# 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:** 886
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17705 "2018-03-10T23:16:17Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > “Remember, an ethics opinion matters only if the ethics officer received all of the information.” Just what does that mean, exactly? It sure sounds like somebody is saying it is favourable to withhold information to get a good outcome. WTF. But no surprise. It’s not even about good outcomes anymore. These fucks are so stupid, and so corrupt they don’t have a casual relationship with ethics. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17706 "2018-03-10T23:24:38Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > WTF. But no surprise. > > It’s not even about good outcomes anymore. These fucks are so stupid, and so corrupt they don’t have a casual relationship with ethics. You’ve heard of parallel universes. Well, Trump and his cronies live in a skew universe. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17707 "2018-03-10T23:26:37Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > You’ve heard of parallel universes. Well, Trump and his cronies live in a skew universe. Did nothing wrong unless they are caught. I really think that’s the ‘mind’ set of this group. ---
**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:** [March 10, 2018, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17708 "2018-03-10T23:27:47Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Did nothing wrong unless they are caught. I really think that’s the ‘mind’ set of this group. And even then the REAL fault is on whoever caught them, because they just couldn’t leave well enough alone. ---
**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:** [March 10, 2018, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17709 "2018-03-10T23:40:37Z")
Just like those meddling kids in Parkland! ---
**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:** [March 11, 2018, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17710 "2018-03-11T00:40:44Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > How do you become a person like SHS. What happens to you in your life that allows you to bold face lie like that? What happened in her childhood that created her? > > Hundreds of Millions of people are either laughing at her lies or perhaps feel sorry for her twisted take on reality. How the hell does one deal with that? > [@Procrustus](#): > > I was really hoping when she said Trump has already fully addressed the porn star thing someone would ask her if that’s a “white lie” or a regular lie. I’d like to see someone ask her that same question every time she utters a declarative sentence from behind that podium. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17711 "2018-03-11T00:47:44Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > You’ve heard of parallel universes. Well, Trump and his cronies live in a skew universe. It was far easier for you as civilised men to behave like barbarians, than it was for them as barbarians to behave like civilised men. ---
**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:** [March 11, 2018, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17712 "2018-03-11T00:57:14Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > “Remember, an ethics opinion matters only if the ethics officer received all of the information.” Just what does that mean, exactly? It sure sounds like somebody is saying it is favourable to withhold information to get a good outcome. I’m inclined to give Kelly a little more benefit of the doubt on that. A perfectly plausible and honorable reading would be that “we ran this by our ethics officer for an opinion and got the OK” is a lazy, inadequate, and unacceptable response to being called out on an event with questionable optics unless you can prove that the ethics office was given complete information on which to base an opinion. ---
**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:** [March 11, 2018, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17713 "2018-03-11T03:25:24Z")
OK, probably not even the tenth silliest lie the administration has told this week, but this one made me snicker: > [@Business Insider](#): > > The GOP on Friday posted a set of photos to its official Instagram account celebrating some of the women President Donald Trump has appointed to “senior-level government and campaign positions” as part of a tribute to Women’s History Month. > > “Contrary to mainstream belief, @realdonaldtrump has appointed more women to senior-level government and campaign positions than previous administrations,” the caption read. “He’s empowering ALL Americans with his winning agenda. Take a look at some of these leading ladies. #WomensHistoryMonth” > > On that list were First Lady Melania Trump and Second Lady Karen Pence, neither of whom hold appointed positions. > **[Trump is getting roasted for putting Melania, Ivanka, and Karen Pence on a...](https://www.businessinsider.com/gop-instagram-trump-appointed-melania-karen-pence-2018-3)** > > Neither the first lady nor the second lady hold positions that are filled by political appointees. According to the article, the Trump administration has the lowest number of women serving in top positions since GW Bush’s first term (22% of cabinet-level positions). ---
