# 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:** 628
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2017, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12544 "2017-10-19T10:50:48Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > That is sheer genius. Dolly is beloved by both left and right alike, and Dollywood is the only place in the country where the religious right and drag queens intersect in peaceful (if temporary) co-existence. And she expanded her Imagination Library to the UK not all that long ago, so she’s even got international experience. > > Hell, _I_ would consider voting for Dolly. She’ll be 74 in 2020, I think too old for running. But I think she’d make a great goodwill ambassador. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2017, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12545 "2017-10-19T11:53:04Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Hell, _I_ would consider voting for Dolly. Haven’t we had enough giant boobs in the White House? ---
**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 19, 2017, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12546 "2017-10-19T12:03:24Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Haven’t we had enough giant boobs in the White House? And then the cry would be “Fake Bewbs!”. ---
**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:** [October 19, 2017, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12547 "2017-10-19T13:14:06Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > She’ll be 74 in 2020, I think too old for running. But I think she’d make a great goodwill ambassador. Well, we can guarantee she’d be working 9 to 5. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2017, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12548 "2017-10-19T13:29:57Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > I’m sure SHS is big on cupcakes too. SHS is a piece of crap for working for a piece of crap, but let’s keep the fat jokes out of it. I’m sure there were some fat jokes about SMS (interesting how close those initials are), but not near as many (and Sean is at least as big as Sarah). ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2017, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12549 "2017-10-19T13:35:33Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > But I think she’d make a great goodwill ambassador. Sure, she’s got lots of that. And maybe one small thrill. But there’s nothing dirty going 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:** [October 19, 2017, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12550 "2017-10-19T13:36:56Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > SHS is a piece of crap for working for a piece of crap, but let’s keep the fat jokes out of it. I’m sure there were some fat jokes about SMS (interesting how close those initials are), but not near as many (and Sean is at least as big as Sarah). I’m just hoping one of those fake eyelashes comes unglued live on air. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2017, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12551 "2017-10-19T14:01:55Z")
This just in on Donald Trump and Healthcare: > [@](#): > > Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) has earned a reputation for being pretty mild-mannered, and we don’t usually hear her publicly express frustrations with other policymakers. But yesterday, as the AP reported, even Murray found Donald Trump erraticism hard to take. > President Donald Trump is proving to be an erratic trading partner as he kicks thorny policy issues to Congress and then sends conflicting signals about what he really wants. > > His rapid backpedal on a short-term health care fix this week is the latest example to leave Republicans and Democrats alike scratching their heads. > > “The president has had six positions on our bill,” an exasperated Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said Wednesday after Trump offered multiple reads on a bipartisan plan to keep health insurance markets in business, ultimately ending with a thumbs-down. > > That’s not much of an exaggeration. Over a brief period, the president was against, then for, then against, then for, then against a bipartisan agreement struck by Murray and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). The deal, in which both sides benefit, seeks to undo much of the damage Trump himself imposed on the system. > **[Trump's health care 'incoherence' undermines bipartisan deal](https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trumps-health-care-incoherence-undermines-bipartisan-deal-msna1030496)** > > Not to put too fine a point on this, but the core problem appears to be Donald Trump's profound confusion over the basics. Donald Trump’s main contribution seems to be creating Uncertainty wherever he goes. It’s not just his tendency to flip-flop. His teasing assertions, his half-measures and his statements about what he plans to do or not do undermine anyone’s attempts to feel out the future. Nobody likes uncertainty – it keeps you from taking your own actions or making plans. Conservatives don’t like it any more than liberals do. Neither Republicans nor Democrats are in favor of uncertainty. Yet this, more than his racism, his intolerance, his petty vindictiveness, his sabre-rattling, his blustering, or even his selfishness is easily his most disturbing quality. The man leaves systems and institutions in a state of uncertainty and indecision. I think, at this point, that the only reason the Republican establishment keeps him is because they’re hoping he’ll give them the tax breaks they’re drooling after. If it weren’t for that, he’d be gone by now. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2017, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12552 "2017-10-19T14:17:00Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > “knew what he signed up for” > > Sheessssss. All Trump had to do to recover was to say “It was my way of saying he was brave. He volunteered.” Shit. That’s what he may have meant. My god, KNOWBODY in his administration put that on the table? Instead, as usual, Trump doubles down. > > For Christ sake, they are supposed to have people that are communication specialists. > > And, no I’m not surprised. O just say “I meant no offense and I’m genuinely sorry my statement was misconstrued. My deepest sympathies are with his family during their time of grief”. One reason these calls are so difficult for the CiC is that the families sometimes react with anger and the President should be able to respond to that anger with humility and understanding. I’m sort of thinking that Trump THOUGHT he had previously called all the families. Probably because his staff handed him a cherry-picked list. So he’s probably never called any family members that would be inclined to dislike him. But this time, he backed himself into a corner where he had to call them all. ---
