# 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:** 941
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18805 "2018-04-05T21:39:31Z")
Donnie has made his first public comment on Stormy Daniels: he knew nothing about no $130,000 payment. Actually, I don’t have much trouble believing this. I can picture that Michael Cohen’s job description was: clean up the mess without bothering the boss. He gets wind of Stormy’s potential for disrupting the campaign, writes her a check for the going rate, and submits his expense report to Donnie for $130k in paper clips. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2018, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18806 "2018-04-05T21:39:52Z")
I just want to say that I feel depressingly vindicated. In a thread some while ago, a poster claimed that the Left must accept Poppa Joe as one of their own, an autocrat credited with killing a lot of people. I said that the convergence of Right-wing ideology leads to an autocracy, which cannot be counted on to be less bad than what happened in the Soviet Union (qualifying it by saying that most RWs are not pursuing despotism with active intent). I was soundly berated for making such an outrageous assertion. Now I stand by it more firmly than ever. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18807 "2018-04-05T21:47:50Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Scott Pruitt wanted to use emergency lights and sirens to get through DC traffic when he was late for an appointment. The security guy in charge said that was against rules. Two weeks later, the security guy was replaced. His replacement is the guy who claims that Pruitt has to fly first class and sit near the front of planes because of security issues. > [Scott Pruitt asked to use sirens in D.C. traffic and was told no for non-emergency - CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/scott-pruitt-asked-to-use-sirens-in-dc-traffic-and-was-told-no-for-non-emergency/) Pruitt gets swampier by the hour. [Multiple allegations that he had people reassigned who questioned him and his spending](https://nyti.ms/2HbmKbq). ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18808 "2018-04-05T21:54:15Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Donnie has made his first public comment on Stormy Daniels: he knew nothing about no $130,000 payment. > > Actually, I don’t have much trouble believing this. I can picture that Michael Cohen’s job description was: clean up the mess without bothering the boss. He gets wind of Stormy’s potential for disrupting the campaign, writes her a check for the going rate, and submits his expense report to Donnie for $130k in paper clips. I don’t have trouble believing it either. He probably told Cohen, “Pay off Stormy. Keep it close to a hundred grand. I’ll pay you back.” So he didn’t know that the payment was specifically **$130,000**. But he knew there was a payment. If he didn’t, Cohen acted without his client’s assent, which is a big no-no. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18809 "2018-04-05T22:08:54Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > [The git is _still_ yammering about “voter fraud”!](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/05/trump-tosses-out-the-script-in-rant-on-immigration-and-voter-fraud.html) :rolleyes: Hell, If I had millions of idiots hanging on my every word, I might be inclined to say whatever the hell I wanted to, reality be damned. As it stands, I’ve only got a few dozen, tops. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18810 "2018-04-05T22:26:21Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I will freely admit to ignorance as to how the National Guard works. I thought they’re at the state level – under direction of the governor, and working within their home state? Seeing as how Oregon doesn’t have a border…how would the Oregon Guard wind up near Mexico? By not taking that left turn at Albuquerque. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18811 "2018-04-05T23:39:33Z")
On Tuesday, Trump proposes tariffs on $50B of Chinese products. On Wednesday, China proposes tariffs on $50B of US products. Today, Trump [proposes](https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2018-04-05/trump-proposes-100-billion-in-new-tariffs-on-chinese-goods) tariffs on $100B of Chinese products :smack: ---
**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:** [April 5, 2018, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18812 "2018-04-05T23:44:38Z")
So Trump is playing Kung Pao Chicken… ---
**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:** [April 5, 2018, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18813 "2018-04-05T23:47:03Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > I don’t have trouble believing it either. He probably told Cohen, “Pay off Stormy. Keep it close to a hundred grand. I’ll pay you back.” So he didn’t know that the payment was specifically **$130,000**. > > But he knew there was a payment. If he didn’t, Cohen acted without his client’s assent, which is a big no-no. I doubt there was ever an expectation by Cohen that Dotard would pay him back. Cohen is a very wealthy man and 130K is trump change to him. Plus he knows D2S has quite a reputation for stiffing people he owes money to. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2018, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18814 "2018-04-06T00:04:04Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > I doubt there was ever an expectation by Cohen that Dotard would pay him back. Cohen is a very wealthy man and 130K is trump change to him. Plus he knows D2S has quite a reputation for stiffing people he owes money to. I wouldn’t be surprised if a good chunk of Cohen’s salary is actually walking around money, just for bribes and keeping people quiet. He probably has no qualms about spending this money to keep his boss happy and protected, since his boss’s happiness and protection keeps his own gravy train rolling. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2018, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18815 "2018-04-06T00:09:59Z")
Cohen’s not so much an attorney as he is a consigliere. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2018, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18816 "2018-04-06T00:17:33Z")
