# 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:** 815
**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 2, 2018, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16285 "2018-02-02T21:19:17Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > \*\*We’re getting a steady drumbeat of good economic news, dammit. \*\* Like the huge Dow Jones drop today? ---
**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 2, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16286 "2018-02-02T21:21:09Z")
Donnie Jr. admits that Andrew McCabe was fired: “It was good enough to fire McCabe, no one argues its factually inaccurate, but now days later they want to protect the names of those involved in a scandal that was big enough to fire a senior official a month before retirement? They don’t deserve a pass on that!” > ---
**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 2, 2018, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16287 "2018-02-02T21:24:00Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Like the huge Dow Jones drop today? …and…POP! ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16288 "2018-02-02T21:43:22Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > that was an excellent interview and everyone should listen I heard it too, and feel a lot of sympathy that someone like Mueller, who apparently spent a lifetime building a reputation as someone competent, trustworthy, impartial, and worthy of respect, ends up the target of smears, conspiracy theories and lies from a shitbag criminal clown the likes of Trump— by what for all practical purposes is a state-run propaganda campaign, and by millions of ignorant, delusional morons and trolls— simply for doing his job. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16289 "2018-02-02T21:53:31Z")
Eh, just a small (@2.5%) drop. Wait until next week and see what happens. Of course, if it falls even further, I expect Trump, Hannity and Alex Jones to be ranting about how it is all economic sabotage by Liberals and Obama’s Deep State. ---
**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 2, 2018, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16290 "2018-02-02T21:55:14Z")
I saw headlines blaming the Dow drop on inflation worries. Could be that. Or it could be worries of a looming Constitutional crisis and government upheaval. Take your pick. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16291 "2018-02-02T21:56:23Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Like the huge Dow Jones drop today? “The Dow Jones industrial average plunged 2.5 percent — closing down 666 points…” Well isn’t that special. > **[Dow drops 666 points and posts its worst week since 2016](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/2018/02/02/cc0949cc-084f-11e8-94e8-e8b8600ade23_story.html?utm_term=.4ae97a9b1238)** > > In the worst day for stocks since President Trump took office, the markets tumbled on fears over rising interest rates and inflation ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16292 "2018-02-02T22:46:19Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > He’s such an idiot. Most of the top people are both institutions are Republicans appointed by Trump. I am starting to think he may NOT be an idiot. That may be an act. I think it may be even worse. I am starting to think he knows exactly what he is doing. That is WORSE. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16293 "2018-02-02T22:48:53Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > And Comey re-opened the so called email scandal investigation, not helping Hillary one bit. > > But then his base will believe anything he says. There’s a very good chance that with no Comey, Clinton might have won. He blabbered about her nonexistent phony “scandal” while not saying one word about Trump’s very real collusion and conspiring with the Russians. Comey help to hand over the White House to Putin and his lackey Trump. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16294 "2018-02-02T22:51:31Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > It should lead one to wonder why the House and Senate Repubs are so adamantly defending Trump. If the general public ever reaches some sort of eureka moment on this, it could destroy the party and I’d assume at least a majority of them are intelligent enough to understand the potential dangers. I’m increasingly getting the impression that they’re getting their messaging from someone, somewhere and that it’s probably their mega donors, particularly Cambridge Analytica. The Mercers, the Kochs, and others are either directly or indirectly through alt-media and PACS, influencing the direction that the mainstream GOP take on such issues. They’re the ones who fear losing and, from their point, have the most to lose. The donor class is on the verge of creating a rigged democracy and economy. I mean it already kinda is, but at least the mainstream has the institutions and resources to wage a counter-struggle. If the billionaire class, however, can hang on for another 4-6 years, they could destroy whatever’s left of organized labor in this country and completely strip the country of the kinds of labor laws and social programs we’ve taken for granted for a better part of the last 100 years. Mueller may not necessarily be investigating the donor class, but he’s posing a direct threat to its ability to control and manipulate our society. Ockam’s razor … Dark money and Russian money are everywhere, and they’re ALL fucking dirty. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16295 "2018-02-02T23:23:51Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Trump has [no confidence in Rosenstein](http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/372023-trump-signals-that-he-has-no-confidence-in-deputy-ag-rosenstein). If one were going to try to make a move, Super Bowl weekend might be a good time to do it. I hope you’re not talking about a weaponized blimp. ---
