# 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:** 766
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15305 "2018-01-12T11:02:09Z")
Norway is going to offer us 1.2 million Syrian and African refugees. Is that what you want, mister Donald? ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15306 "2018-01-12T11:07:31Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > The comparison in that article by a planning official to a move from Manhattan to New Jersey is probably apt - the Grosvenor Square location is some of the hottest real estate in London (despite the listed building status), and Nine Elms/Battersea is south of the river and won’t be as easy to get to. I’ll have to go to the new embassy later this year to get my daughter’s passport renewed so we’ll see how that goes. > > Also worth noting: > > However, it’s true that Trump would very likely get a hostile reception in the UK. Apparently he’s also grumpy because it’s rumoured that the Obamas are invited to Harry and Meghan’s wedding and he isn’t (I don’t know if that’s been confirmed - I’m not following the wedding news that closely). Obama wasn’t invited to William and Kate Middleton’s wedding. I believe it is protocol not to invite current foreign leaders. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2018, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15307 "2018-01-12T11:42:27Z")
Most of the media seem to be interpreting Trump’s remarks as being based on racism. I think it’s also based on his appalling understanding of economics. He sees a prosperous country and thinks if you bring rich people over, you increase wealth, and vice versa. That’s the level of his understanding of how a country’s economy works. I flipped to FOX and they were talking about remittances in a way that implied they are simply a net drain on the US economy, before they cherry-picked examples of crimes committed by immigrants :smack: ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15308 "2018-01-12T12:23:34Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Most of the media seem to be interpreting Trump’s remarks as being based on racism. > > I think it’s also based on his appalling understanding of economics. He sees a prosperous country and thinks if you bring rich people over, you increase wealth, and vice versa. That’s the level of his understanding of how a country’s economy works. > > I flipped to FOX and they were talking about remittances in a way that implied they are simply a net drain on the US economy, before they cherry-picked examples of crimes committed by immigrants :smack: Yes, while Trump is unquestionably racist we should also bear in mind that is deeply stupid. Perhaps we need “Trump’s Law”: never blame solely on racism that which can be adequately explained by a combination of racism and stupidity. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2018, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15309 "2018-01-12T12:28:41Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I can’t wait for the clips of Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell being asked about it, and saying they haven’t had a chance, yet, to read the story. No, these are decent and honest Republishits who will undoubtedly have the bravery to come out and say what needs to be said – like “_We wouldn’t have necessarily used the same words_” In addition to being heartless and brainless, conservatives are ultimately spineless and dickless to. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2018, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15310 "2018-01-12T12:33:00Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Trump has announced (via Twitter) that he is canceling his proposed trip to London because, Obama. > “Reason I canceled my trip to London is that I am not a big fan of the Obama Administration having sold perhaps the best located and finest embassy in London for “peanuts,” only to build a new one in an off location for 1.2 billion dollars. Bad deal. Wanted me to cut ribbon-NO!” > [x.com](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/951679619341737986) Christ, he’s really starting to lose it. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2018, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15311 "2018-01-12T12:34:29Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > The guy who wrote the 25th Amendment (on the staff of Birch Bayh, one of its primary sponsors) was on MSNBC yesterday. He said: it’s designed to remove someone who’s _unable_ to do the job, not _unfit_. Impeachment is the solution for the unfit. That makes sense, given that the bar for invoking the 25th Amendment to remove a President who is physically capable of writing “I am _ **too** _ fit for office, neener-neener!” is actually higher than the bar for impeachment and conviction. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2018, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15312 "2018-01-12T12:35:32Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Trump has announced (via Twitter) that he is canceling his proposed trip to London Oh, well, I guess the stockpiles of rotten fruits and vegetables can be composted or something. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15313 "2018-01-12T12:36:54Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Christ, he’s really starting to lose it. Starting? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15314 "2018-01-12T13:25:09Z")
I like the implication that at some point he had it. For, uh, a very strange definition of like. But I can’t find a better word at the moment. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2018, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15315 "2018-01-12T13:43:53Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > No, these are decent and honest Republishits who will undoubtedly have the bravery to come out and say what needs to be said – like “_We wouldn’t have necessarily used the same words_” > > In addition to being heartless and brainless, conservatives are ultimately spineless and dickless to. Yup. To wit: > [@](#): > > Other Republicans,such as Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah), called for a “detailed explanation” of Trump’s comments, while Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) called them “disappointing.” > … > Under no circumstances is it acceptable to degrade, denigrate, or dehumanize #TPS immigrants. The White House must immediately explain the situation and leave no doubt regarding what was said and in what context. [Rep. Carlos Curbelo (@RepCurbelo)] > … > [Cite](https://a.msn.com/r/2/AAuzIQF?m=en-us) “A detailed explanation”? “Disappointing”? Way to go after thump with a nerf bat. Anyone see comments from McConnell or Ryan? No, of course not. Forget I asked. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15316 "2018-01-12T13:45:14Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Does Trump not realize that people want to move to the US to improve their standard of living? That is why people from Norway aren’t moving to the US in droves, they would be lowering their quality of life. But it’s so much more _exciting_ here, where we have no idea what crazy shit the President will say or do next. Norway? [More like Snoreway.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbYtASAakAI) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15317 "2018-01-12T13:46:23Z")
