# The Trump Administration: The Clusterfuck Continues (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [November 11, 2024, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068 "2024-11-11T06:19:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 179
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3621 "2025-03-31T02:34:10Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > In fact, he is statistically more likely to be alive in four years than not. The chances are about 60 (alive) to 40 (not alive). It is possible that he will be dead, yes, but it is by no means sure. Sorry. Well, severely disabled would be OK too. Also, I wouldn’t bet the farm on Vance winning the election in 2028, or even if he does, voluntarily ceding the position. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3622 "2025-03-31T02:44:22Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > 22nd amendment prevents him from being _elected_ president for a third time. It could be argued that doesn’t make him ineligible to hold the office again Whether he blithely ignores the 22nd, or simply doesn’t bother to hold an election and remains in residence governing by EO, then it’s six to five and pick 'em that 2/3rds of the US will say “Go you good thing”. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3623 "2025-03-31T03:13:01Z")
I think we’re all missing something. Of course he means to either stay in office absent an election or to be re-elected. Any other method would mean he has to leave office, even if it’s for one minute. _That_ he is not willing to accept. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3624 "2025-03-31T03:18:00Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > or simply doesn’t bother to hold an election Elections are held by the states on a schedule set by the Constitution. It’s not up to the president to “bother” to hold one or not. He has no involvement in the process. You may recall him tweeting about postponing the election because of covid in summer 2020 and how it went absolutely nowhere and not even other Republicans took it seriously because it’s not within their power to do. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3625 "2025-03-31T04:05:41Z")
Your faith in the institutional checks, balances and constitutional restraints as 45/47 and his enablers drive a freight train through them before your very own eyes is … well, touching. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3626 "2025-03-31T05:03:06Z")
Isn’t it interesting that Trump is floating the idea of being put in the line of succession and then assuming the office of president when the person actually elected resigns office immediately after taking the oath of office? Why would that be interesting? Don’t you remember the conniption fits the pubbies were having when Biden withdrew after he was nominated by the Democratic party? Yeah. There’s no hypocrisy there. Nope. None at all. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3627 "2025-03-31T05:16:55Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > Your faith in the institutional checks, balances and constitutional restraints as 45/47 and his enablers drive a freight train through them before your very own eyes is … well, touching. This country has survived a civil war, decades of cold civil war, world wars, depressions, assassinations, terrorism, pandemics, and times of civil unrest that make our own times look like a picnic. It can survive four more years of Donald Trump if people are willing to fight for it instead of throwing up their hands and proclaiming that there’s nothing anyone can do. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3628 "2025-03-31T05:29:31Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > This country has survived a civil war, decades of cold civil war, world wars, depressions, assassinations, terrorism, pandemics, and times of civil unrest that make our own times look like a picnic. It can survive four more years of Donald Trump if people are willing to fight for it instead of throwing up their hands and proclaiming that there’s nothing anyone can do. I’m not quite as optimistic as you, but I’m much closer to this outlook than the constant doom and gloom. I get freaked out and contemplate the worst too, but if I’m going to stay moderately sane, I have to concentrate on the millions (and growing!) of people that feel there’s a chance. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3629 "2025-03-31T06:15:42Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > if people are willing to fight for it instead of throwing up their hands I guess you haven’t been watching closely but the collective “they” are cheering him on, vociferously … well at least until the first round of social security checks don’t get cut, or their sons get sent as an occupying force in the middle of a Canadian/Greenland winter or the cost of a replacement Chevrolet Silverado goes up by 50% or ICE come knocking because somebody in your household egged a Tesla, has been designated a domestic terrorist and is now looking at an extended stay in a San Salvadorian maxi sans habeas corpus. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3630 "2025-03-31T06:23:18Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > I guess you haven’t been watching closely but the collective “they” are cheering him on, vociferously … I wouldn’t call a 43% approval rating “vociferous cheering”. > **[Presidential Approval Ratings -- Donald Trump](https://news.gallup.com/poll/203198/presidential-approval-ratings-donald-trump.aspx)** > > Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president? > [@penultima\_thule](#): > > well at least until the first round of social security checks don’t get cut, or their sons get sent as an occupying force in the middle of a Canadian/Greenland winter or the cost of a replacement Chevrolet Silverado goes up by 50% or ICE come knocking because somebody in your household egged a Tesla, has been designated a domestic terrorist and is now looking at an extended stay in a San Salvadorian maxi sans habeas corpus. Then that’s when we need to radicalize them. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3631 "2025-03-31T06:33:57Z")
