# 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:** 75
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1481 "2025-02-03T20:47:14Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Tuberville Had to look that up. This is the use of the quasi-filibuster which used to mean reading phone books, DIckens and whatever? And it takes 60 votes to end it? Trump didn’t like that but Mitch McConnell (who could be heard today questioning the Tarrifs) said filibusters (even somewhat watered down) are staying. ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1482 "2025-02-03T21:36:23Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > > > I can answer that. He’s mad because some idiot negotiated a very unfair trade agreement with Canada. > > Trade agreement? That sounds wonky. I thought it was because Melania has the hots for Justin Trudeau. Who doesn’t? ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1483 "2025-02-03T22:34:02Z")
> [@Toxgoddess](#): > > Who doesn’t? Yeah, but Trump may have a reason to feel like a cuck: [A Body Language Expert Breaks Down _That_ Photo of Melania Trump and Justin Trudeau](https://www.instyle.com/news/melania-trump-justin-trudeau-body-language) _There’s a reason #MelaniaLovesTrudeau was trending on Twitter._ > Noted Twitter fanatic Donald Trump was _probably_ not pleased when he opened the app this morning. > > The hashtag #MelaniaLovesTrudeau began trending on Monday morning after an image of First Lady Melania Trump greeting Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau with a double cheek kiss at the G7 summit began making the rounds. Melania, clad in a red sheath dress, appeared to be gazing lovingly at Trudeau (who’s become something of a nerdy sex symbol in the realm of international politics), while clutching her husband’s hand. > > The gesture itself is innocent enough — anyone who’s ever met a European has probably been subjected to this forced intimacy at one time or another — but there was just _something_ about the image that got people talking. I’d like to think Melania mentioned to Trump how big and strong Trudeau’s hands were. ---
**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:** [February 3, 2025, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1484 "2025-02-03T23:12:23Z")
Here’s a query for you: If Trump’s use of the military for chasing down migrants isn’t using the military for domestic law enforcement, why are most of the units deployed _ **military police** _? This list is from [Military.com](https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/01/27/here-are-all-units-now-deployed-border-trumps-immigration-crackdown.html?ESRC=dod_250131.nl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dod&utm_campaign=20250131). > **Active-duty Army units on the border mission:** > > - Headquarters, 89th Military Police Brigade, [Fort Cavazos]\>([Fort Cavazos Base Guide](https://www.military.com/base-guide/fort-cavazos)), Texas > - Headquarters, 720th Military Police Battalion, Fort Cavazos, Texas > - 401st Military Police Company, Fort Cavazos, Texas > - 202nd Military Police Company, [Fort Bliss](https://www.military.com/base-guide/fort-bliss), Texas > - Headquarters, 716th Military Police Battalion, [Fort Campbell](https://www.military.com/base-guide/fort-campbell), Kentucky > - 23rd Military Police Company, Fort Drum, New York > - 549th Military Police Company, [Fort Stewart](https://www.military.com/base-guide/fort-stewart), Georgia > - 530th Combat Engineer Company-Armored, Fort Stewart, Georgia > - 977th Military Police Company, [Fort Riley](https://www.military.com/base-guide/fort-riley), Kansas > - 41st Combat Engineer Company-Armored, Fort Riley, Kansas > - 569th Combat Engineer Company-Armored, [Fort Carson](https://www.military.com/base-guide/fort-carson), Colorado > - Headquarters, 759th Military Police Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado > - 66th Military Police Company, [Joint Base Lewis-McChord](https://www.military.com/base-guide/joint-base-lewis-mcchord), Washington > > **Active-Duty Marine Corps units on the border mission:** > > - Detachment from 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, [Camp Pendleton](https://www.military.com/base-guide/marine-corps-base-camp-pendleton), California > - Detachment from 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, Camp Pendleton, California Further down in this article is this fine bit of doublespeak (I bolded that part): > Meanwhile, the Coast Guard began flying detained migrants “of various nationalities” to Laredo, Texas, and San Diego on Jan. 25 for deportation. > > The service would not provide [Military.com](http://Military.com) with the number of flights it has conducted or the number of migrants it has transported. A statement provided to [Military.com](http://Military.com) on Monday only referenced the flights that took place on Saturday. > > “The Coast Guard is surging assets and personnel from around the nation – including Air Stations Elizabeth City, Kodiak, Sacramento, San Diego, and Hawaii – to support this Department of Homeland Security-led operation,” a Coast Guard official said in the statement. > > The Coast Guard’s Eleventh District is coordinating the flights, according to the service. Adm. Kevin Lunday, the service’s acting commandant, said Saturday that the Coast Guard is drawing on its unique capabilities to “protect America’s borders, territorial integrity, and sovereignty.” > > **“Today’s operation exemplifies our coordination with our Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense teammates, through which we are detecting, deterring, and interdicting aliens, drug smuggling, and other terrorist or hostile activity before it reaches our border,” Lunday said in a news release.** This tantrum Trump is throwing is pulling vital resources from around the country, in particular the Coast Guard, from their current missions. The tantrum is not making the country safer. It’s actually doing the opposite. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2025, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1485 "2025-02-04T00:54:13Z")
