# 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:** 75
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1481 "2017-02-18T18:52:55Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > Aw, they changed the media survey. The first version I did had the ability to answer Other to all the questions and fill in your thoughts. Actually, you could answer anything (select Yes, No, No Opinion OR other) and still fill in that little “Other field.” And I did. Oh yes, I did. I imagine a lot of people did and that’s what they took that field away. Sad! I’m a little surprised they didn’t just leave only the answer they want. Frankly, I suspect they’re going to fake the numbers anyway. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1482 "2017-02-18T18:53:07Z")
[Top Ben Carson aide dismissed after his writings surfaced criticizing Trump.](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/16/us/politics/shermichael-singleton-housing-urban-development.html) ---
**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:** [February 18, 2017, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1483 "2017-02-18T19:03:39Z")
> [@Catamount](#): > > These rats aren’t just abandoning the sinking ship, they’re refusing to board at the docks. It’s a [plague ship.](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=plague%20ship) ---
**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:** [February 18, 2017, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1484 "2017-02-18T19:14:37Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/30/politics/david-petraeus-donald-trump-secretary-of-state-probation-officer/) (from when he was being considered for SecState) > > He may not have had a choice. Now I want to see him nominated for something just so the first Democrat to ask him a question can start off with, “Thank you for joining us today, General. I’d also like to thank your probation officer for allowing you to travel for this occasion.” ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1485 "2017-02-18T20:22:49Z")
… and some cold water poured on feverish fantasies of some: [**One** :](http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/16/politics/fbi-not-expected-to-pursue-charges-against-flynn/index.html) "Flynn initially told investigators sanctions were not discussed. But FBI agents challenged him, asking if he was certain that was his answer. He said he didn’t remember. The FBI interviewers believed Flynn was cooperative and provided truthful answers. Although Flynn didn’t remember all of what he talked about, they don’t believe he was intentionally misleading them, the officials say. Further, then-acting Attorney General Sally Yates delayed notifying the White House until after Flynn was interviewed. At that point, FBI Director James Comey did not object to notifying the White House counsel." [**Two** :](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/russian-spies-eye-golden-prize-white-house-source/story?id=45531117) “A senior intelligence official told ABC News last night that no evidence gathered by the FBI so far suggests Trump associates knew they were talking to Russian intelligence officers. Those contacts being scrutinized by the FBI were first reported by The New York Times on Wednesday.” and [**three**](http://www.vox.com/world/2017/2/15/14620560/trump-flynn-russia-campaign): "Most of this stuff is completely uncorroborated. When my colleague Sean Illing asked an ex-CIA analyst, Aki Peritz, about the memo, Peritz was deeply skeptical. “We’ve no idea if any of this is true,” Peritz said. “We don’t know who these sources are. It’s entirely likely that they’re feeding the author of this report garbage, as often happens.” … So far, they have only been able to corroborate insignificant parts of it, like whether one Russian official talked to another on the date listed in the memo. And there’s very little hard evidence to support the allegations — especially the more salacious ones — in the Steele dossier." oh and some **fake news from WSJ** : "The intrigue heightened late Wednesday when The Wall Street Journal picked up claims that U.S. intelligence officers were withholding intelligence from the 45th president over eroded trust because of his associates’ Russian contacts and the FBI scrutiny of the White House. But numerous officials said that was absurd. “Any suggestion that the U.S. intelligence community is withholding information and is not providing the best possible intelligence to the president and his national security team is not true," the director of national intelligence’s public affairs office said in a statement." ---
**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:** [February 18, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1486 "2017-02-18T20:46:26Z")
[Information is not being withheld, it’s simply being protected from being compromised.](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-yells-at-cia-director-over-reports-intel-officials-are-keeping-information-from-him/) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1487 "2017-02-18T21:46:51Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > Aw, they changed the media survey. The first version I did had the ability to answer Other to all the questions and fill in your thoughts. Actually, you could answer anything (select Yes, No, No Opinion OR other) and still fill in that little “Other field.” And I did. Oh yes, I did. I imagine a lot of people did and that’s what they took that field away. Sad! Only question 7 and 8 allows a ‘memo’ to the question now. I’m quite surprised they didn’t ask for a home address and a picture so they could get to know you better. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1488 "2017-02-19T13:34:10Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > … and some cold water poured on feverish fantasies of some: > > [**One** :](http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/16/politics/fbi-not-expected-to-pursue-charges-against-flynn/index.html) > > "Flynn initially told investigators sanctions were not discussed. But FBI agents challenged him, asking if he was certain that was his answer. He said he didn’t remember. > > The FBI interviewers believed Flynn was cooperative and provided truthful answers. Although Flynn didn’t remember all of what he talked about, they don’t believe he was intentionally misleading them, the officials say. I see. When the FBI investigation doesn’t lead to charges against a Republican appointee, it means he’s innocent. When an FBI investigation into the Democrat nominee for President doesn’t lead to charges, it means she’s clearly guilty, but the FBI is covering for her. > [@O](#): > > “A senior intelligence official told ABC News last night that no evidence gathered by the FBI so far suggests Trump associates knew they were talking to Russian intelligence officers. Those contacts being scrutinized by the FBI were first reported by The New York Times on Wednesday.” The whole “we’re not evil, we’re just incredibly incompetent” from Dubya’s administration has really caught on with the right. > [@O](#): > > "Most of this stuff is completely uncorroborated. When my colleague Sean Illing asked an ex-CIA analyst, Aki Peritz, about the memo, Peritz was deeply skeptical. > > “We’ve no idea if any of this is true,” Peritz said. “We don’t know who these sources are. It’s entirely likely that they’re feeding the author of this report garbage, as often happens.” I see this too. Questionable intelligence that could damage a Republican is automatically untrustworthy and rejected out of hand. Questionable intelligence providing a reason for a Republican president to start a costly, unjustifiable war is just fine. Man, you guys shift gears more than … a frequent gear shifting thing. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1489 "2017-02-19T14:41:38Z")
