# 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:** 857
**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 25, 2018, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17125 "2018-02-25T13:09:36Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > [https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/23/politics/ivanka-trump-briefs-south-korea-sanctions/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/23/politics/ivanka-trump-briefs-south-korea-sanctions/index.html) > > I would be curious to know more about the “interim security clearance” Ivanka and her vampire weasel husband have. Is that something that any other past White House so-called officials have ever had, or is that a made-up term? Would anyone else working for the government be allowed access to classified info without being fully vetted? Is it just “custom” and not actually the law to require classified security clearance for White House officials? It’s okay when Republicans do it. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17126 "2018-02-25T13:26:47Z")
Shenanigans about security clearances aside, _REALLY, **Rick Kitchen**? Plans for WAR?_ :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17127 "2018-02-25T15:05:14Z")
Can’t be bothered with the extra click(s) needed to access N.Y. Times? [Thomas Friedman appears on MSNBC to discuss some of the differences between Donald Trump and a real President.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQN5GK3zbxA) ---
**Author:** ![ganthet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@ganthet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ganthet)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17128 "2018-02-25T17:02:08Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > I would be curious to know more about the “interim security clearance” Ivanka and her vampire weasel husband have. Is that something that any other past White House so-called officials have ever had, or is that a made-up term? Would anyone else working for the government be allowed access to classified info without being fully vetted? Is it just “custom” and not actually the law to require classified security clearance for White House officials? It’s not a made-up term. [Interim clearances](https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/security-clearance-jobs/interim-security-clearances.html) are given somewhat routinely in the military and national intelligence/security agencies for people just starting in a position needing this clearance without having one before or having a prior lapsed clearance. The process and investigation for just a Secret level clearance can take several months even though it is a relatively low security level because of the backlog. The process and investigation for a Top Secret/SCI level clearance is much more in-depth because, among other things like the backlog, it involves an in-person interview and multiple references for the person seeking the clearance who are contacted and interviewed also. Interim clearances are given when it is not anticipated that there will be any significant issues that will arise with the full investigation and a basic background check has been completed, so the person will not be waiting in limbo (and not able to work) for the better part of a year or more while the investigation is being completed. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17129 "2018-02-25T17:03:15Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > He has simply GOT to have a hot war, if he’s to escape being held accountable for all the crimes Mueller is currently documenting. > > If the Koreans won’t cooperate, then maybe Middle Easterners will. Our militarized teachers are locked and loaded ready for combat anywhere. When Trumpo’s poll numbers hit a new low of 30%, he will deploy the first battalion of Social Studies commandos into Pyongyang. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2018, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17130 "2018-02-25T17:13:10Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Shenanigans about security clearances aside, _REALLY, **Rick Kitchen**? Plans for WAR?_ :dubious: [Sure](https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/02/23/trump-warns-phase-two-against-north-korea-if-sanctions-dont-work/23369823/) sound like it. “Very unfortunate for the world.” ---
**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 25, 2018, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17131 "2018-02-25T17:25:00Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > … “Very unfortunate for the world.” It is unlikely, but perhaps Trump experienced a brief flash of self awareness and spoke honestly for the first time in his life. ---
**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 25, 2018, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17132 "2018-02-25T17:53:43Z")
What he literally said was _Phase Two may be a very rough thing. Maybe very, very unfortunate for the world._ Two “very”s. For _the **fucking world** _. Um. If you piss off the rest of the world, the rest of the world could fuck you up real good. Oh, and sorry about the collateral. ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17133 "2018-02-25T19:43:41Z")
> [@ganthet](#): > > It’s not a made-up term. [Interim clearances](https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/security-clearance-jobs/interim-security-clearances.html) are given somewhat routinely in the military and national intelligence/security agencies for people just starting in a position needing this clearance without having one before or having a prior lapsed clearance. The process and investigation for just a Secret level clearance can take several months even though it is a relatively low security level because of the backlog. The process and investigation for a Top Secret/SCI level clearance is much more in-depth because, among other things like the backlog, it involves an in-person interview and multiple references for the person seeking the clearance who are contacted and interviewed also. Interim clearances are given when it is not anticipated that there will be any significant issues that will arise with the full investigation and a basic background check has been completed, so the person will not be waiting in limbo (and not able to work) for the better part of a year or more while the investigation is being completed. Thanks for this. Never know with this administration. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17134 "2018-02-25T20:43:05Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > He has simply GOT to have a hot war, if he’s to escape being held accountable for all the crimes Mueller is currently documenting. > > If the Koreans won’t cooperate, then maybe Middle Easterners will. We could have a prediction for the sun to go super nova, and I would just hope that Mueller would hurry up. A hot war won’t distract me from this fuckers crimes and complete lack of decency or morals or complete lack of a shred of common sense. He is a moron that needs to be removed from the WH. If, as I suspect, he is a criminal, he needs to be put behind bars. If he was a democrat, the republican congress would have removed him months ago. ---