We need a whole lot more of this ([from this NYT article, gift link](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/02/03/us/trump-usaid-news#usaid-trump-musk)): > On Monday, over 100 U.S.A.I.D. employees gathered in front of the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington to protest the shutdown. Many held U.S. flags and homemade signs that said things like “Democracy died in complacency.” They were joined by a group of Democratic lawmakers, who railed against the closures, blaming Mr. Musk in particular as they egged on the protesters. > “We don’t have a fourth branch of government called Elon Musk,” Representative Jamie Raskin, Democrat of Maryland, told those gathered. Speaking directly to Mr. Musk, he added: “You don’t control the money of the American people. The United States Congress does.” > Democrats have denounced the U.S.A.I.D. shutdown as an illegal maneuver because Congress created and continues to fund the agency as a distinct entity. The federal government is currently funded through March 14. > “Unilaterally closing U.S.A.I.D. is illegal,” Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the minority leader, said on the floor on Monday. “Donald Trump does not have the authority to erase an independent agency created by Congress. Nor can the Department of State absorb U.S.A.I.D., especially because now there is basically nothing left to absorb.” Elizabeth Warren has also questioned the new Treasury Secretary on why Musk and his equally unqualified minions have been given access to the payment system. Agent Orange says it’s to ‘look for bad people and get rid of them if we agree on it,’ according to what I heard him say on the news in response to a question from the press. Clueless and pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1486 "2025-02-04T01:14:16Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > He’s mad because some idiot negotiated a very unfair trade agreement with Canada. I see what you did there. 🤣 > **[United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States%E2%80%93Mexico%E2%80%93Canada_Agreement)** > > The Agreement between Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America (CAMUS)\[Note 1\] is a free trade agreement among the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) implemented in 1994, and is sometimes characterized as "NAFTA 2.0", or "New NAFTA", since it largely maintains or updates the provisions of its predecessor. CAMUS is one of the world's largest free trade zones, with a population of more than 510 mi All sides came to a formal agree... ---
**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:** [February 4, 2025, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1487 "2025-02-04T01:14:26Z")
With FDR, we had the New Deal Era. With JFK, we had Camelot Era. Now we have the Hypocrisy, Dishonesty, Deception, and Cruelty Era. Felon47 blew his own horn big time about so many undocumented migrants being arrested and deported. What he didn’t mention, [as AOL shows](https://www.aol.com/migrants-arrested-trump-immigration-crackdown-120000956.html), is: > The Trump administration aggressively publicized the arrests of more than 8,000 immigrants by federal agents since Inauguration Day, with the promise that those detained would be part of a [historic mass deportation](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/ice-trump-deportations-numbers-rcna188937). But NBC News has learned that some have already been released back into the United States on a monitoring program, according to five sources familiar with the operations. Hmm. I wonder why that might be? Could there perhaps just maybe be a law or few or even a court decision limiting stunts Felon47 wants to take? BINGO! (The **bolding** and _italicizing_ below are mine.) > But arresting more people inside the United States on allegations of immigration violations means they need to be held somewhere. And significant [space constraints in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/trumps-stepped-immigration-arrests-escalate-need-detention-space-rcna190217) — and **federal court orders forbidding indefinite detention** — _have forced the agency to release some of those arrested in the roundups rather than hold them until deportation_. But, hey, not to worry. HDD&C are ensuring we’ll be safe from disease. [AOL article here](https://www.aol.com/news/experts-anxious-bird-flu-could-213837592.html): > **Experts are anxious that bird flu could become airborne — and jump-start another pandemic** Yeah, I’m not holding out on the current administration not recreating an impotent response to a major health crisis. My reasoning for such lack of hope is the entire year of 2020 AD. (That’s _anno Domini_. The current year will likely be known to future historians as 1 AD (After Democracy). ---
**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:** [February 4, 2025, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1488 "2025-02-04T02:57:17Z")
Nitpick. > [@Monty](#): > > With JFK, we had Camelot Era. With JFK it was called the New Frontier. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2025, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1489 "2025-02-04T03:03:10Z")
I thought JFK’s term got both names. Anyway, I just sent the following E-mail to my federal representative, a Georgia Republican, so I can guess what the response will be. At least writing and sending it off were cathartic. > We are now just two weeks into Trump’s second term as president. He proved beyond a doubt, as the House of Representatives concluded, twice during his first term, he is unfit to serve in the highest and most important political office in the world. Every day since he began his second term, he has alienated our allies and ignored federal laws and the constitution of the United States. > > Article II, Section 4 of the constitution states: > > > “The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” > > Using our military for domestic law enforcement, allowing non-governmental employees unfettered access to supposedly secure and protected electronic data of American citizens, and a host of other actions by him are criminal. He is unfit and, in fact, is not actually running the executive department of the United States government. > > Why have you not introducted a bill of impeachment against this convicted felon who should not be in office in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1490 "2025-02-04T03:09:19Z")
