# 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:** 813
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16245 "2018-02-01T18:14:28Z")
> [@SaneBill](#): > > It’s still no use to call those various lawn enforcement agencies. They have their priorities. Ask Clothahump. This is gnoming gowhere. ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16246 "2018-02-01T21:12:55Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > It ain’t happening. Even if they could find some way to do it without amendment, even if every single Republican MC was in lockstep, they’d _still_ need to convince nine Democratic senators that ending democracy was in their best interest. I’m waiting for them to outlaw the Democratic party, period. We’re way past demonization of the opposition and lies about their agenda and their accomplishments. Now we’re seeing attacks on FBI members for possibly voting Democratic, or [working with someone who represented or donated money to the Democratic part](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/07/another-mueller-investigators-democratic-ties-raise-new-bias-questions.html)y. The implication is that they cannot possibly be, or sympathize with, Democratic ideas without being some sort of low-level traitor. And the base eats this up. Think I am paranoid? That this isn’t legal, or possible? I used to think so too. Not anymore. With voter suppression, gerrymandering, and all the other shenanigans it’s clear to me they will use any means to hang onto power. Legality doesn’t even enter into it anymore. All they’d need to do is come up with some tortured definition of a political party, some bizarre or strictly defined criteria (“All political parties must start with R and end in N and have ten letters and have been in existence since before 1900”) that applies only to the Republicans, and ram it through both houses. Boom, problem solved. No more Democratic party. You’re either with the Republicans or you’re out in the cold. Then we have one ruling party controlling all branches of govt, which will allow the president to direct all government agencies as he sees fit, and his cronies to profit. Just like Russia. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16247 "2018-02-01T21:34:08Z")
> [@Toxgoddess](#): > > I’m waiting for them to outlaw the Democratic party, period. > > We’re way past demonization of the opposition and lies about their agenda and their accomplishments. Now we’re seeing attacks on FBI members for possibly voting Democratic, or [working with someone who represented or donated money to the Democratic part](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/07/another-mueller-investigators-democratic-ties-raise-new-bias-questions.html)y. The implication is that they cannot possibly be, or sympathize with, Democratic ideas without being some sort of low-level traitor. And the base eats this up. > > Think I am paranoid? That this isn’t legal, or possible? I used to think so too. Not anymore. With voter suppression, gerrymandering, and all the other shenanigans it’s clear to me they will use any means to hang onto power. Legality doesn’t even enter into it anymore. All they’d need to do is come up with some tortured definition of a political party, some bizarre or strictly defined criteria (“All political parties must start with R and end in N and have ten letters and have been in existence since before 1900”) that applies only to the Republicans, and ram it through both houses. Boom, problem solved. No more Democratic party. You’re either with the Republicans or you’re out in the cold. > > Then we have one ruling party controlling all branches of govt, which will allow the president to direct all government agencies as he sees fit, and his cronies to profit. Just like Russia. Trump specifically asked for the ability to have his cabinet members go through their agencies and fire anyone who, in the cabinet member’s opinion, was not doing their job right. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2018, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16248 "2018-02-01T21:46:09Z")
> [@Toxgoddess](#): > > I’m waiting for them to outlaw the Democratic party, period. > > We’re way past demonization of the opposition and lies about their agenda and their accomplishments. Now we’re seeing attacks on FBI members for possibly voting Democratic, or [working with someone who represented or donated money to the Democratic part](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/07/another-mueller-investigators-democratic-ties-raise-new-bias-questions.html)y. The implication is that they cannot possibly be, or sympathize with, Democratic ideas without being some sort of low-level traitor. And the base eats this up. > > Think I am paranoid? That this isn’t legal, or possible? I used to think so too. Not anymore. With voter suppression, gerrymandering, and all the other shenanigans it’s clear to me they will use any means to hang onto power. Legality doesn’t even enter into it anymore. All they’d need to do is come up with some tortured definition of a political party, some bizarre or strictly defined criteria (“All political parties must start with R and end in N and have ten letters and have been in existence since before 1900”) that applies only to the Republicans, and ram it through both houses. Boom, problem solved. No more Democratic party. You’re either with the Republicans or you’re out in the cold. > > Then we have one ruling party controlling all branches of govt, which will allow the president to direct all government agencies as he sees fit, and his cronies to profit. Just like Russia. Brava. Or bravo. Whichever applies. An excellent post, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16249 "2018-02-01T22:06:54Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Trump specifically asked for the ability to have his cabinet members go through their agencies and fire anyone who, in the cabinet member’s opinion, was not doing their job right. To the Victor, the Spoils and to hell with Civil Service. They have had 135 years to make government work smoothly and have failed. :dubious: All Hail Patronage! ---
**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 1, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16250 "2018-02-01T22:30:08Z")
Trump: “I’m the greatest President in the history of our country.” > **[Trump tells GOP retreat he's ready for Mount Rushmore](https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-tells-gop-retreat-hes-ready-mount-rushmore-202916278.html)** > > “We’ve fulfilled far more promises than we’ve promised,” the president said to an annual gathering of Republican members of Congress. “I call it promises plus.” ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16251 "2018-02-01T22:45:27Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Trump: “I’m the greatest President in the history of our country.” > [Trump: Hatch told me I'm the greatest president in history](https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-tells-gop-retreat-hes-ready-mount-rushmore-202916278.html) “We had a year that was unlike, I think, any.” Well, I guess I have to give him that. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16252 "2018-02-01T23:59:57Z")
“Two, four, six, eight, Homer’s crime was very great! ‘Great’ meaning large or immense, we use it in the pejorative sense!” ---
