# 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:** 598
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11944 "2017-10-06T15:09:32Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > So Pence is on his way to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Is this a do-over? After Trump’s visit on Tuesday, did Kelly say “Oh for crissakes…can we get somebody down there to hug the victims and promise support? Is that too freakin’ much to ask? Pence…you’re up.” > > Or did Pence volunteer as a way of demonstrating that he can act presidential…should the need ever [ahem] arise. Yeah, that’s probably it. 🙂 ---
**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:** [October 6, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11945 "2017-10-06T15:15:18Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > So Pence is on his way to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Is this a do-over? After Trump’s visit on Tuesday, did Kelly say “Oh for crissakes… **can we get somebody down there to hug the victims** and promise support? Is that too freakin’ much to ask? Pence…you’re up.” > > Or did Pence volunteer as a way of demonstrating that he can act presidential…should the need ever [ahem] arise. They could just substitute blocks of stone and downed trees and save Pence the trip. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11946 "2017-10-06T15:17:24Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I have to say that while I’m still of the opinion that Tillerson is not an impressive Sec of State, he gets credit for at least trying his best to be a credible US representative. It’s obvious he wants to do a good job. It’s really not. He has gutted and mismanaged the state department in ways that should be fairly obvious to someone with his level of executive experience. It doesn’t look like he was trying very hard to do a good job running the diplomatic corps. On the other hand, he doesn’t look like he was actively trying to start a war with North Korea - so compared to his boss, he’s been brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11947 "2017-10-06T15:19:38Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I understand your dubiousness, but I am speaking to the perception as well as reality. Before today, it was just one player kneeling. Now, it’s a significant fraction of the league. Joe “likes manly violence, Murica, and Trump” is not going to like seeing libtard protesters having already infected one of the last bastions of American manhood. > > Comment seen today: “I had no idea there were so many Communists in the NFL”. Did that commenter lump in the team owners as Communists? Because I recall seeing Jerry Jones – who no sane person would mistake for a Red or even a liberal – kneeling with his players just before the Anthem and locking arms with them (that is, not placing their hands on their hearts) during the Anthem. :smack: (Not you, the commenter.) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11948 "2017-10-06T15:36:10Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Just an unsourced post on Democratic Underground. As sources go, this is on the “something I saw scrawled on a bathroom wall” level of credibility. It may be true but only by chance. > [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Other rumor that [Pompeo](https://www.axios.com/cia-director-pompeo-considered-to-replace-tillerson-2493643532.html) to replace Tillerson. Will she moon over how dreamy Jared is? What do you mean, not that [Pompeo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Pompeo)? ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11949 "2017-10-06T16:28:26Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Oh, _that_ is good. 🙂 ---
**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:** [October 6, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11950 "2017-10-06T16:43:48Z")
Even Vanity Fair has to point out what a clusterfuck this is. > **[Tillerson’s Job on Death Watch as Moron-Gate Explodes](https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/10/rex-tillerson-john-kelly-trump-moron)** > > Trump is reportedly fuming—and John Kelly is racing to contain the fallout. > [@](#): > > Tillerson’s Job on Death Watch as **Moron-Gate** Explodes ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11951 "2017-10-06T17:04:50Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > It’s really not. He has gutted and mismanaged the state department in ways that should be fairly obvious to someone with his level of executive experience. It doesn’t look like he was trying very hard to do a good job running the diplomatic corps. On the other hand, he doesn’t look like he was actively trying to start a war with North Korea - so compared to his boss, he’s been brilliant. From what I’ve read, he’s not responsible for the gutting, his boss is. The Tweeter-in-Chief has delivered him shit salad after shit salad after shit salad and he’s trying to make it edible, but failing. I get the feeling he wants to do a good job (by conservative standards) to build his legacy, but keeps getting chop-blocked by the lead idiot in the White House. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11952 "2017-10-06T17:30:02Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [FEMA removes statistics about drinking water access and electricity in Puerto Rico from website](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/10/05/fema-removes-statistics-about-drinking-water-access-and-electricity-in-puerto-rico-from-website/?tid=sm_fb&utm_term=.98cbcc3aca70) Those stats are [up](https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-maria) again. 55.5% and 9.2%, respectively. ---
**Author:** ![DragonAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11953 "2017-10-06T18:17:35Z")
> [@](#): > > San Juan financial district is back on the electrical grid – 9.2% of customers have electricity I wonder if that 9.2% is for the entire country or just the percentage of customers covered by the San Juan financial district grid? > [@](#): > > More than 55.5% of Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) customers have potable water How many Puerto Rico citizens are covered by PRASA? I mean, the island isn’t that big, so there’s probably only one water company. It sucks, but man, with this administration I get suspicious… ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11954 "2017-10-06T19:46:17Z")
If the only sure location for water, food, medicine and paper towels is San Juan, then everybody out in the boondocks who _can_ go to San Juan _will_ go to San Juan. The statistics will improve thereby, giving good bragging points, at least superficially. 'Course, having the entire population or a major chunk thereof living in San Juan is a whole 'nother kettle of piranha. But sure as shit, if ninety percent of PR were living in San Juan, you’re gonna hear about how PR is ninety percent recovered. Because they will have access to all of that. If they don’t have money to buy any of that stuff, well, gosh, free-market policies will set that right. Quickly. Well, pretty soon. Someday. ---