It probably won’t matter to us if he gets a third term. If he keeps going we could lose our car and home. Oh crap, I guess that means I’m one of those “fraudsters.” 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3632 "2025-03-31T06:38:58Z")
Ya mean, 43%…the lowest, _tiniest_ number in the poll? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3633 "2025-03-31T08:49:09Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Has he had any protestors shot in the street? Remember the 2020 protests? > **[Police using rubber bullets that can maim or kill | CNN](https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/03/health/rubber-bullet-effects-kaiser-partner/index.html)** > > Police departments are trying to quell unrest spurred by the death of George Floyd by firing rubber bullets into crowds, even though five decades of evidence shows such weapons can disable, disfigure and even kill. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3634 "2025-03-31T08:56:38Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > You know, if you want Trump to become an extraconstitutional dictator-for-life, convincing people that the Constitution is dead and powerless and that he can already do whatever he wants without opposition is a good way to get people to stop fighting him. “Please stop pointing out the reality I keep desperately denying.” > [@Smapti](#): > > People you are actively attempting to discourage by telling them that the courts won’t do anything and Trump won’t listen to them. “It’s your fault that the things I claim won’t happen will happen.” ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3635 "2025-03-31T10:01:44Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Then that’s when we need to radicalize them. Ahh, right , after the horse has bolted. Of course. I should have realised that you Americans would have a practical solution. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3636 "2025-03-31T10:15:27Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > You know, if you want Trump to become an extraconstitutional dictator-for-life, convincing people that the Constitution is dead and powerless and that he can already do whatever he wants without opposition is a good way to get people to stop fighting him. You should probably make yourself a macro so you can save yourself some typing whenever you want to start dry-humping your ridiculous straw man in a new thread. Let me know if you need me to link you to some documentation on how to do that. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3637 "2025-03-31T10:47:49Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > For an average man his age. The average man his age isn’t an obese drug addict who lives off junk food, never exercises, has dementia and long covid, and is ostensibly in charge of an entire country. The average man also doesn’t have an on-staff doctor and a private room at Walter Reed, and a helicopter ready at a moment’s notice to take him there. ---
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3638 "2025-03-31T10:51:21Z")
Germans nailed it [![](https://cdn.prod.www.spiegel.de/images/c02d4b76-77db-4b6a-8937-77b64dbc2638_w1024_r1.5_fpx50_fpy50.webp) ](https://cdn.prod.www.spiegel.de/images/c02d4b76-77db-4b6a-8937-77b64dbc2638_w1024_r1.5_fpx50_fpy50.webp) ## Harvard Professor Steven Levitsky **“Right Now, the U.S. Is Ceasing to Be a Democracy”** > Donald Trump is currently transforming the U.S. into an authoritarian state, argues Harvard Professor Steven Levitsky, author of “How Democracies Die.” And he is using an unexpected twist in the authoritarian playbook to do so. > **[Harvard Professor Steven Levitsky: "Right Now, the U.S. Is Ceasing to Be a...](https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/harvard-professor-steven-levitsky-right-now-the-u-s-is-ceasing-to-be-a-democracy-a-d6595df5-68a5-4b74-ab09-1dbf5179ddbd)** > > Donald Trump is currently transforming the U.S. into an authoritarian state, argues Harvard Professor Steven Levitsky, author of "How Democracies Die." And he is using an unexpected twist in the authoritarian playbook to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3639 "2025-03-31T16:14:25Z")
> **[Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social)](https://bsky.app/profile/carlquintanilla.bsky.social/post/3llolprdzps2m)** > > \* CHINESE STATE MEDIA: CHINA, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA REACH A CONSENSUS THAT THREE SIDES WILL JOINTLY RESPOND TO THE U.S. TARIFFS > > @reuters.com Opening up a new front on the general clusterfuckiness of this administration: Trump is uniting Asia! Three countries that normally hate working together are issuing a joint statement! Trump is a bridge builder! (And is also incidentally enabling what will certainly amount to Chinese hegemony on the continent. Oops!) ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/3640 "2025-03-31T18:27:03Z")
I’m skeptical. Vance told the Japanese over the weekend that the US has their back (re: security) and the Japanese talking heads I heard were pretty happy about that. This may be a case where Japan is willing to take the tariffs on the chin for more important reasons. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=178) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=180)