# 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:** 666
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13305 "2017-11-07T16:50:42Z")
I keep asking myself, what is Japan and Abe specifically, getting out of this seemingly obsequiously cozy relationship with Trump? ---
**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:** [November 7, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13306 "2017-11-07T16:55:13Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I keep asking myself, what is Japan and Abe specifically, getting out of this seemingly obsequiously cozy relationship with Trump? Abe is somewhat of a militarist who wants Japan to move beyond its post-WWII pacifist era. He doesn’t want to play nice with North Korea, and he doesn’t want to just trust that the alliance with the United States will all work out for the best. He’s not just worried about conflicts with North Korea; he’s watching China as well and in that sense, he has a partner in Trump, who’s a fellow China-skeptic. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13307 "2017-11-07T16:58:38Z")
Does he need to kiss Trump’s ass in order to buy more arms from the US? Or is he hoping to flatter the big orange buffoon into giving Japan a discount? ---
**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:** [November 7, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13308 "2017-11-07T17:06:22Z")
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, mentioned earlier in this thread for economic ties to various Putin cronies, has incurred the wrath of _Forbes_ magazine, not exactly a liberal hotbed. Appears Ol’ Wilbur has been…exaggerating his wealth; apparently he is not a billionaire at all and has been giving Forbes estimates over the years so that he would appear in the “Forbes 400”. Read it here: Nothing like screwing with the magazine for rich folks; they serve revenge cold: [The Case Of Wilbur Ross' Phantom $2 Billion](https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2017/11/07/the-case-of-wilbur-ross-phantom-2-billion/#311146227515) ---
**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:** [November 7, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13309 "2017-11-07T17:06:30Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Does he need to kiss Trump’s ass in order to buy more arms from the US? Or is he hoping to flatter the big orange buffoon into giving Japan a discount? Probably both. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13310 "2017-11-07T17:35:38Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Does he need to kiss Trump’s ass in order to buy more arms from the US? Or is he hoping to flatter the big orange buffoon into giving Japan a discount? > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Probably both. Hopefully, Japan will take delivery first and then claim quality problems and offer 70% of the price. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13311 "2017-11-07T18:21:46Z")
No-one commenting about the (paraphrasing) “Your economy’s good, but not as good as ours and we’ll keep it that way” comment? [Link](https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/06/trump-says-japans-economy-is-not-as-good-as-ours-and-should-stay-that-way.html) What a fucking embarrassment trump is (I know this is not news to anyone, just feels good to type it) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13312 "2017-11-07T18:45:21Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Dutifully presenting Asia with the stereotypical image of [the ugly amerian](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/06/world/asia/trump-japan-shinzo-abe.html), President Plop _implicitly acknowledged his disappointment that Mr. Abe did not shoot down missiles that North Korea recently fired over Japan. “He will shoot them out of the sky when he completes the purchase of lots of additional military equipment from the United States,” (the Shitgibbon) said, standing alongside Mr. Abe at the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo. “The prime minister of Japan is going to be purchasing massive amounts of military equipment, as he should.”_ > [@aurora\_maire](#): > > So we are going to sell massive amounts of military equipment to Japan. Is this setting them up to engage North Korea? Then they can take all the blame when things go horribly wrong? Probably less wheels-within-wheels than that. More likely, the American-hating fuckstick wants to be able to crow that he personally saved/generated hundreds of jobs with arms manufacturers. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13313 "2017-11-07T18:46:34Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Does he need to kiss Trump’s ass in order to buy more arms from the US? Or is he hoping to flatter the big orange buffoon into giving Japan a discount? …or a subsidy? ---
**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:** [November 7, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13314 "2017-11-07T18:54:28Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, mentioned earlier in this thread for economic ties to various Putin cronies, has incurred the wrath of _Forbes_ magazine, not exactly a liberal hotbed. > > Appears Ol’ Wilbur has been…exaggerating his wealth; apparently he is not a billionaire at all and has been giving Forbes estimates over the years so that he would appear in the “Forbes 400”. > > Read it here: Nothing like screwing with the magazine for rich folks; they serve revenge cold: [The Case Of Wilbur Ross' Phantom $2 Billion](https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2017/11/07/the-case-of-wilbur-ross-phantom-2-billion/#311146227515) An interesting point in that article: > [@](#): > > Additionally, according to six U.S. senators, Ross failed to initially mention 19 suits in response to a questionnaire during his confirmation process. Would this be grounds for tossing him out of the Sec. Commerce job? I would think so. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13315 "2017-11-07T19:02:30Z")
It would be grounds for the person with firing authority to toss him (I’m not aware of any precedent for the Senate rescinding its confirmation of a presidential appointee after the fact). But what are the odds that the America-hating fuckstick would do that for any transgression that wasn’t unquestioning loyalty to his Royal High Fuckstickyness? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13316 "2017-11-07T19:05:02Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Would this be grounds for tossing him out of the Sec. Commerce job? I would think so. If he were an immigrant, it would be enough to get him deported under this administration. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13317 "2017-11-07T19:06:59Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Would this be grounds for tossing him out of the Sec. Commerce job? I would think so. If he were an immigrant, it would be enough to get him deported under this administration. I’m actually surprised he didn’t get booted for describing Trump’s missile strikes in Syria as planned to be [after-dinner entertainment at Mar-a-Lago.](http://time.com/4762582/wilbur-ross-syria-airstrike-after-dinner-entertainment-donald-trump/) Maybe that didn’t get much press because the press was so busy getting moist in the undies about how he was finally a real President. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13318 "2017-11-07T21:15:16Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > No-one commenting about the (paraphrasing) “Your economy’s good, but not as good as ours and we’ll keep it that way” comment? [Link](https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/06/trump-says-japans-economy-is-not-as-good-as-ours-and-should-stay-that-way.html) > > What a fucking embarrassment trump is (I know this is not news to anyone, just feels good to type it) Exactly what I was getting at. How much of Trump’s shit is Abe going to eat before he joins NK and attacks Pearl Harbor again? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13319 "2017-11-07T21:27:40Z")
Michael Lewis (“The Blind Side”, “The Big Short”) has written a series of articles for Vanity Fair on how the Trump Administration managed the transition, and staffed, the Executive Branch – focusing primarily on Agriculture and Energy. He’s making the interview rounds; [here’s a transcript of his appearance on Fresh Air](https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=562246599). It’ll make you weep. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2017, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13320 "2017-11-07T21:32:54Z")
I listened to that this morning. Very disturbing–especially the fact that even if we can sweep the Trump people out of these positions in 2020, the damage they are inflicting–often through inaction–may not be immediate, but will result in problems years or decades down the road. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13321 "2017-11-07T23:29:53Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > No-one commenting about the (paraphrasing) “Your economy’s good, but not as good as ours and we’ll keep it that way” comment? [Link](https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/06/trump-says-japans-economy-is-not-as-good-as-ours-and-should-stay-that-way.html) > > What a fucking embarrassment trump is (I know this is not news to anyone, just feels good to type it) Low bar _du jour:_ I was sure that, going straight from Pearl Harbor to Japan, he would say something _really_ impolitic. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13322 "2017-11-07T23:37:38Z")
Trump directed the CIA to investigate conspiracy theories. > **[CIA Director Met Advocate of Disputed DNC Hack Theory — at Trump’s Request](https://theintercept.com/2017/11/07/dnc-hack-trump-cia-director-william-binney-nsa/?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark)** > > Mike Pompeo sought “facts” from NSA whistleblower William Binney, who says the 2016 theft of DNC emails was an inside job, not a Russian hack. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13323 "2017-11-07T23:42:01Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > No-one commenting about the (paraphrasing) “Your economy’s good, but not as good as ours and we’ll keep it that way” comment? [Link](https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/06/trump-says-japans-economy-is-not-as-good-as-ours-and-should-stay-that-way.html) > > What a fucking embarrassment trump is (I know this is not news to anyone, just feels good to type it) And here I thought the low point was [Trump urging Japan to start building cars in the USA](http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-japan-cars-built-in-the-us-2017-11). Guess not. ---
**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:** [November 8, 2017, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/13324 "2017-11-08T00:29:11Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Trump directed the CIA to investigate conspiracy theories. > > [CIA Head Met NSA Whistleblower About DNC Email Hack](https://theintercept.com/2017/11/07/dnc-hack-trump-cia-director-william-binney-nsa/?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark) WTF? We have a CIA director who apparently is on Trump’s side: > [@](#): > > Some senior CIA officials have grown upset that Pompeo, a former Republican representative from Kansas, has become so close to Trump that the CIA director regularly expresses skepticism about intelligence that doesn’t line up with the president’s views. Pompeo has also alienated some CIA managers by growing belligerent toward them in meetings, according to an intelligence official familiar with the matter. That Pompeo would even entertain the idea of President Shittiest Ever’s diversionary request tells me he isn’t the right guy for the job. I’m guessing, though, his job might’ve been on the line if he refused the request. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=665) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=667)