**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 25, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17135 "2018-02-25T20:46:04Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Shenanigans about security clearances aside, _REALLY, **Rick Kitchen**? Plans for WAR?_ :dubious: Trump’s the one tweeting about war. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17136 "2018-02-25T23:02:12Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > We could have a prediction for the sun to go super nova, and I would just hope that Mueller would hurry up. > A hot war won’t distract me from this fuckers crimes and complete lack of decency or morals or complete lack of a shred of common sense. … A hot war will distract some. But for the millions of us who are like you in being distraction-proof, there will be War-Time Powers and Suspension of Civil Liberties available to keep us silent. And/or locked up. And/or hanged as Traitors to the Glorious Leader. All authoritarians long for war. It is _so_ useful for the quashing of all dissent. > [@AnalogSignal](#): > > Our militarized teachers are locked and loaded ready for combat anywhere. When Trumpo’s poll numbers hit a new low of 30%, he will deploy the first battalion of Social Studies commandos into Pyongyang. And the beauty part is, they’ll do it for just a “little bit of a bonus.” Perhaps as little as Paul Ryan’s famous $1.50 per week. “little bit of a bonus”: [https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/22/politics/donald-trump-gun-reforms-school-shooting/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/22/politics/donald-trump-gun-reforms-school-shooting/index.html) Paul Ryan munificence: [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tax-ryan/house-speaker-ryan-deletes-tweet-praising-1-50-pay-increase-idUSKBN1FO00T](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tax-ryan/house-speaker-ryan-deletes-tweet-praising-1-50-pay-increase-idUSKBN1FO00T) ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17137 "2018-02-25T23:09:43Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > [https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/23/politics/ivanka-trump-briefs-south-korea-sanctions/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/23/politics/ivanka-trump-briefs-south-korea-sanctions/index.html) > > > [@](#): > > > > Asked if she had the appropriate security clearance, Mnuchin said, “She has the appropriate access to brief the President.” Clearly the quote is incomplete. It omitted Mnuchin’s addendum “Security schmecurity, who cares?” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17138 "2018-02-25T23:18:27Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Shenanigans about security clearances aside, _REALLY, **Rick Kitchen**? Plans for WAR?_ :dubious: > [@Paintcharge](#): > > [Sure](https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/02/23/trump-warns-phase-two-against-north-korea-if-sanctions-dont-work/23369823/) sound like it. “Very unfortunate for the world.” > [@eschereal](#): > > What he literally said was > _Phase Two may be a very rough thing. Maybe very, very unfortunate for the world._ > > Two “very”s. For _the **fucking world** _. Um. If you piss off the rest of the world, the rest of the world could fuck you up real good. Oh, and sorry about the collateral. Yeah, I’m aware of all that, and I’m also concerned about the implications of his rhetoric, but I don’t agree that justifies extrapolating from “to brief him on economic sanctions against North Korea” to “briefed the President of South Korea on Trumpy’s plans for war with North Korea.” ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17139 "2018-02-26T02:36:31Z")
True, but remember that our premiere diplomatic envoy Ivanka Trump was dispatched to brief the President of South Korea. She might get mixed up. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17140 "2018-02-26T05:38:10Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > Our militarized teachers are locked and loaded ready for combat anywhere. When Trumpo’s poll numbers hit a new low of 30%, he will deploy the first battalion of Social Studies commandos into Pyongyang. I can picture a future Veteran’s Day parade: “Which service were you with, sir?” “Education. Math Battalion.” ---
**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 26, 2018, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17141 "2018-02-26T06:41:40Z")
Not sure if it’s a good thing, soon, to get a gold star. ---
**Author:** ![Batano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@Batano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batano)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17142 "2018-02-26T07:17:12Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I can picture a future Veteran’s Day parade: > > “Which service were you with, sir?” > “Education. Math Battalion.” I’m stealing this ---
**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:** [February 26, 2018, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17143 "2018-02-26T13:34:15Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I can picture a future Veteran’s Day parade: > > “Which service were you with, sir?” > “Education. Math Battalion.” Math Division. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17144 "2018-02-26T13:40:12Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I can picture a future Veteran’s Day parade: > > “Which service were you with, sir?” > “Education. Math Battalion.” Army Corps of Engineering Professors. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=856) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=858)