**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 2, 2018, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16296 "2018-02-02T23:33:23Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I hope you’re not talking about a weaponized blimp. As Trump would say, looking back, “It’s been a good year!” _flees_ ---
**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:** [February 3, 2018, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16297 "2018-02-03T00:12:58Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I hope you’re not talking about a weaponized blimp. > [@running\_coach](#): > > As Trump would say, looking back, “It’s been a good year!” > _flees_ Isn’t 3/4 Zep supposed to be playing half-time? ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16298 "2018-02-03T00:33:38Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > We’re getting a steady drumbeat of good economic news, dammit. > Every day another corporation announces how they’re plowing their tax windfall back into some employee benefit or infrastructure investment. > The SOTU had enough touchy-feely quotable moments that some viewers thought it was a success. > And Trump’s approval rating is climbing. I tried to warn you guys that all the scaremongering about the tax cut was playing with fire. From [today’s NY Times:](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/02/upshot/polls-midterm-election-republicans-democrats.html) > [@](#): > > In December, polls showed the plan was deeply unpopular. This was when the bill was grinding its way to passage in Congress. Its opponents were relentlessly campaigning against it, while the bill’s supporters were busy negotiating — and perpetually dissatisfied with its latest form — and didn’t defend it in a meaningful way. Most voters thought they would see a tax hike, even though they were probably going to get a tax cut. > > Today, the politics of the issue are very different. The attacks on the bill have relented now that it has passed. A steady stream of good economic news, including announcements of bonuses and raises that some corporations are attributing to the tax cut, have amounted to a substantial if belated public relations campaign for the bill. It is also possible that voters have realized they’ve gotten a tax cut. Yes, in December it was deeply unpopular–in large part because Democrats wasted a lot of political capital fanning the flames against it with dire warnings that were always doomed to look silly in short order. Now it’s passed, and the sky hasn’t fallen as predicted. Furthermore, this change in sentiment has occurred despite the fact that most people still believe it will not lower their taxes (a plurality think it will raise them). So what’s going to happen when people start actually getting the extra money in their paychecks? What a stupid, stupid campaign that was in such a target-rich environment. But now we risk looking like the party who cried wolf, and getting tuned out, compounding the mistake. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16299 "2018-02-03T00:49:27Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I hope you’re not talking about a weaponized blimp. I hope he _is_ talking about a weaponized blimp. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16300 "2018-02-03T00:51:59Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I tried to warn you guys that all the scaremongering about the tax cut was playing with fire. How incredibly short sighted and stupid of you. The consequences of anything like this are long term. The gains, short term. Obviously you’re not someone to listen to on the subject of economics. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16301 "2018-02-03T00:53:33Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Yes, in December it was deeply unpopular–in large part because Democrats wasted a lot of political capital fanning the flames against it with dire warnings that were always doomed to look silly in short order. Now it’s passed, and the sky hasn’t fallen as predicted. Furthermore, this change in sentiment has occurred despite the fact that most people still believe it will not lower their taxes (a plurality think it will raise them). So what’s going to happen when people start actually getting the extra money in their paychecks? What a stupid, stupid campaign that was in such a target-rich environment. But now we risk looking like the party who cried wolf, and getting tuned out, compounding the mistake. :smack: I’m getting a small amount more in my paychecks - chicken feed. And this increase pisses me off, because I know that the shitbag republicans robbed the national debt to get it - or more specifically, robbed the national debt to give me chickenfeed for a couple of years and to give the 1% gold bars into perpetuity. People who are not stupid recognized exactly the scam that was pulled here. ---
**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 3, 2018, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16302 "2018-02-03T01:00:18Z")
“People who are not stupid” are not in control of the country. It appears that truckloads of stupid are all you need to overwhelm buckets of intelligent. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16303 "2018-02-03T01:05:52Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > “People who are not stupid” are not in control of the country. It appears that truckloads of stupid are all you need to overwhelm buckets of intelligent. You know them small groups of thoughtful, committed citizens that can change the world? It turns out their kryptonite is larger groups of thoughtless, impulsive citizens. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/16304 "2018-02-03T01:22:33Z")
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