# 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:** 928
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18545 "2018-03-28T07:56:13Z")
Serious question: Doesn’t the Army Corps of Engineers, which is part of the Department of Defense, have a long history of construction works inside the United States? If they built a wall, would it be illegal? ---
**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 28, 2018, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18546 "2018-03-28T08:31:40Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I see Trump is unaware of the Posse Comitatus Act. He wants to use military stuff (money) for civilian stuff (a wall, a wall, a wonderful wall). Just paint it olive drab, stencil “Property of the U.S. Army” on it and presto: it’s military! ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18547 "2018-03-28T08:35:23Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I see Trump is unaware of the Posse Comitatus Act. He wants to use military stuff (money) for civilian stuff (a wall, a wall, a wonderful wall). Just to be contrary, surely a border wall defending the country is very much a military structure? Haven’t walls been a vital part of defensive structures for a very long time? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18548 "2018-03-28T09:01:12Z")
Yeah - how is it less legitimate than a nuclear missile silo? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18549 "2018-03-28T09:07:02Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > And if the Corps of Engineers is in charge, double the cost. Why would you say that? The Corps has a long and honorable tradition of public works projects in this nation, and in fact is either themselves part of a bidding process against civilian contractors for the same job, or, if the work is to be done solely or mostly by civilian contractors with Corps oversight, they examine all the potential bids for the job. My Dad is a retired Army Corps officer of 36 years. Part of the reason he retired instead of hanging on for his third star and the plum Chief Of Engineers job (he was the Deputy Chief when he retired) was the highly political aspect of the job for that level, wrangling for funds for approved projects with Congress people. A good example of that is the levees in New Orleans. The Corps built the levees in accordance with what they had approved funding for, not what they really wanted to build. The Corps warned Congress and Louisiana politicians that the levees would only withstand up to a certain level of hurricane/storm surges, not the kind of storm that Katrina ended up being, which was the type of levee the Corps wanted to build in the first place, knowing the logistics of the geography, etc of the city. > [@Alessan](#): > > Serious question: > > Doesn’t the Army Corps of Engineers, which is part of the Department of Defense, have a long history of construction works inside the United States? If they built a wall, would it be illegal? If it was approved and ordered by Congress, no. But construction of that magnitude would occupy way too much of the Corps manpower and equipment resources that would have to be diverted from other, possibly WAY more important jobs. The Corps is pretty small compared to other branches within the US Army, like Infantry, Armor, etc and not all Corps units are created equal. Some are combat heavy engineers that are practiced in demolition, pontoon bridge building, etc in support of mobile infantry, etc. In Vietnam, my Dad’s unit patch read “First In, Last Out” as part of the 65th Engineer Battalion. There’s a reason for that for combat engineers: ratholing tunnels, clearing mines, etc ahead of troop movements then conducting operations behind the troops after they’ve moved out. The unit crest is pretty cool: [65th Engineer Battalion Unit Crest | USAMM](https://www.usamilitarymedals.com/products/65th-engineer-battalion-unit-crest-first-in-last-out) ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18550 "2018-03-28T13:25:28Z")
Today’s CNN headline. **The President can’t find a lawyer** I know this is exactly the sort of thing the moron-in-chief deserves. But maybe a law student will step forward to help him? Bueller? Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18551 "2018-03-28T13:28:50Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The FBI has _ **fifty-four** _ people investigating Hillary. > [https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-from-fbi-director-christopher-wray-on-records-requests](https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-from-fbi-director-christopher-wray-on-records-requests) Oh, for fuck sake. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18552 "2018-03-28T13:30:16Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I see Trump is unaware of the Posse Comitatus Act. He wants to use military stuff (money) for civilian stuff (a wall, a wall, a wonderful wall). Didn’t he want to send the Army to Chicago too?? I think he did. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18553 "2018-03-28T13:33:21Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > … Part of the reason he retired instead of hanging on for his third star and the plum Chief Of Engineers job (he was the Deputy Chief when he retired) was the highly political aspect of the job for that level, wrangling for funds for approved projects with Congress people. > > A good example of that is the levees in New Orleans. The Corps built the levees in accordance with what they had approved funding for, not what they really wanted to build. The Corps warned Congress and Louisiana politicians that the levees would only withstand up to a certain level of hurricane/storm surges, not the kind of storm that Katrina ended up being, which was the type of levee the Corps wanted to build in the first place, knowing the logistics of the geography, etc of the city. … As I remember, that did not stop the slimy politicians from blaming them. Did it. ---
