# 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:** 794
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15865 "2018-01-23T15:29:36Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > Vanity Fair reports John Kelly, the guy who was supposed to manage the chaos, is on the way out: > > [“I’ve Got Another Nut Job Here Who Thinks He’s Running Things”: Are Trump and Kelly Heading for Divorce? | Vanity Fair](https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/01/are-trump-and-kelly-heading-for-divorce) FAKE NEWS!!! Shithole in Chief just tweeted to reassure us that John Kelly is staying put! Thank you to General John Kelly, who is doing a fantastic job, and all of the Staff and others in the White House, for a job well done. Long hours and Fake reporting makes your job more difficult, but it is always great to WIN, and few have won more than us! He’s a goner! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15866 "2018-01-23T16:21:04Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Interestingly, the Kochs and the Mercers don’t especially like each other, but it appears they have set aside their differences to the extent they’re happy to keep their grubby paws on the levers of power for as long as the American people allow them to do it. > > The Mercers fund the opposition candidate, a fellow named Art Robinson, to my representative in the House, Peter DeFazio, every election. Robinson loses every time, but I learned that the Mercers have a back-up plan for him. They want him to be the Chief Science Advisor for the Trump “administration.” > > Some things Art Robinson believes: > > He’s the author of the Oregon Petition, a fake document often touted as the petition signed by “scientists” who don’t believe in climate change, such as the Spice Girls’ Geri Halliwell, Charles Darwin and I. C. Ewe. He of course believes that climate change is a hoax. > > He believes humans will develop an “immunity” to the adverse effects of nuclear radiation by sprinkling small amounts of nuclear waste on people from the air. > > He has collected literally thousands of human urine samples, believing they hold the key to extending the human life span. Many Oregonians have been happy to mail him additional samples for his collection every election cycle. > > The Mercers love this guy. Holy Cow! Wotta nutcase! ---
**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:** [January 23, 2018, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15867 "2018-01-23T19:05:57Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Maybe he’s delegated that job to Jared Kushner. I mean, that boy has nothing to do. Except Ivanka. Which is the job that I want. Did the guy have the voice of a prepubescent boy? ---
**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:** [January 23, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15868 "2018-01-23T19:33:27Z")
Trump, in his never-ending quest to destroy the environment, the nation, and the world, and to boost his oil and coal cronies, has imposed a 30% tariff on imported solar panels and equipment. Eugene Wilkie, of Now1 Solar, said this will cost the US solar industry 88,000 jobs. He is reporting that after his comments came out, his office staff have started getting death threats. [https://twitter.com/search?q=eugene%20wilkie&src=typd](https://twitter.com/search?q=eugene%20wilkie&src=typd) ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15869 "2018-01-23T21:14:47Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Trump, in his never-ending quest to destroy the environment, the nation, and the world, and to boost his oil and coal cronies, has imposed a 30% tariff on imported solar panels and equipment. Eugene Wilkie, of Now1 Solar, said this will cost the US solar industry 88,000 jobs. He is reporting that after his comments came out, his office staff have started getting death threats. > > [x.com](https://twitter.com/search?q=eugene%20wilkie&src=typd) Interesting. But not surprising. ---
**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 24, 2018, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15870 "2018-01-24T04:10:56Z")
Meanwhile, Trump’s Justice Department and the Republicans are actively politicizing the criminal justice system. > **[Trump asked the acting FBI director how he voted during Oval Office meeting](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-asked-the-acting-fbi-director-whom-he-voted-for-during-oval-office-meeting/2018/01/23/2cb50818-0073-11e8-8acf-ad2991367d9d_story.html?utm_term=.1ea180000c43)** > > Andrew McCabe found the president’s question ‘disturbing,’ according to officials. > **[Scoop: Jeff Sessions urged FBI boss to make a "fresh start"](https://www.axios.com/2018/01/21/jeff-sessions-urged-fbi-boss-to-make-a-fresh-start-1516568533)** > > By "fresh start," he meant cleaning house. > **[GOP chairmen raise alarms over missing FBI texts](https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/22/missing-fbi-texts-republicans-358245)** > > "The omission of text messages between December 2016 and May 2017, a critical gap encompassing the FBI’s Russia investigation, is ... concerning," the three chairman wrote. Wait until they start politicizing the military. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15871 "2018-01-24T04:43:51Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Trump, in his never-ending quest to destroy the environment, the nation, and the world, and to boost his oil and coal cronies, has imposed a 30% tariff on imported solar panels and equipment. Eugene Wilkie, of Now1 Solar, said this will cost the US solar industry 88,000 jobs. He is reporting that after his comments came out, his office staff have started getting death threats. > > [x.com](https://twitter.com/search?q=eugene%20wilkie&src=typd) Well, the less sun pollution the better, says I. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2018, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15872 "2018-01-24T04:49:46Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > … Which is the job that I want. Really? I have heard that all of the doable parts are aftermarket add-ons. And not very well synthesized, either. I suspect the only hope for satisfaction from that job would be to involve Steely Dan III – if you are into that sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15873 "2018-01-24T05:32:24Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Meanwhile, Trump’s Justice Department and the Republicans are actively politicizing the criminal justice system. > > Wait until they start politicizing the military. I don’t think we have to [wait](https://www.axios.com/pence-blames-dems-for-shutdown-in-speech-to-1516547471-5c6c4254-efde-4c95-ac45-d277caa49c7b.html)… ---