**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:** [February 2, 2018, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16253 "2018-02-02T00:27:22Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > “We had a year that was unlike, I think, any.” Well, I guess I have to give him that. “The enormity of the year was greater than we could have imagined!” ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16254 "2018-02-02T01:30:27Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > “The enormity of the year was greater than we could have imagined!” Mueller: I did not come to steal from you, O Trump the Unassessably Wealthy. I merely wanted to gaze upon your magnificence, to see if you really were as great as FoxNews said. I did not believe them. Trump: [strikes a pose] And do you, NOW? Meuller: Truly, Tweets fall utterly short of your enormity, O Trump the Stupendous… Trump: Do you think flattery will keep your investigation alive? Meuller: No, no… Trump: No, indeed! ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16255 "2018-02-02T02:37:50Z")
Nm ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16256 "2018-02-02T03:14:57Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Nm That’s just what a Turmp lawyer said… ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16257 "2018-02-02T04:36:52Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Yeah, that really pissed me off. Fucking asshole decides that my fear was irrational and then just keeps poking the bear. It was all I could do not to get myself banned. > [@Chimera](#): > > All options have been addressed on my side. I won’t be seeing his posts going forward. This really cracks me up 🙂 “I’ve ignored an anonymous person on the Internet because he made me angry” Nicely done. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16258 "2018-02-02T05:40:54Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > This really cracks me up 🙂 > > “I’ve ignored an anonymous person on the Internet because he made me angry” > > Nicely done. Ah, so bringing up Alex Jones in this thread turns you into a whiny turdmuffin who can’t stand off-topic posts in this thread, but you continuing an off-topic argument from 24 hours ago with this pissy little post somehow passes muster? Asshole _and_ a hypocritical moron. Got it. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16259 "2018-02-02T07:47:25Z")
Lil’ Donny [accidentally admits that McCabe was fired](https://shareblue.com/don-jr-slips-up-admits-fbi-deputy-director-andrew-mccabe-didnt-resign-he-was-fired/), twice, within the span of one tweet. Sad! ---
**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 2, 2018, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16260 "2018-02-02T12:07:29Z")
A succinct comment on [CNN](https://a.msn.com/r/2/BBIA8Bl?m=en-us) this morning that perfectly sums up thump’s character (or lack of) as well as his M.O.: > [@](#): > > [T]he President is actually a very simple person to understand. He views everything that comes across the transom through one lens: " How does this impact me?" > > Sure, we all tend to think of how every situation impacts us. Self-interest is a very powerful motivator, after all. > > But most people who get elected president tend to open their aperture when considering how to react to the million things that cross their desk every day. Among those broader concerns: 1) Is this true? 2) Is this in the best interest of the country? 3) Will this set any sort of dangerous precedent for future White Houses? > > Trump, as he has shown any number of times as president (and as a candidate) is entirely unburdened by those sorts of concerns. To him, all decisions about what to do with a certain piece of information or how to react to a certain situation center around this basic question: Does this make me look good/smart? > … That last sentence says it all. Not “am I smart to do this?” but “does it make me LOOK smart?” Appearance is everything to our Donald. Substance is, well, _immaterial_. Content? Long term consequences? Consistency? Principle? Nothing-nothing-nothing-nothing. It’s how a thing will make him LOOK in the moment, and the devil can take tomorrow. (And he will.) ---
**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 2, 2018, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16261 "2018-02-02T13:16:16Z")
> [@](#): > > President Trump’s most significant, and ominous, achievement in his first year in office is the corruption of the Republic. I don’t mean that he has succeeded in destroying the checks and balances on which American freedom rests. I mean that he has so soiled the discourse that a kind of numbness has set in, an exhaustion of outrage that allows him to proceed with the unthinkable. > > The greatest danger from a man so unerring in his detection of human weakness, so attuned to the thrill of cruelty, so aware of the manipulative powers of entertainment, so unrelenting in his disregard for truth, so contemptuous of ethics and culture, so attracted to blood and soil, was always that he would use the immense powers of his office to drag Americans down with him into the vortex. > > Trump is succeeding in this. He is having his way, for all the investigative vigor of the free press he derides, for all the honor of the judiciary that has pushed back against his attempts to stain with bigotry the law of the land. Slowly but surely, the president is getting people to shrug. > > The appalling becomes excusable, the heinous becomes debatable, the outrageous becomes comical, lies become fibs, spite becomes banal, and hymns to American might become cause for giddy chants of national greatness. > … [Cite](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/02/opinion/trump-corruption-republic.html?partner=rss&emc=rss) ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16262 "2018-02-02T13:39:48Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Trump: “I’m the greatest President in the history of our country.” > [Trump: Hatch told me I'm the greatest president in history](https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-tells-gop-retreat-hes-ready-mount-rushmore-202916278.html) Good God, he makes me sick! I hope that he gets his comeuppance, soon. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16263 "2018-02-02T14:17:41Z")
The pentagon doesn’t trust Trump with military options in North Korea, so they are [trying to slow down delivery of such options](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/01/us/politics/white-house-pentagon-north-korea.html). Because they think he’ll use them. They can’t slow walk this for another three years, I imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16264 "2018-02-02T14:49:00Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > A succinct comment on [CNN](https://a.msn.com/r/2/BBIA8Bl?m=en-us) this morning that perfectly sums up thump’s character (or lack of) as well as his M.O.: That last sentence says it all. Not “am I smart to do this?” but “does it make me LOOK smart?” Appearance is everything to our Donald. Substance is, well, _immaterial_. Content? Long term consequences? Consistency? Principle? Nothing-nothing-nothing-nothing. It’s how a thing will make him LOOK in the moment, and the devil can take tomorrow. (And he will.) I don’t understand how anyone failed to understand all this from the very beginning, from before the election. I _still_ hear pundits occasionally talk about an event as “the time Trump will finally become presidential.” It should have been obvious from the beginning that “presidential” is not even sort of in the cards for this guy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=812) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=814)