, they lie for him.” Maybe I know the answer to this and I’ve forgotten. Someone remind me, please. They think that SOMEone needs to control the moron-in-chief, lest he plunge the country into recession or thermonuclear war. Perhaps Trump has threatened to replace them with actual Nazis. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2017, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11859 "2017-10-05T00:38:58Z")
Also: “Yes, he’s a fucking moron and a senile racist misogynist. But he’s OUR fucking moron and senile racist misogynist. And we always stick up for our own team.” ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11860 "2017-10-05T00:42:51Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > And why exactly do they do this? I know some people still think the sun shines out of his ass. And some defend him just to be obnoxious and contrary (lookin’ at you, **Okra** ). And then there’s the family. Fine. But the people who KNOW he is an idiot and even call him that– **why is it that they still “justify and explain for him, they enable him, they lie for him.”** Maybe I know the answer to this and I’ve forgotten. Someone remind me, please. Bolding mine. The answer is $. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11861 "2017-10-05T00:45:01Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > They think that SOMEone needs to control the moron-in-chief, lest he plunge the country into recession or thermonuclear war. Perhaps Trump has threatened to replace them with actual Nazis. REPLACE them? ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11862 "2017-10-05T00:45:47Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > And why exactly do they do this? I know some people still think the sun shines out of his ass. And some defend him just to be obnoxious and contrary (lookin’ at you, **Okra** ). And then there’s the family. Fine. But the people who KNOW he is an idiot and even call him that–why is it that they still “justify and explain for him, they enable him, they lie for him.” Maybe I know the answer to this and I’ve forgotten. Someone remind me, please. You’re not really trying hard to understand then. He is a Republican President. He is also going to be in power for at least 4 years. He may not be beneficial to the Republican brand in some Republicans’ eyes, but any moves against him by Republicans, especially ones that end in “peachment” or have anything to do with the 25th amendment will not just be not-beneficial - they will utterly destroy the Republican party, now and in the future. I know you’d like that, but Republicans usually don’t regard this as something desirable. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11863 "2017-10-05T00:51:20Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > You’re not really trying hard to understand then. > > He is a Republican President. He is also going to be in power for at least 4 years. He may not be beneficial to the Republican brand in some Republicans’ eyes, but any moves against him by Republicans, especially ones that end in “peachment” or have anything to do with the 25th amendment will not just be not-beneficial - they will utterly destroy the Republican party, now and in the future. I know you’d like that, but Republicans usually don’t regard this as something desirable. You fail to note that the Republican Party is falling apart rapidly right now. If they don’t actually start governing, the next time the people want to blow up the government with their vote, it will be the Repubs that go. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=592) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=594)