# 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:** 640
**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 24, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12785 "2017-10-24T15:47:09Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [Start with post #83](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=838705&page=2), eh. Ah, thanks. I hadn’t been following that thread. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12786 "2017-10-24T16:12:59Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Anyone know how to become a lineman really quickly? Geez, the answer is right there in the message you’re responding to: > [@](#): > > a guy who donated $74K to Trump and $30K to the RNC and whose wife donated $33K to the RNC ---
**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 24, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12787 "2017-10-24T16:23:11Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > In a roundtable discussion on gun violence, recently departed Trump administration intellectual Sebastian Gorka argued that we should not base legislation on mass shootings, because mass shootings are outliers. The real problem we should be dealing with, according to Gorka, is “black African gun crime against black Africans” in cities like Chicago. Chicago, where those black Africans shoot each other, in Gorka’s words, “by the bushel”. > > [Gorka: ‘Black Africans’ Are Shooting Each Other ‘By The Bushel’ In Chicago - TPM – Talking Points Memo](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/gorka-black-africans-shooting-chicago) Racism aside, intercity gun violence is a _great_ place to start when addressing gun regulations. Except the gun manufacturing lobby won’t let us do even that. ---
**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 24, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12788 "2017-10-24T16:42:43Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Wow, how are all those Africans getting to Chicago? > > Maybe we need a wall. Better than that. Donald oversaw the construction of a HUGE moat between the US and Africa. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12789 "2017-10-24T16:45:45Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Better than that. Donald oversaw the construction of a HUGE moat between the US and Africa. And he filled that moat with not just water, but big OCEAN water! ---
**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 24, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12790 "2017-10-24T17:09:37Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Racism aside, intercity gun violence is a _great_ place to start when addressing gun regulations. Except the gun manufacturing lobby won’t let us do even that. Lets find out where those guns are coming from, and shut down those avenues of import. I am sure that the conservatives would be all for that, right? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12791 "2017-10-24T17:27:26Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Racism aside, intercity gun violence is a _great_ place to start when addressing gun regulations. Except the gun manufacturing lobby won’t let us do even that. What’s intercity gun violence? Violence using guns brought in from other cities? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12792 "2017-10-24T18:55:38Z")
It’s an East Coast - West Coast hip-hop thing. You know those African musicians. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12793 "2017-10-24T19:07:17Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > And he filled that moat with not just water, but big OCEAN water! And sharks too. Don’t forget the sharks! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12794 "2017-10-24T20:38:28Z")
From post #12279, manson1972 said: > [@](#): > > Are those wage numbers correct? From the Post article: > > Quote: > Under the contract, the hourly rate was set at $330 for a site supervisor, and at $227.88 for a “journeyman lineman.” The cost for subcontractors, which make up the bulk of Whitefish’s workforce, is $462 per hour for a supervisor and $319.04 for a lineman. Whitefish also charges nightly accommodation fees of $332 per worker and almost $80 per day for food. > Unquote: > > Anyone know how to become a lineman really quickly? While this whole deal smell of lutefish, I would note that it is very unlikely that workers are going to get all that cash per hour. Some (much) is for ‘health insurance’, taxes, ‘overhead’, administrative and the ever-popular ‘other costs’. I used to deal a bit with Government contracts and I’ve seen numbers like this. Problem is, they are usually subject to auditing and negotiation, and due to the dire situation in Puerto Rico, that is probably not being done. Will be interesting to see what happens when the auditors get a good look at the contract (but by then it will be old news…) ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12795 "2017-10-24T20:50:42Z")
Jeff Flake just [scorched the Earth](http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2017/10/24/sen-jeff-flake-senate-speech-full-text/794958001/) of the GOP and the president. \* “Mr. President, I rise today to say: Enough. We must dedicate ourselves to making sure that the anomalous never becomes normal. With respect and humility, I must say that we have fooled ourselves for long enough that a pivot to governing is right around the corner, a return to civility and stability right behind it. We know better than that. By now, we all know better than that.” “Now, I am aware that more politically savvy people than I caution against such talk. I am aware that a segment of my party believes that anything short of complete and unquestioning loyalty to a president who belongs to my party is unacceptable and suspect.”\* ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12796 "2017-10-24T21:07:41Z")
:eek: :eek::eek: Wow. Now THAT is a speech. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12797 "2017-10-24T21:09:29Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Jeff Flake just [scorched the Earth](http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2017/10/24/sen-jeff-flake-senate-speech-full-text/794958001/) of the GOP and the president. > \* > \* and this: > [@](#): > > Reckless, outrageous, and undignified behavior has become excused and countenanced as “telling it like it is,” when it is actually just reckless, outrageous, and undignified. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12798 "2017-10-24T21:10:19Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Jeff Flake just [scorched the Earth](http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2017/10/24/sen-jeff-flake-senate-speech-full-text/794958001/) of the GOP and the president. > \* > “Mr. President, I rise today to say: Enough. We must dedicate ourselves to making sure that the anomalous never becomes normal. With respect and humility, I must say that we have fooled ourselves for long enough that a pivot to governing is right around the corner, a return to civility and stability right behind it. We know better than that. By now, we all know better than that.” > > “Now, I am aware that more politically savvy people than I caution against such talk. I am aware that a segment of my party believes that anything short of complete and unquestioning loyalty to a president who belongs to my party is unacceptable and suspect.”\* I came in just to post about [the same thing](https://apnews.com/8285e0cdcd27460cb3ee008107852b93/GOP-Sen.-Flake,-vocal-Trump-critic,-won't-seek-re-election), but your link is better because it has his whole speech. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12799 "2017-10-24T21:11:34Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > and this: It’s chock full of highlights. ---
**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 24, 2017, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12800 "2017-10-24T21:15:38Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > From post #12279, manson1972 said: > > While this whole deal smell of lutefish, I would note that it is very unlikely that workers are going to get all that cash per hour. Some (much) is for ‘health insurance’, taxes, ‘overhead’, administrative and the ever-popular ‘other costs’. I used to deal a bit with Government contracts and I’ve seen numbers like this. > > Problem is, they are usually subject to auditing and negotiation, and due to the dire situation in Puerto Rico, that is probably not > being done. Will be interesting to see what happens when the auditors get a good look at the contract (but by then it will be old news…) Right, nothing in the article said that that was what the workers would get paid. It said that was what they were going to be charging for providing the workers, even if they are at MW. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12801 "2017-10-24T21:15:51Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Jeff Flake just [scorched the Earth](http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2017/10/24/sen-jeff-flake-senate-speech-full-text/794958001/) of the GOP and the president. > \* > “Mr. President, I rise today to say: Enough. We must dedicate ourselves to making sure that the anomalous never becomes normal. With respect and humility, I must say that we have fooled ourselves for long enough that a pivot to governing is right around the corner, a return to civility and stability right behind it. We know better than that. By now, we all know better than that.” > > “Now, I am aware that more politically savvy people than I caution against such talk. I am aware that a segment of my party believes that anything short of complete and unquestioning loyalty to a president who belongs to my party is unacceptable and suspect.”\* Damn. That guy has some balls, eh? Pretty rare amongst current Republicans… ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12802 "2017-10-24T21:20:26Z")
Well, it’s easier when you’re not running for re-election. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12803 "2017-10-24T21:26:08Z")
He could be running for re-election if he wanted to though. He’s only 55. He’s chosen to fight Trump instead. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/12804 "2017-10-24T21:30:11Z")
I agree with Senator Flake on very little, but …hot damn! That speech was one for the ages. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=639) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=641)