**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:** [March 11, 2018, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17714 "2018-03-11T03:53:45Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > OK, probably not even the tenth silliest lie the administration has told this week, but this one made me snicker: > > [GOP Instagram Says Trump Appointed Melania Trump, Karen Pence - Business Insider](http://www.businessinsider.com/gop-instagram-trump-appointed-melania-karen-pence-2018-3) > > According to the article, the Trump administration has the lowest number of women serving in top positions since GW Bush’s first term (22% of cabinet-level positions). He ought to just borrow one of those “binders full of women” that Romney has. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17715 "2018-03-11T13:25:51Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > OK, probably not even the tenth silliest lie the administration has told this week, but this one made me snicker: > > [GOP Instagram Says Trump Appointed Melania Trump, Karen Pence - Business Insider](http://www.businessinsider.com/gop-instagram-trump-appointed-melania-karen-pence-2018-3) > > According to the article, the Trump administration has the lowest number of women serving in top positions since GW Bush’s first term (22% of cabinet-level positions). Still more than Lincoln’s, though, which is a previous administration; they didn’t specify which previous administrations. Oh, and you may not know this, but Lincoln was a republican. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17716 "2018-03-11T15:17:28Z")
Democratic pundit [David Axelrod thinks](https://twitter.com/davidaxelrod) that the steel and aluminum tariffs were put in place solely to swing the election for the House seat in Pennsylvania. That the national economy is being held hostage for such a tiny partisan advantage is stunning in its cynicism, but I have no problem believing it. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17717 "2018-03-11T15:18:58Z")
Even if they count Melania and Karen, the Obama administration had Michelle and Jill - although if Jill was still a practicing MD, counting her might be cheating. And both of Lincoln’s VPs had wives, so he gets credit for either two or three women appointees. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17718 "2018-03-11T15:34:19Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > OK, probably not even the tenth silliest lie the administration has told this week, but this one made me snicker: > > [GOP Instagram Says Trump Appointed Melania Trump, Karen Pence - Business Insider](http://www.businessinsider.com/gop-instagram-trump-appointed-melania-karen-pence-2018-3) > > According to the article, the Trump administration has the lowest number of women serving in top positions since GW Bush’s first term (22% of cabinet-level positions). They just flat out lie. Constantly. And we’ve all gotten used to it. If anyone dares to be offended and call them on it, forty percent of the population will scream “FAKE NEWS.” How did we get to rock bottom? ---
**Author:** ![tripthicket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripthicket/32/297_2.png) [@tripthicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tripthicket)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17719 "2018-03-11T15:41:33Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > How did we get to rock bottom? “_Did?_” My pessimism amends your question to “How much longer 'til we hit rock bottom?”, with a side of "Is there actually a bottom, rock or otherwise?’ ☹ ---
**Author:** ![SaneBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SaneBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaneBill)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17720 "2018-03-11T16:01:38Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Democratic pundit [David Axelrod thinks](https://twitter.com/davidaxelrod) that the steel and aluminum tariffs were put in place solely to swing the election for the House seat in Pennsylvania. No, open your eyes! It’s aimed against tinfoil hat industry. WAKE UP SHEEPLE ! ---
**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:** [March 11, 2018, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17721 "2018-03-11T16:20:38Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > They just flat out lie. Constantly. And we’ve all gotten used to it. If anyone dares to be offended and call them on it, forty percent of the population will scream “FAKE NEWS.” > > How did we get to rock bottom? You took a right turn at Albuquerque. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17722 "2018-03-11T18:03:21Z")
> [@tripthicket](#): > > > [@BlankSlate](#): > > > > How did we get to rock bottom? > > “_Did?_” > > My pessimism amends your question to “How much longer 'til we hit rock bottom?”, with a side of "Is there actually a bottom, rock or otherwise?’ > > ☹ I’m tempted to say, “It’s bottom all the way down,” but given the subject matter it probably wouldn’t be a good idea since brain bleach may not be available on Sunday. If I dood it, I get a whippin’ … I dood it! — Red Skelton, via Bugs Bunny ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17723 "2018-03-11T18:45:26Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Even if they count Melania and Karen, the Obama administration had Michelle and Jill - although if Jill was still a practicing MD, counting her might be cheating. Jill Biden’s doctorate is in educational leadership, not medicine (but yes, she did teach at Northern Virginia Community College while Biden was VP, and still does as of this semester). ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/17724 "2018-03-11T19:54:44Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > OK, probably not even the tenth silliest lie the administration has told this week, but this one made me snicker: > > [GOP Instagram Says Trump Appointed Melania Trump, Karen Pence - Business Insider](http://www.businessinsider.com/gop-instagram-trump-appointed-melania-karen-pence-2018-3) > > According to the article, the Trump administration has the lowest number of women serving in top positions since GW Bush’s first term (22% of cabinet-level positions). There is a difference between the number appointed and the number serving. Given the revolving door that is the administration (and was the campaign) and the difficulty they seem to have with filing enough paperwork to get through confirmation, it is _vaguely_ plausible to me that in terms of numbers (not percentages, numbers) that he may have appointed/hired more women to those positions. The GOP’s list is ridiculous. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=885) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=887)