# 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:** 926
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18505 "2018-03-27T04:09:01Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > [Stormy Daniels 60 Minutes interview gets better ratings than Donald Trump’s 60 Minutes interview in 2016.](http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/26/media/anderson-cooper-stormy-daniels-60-minutes-ratings/index.html) You could even say he got… (•_•) ( •_•)\>⌐■-■ (⌐■\_■) …spanked in the ratings. ---
**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 27, 2018, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18506 "2018-03-27T10:51:08Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Thump has [gotten on board](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-administration-expels-60-russian-officers-shuts-seattle-consulate-in-response-to-attack-on-former-spy-in-britain/2018/03/26/8ada3d8e-30f0-11e8-8bdd-cdb33a5eef83_story.html?utm_term=.e89d82cd0c48) with being outraged at the Russians for poisoning those two people in England. We’ve even expelled a boatload Russian diplomats and shut down a Consulate in Seattle. Isn’t he afraid of pissing \ off Putin? I don’t understand–I thought Vlad was his BFF and Best Bud. Is the bromance over? My guess is that throwing out a handful of diplomats isn’t really much of a penalty. They’re probably cherry picking the diplomats from various consular offices throughout the country. It’s not like he’s severing diplomatic ties. Russia will respond in kind. People who visit the offices will hardly notice that the guy who normally notarizes official documents for expatriates on Tuesday and Thursday isn’t there. Symbolically, it’s a big deal, particularly given the fact that many of the UK’s usual allies are all joining in ganging up on Putin. It’s embarrassing for Russia, but the show will go on. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18507 "2018-03-27T11:35:01Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > More Trump brilliance. The 2020 census which will include a new citizenship question. No doubt if you check the wrong box, ICE agents will show up at your door to deport you. I think everyone should throw the census in the garbage as a protest. > > [https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/2020-census-will-ask-citizenship-status](https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/2020-census-will-ask-citizenship-status) > The Commerce Department has agreed to a request from the Justice Department to include a citizenship status question on the 2020 Census. The Constitution authorizes a head count. Anything else, fill out whatever alternative facts are most convenient. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18508 "2018-03-27T11:39:07Z")
They didn’t expel actual diplomats, they expelled fake diplomats. They were spies, is what I’m saying. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18509 "2018-03-27T12:08:55Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > More Trump brilliance. The 2020 census which will include a new citizenship question. No doubt if you check the wrong box, ICE agents will show up at your door to deport you. **I think everyone should throw the census in the garbage as a protest.** (Emphasis added) This is exactly part of the plan: encourage Democrat-leaning people to discard census forms, and thereby be under-counted and under-represented. I also believe there will be a concerted effort on social media to target people in Democrat districts and who lean Democrat to distrust the census and ignore it. ---
**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:** [March 27, 2018, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18510 "2018-03-27T13:58:14Z")
Maybe he’s counting on 60 US diplomats getting kicked out of Russia. That helps with defunding State. ---
**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 27, 2018, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18511 "2018-03-27T14:10:28Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > (Emphasis added) > > This is exactly part of the plan: encourage Democrat-leaning people to discard census forms, and thereby be under-counted and under-represented. > > I also believe there will be a concerted effort on social media to target people in Democrat districts and who lean Democrat to distrust the census and ignore it. Perhaps we should all subvert the question by claiming not to be citizens. It would be pretty funny to see the Orange Douche flipping out about the 50 million illegal voters. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18512 "2018-03-27T14:50:49Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > They didn’t expel actual diplomats, they expelled fake diplomats. They were spies, is what I’m saying. After writing the above, I just happened upon [this article from today](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-26/from-east-to-west-long-history-of-spies-posing-as-diplomats), in case anyone still had doubts. ---
**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 27, 2018, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18513 "2018-03-27T16:41:13Z")
_White House Probes Kushner Business Loans After Ethics Questions_ > **[White House Probes Kushner Business Loans After Ethics Questions](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/white-house-probes-kushner-business-loans-after-ethics-questions_n_5ab9b3bae4b0decad04d3f58)** > > Finance companies loaned Jared Kushner's family business more than $500 million after meeting with the senior White House adviser. Tomorrow: _White House Concludes “Everything Just Fine”_ ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18514 "2018-03-27T17:23:05Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > The Constitution authorizes a head count. Anything else, fill out whatever alternative facts are most convenient. The latter does not flow from the former. You don’t necessarily have to answer every question, but that doesn’t mean you can make shit up. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18515 "2018-03-27T17:48:13Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > They didn’t expel actual diplomats, they expelled fake diplomats. They were spies, is what I’m saying. Until they start expelling Russian agents from the Whitehouse, this is just a big nothingburger 😃 ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18516 "2018-03-27T18:45:23Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Perhaps we should all subvert the question by claiming not to be citizens. It would be pretty funny to see the Orange Douche flipping out about the 50 million illegal voters. Why do you want to help people who claim that the country is being overrun by illegal immigrants? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18517 "2018-03-27T19:04:57Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > The latter does not flow from the former. You don’t necessarily have to answer every question, but that doesn’t mean you can make shit up. Why not? If I fill out my census form as a 35 year old Hispanic Buddhist with a disability, who’s going to come check on me? Follow up … what are they then going to do to me once they get 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:** [March 27, 2018, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18518 "2018-03-27T19:08:12Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Why do you want to help people who claim that the country is being overrun by illegal immigrants? The census is scheduled for two years from now. While it is underway, there will also be a presidential election in progress. The census will not affect the election. The next president will be sworn in, and the Shitgibberer can shitgibber all he wants, but the outcome will be what it is. There would be a great sense of satisfaction to see him frothing impotently, preferably in abject poverty as the rest of the country has at last seen through his gibbershite. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18519 "2018-03-27T19:33:52Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > They didn’t expel actual diplomats, they expelled fake diplomats. They were spies, is what I’m saying. Full-time or part-time spies? ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18520 "2018-03-27T20:00:45Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Full-time or part-time spies? I won’t pretend to know their actual job responsibilities, but I highly doubt that these FSB, GRU and SVR trained agents were sitting around notarizing documents, as **asahi** posited. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18521 "2018-03-27T22:06:19Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > The Constitution authorizes a head count. Anything else, fill out whatever alternative facts are most convenient. Despite what that lying twat Sarah Sanders said, the citizenship question has **not** been part of the census **since 1950**. The original DOJ letter requesting the change was drafted by John Gore, a Trump political appointee who is **best known for his work defending Republican redistricting efforts** around the country. Gore sent a draft of the letter to the Census Bureau in November. Gore did not sign the letter. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18522 "2018-03-27T23:22:17Z")
[Trump wants to pay for the wall out of the military budget.](https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/27/politics/donald-trump-border-wall-military/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18523 "2018-03-27T23:31:33Z")
Actually, if you want to mess with the GOP, answer the census questions exactly as if you were a Republican-leaning 60 year old white man. It’ll confuse the shit out of them because they won’t know how to divvy up the districts! ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18524 "2018-03-27T23:31:42Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > [Trump wants to pay for the wall out of the military budget.](https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/27/politics/donald-trump-border-wall-military/index.html) That mother fucker had one clear campaign promise. A wall paid for **by Mexico**. Not a wall in general. Not a wall paid for by U.S. Taxpayers. A wall paid for\*\* by Mexico\*\*. That was the appeal of the promise. It wouldn’t cost us a thing, and we’d get a big beautiful wall and someone else would pay for it. Some deal maker, this guy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=925) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=927)