**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 28, 2018, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18554 "2018-03-28T14:25:46Z")
> [@simster](#): > > yet the meme brigade claims since this was an ‘omnibus bill’ and not a true ‘budge’ - Trump can do as he pleases with the funds What, no mention of gold-fringed flags or Ohio’s dubious admission to the Union? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18555 "2018-03-28T14:43:25Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > As I remember, that did not stop the slimy politicians from blaming them. Did it. Of course not. I don’t believe I have ever seen my Dad more furious then when that occurred, as he had input into that process, along with many, many other Corps officers, specialists, aquatic engineers and civilian contractors (a lot of which was routinely ignored out of hand). ---
**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 28, 2018, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18556 "2018-03-28T17:47:25Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The FBI has _ **fifty-four** _ people investigating Hillary. > [https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-from-fbi-director-christopher-wray-on-records-requests](https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-from-fbi-director-christopher-wray-on-records-requests) That is unclear. Can you cross-reference chairman Goodlatte’s requests for records to show what his primary interest is? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18557 "2018-03-28T17:57:10Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > That is unclear. Can you cross-reference chairman Goodlatte’s requests for records to show what his primary interest is? Here is a better story. [http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/380567-fbi-doubles-personnel-to-respond-to-goodlatte-requests](http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/380567-fbi-doubles-personnel-to-respond-to-goodlatte-requests) ---
**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:** [March 28, 2018, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18558 "2018-03-28T18:06:56Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Here is a better story. > > [http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/380567-fbi-doubles-personnel-to-respond-to-goodlatte-requests](http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/380567-fbi-doubles-personnel-to-respond-to-goodlatte-requests) How much is this costing taxpayers? ---
**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:** [March 28, 2018, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18559 "2018-03-28T18:12:03Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Why would you say that? The Corps has a long and honorable tradition of public works projects in this nation, and in fact is either themselves part of a bidding process against civilian contractors for the same job, or, if the work is to be done solely or mostly by civilian contractors with Corps oversight, they examine all the potential bids for the job. Tell that to Puerto Rico. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18560 "2018-03-28T18:17:02Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > How much is this costing taxpayers? Depends on what kind of accounting you want to use. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18561 "2018-03-28T18:21:02Z")
[Lady Godiva Accounting Principles.](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/lgap.asp) ---
**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:** [March 28, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18562 "2018-03-28T18:26:15Z")
1-The White House has hired a 22-year-old former Disney Channel star named Caroline Sunshine to work in the Press Office. > **[Former Disney Channel Star Caroline Sunshine Joins President Trump's White...](https://people.com/tv/former-disney-star-caroline-sunshine-white-house-press-team/)** > > A former Disney Channel star is the newest member of the Trump administration 2- John Dowd is suggesting that Trump may issue pardons to Manafort and Flynn. > **[Report: Ex-Trump Lawyer Floated Pardons for Manafort, Flynn](https://www.thedailybeast.com/report-ex-trump-lawyer-floated-pardons-for-manafort-flynn)** > > Flynn’s legal team was operating under a joint defense agreement with Trump’s team, while Manafort was not. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18563 "2018-03-28T18:39:28Z")
[Progress being made on the emoluments violations by Trump](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-emoluments/u-s-judge-refuses-to-toss-suit-against-trump-on-foreign-payments-idUSKBN1H42VK). (Reuters) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18564 "2018-03-28T19:00:43Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > 2- John Dowd is suggesting that Trump may issue pardons to Manafort and Flynn. > [Report: Ex-Trump Lawyer Floated Pardons for Manafort, Flynn](https://www.thedailybeast.com/report-ex-trump-lawyer-floated-pardons-for-manafort-flynn) That suggests the discussion of pardons is past tense, not currently being floated. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=927) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=929)