Thinking about what the US’ main advantages are in the 21st century: 1. Biggest, and free market. It’s the place to go sell the next big thing. 2. Network of alliances, some through defence agreements, some just from leading by example / soft power 3. World reserve currency We’re two weeks into Trump’s term and he’s already started tearing down (1) and (2). It’s arguably worse than merely collapsing the economy, because these are the fundamentals that can get the US _out of_ recessions. So far on (3) he’s tried to threaten the BRICS into keeping the dollar so…still stupid, but not self-destructive yet. But there’s plenty of time… ---
**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:** [February 4, 2025, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1491 "2025-02-04T03:22:32Z")
That’s good but methinks you are missing the big one … It’s the place to develop the next big thing. And while you have that one the rest will meekly follow. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1492 "2025-02-04T03:25:53Z")
I was thinking of that as basically linked to (1) but you’re right; it’s not necessarily coupled. It will be interesting what happens with the H-1B visas, because that would be a sign of that domino falling. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2025, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1493 "2025-02-04T03:27:22Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I thought JFK’s term got both names. His term was informally referred to as Camelot. I think it was the media that started doing this. But his administration’s umbrella term for its programs was the New Frontier. Analogous to FDR’s New Deal and LBJ’s Great Society. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1494 "2025-02-04T04:20:30Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > His term was informally referred to as Camelot. I think it was the media that started doing this. This was a reference to the musical _Camelot_ which was current at that time. Apparently it was first made by Jackie Kennedy. The musical was based on the book _The Once and Future King_ by TH White. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1495 "2025-02-04T04:33:45Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Apparently it was first made by Jackie Kennedy. > One of Jacqueline Kennedy’s next efforts to commemorate her husband was through a series of interviews with historian and presidential advisor Arthur Schlesinger Jr. in which she described her experiences as First Lady. The LIFE Magazine article derived from these interviews emphasized the comparison she drew between the Kennedy administration and King Arthur’s Camelot because of the promising but fleeting nature of both eras. This comparison would profoundly shape early efforts to commemorate President Kennedy by establishing a particular view of his life and legacy. > **[Commemorating Camelot: Three Women Who Shaped JFK’s Legacy (U.S. National...](https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/commemorating-camelot-three-women-who-shaped-jfk-s-legacy.htm)** ---
**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:** [February 4, 2025, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1496 "2025-02-04T07:26:44Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > Trump has done a job of undermining Keir. At dinner time Keir will only have a place setting at the kids table. To be fair, nobody has undermined Keir more than Keir himself. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1497 "2025-02-04T07:54:33Z")
I’m not surprised our Secretary of Transportation wants to tie road maintenance to birth rate. After all, he has nine kids. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1498 "2025-02-04T08:40:01Z")
[wiki on New Frontier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Frontier) > We stand today on the edge of a New Frontier - JFK’s inauguration speech and he says “frontier” **eight** more times in just the space of few more sentences. I don’t see any allusions to Avalon, King Arthur or the Knights of the Round Table. > It’s just a dugout that my dad built > In case the reds decide to push the button down > We’ve got provisions and lots of beer > The keyword is survival on the new frontier - Donald Fagan, “New Frontier” (1982) ---
**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:** [February 4, 2025, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1499 "2025-02-04T09:00:33Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > I don’t see any allusions to Avalon, King Arthur or the Knights of the Round Table. Wiki also has an [entry on Camelot as a nickname for JFK’s presidency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy#Camelot). But that’s not the important part of the post in which I made the reference. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2025, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/1500 "2025-02-04T09:19:46Z")
And in the “Let’s be just like the Soviet Union” news, [Rubio happily announces an offer from El Salvador](https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/03/americas/el-salvador-migrant-deal-marco-rubio-intl-hnk/index.html). (The link goes to CNN.) > El Salvador has agreed to house violent US criminals and receive deportees of any nationality, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Monday, in an unprecedented – and legally problematic deal – that has[alarmed critics](https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/31/americas/tren-de-aragua-bukele-rubio-intl-latam/index.html)and rights groups. I was watching CNN when they showed Rubio’s announcing this. I swear he ws having an orgasm. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=74) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=76)