# 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:** 703
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14045 "2017-12-06T02:16:59Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It’s a thin line between being an anarchist and being a really incompetent government official. And this administration’s line is perforated. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14046 "2017-12-06T02:51:03Z")
> [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](#): > > …Robert Mueller, beware of the Presidential Secret Mutant Ninja Dolphin Force. (Cue Arrowsmith…) ♫ Flipper’s got a gun (chick-a-wang-wang)…♩ ---
**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:** [December 6, 2017, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14047 "2017-12-06T03:35:32Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The Intercept is a liberal site, so I don’t know how much validity we can give to this, but it made it into today’s Sarah Huckabee press questions today. > [TRUMP WHITE HOUSE WEIGHING PLANS FOR PRIVATE SPIES TO COUNTER “DEEP STATE” ENEMIES](https://theintercept.com/2017/12/04/trump-white-house-weighing-plans-for-private-spies-to-counter-deep-state-enemies/) I saw this on MSNBC today. There’s film of this question and answer. Sarah did not say “fuck, no”, she tap danced. It’s off to a sooper-sekrit start. I’m not sure how this would work or if it’s even legal. Can one set up a “private” agency to spy on the government? It sounds questionable, which means I can absolutely believe that Trumpy-whumpy is considering it. One thought I console myself with is how many agencies The Orange One is angering on a daily basis. I like to imagine they keep the brakes on at some level, even if it’s just leaking all of this shit. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14048 "2017-12-06T04:28:23Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Did you mean adversary, or something quasi-ironical? I’m not that clever but you raise a good one. “Adversary” and spelling ain’t my strong suit… ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14049 "2017-12-06T05:04:01Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > Bannon is an anarchist and seems Trump is as well, or else the anarchists puppet. IIRC I saw interviews with Bannon where he stated he was an anarchist. Now if you were a real anarchist, it sure looks like the past 11 months have been about deconstructing the pillars of American society. > > Or a puppet of our biggest advisory Russia. Well, not really, China is a bigger long term advisory but they are getting a free reign. Putin is the advisor; China is the adversary. ---
**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:** [December 6, 2017, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14050 "2017-12-06T11:37:00Z")
It’s usually “free rein” too. But under the circumstances, the other way actually works pretty well. [/obsessive pedant] ---
**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:** [December 6, 2017, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14051 "2017-12-06T11:53:56Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > I saw this on MSNBC today. There’s film of this question and answer. Sarah did not say “fuck, no”, she tap danced. It’s off to a sooper-sekrit start. I’m not sure how this would work or if it’s even legal. Can one set up a “private” agency to spy on the government? It sounds questionable, which means I can absolutely believe that Trumpy-whumpy is considering it. > > One thought I console myself with is how many agencies The Orange One is angering on a daily basis. I like to imagine they keep the brakes on at some level, even if it’s just leaking all of this shit. They will probably dress it up as something like “logistical assistance to the Central Intelligence Agency,” in the form of “background investigations” and “security detail,” though in reality it will be probably used to conduct surveillance on people in the CIA to make sure they’re toeing the line. I would assume that some of what they do will be completely illegal and if the Democrats take over in the House they’ll probably threaten to investigate and de-fund these sorts of activities. But a lot of damage could be done before then. The government’s use of private contractors has been a worry of mine since day one with this authoritarian administration. I suspect Trump will attempt to do something similar with domestic security and law enforcement agencies. But even if he doesn’t go completely in that direction, let’s not forget Nixon’s tactics of using CIA agents to infiltrate protest groups. Trump’s administration is absolutely going to use private “security” forces to disrupt and intimidate opposition. It’s just a matter of time, and it will get worse the longer he’s in office. ---
**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:** [December 6, 2017, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14052 "2017-12-06T11:55:50Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The Intercept is a liberal site, so I don’t know how much validity we can give to this, but it made it into today’s Sarah Huckabee press questions today. > [TRUMP WHITE HOUSE WEIGHING PLANS FOR PRIVATE SPIES TO COUNTER “DEEP STATE” ENEMIES](https://theintercept.com/2017/12/04/trump-white-house-weighing-plans-for-private-spies-to-counter-deep-state-enemies/) Erik Prince was bad news from the start. This just confirms our worst suspicions. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14053 "2017-12-06T16:08:51Z")
Blackhawk meets the Office of Special Plans. Wonderful. With overtones of the old Soviet _Zampolit_/Political Officer. (I wonder where they got that idea?) ---
**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:** [December 6, 2017, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14054 "2017-12-06T16:29:17Z")
Did you mean _Blackwater_? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14055 "2017-12-06T17:08:07Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Did you mean _Blackwater_? I suspect he did. But the [Blackhawks](http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/blackhawk_3002.jpg) were a private security team working for US interests. However, they were more inclined to [fight against fascists](https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11112/111120209/3112640-blackhawks+andre.jpg) than for them. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14056 "2017-12-06T18:26:49Z")