**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 19, 2017, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12553 "2017-10-19T14:50:04Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > O just say “I meant no offense and I’m genuinely sorry my statement was misconstrued. My deepest sympathies are with his family during their time of grief”. One reason these calls are so difficult for the CiC is that the families sometimes react with anger and the President should be able to respond to that anger with humility and understanding. > > I’m sort of thinking that Trump THOUGHT he had previously called all the families. Probably because his staff handed him a cherry-picked list. So he’s probably never called any family members that would be inclined to dislike him. But this time, he backed himself into a corner where he had to call them all. WHAT?? Where have you been?😕 Donald Trump NEVER APOLOGIZES. He has said so. Because he is never wrong. He has said this, too. > [@](#): > > …one point [Jimmy Fallon] asked, “Have you ever apologized, ever, in your lifetime?” > > Trump said no, because he’s never wrong. Fallon burst out laughing. [Cite](https://www.mediaite.com/tv/trump-to-jimmy-fallon-i-never-apologize-because-im-never-wrong/) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2017, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12554 "2017-10-19T15:33:53Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > I’m sort of thinking that Trump THOUGHT he had previously called all the families. Probably because his staff handed him a cherry-picked list. So he’s probably never called any family members that would be inclined to dislike him. But this time, he backed himself into a corner where he had to call them all. He \*had \*called the white families, after a few days and a few more rounds. ---
**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 19, 2017, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12555 "2017-10-19T18:12:27Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > She’ll be 74 in 2020, I think too old for running. But I think she’d make a great goodwill ambassador. Dianne Feinstein is running for re-election to the US Senate. If she is re-elected, by the end of her next six year term, she will be 90. If, God help us, Donald Trump runs for re-election in 2020, he’ll be 74 at the time. ---
**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:** [October 19, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12556 "2017-10-19T19:06:26Z")
[43 calls out 45 for Russia connections and emboldening racists.](http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/19/politics/bush-freedom-event/index.html) ---
**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:** [October 19, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12557 "2017-10-19T19:08:11Z")
Side note, Bush the First recently surpassed Reagan to become the second-longest-lived person to have been president (he will reach first place on Black Friday). Jimi Carter is some four months younger than Bush, staving off brain cancer and building houses. Old guys may be viable presidents, in terms of physically being alive at least. ---
**Author:** ![Greathouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greathouse/32/2992_2.png) [@Greathouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greathouse)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12558 "2017-10-19T19:16:19Z")
[Trump Gives Administration a ‘10’ for Puerto Rico Recovery](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-gives-administration-10-puerto-rico-recovery-n812321) I agree with his assessment. I give the federal response to the hurricane in PR a 10 (out of 100). ---
**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 19, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12559 "2017-10-19T19:17:39Z")
> [@Greathouse](#): > > [Trump Gives Administration a ‘10’ for Puerto Rico Recovery](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-gives-administration-10-puerto-rico-recovery-n812321) > > I agree with his assessment. I give the federal response to the hurricane in PR a 10 (out of 100). I’d give it a -3. Would be a -10 except someone did show up. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12560 "2017-10-19T19:28:24Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > [43 calls out 45 for Russia connections and emboldening racists.](http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/19/politics/bush-freedom-event/index.html) From that article: > [@W](#): > > Too often, we judge other groups by their worst examples while judging ourselves by our best intentions, forgetting the image of God we should see in each other. well said mc ---
**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:** [October 19, 2017, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12561 "2017-10-19T19:36:28Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I’d give it a -3. Would be a -10 except someone did show up. But minus several zillion points for that person being trump. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2017, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12562 "2017-10-19T19:39:46Z")
And he showed terrible mechanics with his paper-towel jump shot. ---
**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 19, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12563 "2017-10-19T19:44:32Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > And he showed terrible mechanics with his paper-towel jump shot. That was a _jump_ shot? I thought he was having back spasms. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=627) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=629)