# 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:** 944
**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:** [April 7, 2018, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18865 "2018-04-07T01:48:14Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > [Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/michellefabio/2018/04/06/department-of-homeland-security-compiling-database-of-journalists-and-media-influencers/): > \*In today’s installment of “I’m Not Terrified, You Are,” Bloomberg Law reports on a posting by DHS with the relatively benign-sounding subject, “Media Monitoring Services.” > … the United States government … is about to compile a list of professional journalists and “top media influencers,” which would seem to include bloggers and podcasters, and monitor what they’re putting out to the public. > … The database will be browseable by “location, beat and type of influencer,” and for each influencer, the chosen contractor should “present contact details and any other information that could be relevant … One aspect of the media coverage to be gathered is its “sentiment.” > … DHS says the “…National Protection and Programs Directorate… has a critical need to incorporate these functions into their programs in order to better reach Federal, state, local, tribal and private partners.” … the document also states the NPPD’s mission is “to protect and enhance the resilience of the nation’s physical and cyberinfrastructure.”\*sleep well tonight I posted [this link](https://www.vox.com/world/2018/4/5/17172754/russia-fake-news-trump-america-timothy-snyder) in another thread, but it relates and more people should read it. Right out of the same playbook. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2018, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18866 "2018-04-07T01:55:42Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Enforcer. Mr. Fix It. [tm] ---
**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 7, 2018, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18867 "2018-04-07T12:59:34Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > I posted [this link](https://www.vox.com/world/2018/4/5/17172754/russia-fake-news-trump-america-timothy-snyder) in another thread, but it relates and more people should read it. > > Right out of the same playbook. Tim Snyder is an interesting cat, with dictatorships and authoritarian governments being his specialty. Garry Kasparov - yes, _that_ Garry Kasparov of chess championship fame - is also another interesting interview whenever he’s on. Kasparov’s become something of a politician in exile in recent years and taking on the dangerous work of being an outspoken critic of Putin. As both Snyder and Kasparov have pointed out in almost the exact same language: one of the goals of the modern (Western) authoritarian is not necessarily control information but to sow confusion in the minds of people. Authoritarians want people to believe that everyone is equally dubious. Nobody can be trusted. And when nobody can be trusted to provide the truth, then the truth becomes whatever those in power say the truth is. That’s exactly why I go off on people when they say “they’re all the same” or “both sides do it” or “both parties are two sides of the same coin.” Non-partisans, however good their intentions might be, represent a more insidious form of danger than right wing partisans. It’s good to be partisan. One simply needs to be the right kind of partisan: a partisan for truth, a partisan for reason, a partisan for the rule of law, for the common welfare, and for the strength of public institutions and accountability. There will always be shades of grey on specific political and social issues, but when it comes to power, justice, the truth, the facts, civic involvement…there has to be a clear and shared sense of virtue among ordinary people, and to resist assaults on these values from those in power. Otherwise, ordinary people lose control. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2018, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18868 "2018-04-07T15:50:33Z")
Gee, [what would possibly go wrong](https://biglawbusiness.com/homeland-security-to-compile-database-of-journalists-bloggers/)? > [@](#): > > The U.S. Department of Homeland Security wants to monitor hundreds of thousands of news sources around the world and compile a database of journalists, editors, foreign correspondents, and bloggers to identify top “media influencers.”… ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2018, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18869 "2018-04-07T15:53:27Z")
“Go wrong”? That’s _already_ wrong! ---
**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:** [April 7, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18870 "2018-04-07T16:03:11Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I do find it interesting that most of trump’s policies tend to hurt his supporters more than his detractors. His supporters are don’t realize how dependant they are on for the govt, and then they are surprised and unable to cope when the govt stops supporting them. It _is_ odd, isn’t it? Trump talks about banning the transgender from the military and that gets a lot of press (and praise from the base because it’s ostensibly hurtful to liberals) but the number of people actually affected is far smaller than in a trade war, many of whom are _in_ his base. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18871 "2018-04-07T16:38:46Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > The farmers I know love to talk about how they have never worked for anyone, and how independent they are. Yet they are more dependent on the reviled “government tit” than any people I have ever met. Cognitive dissonance is strong in these folks. I take taxis often, mainly to or from airports; quite a few times I’ve gotten a talkative cabbie who’s decided to give me the advice nobody else would. I must become self-employed like him, so I’ll be my own boss and all my problems will be solved! Note that this is just after verifying that yes, I’m on a business trip, and _coming from a guy I’ve just told where to go_. That part would be absurd even if I didn’t happen to already be self-employed. