# 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:** 921
**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 24, 2018, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18405 "2018-03-24T01:09:37Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Perhaps if you would redirect your rage at the motherfucker in that family. I didn’t see **Chimera** ’s post as rage. I saw it as a plaintive wake-up call to the one person in the family whose fate we might care about a little. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2018, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18406 "2018-03-24T01:34:02Z")
Yeah, sure, the post I responded to sounded like it had a whole lotta “care”. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2018, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18407 "2018-03-24T01:34:41Z")
Why on earth would anyone care about Melania or her fate? She’s a grown up. She’s made her choices. She chooses him. To hell with her. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2018, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18408 "2018-03-24T01:36:10Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I didn’t see **Chimera** ’s post as rage. I saw it as a plaintive wake-up call to the one person in the family whose fate we might care about a little. What about Barron? ---
**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:** [March 24, 2018, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18409 "2018-03-24T02:03:25Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > What about Barron? Genetically the child of a soulless gold-digger and the Biggest Asshole in History. I don’t hold out a lot of hope that he’ll be the next Albert Schweitzer. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2018, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18410 "2018-03-24T03:02:52Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > It’s part of the whole “Starve the Beast” idea they’ve been pushing for decades now. They have the idea that if they can get the government in enough debt and crash the economy hard enough, the government will have _no choice_ but to cut the evil social programs they hate so much. They’ll be able to strip the government down into the pure instrument of malice and domination they want it to be. > > The fact that it’ll cause immense suffering in the process to tens of millions of people is just a bonus for people like the Republicans. This. Starve the Beast, break The System, and then yammer that the system is rotten. It’s not an accident or coincidence that they pass this humongous spending bill, right on the heels of a ginormous tax give-away for the uber rich. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2018, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18411 "2018-03-24T03:05:33Z")
Georgetown University academic administrator and former Director of the Foreign Service Institute and American diplomat Nancy McEldowney put it well on PBS tonight that it’s like Trump is trying to start a war cabinet with Pompeo and Bolton. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2018, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18412 "2018-03-24T03:09:37Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > and today? > > When the 1st quarter 401k statements go out in a week, lots of people are going to be surprised. > > For retirees in a conservative 50:50 allocation and using the recommended withdrawal rate as income - a typical portfolio has lost **two years** of income since the market peaked in late January. > > Younger workers with a more aggressive portfolio will be hit harder. As soon as Trump was elected, I moved all my holdings out of the C Fund (stocks) and into the G Fund (Govt securities). But, I am still buying new stocks (at today’s deflated prices) into the C Fund. So, my holdings were saved, I didn’t lose anything, and theoretically I am now buying at the depressed Trumpified price. When things get normal again, I will transfer that into the G Fund too. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2018, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18413 "2018-03-24T03:11:11Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > What about Barron? He’s one of them. Fuck him. Yeah, he’s just a kid and I feel bad saying that. But…he’s one of them. Maybe I’ve watched too much “Game Of Thrones”. ---
**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 24, 2018, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18414 "2018-03-24T03:14:58Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Yeah, sure, the post I responded to sounded like it had a whole lotta “care”. Give me a break. I didn’t say “a whole lotta care,” and I specifically did say “might care about a little.” I don’t wish her any harm. Don’t see the point. I don’t care whether she knew what she was getting into or not, although I suspect she couldn’t have know the extent of it. \ ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2018, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18415 "2018-03-24T03:26:50Z")
Which one? ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2018, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18416 "2018-03-24T03:31:54Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Give me a break. I didn’t say “a whole lotta care,” and I specifically did say “might care about a little.” I don’t wish her any harm. Don’t see the point. I don’t care whether she knew what she was getting into or not, although I suspect she couldn’t have know the extent of it. \ She could leave, and she could take the kid. She could probably even take a contingent of Secret Service and FBI with her too. And get a divorce lawyer. I’m sure there are a few sharks out there that are more than equal to Drumpf’s goons. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2018, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18417 "2018-03-24T03:32:19Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Give me a break. I didn’t say “a whole lotta care,” and I specifically did say “might care about a little.” I don’t wish her any harm. Don’t see the point. I don’t care whether she knew what she was getting into or not, although I suspect she couldn’t have know the extent of it. \ Do you know that I wasn’t even talking to you in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2018, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18418 "2018-03-24T04:17:38Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > and today? > > When the 1st quarter 401k statements go out in a week, lots of people are going to be surprised. > > For retirees in a conservative 50:50 allocation and using the recommended withdrawal rate as income - a typical portfolio has lost **two years** of income since the market peaked in late January. > > Younger workers with a more aggressive portfolio will be hit harder. Lovely. Had to look. At 57 years old, I’m not a younger worker. Today on a moderately aggressive $450,000 portfolio. I lost 19,000. My Wife lost 20,000. Today. I’ve never seen that kind of move in one day. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2018, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18419 "2018-03-24T04:26:45Z")
But. As much as I detest trump, looking at the DJIA, it’s not that surprising. Just hope it does not go into a freefall. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2018, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18420 "2018-03-24T06:20:26Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > nteresting. Trump mentions tariffs and the stock market takes a shit. Wonder how many trump family members figured out that knowing when the POTardUS is about to make statements that will tank the market and act accordingly. > > > > Then buy before other statements of his boost the same market. Presidential insider trading courtesy of a moron with the power to manipulate the market. > > > > What a great short story that would make. Fictional, of course. > > Bingo. I lost ~ 6g today. Wouldn’t surprise me a bit if this was deliberate to make him or his buddies money. Almost in the same boat with you there. I feel that it’s time to cash out until things look more promising, but what would be the point? It looks like he’s well on the way to smashing the dollar too. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2018, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18421 "2018-03-24T09:39:37Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > and today? > > When the 1st quarter 401k statements go out in a week, lots of people are going to be surprised. > > For retirees in a conservative 50:50 allocation and using the recommended withdrawal rate as income - a typical portfolio has lost **two years** of income since the market peaked in late January. > > Younger workers with a more aggressive portfolio will be hit harder. Early last year I had to sell my stocks portfolio as I needed the money in that particular piggybank for something else. The chunk that had been behaving best was the one in the US. Right now that same fund is down more than any of the other ones I had. I’ve long known the stocks market to be pretty much a pyramid scheme, but damn some of those numbers are scary. > [@River\_Hippie](#): > > He’s one of them. Fuck him. Yeah, he’s just a kid and I feel bad saying that. But…he’s one of them. Maybe I’ve watched too much “Game Of Thrones”. Maybe you have. In any case, it’s not the kid’s fault he’s got his father’s genes and he still might turn out to be a decent human being. Tiffany has DT’s genes too and she seems a perfectly nice woman. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2018, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18422 "2018-03-24T10:07:33Z")
For the record, I sold everything just before they passed the tax cut. It was going to be all downhill from there either way and while there was the potential of some lingering shine on things if the measure passed, it seemed like holding out for that wasn’t worth the risk if the tax bill hadn’t made it. I would expect the economy to mostly be going downhill until at least shortly before the midterm vote and potentially beyond. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2018, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18423 "2018-03-24T12:06:45Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Lovely. Had to look. At 57 years old, I’m not a younger worker. Today on a moderately aggressive $450,000 portfolio. I lost 19,000. My Wife lost 20,000. > > Today. I’ve never seen that kind of move in one day. Actually, the selloff in September of 2008 and through the last quarter of that year was considerably worse. What’s uniquely bad about this free fall is that whereas the Great Recession was caused by multiple factors within the market and a lack of market oversight, this economic decline has been caused almost entirely, 100%, by the incompetence of the current president. The banks are a strong as ever. Hiring is as strong as it has been in decades. We even finally have fairly robust wage growth. Unfortunately, we also have a fake billionaire who is either crazy or just plain dumb enough to believe he actually understands economics. This is not going to get better. This is only going to get worse, and every one of us is going to feel it. And unfortunately, we will all have to feel it hard for any substantive change to occur. Get ready, everyone. Enjoy the ride. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2018, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18424 "2018-03-24T12:06:52Z")
I too took my biggest hit ever. During the crash of 2009 I didn’t have as much money invested. I’m not planning on cashing out because like SoP said cash doesn’t seem very useful either. I might move more money into international funds in case the chickens come home to roost more heavily in America with its added debt. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=920) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=922)