“My colleague asked an ex-analyst about something he’s not working in on (and is longer even involved with the agency), and he sez…” Doesn’t have that “When EF Hutton speaks, people listen” quality to the source, does it? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1490 "2017-02-19T15:08:56Z")
[As Sen. Rand Paul reminds us,](http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/14/politics/kfile-rand-paul-republican-investigations/)“I just don’t think it’s useful to be doing investigation after investigation, particularly of your own party. We’ll never even get started with doing the things we need to do, like repealing Obamacare, if we’re spending our whole time having Republicans investigate Republicans. I think it makes no sense.” So let’s just forget that Country First nonsense, relics of an earlier age. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2017, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1491 "2017-02-19T15:22:01Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > … and some cold water poured on feverish fantasies of some: Did you salute your [cardboard Trump](http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/02/18/donald-trump-supporter-gene-huber-intv-nr.cnn) today? Dear Leader demands your genuflection. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1492 "2017-02-19T15:47:15Z")
[Christie tells his staff he is taking White House job](http://nypost.com/2017/02/18/christie-tells-his-staff-he-is-taking-white-house-job/) > [@](#): > > New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is telling friends and staff he is taking a role with the Trump administration, according to a source close to the White House. > > The GOP governor’s position has not been worked out, but he would not replace Reince Preibus as the president’s chief-of-staff, the source said. > > “Trump told him to be patient,” the source said. “Christie will only take something where he is answerable to the president.” I say [Food Taster](https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2017/02/17/chris-christies-meatloaf-humiliations/). 😃 ---
**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:** [February 19, 2017, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1493 "2017-02-19T16:48:15Z")
Betsy DeVos steps into a public school for the first time in her life and promptly [steps on her dick](http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/devos-criticized-teachers-at-dc-school-she-visited-%E2%80%94-and-they-are-not-having-it/ar-AAn5amh?OCID=ansmsnnews11). ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1494 "2017-02-19T17:11:28Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > [As Sen. Rand Paul reminds us,](http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/14/politics/kfile-rand-paul-republican-investigations/)“I just don’t think it’s useful to be doing investigation after investigation, particularly of your own party. We’ll never even get started with doing the things we need to do, like repealing Obamacare, if we’re spending our whole time having Republicans investigate Republicans. I think it makes no sense.” > > So let’s just forget that Country First nonsense, relics of an earlier age. And the mouth breathing, inbred Deplorables will continue to vote that traitor back into Congress, won’t they. While they wave the fucking flag. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1495 "2017-02-19T17:14:52Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Betsy DeVos steps into a public school for the first time in her life and promptly [steps on her dick](http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/devos-criticized-teachers-at-dc-school-she-visited-%E2%80%94-and-they-are-not-having-it/ar-AAn5amh?OCID=ansmsnnews11). Fake tweets. So unfair. So sad 😃 ---
**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:** [February 19, 2017, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1496 "2017-02-19T18:26:39Z")
> [@Blinkyandpinky](#): > > Reality check. > > Snowflakes are found exclusively on the left. > > The ones who need safe spaces, the ones who are anti-free speech Like how Trump suggested curbing [the First Amendment](http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-first-amendment-libel-2016-10)? > [@](#): > > \the college campus liberal brownshirts that attempt to shut down all speech that they disapprove of, etc. Like when Trump [ejected](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-protesters-constitution-khan_us_57a39862e4b056bad214e62f) people from his rallies for holding up pocket-sized copies of the Constitution? > [@](#): > > \A not so small percentage of liberals have severe mental issues Cite? And how does that compare to the percentage of conservatives with severe mental issues? Using the same metrics as used to make this claim about liberals, of course. I would imagine that the numbers are pretty close to each other. > [@](#): > > And for the record, I do not have a single person on ignore here, because I am not afraid of any words written by any liberal, and no liberal person is significant enough to warrant their placement on an ignore list. I don’t have anyone on ignore, either. Largely for the same reasons that you listed. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1497 "2017-02-19T18:48:45Z")
I don’t have anyone here on ignore, iirc. But I put people on ignore when their contributions are not worth even skimming. Why waste my time? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1498 "2017-02-19T20:47:53Z")
Why feed obvious trolls? The best thing is to ignore them, be it in fact or using the Ignore function, the latter of which option seems to be considered somehow dishonorable by some, although I’ve never understood that sentiment myself. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1499 "2017-02-20T02:26:29Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > The use of American troops for domestic law enforcement is strictly forbidden. That would be a serious violation of the Posse Comitatus Act. … > > So at least theoretically, it could be authorized by an act of Congress, but that has always been a line no member of our government or military has been willing to cross. > > **If the Republicans cross this line, then we have full reason to believe that they are throwing away our Constitution and that we, the American people, are under threat of Tyranny and Dictatorship.** And yet, there are so many so called “patriots” that would be absolutely thrilled about it. They are the same ones who used to scream about Obama’s FEMA camps and Jade Helmet (that Army invading Texas nonsense). Tyranny and dictatorship are GREAT, as long as they are the ones tyrannizing. ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/1500 "2017-02-20T03:24:54Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Man, you guys shift gears more than … a frequent gear shifting thing. 😃 [I also liked the more substantive parts of your post…but this last line really cracked me up.] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=74) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=76)