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2018, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18872 "2018-04-07T16:49:03Z")
“Fortunately, our stablest genius came up with a last minute solution. So now, we just impose a new tariff on Chinese imports once in a while. Since they retaliate with a tariff on our goods, we have keep adding higher and higher tariffs, thus solving the trade war once and for all.” “But…” _“ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!”_ ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2018, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18873 "2018-04-07T17:13:35Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > “Fortunately, our stablest genius came up with a last minute solution. So now, we just impose a new tariff on Chinese imports once in a while. Since they retaliate with a tariff on our goods, we have keep adding higher and higher tariffs, thus solving the trade war once and for all.” > > “But…” > > _“ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!”_ So. Much. Winning. I’m just so sick of all the winning! Actually, since I’m pretty far from retirement this is giving me plenty of opportunity to buy stocks at low prices. So, ummm, yay Trump? #MAGA? (N.B., although it is true I’m getting a good deal, I’m kidding and recognize that overall it hurts more than it helps.) ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18874 "2018-04-07T18:41:56Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > It _is_ odd, isn’t it? Trump talks about banning the transgender from the military and that gets a lot of press (and praise from the base because it’s ostensibly hurtful to liberals) but the number of people actually affected is far smaller than in a trade war, **many of whom are _in_ his base**. Am I a bad person if I hope they get fucked over royally? They voted for him to stir the shit, burn everythign down, and fuck us all. I hope they go bust, end up in the fucking street, denied all the benefits and safety nets they would have denied everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2018, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18875 "2018-04-07T21:30:59Z")
[John Kelly packs up his ashtray, remote control, paddle game, magazine, and chair](https://www.axios.com/john-kelly-trump-oval-office-meeting-threatened-quit-f29667d3-d99f-4e23-92f6-9c48c360722b.html?utm_source=sidebar). (He doesn’t need his dog.) ---
**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 7, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18876 "2018-04-07T21:42:54Z")
> [@BeepKillBeep](#): > > So. Much. Winning. I’m just so sick of all the winning! > > Actually, since I’m pretty far from retirement this is giving me plenty of opportunity to buy stocks at low prices. So, ummm, yay Trump? #MAGA? > > (N.B., although it is true I’m getting a good deal, I’m kidding and recognize that overall it hurts more than it helps.) If you think this is the bottom, you’re very optimistic. ---
**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 7, 2018, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18877 "2018-04-07T22:50:39Z")
Huh…Trump Tower is burning. Wonder if the fire broke out in the incriminating evidence storage room? ---
**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:** [April 7, 2018, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18878 "2018-04-07T22:55:38Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Huh…Trump Tower is burning. Wonder if the fire broke out in the incriminating evidence storage room? 50th floor. Who knew there was a dumpster up there? ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2018, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18879 "2018-04-07T22:56:44Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > 50th floor. Who knew there was a dumpster up there? 50th floor - must be the Reichstag floor. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2018, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18880 "2018-04-07T23:50:47Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > If you think this is the bottom, you’re very optimistic. No but I’m not going to try to time the bottom. I’m more than happy to buy all the way down. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2018, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18881 "2018-04-08T00:42:40Z")
> [@BeepKillBeep](#): > > No but I’m not going to try to time the bottom. I’m more than happy to buy all the way down. That worked well for me in '87, '00-02 and '08. ---
**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 8, 2018, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18882 "2018-04-08T01:25:25Z")
> [@galen\_ubal](#): > > 50th floor - must be the Reichstag floor. Is this to be followed by the _Night of the Wrong Wives_? ---
**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:** [April 8, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18883 "2018-04-08T01:30:26Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Is this to be followed by the _Night of the Wrong Wives_? _adds **eschereal** to The List_ ---
**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 8, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/18884 "2018-04-08T01:54:09Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Is this to be followed by the _Night of the Wrong Wives_? 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=943) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=945)