Just an odd thing to share: I clicked “random” a few time on Cracked the other day, and this article came up: [5 Ways Donald Trump Perfectly Mirrors Hitler’s Rise To Power](http://www.cracked.com/blog/why-comparing-donald-trump-to-hitler-makes-perfect-sense/). The article was published on October 1, 2015. ---
**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:** [December 6, 2017, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14057 "2017-12-06T19:31:24Z")
The White House has apparently pointedly not invited reporters from gay and black news organizations to the White House Christmas party, for the first time in about twenty years. > **[LGBT reporters excluded from White House Christmas party for first time in...](https://www.thepinknews.com/2017/12/05/lgbt-and-black-reporters-left-off-white-house-christmas-party-guest-list-for-first-time-in-years/)** > > The Trump White House has excluded LGBT and black reporters from its annual Christmas party for media. ---
**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:** [December 6, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14058 "2017-12-06T19:59:14Z")
“President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on Wednesday and announced plans to relocate the US Embassy there, a move expected to inflame tensions in the region and unsettle the prospects for peace.” IMO, this was done for two main reasons: 1. Because Obama did not recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Everything Trump does is pretty much based on Anti-Obama. 2. This will inflame tensions, and may lead to protests, disruptions, and nasty comments about the USA. Trump needs to fan the flames of anti-Americanism, because there were too few “bad Muslims” to point a finger at in the past year. Mass shootings and recent terrorism in the US have been perpetrated by good old white men. It’s hard to gin up some good hatred of Muslims when the headlines are all full of the most recent white guy who has gunned down a few dozen people. This last reason may be a bit too in-depth for the Cheeto-faced Shitgibbon though. More likely someone else’s idea, but they used #1 to convince the Donald. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14059 "2017-12-06T20:19:40Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Erik Prince was bad news from the start. This just confirms our worst suspicions. Ignorance fought! From these various recent news articles on the subject, I learn that Erik Prince is Betsy DeVos’s kid brother :eek: (Did everybody here know that but me?) I was happier in my ignorance. ---
**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:** [December 6, 2017, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14060 "2017-12-06T20:25:53Z")
I think the more compelling reason for this Embassy moving to Jerusalem bullshit is that way too much time is being spent in print and TV media about Mueller’s investigation developments and the fact that he is potentially facing sexual harassment charges while supporting a child molester. He created the biggest shit storm he could think of in order to change the subject. ---
**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:** [December 6, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14061 "2017-12-06T20:51:53Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > (Did everybody here know that but me?) Probably not everyone, but probably most of us here. ---
**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:** [December 6, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14062 "2017-12-06T21:00:02Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I think the more compelling reason for this Embassy moving to Jerusalem bullshit is that way too much time is being spent in print and TV media about Mueller’s investigation developments and the fact that he is potentially facing sexual harassment charges while supporting a child molester. He created the biggest shit storm he could think of in order to change the subject. I really don’t think this is a clever ploy. He really was planning to do this all along for a multitude of reasons that might make sense to Trump. It’s just as likely he did this as his way of saying “Fuck you” to Rex Tillerson and the State Department. I mean despite this issue being one that has consumed about as much of the Department’s time and energy than any other over the past 4-5 decades, where was Rex Tillerson to be found?! Who’s doing the behind the scenes work here? Jared - effing - Kushner?! ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14063 "2017-12-06T21:00:45Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > “President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on Wednesday and announced plans to relocate the US Embassy there, a move expected to inflame tensions in the region and unsettle the prospects for peace.” > > IMO, this was done for two main reasons: > > 1. Because Obama did not recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Everything Trump does is pretty much based on Anti-Obama. > > 2. This will inflame tensions, and may lead to protests, disruptions, and nasty comments about the USA. Trump needs to fan the flames of anti-Americanism, because there were too few “bad Muslims” to point a finger at in the past year. Mass shootings and recent terrorism in the US have been perpetrated by good old white men. It’s hard to gin up some good hatred of Muslims when the headlines are all full of the most recent white guy who has gunned down a few dozen people. > > This last reason may be a bit too in-depth for the Cheeto-faced Shitgibbon though. More likely someone else’s idea, but they used #1 to convince the Donald. Excellent point! ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/14064 "2017-12-06T21:11:58Z")
The capital recognition / embassy move is Trump’s version of the Reichstag fire. No President, not Trump, not Bush, not anyone, would directly attack Americans for the sake of fanning the flames of bigotry (alluding, as I am to the “9-11 was in inside job” bullshit), but … this is the perfect move for him. “What? What did I do? I mean I just recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. I mean, why wouldn’t we move the embassy there? It just makes sense? And now all these darned Palestinians, who obviously hate our freedoms, are going crazy for no reason. See, I told you them Mooslems were bad guys.” It plays right into Fox n Friend’s morning arc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=702) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=704)