This is another good example of why centrist liberals are useless in rhetorical battles against fascists. The alt-right is having a field day calling third world countries shitholes and daring liberals to disagree, posting memes like [this](https://i.redd.it/jao932383k901.png) and [this](https://i.redd.it/0yhrue1j2j901.jpg). Their argument is that these countries are backward and poor because they’re populated by inferior races. What’s the non-racial leftist explanation? Western imperialism, colonialism, and other capitalist deprivations via institutions like the IMF and the World Bank. But liberals can not and will not ever say that, especially since they’re the ones who enacted so many of those policies in the first place, but now they’re being forced to confront this issue head on and they got…zilch. About the best they can do is scold Nazis for being uncouth. So the alt-right gets to dunk on “clueless, out of touch, politically correct libs” and spread their racist memes with little substantial pushback. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15318 "2018-01-12T14:14:27Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > This is another good example of why centrist liberals are useless in rhetorical battles against fascists. The alt-right is having a field day calling third world countries shitholes and daring liberals to disagree, posting memes like [this](https://i.redd.it/jao932383k901.png) and [this](https://i.redd.it/0yhrue1j2j901.jpg). Their argument is that these countries are backward and poor because they’re populated by inferior races. What’s the non-racial leftist explanation? Western imperialism, colonialism, and other capitalist deprivations via institutions like the IMF and the World Bank. But liberals can not and will not ever say that, especially since they’re the ones who enacted so many of those policies in the first place, but now they’re being forced to confront this issue head on and they got…zilch. About the best they can do is scold Nazis for being uncouth. So the alt-right gets to dunk on “clueless, out of touch, politically correct libs” and spread their racist memes with little substantial pushback. Really? Liberals “can not and will not ever say that”? Because I’m pretty sure I’ve heard and read a lot of self-identified liberals saying in great detail that the reason a lot of Third World countries are “shitholes” is because of Western meddling in all forms trivial to egregious. In fact I’ve read a lot of it here, in responses to the alt-right “race realists” that pop up from time to time. Mind you, liberals will undoubtedly disagree with the little turd you dropped into the punchbowl at the end about how all that meddling was by liberals. I mean, Jesus Christ, it wasn’t the lefties supporting the vast majority of the anti-Communist military dictators in Africa and South America, nor were they the primary promoters of the “what’s good for US business is good for America and thus good for the world” corporatist approach (United Fruit Corporation, anyone?). Was it liberals who killed Patrice Lumumba or installed General Pinochet? I’m not suggesting that liberals haven’t done their share of Fucking Thing Up but this idea that liberals are somehow hiding some hypothetical secret shame about Western imperialism and thus can’t counter fascist arguments is contrary to all evidence and reason. TL;DR: Don’t be so fucking ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15319 "2018-01-12T14:31:01Z")
The problem isn’t really that he called them shitholes. I mean, it’s a problem in that it’s undiplomatic, inarticulate, and beneath a president, but it’s not like using euphemism like “third world” is a whole lot nicer. If Trump had said, “Why are we letting in people from all these third world countries,” it might not have made the same headlines but the sentiment is just as evil – that your personal worth as a potential American is somehow tied to your country of birth, with the dog whistle implying that it’s actually your ethnicity. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15320 "2018-01-12T14:34:13Z")
Not to mention: the real problem with Trump’s statement isn’t his characterization of the worst 3rd world countries – we may not have chosen those words, but won’t disagree that some places are no place you’d want to live – that’s why people want to emigrate. No, the bad part is: we only want people from prosperous white countries…which is contrary to every principle Americans hold dear. Ninja’d by steronz! ---
**Author:** ![SaneBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SaneBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaneBill)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15321 "2018-01-12T15:01:11Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Stay classy, Donnie: Donald Trump, pure class. Or like the Brits - I believe - would say, clarse. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15322 "2018-01-12T15:08:00Z")
Rhymes with … 😃 ---
**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:** [January 12, 2018, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15323 "2018-01-12T15:28:11Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Yup. To wit: > “A detailed explanation”? “Disappointing”? Way to go after thump with a nerf bat. > > Anyone see comments from McConnell or Ryan? No, of course not. Forget I asked. :rolleyes: Well Trump has officially denied that he ever said it, so all is well then. Republicans might as well use Trump’s Roy Moore playbook and just repeat disingenuously: “Look, he denied it.” “Okay, but others were there and multiple witnesses said that he undeniably used this language.” “Right, but he denied that he said it. He’s entitled to a fair hearing.” Jesus Mary Mother of Christ! Would not surprise me in the least if the Republican party tried to pass a constitutional amendment outlawing wave function collapse. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2018, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15324 "2018-01-12T15:56:27Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Well Trump has officially denied that he ever said it, so all is well then. Republicans might as well use Trump’s Roy Moore playbook and just repeat disingenuously: “Look, he denied it.” > > “Okay, but others were there and multiple witnesses said that he undeniably used this language.” > > “Right, but he denied that he said it. He’s entitled to a fair hearing.” > > Jesus Mary Mother of Christ! Would not surprise me in the least if the Republican party tried to pass a constitutional amendment outlawing wave function collapse. And besides, both sides do it, amirite? :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=765) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=767)