A couple PBS Newshours ago Judy Woodruff was raking Peter Navarro over the coals about the tariffs having a negative impact on agriculture and ultimately consumers, as well as the advent of the dissolution of the trade relationship between the US and China. All Navarro could resort to was flotsam about “the US isn’t trying to punish China”:rolleyes: and his tediously repeated (three times?) go-to “this is reciprocation for their spying, yada yada”, always said to weasel irrelevantly from her questions. A shitty showing from him - I didn’t realise he was that much of a vacuous, talking-point moron. I was getting so bummed out about it I invented a new word: “Newsea” (or “Newsia”?) - n. getting nauseated from watching the news. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18817 "2018-04-06T01:00:33Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Cohen’s not so much an attorney as he is a consigliere. Enforcer. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18818 "2018-04-06T02:19:11Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > So Trump is playing Kung Pao Chicken… The DJIA had 2 good days in a row. He’ll just keep poking the Tariff! button until he can get it to crash again. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2018, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18819 "2018-04-06T03:08:02Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Enforcer. We went over this before in this thread. The proper term is “sleaze weasel.” ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18820 "2018-04-06T04:10:26Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > On Tuesday, Trump proposes tariffs on $50B of Chinese products. > > On Wednesday, China proposes tariffs on $50B of US products. > > Today, Trump [proposes](https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2018-04-05/trump-proposes-100-billion-in-new-tariffs-on-chinese-goods) tariffs on $100B of Chinese products :smack: > [@jayjay](#): > > So Trump is playing Kung Pao Chicken… It’s the whole bigger button/dick thing like with North Korea and Bezos. Anyone check the finger length on the Chinese leader? Betcha our short-fingered vulgarian is at a disadvantage there as well. AND there was a big die-off in stocks in the after hours trading. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18821 "2018-04-06T06:05:50Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > On Tuesday, Trump proposes tariffs on $50B of Chinese products. > > On Wednesday, China proposes tariffs on $50B of US products. > > Today, Trump [proposes](https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2018-04-05/trump-proposes-100-billion-in-new-tariffs-on-chinese-goods) tariffs on $100B of Chinese products :smack: Notice how the Chinese tariffs are directed to red states, such as farm states. Trump voters are going to take a lot of the heat, as well they should. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2018, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18822 "2018-04-06T06:22:46Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > It’s the whole bigger button/dick thing like with North Korea and Bezos. Look at where DC is and look at where Seattle is. Then look at where Pyongyang is. Relative to DC, those other two places are in about the same direction. And Seattle is closer to Pyongyang than is DC, so Bezos is probably cahooting with -un. Might as well lob invective in that general direction to see if they can get anything to stick. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18823 "2018-04-06T06:42:53Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Scott Pruitt wanted to use emergency lights and sirens to get through DC traffic when he was late for an appointment. Huh, I thought corrupt [shit like that](https://mg.co.za/article/2013-05-31-00-blue-light-ministers-face-jail-time) only happened in us shithole countries… ---
**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:** [April 6, 2018, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18824 "2018-04-06T11:50:31Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > The DJIA had 2 good days in a row. He’ll just keep poking the Tariff! button until he can get it to crash again. He probably sees the return of stock market bulls as validation for his tariff “strategy”. The irony is that while the stock market might continue to see saw, there is going to be a political cost (and as a result, an economic cost) paid by many of the farmers who voted to make America great again. The farmers voted for deregulation and for American to be ruled by a white man again; they didn’t intentionally vote to be ruled by an economic moron. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=940) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=942)