**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:** [January 24, 2018, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15874 "2018-01-24T07:04:49Z")
Lawyer and former investment banker Jerome Powell received a 84-13 vote as [new head of Federal Reserve.](http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42798932) Apparently he’s served on the board since 2012 and received several democratic votes, but: > [@](#): > > But Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, said the Fed chair needed to be someone who would stand up to Wall Street, adding that Mr Powell was not that person. > [@](#): > > The Trump administration also wants to see some post-financial crisis regulations rolled back - a push from government that Mr Powell will also need to manage. President Flaming Shit-bag On Your Stoop, with extensive business holdings to benefit from lower interest rates, could be angling to [unduly influence the Fed.](http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42302771) > [@](#): > > Mr Powell will be the first head of the US central bank without an economics degree in nearly three decades. > > “We’ve had two other lawyers that have been appointed to chair the Fed, and both were very unsuccessful,” says Burton Abrams, professor of economics at the University of Delaware. > > Some have suggested Mr Powell’s non-academic background could lead to a central bank that’s more in touch with the needs of the private sector. But what has raised eyebrows beyond Mr Powell’s background is the degree to which President Trump made sure it was known that Mr Powell was his pick. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2018, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15875 "2018-01-24T08:28:18Z")
These recent political attacks against the FBI don’t phase me, for I am eagerly awaiting 2020 when there is a Democratic president, house and senate, and the immediate purge of agents who have ever voted for a Republican in the past will begin. That’s just how it works now. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15876 "2018-01-24T10:30:41Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Lawyer and former investment banker Jerome Powell received a 84-13 vote as [new head of Federal Reserve.](http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42798932) Apparently he’s served on the board since 2012 and received several democratic votes, but: > > President Flaming Shit-bag On Your Stoop, with extensive business holdings to benefit from lower interest rates, could be angling to [unduly influence the Fed.](http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42302771) Only 13 no votes. Do you know which Democrats approved him? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15877 "2018-01-24T11:27:52Z")
I didn’t know aything about this guy, but your post showing little Democratic opposition interested me. It looks like he has quite strong Democratic support. Again, I don’t know much about it, but when Trump really gets stupid I’m counting on Democrats to oppose him. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15878 "2018-01-24T11:32:32Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Only 13 no votes. Do you know which Democrats approved him? In this case, it’s probably easier to list no votes…so these are the people who voted against him. Democrats: Blumenthal, Booker, Feinstein, Gillibrand, Harris, Markey, Merkley, Warren Independents: Sanders Republicans: Cruz, Lee, Paul, Rubio Not Voting Corker, McCain, Scott ---
**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 24, 2018, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15879 "2018-01-24T11:33:07Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > These recent political attacks against the FBI don’t phase me, for I am eagerly awaiting 2020 when there is a Democratic president, house and senate, and the immediate purge of agents who have ever voted for a Republican in the past will begin. That’s just how it works now. But what if there isn’t a democratic president in 2021? And in any case, it shouldn’t work that way. When Obama became president in 2009, nobody in the Democratic party demanded that he investigate FBI agents on the basis of party loyalty. The agency has become one of the premier law enforcement agencies on the planet in no small part by establishing its political independence, which Trump is now trying to destroy in plain view. The fact that the agency is confident enough to resist and defy him is a testament to the institutional strength that the bureau has developed since the early 1970s, but people have their breaking points. It’s a matter of time before top-level administration and agents begin leaving as a result of the pressure, just as they have in the Department of State and the Environmental Protection Agency. Institutions are only as strong as the people who serve in them. This is an extremely serious situation, one that I don’t think people fully appreciate. ---
**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 24, 2018, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15880 "2018-01-24T11:38:07Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > I don’t think we have to [wait](https://www.axios.com/pence-blames-dems-for-shutdown-in-speech-to-1516547471-5c6c4254-efde-4c95-ac45-d277caa49c7b.html)… That was actually a fairly textbook example, not much different than Cheney’s claim in 2007 that Democrats withholding funding for the Iraq war didn’t support the troops. What I’m referring to is when Trump begins fomenting political activism among the active duty and making it an inhospitable environment for minorities, gays, women, the non-religious, and anyone who might be perceived as even politically moderate. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2018, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15881 "2018-01-24T13:31:19Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > In this case, it’s probably easier to list no votes…so these are the people who voted against him. > > Democrats: > > Blumenthal, Booker, Feinstein, Gillibrand, Harris, Markey, Merkley, Warren > > Independents: > > Sanders > > Republicans: > > Cruz, Lee, Paul, Rubio > > Not Voting > > Corker, McCain, Scott So, essentially, everyone running for President in 2020\*, regardless of party. 😉 (\*Excepting President Very Stable Genius, of course.) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15882 "2018-01-24T15:19:16Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > …the immediate purge of agents who have ever voted for a Republican in the past… How will they determine who voted for who? ---
**Author:** ![Celidin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Celidin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celidin)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15883 "2018-01-24T16:10:33Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > How will they determine who voted for who? Well, obviously anyone wearing a conservative dark suit, white shirt, dark tie, and sunglasses is a republican! Oh, wait… ---
**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:** [January 24, 2018, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/15884 "2018-01-24T19:59:24Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > How will they determine who voted for who? Good point. Fuck it. Purge 'em all and we’ll just let the president staff the FBI with his toadies. I mean, that is the plan, isn’t it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=793) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=795)