**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 6, 2017, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11955 "2017-10-06T20:01:07Z")
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/06/world/nobel-peace-prize.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/06/world/nobel-peace-prize.html)? Two days, ago Beatrice Fihn, the organization’s executive director, tweeted, “Trump is a moron.” > **[Nobel Peace Prize Winner Called Trump a Moron Two Days Ago](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2017/10/nobel-peace-prize-winner-called-trump-a-moron-two-days-ago.html)** > > Tells us what you really think, Beatrice Fihn. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11956 "2017-10-06T20:14:53Z")
Not really sure where to put this one and might be worth its own thread, but has anyone seen the buzzfeed article about Breitbart? New York Mag has a summary about it, but it’s pretty profound stuff: > **[4 Key Takeaways From the Monster Milo Yiannopoulos Document Leak](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/10/4-key-takeaways-from-the-monster-milo-yiannopoulos-leak.html)** > > A distressing number of journalists tipped off Yiannopoulos during his Breitbart days. In my view, the biggest takeaway isn’t about Milo and Breitbart’s relationships with neo-Nazis – that we already pretty much assumed. The article does go along way in seemingly confirming that assumption. But what’s troublesome, and thus the real significance of the story, is the activism of billionaire Robert Mercer. If what Buzzfeed is saying is true, then what it means is we may have pretty solid evidence that big time political donors are throwing money into politics for reasons that go well beyond deregulation and tax breaks. It’s ominous. ---
**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:** [October 6, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11957 "2017-10-06T20:36:29Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Not really sure where to put this one and might be worth its own thread, but has anyone seen the buzzfeed article about Breitbart? New York Mag has a summary about it, but it’s pretty profound stuff: > > [4 Key Takeaways From the Monster Milo Yiannopoulos Leak](http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/10/4-key-takeaways-from-the-monster-milo-yiannopoulos-leak.html) > > In my view, the biggest takeaway isn’t about Milo and Breitbart’s relationships with neo-Nazis – that we already pretty much assumed. The article does go along way in seemingly confirming that assumption. > > But what’s troublesome, and thus the real significance of the story, is the activism of billionaire Robert Mercer. If what Buzzfeed is saying is true, then what it means is we may have pretty solid evidence that big time political donors are throwing money into politics for reasons that go well beyond deregulation and tax breaks. It’s ominous. I haven’t read the whole Buzzfeed article, but I’ve skimmed it and read a few other shorter articles about it. It’s pretty unsettling. Apparently Yiannopoulos used passwords referencing Kristallnacht, Long Knives, and the 1290 expulsion of Jews from England. The article is also unsettling in that it shows some outwardly progressive writers maintaining a chummy relationship with Yiannopoulos and encouraging him to use Brietbart to attack other writers, mostly women. Sickening all around. ---
**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 6, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11958 "2017-10-06T20:47:31Z")
Jeff Sessions just rolled back employment protections for LGBTQ employees. This on top of rolling back protections for transgendered employees, and also allowing employers to fire and/or not hire people whose religious beliefs they disagree with. This on the anniversary of the murder of Matthew Shepard. > **[Jeff Sessions issues directive undercutting LGBT protections](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/06/jeff-sessions-issues-directive-undercutting-lgbtq-protections)** > > The Sessions directive effectively lifts a burden from religious objectors to prove their beliefs about marriage or other topics are sincerely held ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11959 "2017-10-06T20:51:36Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Jeff Sessions just rolled back employment protections for LGBTQ employees. This on top of rolling back protections for transgendered employees, and also allowing employers to fire and/or not hire people whose religious beliefs they disagree with. > > This on the anniversary of the murder of Matthew Shepard. > [Jeff Sessions issues directive undercutting LGBT protections | Jeff Sessions | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/06/jeff-sessions-issues-directive-undercutting-lgbtq-protections) It’s pretty obvious that Sessions is green lighting discrimination. He’ll start with the easy targets first and gradually work his way up to dealing with descendants of his great grandfather’s slaves. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11960 "2017-10-06T20:54:46Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > But what’s troublesome, and thus the real significance of the story, is the activism of billionaire Robert Mercer. If what Buzzfeed is saying is true, then what it means is we may have pretty solid evidence that big time political donors are throwing money into politics for reasons that go well beyond deregulation and tax breaks. It’s ominous. You mean the Robert Mercer that is [paying Trump’s legal bills](http://www.newsweek.com/trump-legal-fund-paid-billionaire-robert-mercer-day-comey-fired-676383)? The Robert Mercer who owns the company that [coordinated the social media attack](https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/10/russias-highly-sophisticated-facebook-op-raises-new-questions-for-mueller) ads, and is under investigation? ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11961 "2017-10-06T21:10:55Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > I haven’t read the whole Buzzfeed article, but I’ve skimmed it and read a few other shorter articles about it. It’s pretty unsettling. Apparently Yiannopoulos used passwords referencing Kristallnacht, Long Knives, and the 1290 expulsion of Jews from England. > > The article is also unsettling in that it shows some outwardly progressive writers maintaining a chummy relationship with Yiannopoulos and encouraging him to use Brietbart to attack other writers, mostly women. Sickening all around. You should read it. It’s worse than that. On the bright side, they aired all the pettiness against one another, it will be a very awkward Thanksgiving at uncle Adolf’s. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11962 "2017-10-06T21:25:29Z")
> [@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. Greed. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/11963 "2017-10-06T21:28:46Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Is there any point at which “destroying” the republican party would be the best move? Is there anything Trump can do to make the party put country first? … No. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=597) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=599)