# The Trump Administration: The Clusterfuck Continues (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [December 1, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298 "2025-12-01T20:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/1 "2025-12-01T20:32:35Z")
Continuing the discussion from [The Trump Administration: The Clusterfuck Continues (Part 1) - #10061 by Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/10061). Previous discussions: - [The Trump Administration: The Clusterfuck Continues (Part 1)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068) ---
**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:** [December 1, 2025, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/2 "2025-12-01T20:33:39Z")
I like _both_ kinds of music. **Country and Western!** ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2025, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3 "2025-12-01T20:36:27Z")
Replying to question from the previous discussion. > [@The Trump Administration: The Clusterfuck Continues (Part 1)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/10061): > > Who is Trump saying hates Christianity? The woman running for congress in TN-07. I forget her name offhand. This was at a rally for her opponent. The election for that seat is tomorrow, BTW. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2025, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/4 "2025-12-01T20:39:58Z")
Aftyn Behn. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2025, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/5 "2025-12-01T20:41:01Z")
> [@The Trump Administration: The Clusterfuck Continues (Part 1)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/10057): > > So something changed, as JFK died two months short of two years and LBJ could have run again in 1968? i’m not sure what you mean here. LBJ became President on November 22, 1963, so about one year before the 1964 election, and a year and few months before the end of JFK’s term in January 1965. So the two years rule didn’t apply, and he was eligible to run in 1964 and 1968, [but opted to not run in 1968 because he didn’t think he could win](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Lyndon_B._Johnson). ---
**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:** [December 1, 2025, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/6 "2025-12-01T20:42:04Z")
Reporter: What part of your body did they MRI? Trump: IT WASN’T THE BRAIN, I HAVE THE BEST BRAIN EVER, YOU COULD NEVER PASS A COGNITIVE TEST BECAUSE OF HOW HARD THEY ARE > **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3m6wrunujxa2q)** > > TRUMP: If they want to release my MRI it's ok w/me. It's perfect like my phone call where I got impeached > > Q: What part of your body were they were looking at? > > TRUMP: I have no idea. It was just an MRI. It wasn't the brain bc I took a cognitive test... ---
**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:** [December 1, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7 "2025-12-01T20:44:55Z")
USA Today says it could be the start of a blue wave. I don’t know if Trump’s endorsement being radioactive should be discovered so early yet a win in Tennessee (there ain’t no place I’d rather be) would be huge and perfect. Can’t find anything about music, yet her “Christian” talk is about “Christian Nationalists” so if that nuance comes into play, hopefully trump drags her opponent down. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2025, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/8 "2025-12-01T20:55:01Z")
> TRUMP: I have no idea. It was just an MRI. It wasn’t the brain bc I took a cognitive test & aced it, which you would be incapable of doing > Dizzy Dean (last NL pitcher to win 30 games in a season, after being hit in the head as a pinch runner): They X-rayed my head and found nothing Enough of me, let’s get Monty back here. ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2025, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/9 "2025-12-01T21:14:31Z")
I know he’d just ignore the question, or call the reporter names, but there should have been a follow-up to the effect of, “wait…you went and got an MRI and you have no idea why? Don’t you think that’s weird?” The lack of follow-up from most reporters is infuriating. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2025, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/10 "2025-12-01T21:42:12Z")
I wonder if he even realizes he’s telling on himself with his constant insistence that a standard cognitive test is SOOOOOOO hard and nobody could possibly “ace” one. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2025, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/11 "2025-12-01T22:07:16Z")
He knows he “aced” it, because if he didn’t, he would have to be put into the locked dementia ward. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2025, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/12 "2025-12-01T22:23:20Z")
**Trump:** “So, did I ace the test? I’m sure I aced it. I always ace this test.” **Doctor:** “Mister President, it’s not that kind of test. You aren’t graded, it’s not a contest, we are trying to find signs of…” **Trump:** “Yes or no, did I ace it? Tell me I aced it.” **Doctor:** “…Sure, yes, you aced it sir. If that’s what you need to hear, you aced it.” **Trump:** “I aced it, always ace it! Every time! You hear that father?!” ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2025, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/13 "2025-12-01T22:38:02Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > **Trump:** “I aced it, always ace it! Every time! You hear that father?!” There is a view that it’s Trump’s very pathetic neediness that has contributed to his cult. Cult members feel about him the way they’d feel about a toddler: pride and fondness. It’s Trump’s weakness that reconciles his fans to the need to knuckle under to him; they feel empowered in a way. It’s their choice to bow down to him–because they want him to feel better. They don’t feel forced into it. Russians DO feel forced to bow down to Putin, by contrast. No one there is “fond” of him. ---
**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:** [December 2, 2025, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/14 "2025-12-02T01:24:58Z")
> [@system](#): > > Continuing the discussion from [The Trump Administration: The Clusterfuck Continues (Part 1) - #10061 by Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/10061) Wow. This is the first time I’ve had a thread hit the limit. I appreciate all those who’ve been engaged in this discussion and, in one way or another, are fighthing the good fight. Honestly, that has reassured me that the country, nay, the world is not just doom and gloom. > [@Coriolanus](#): > > I like _both_ kinds of music. **Country and Western!** What’s it say about me that I love Country music but cannot stand Western music? Also, when the CMA awards were held in Washington, DC, we were living across the river in Arlington. My dad’s response to that was, “About time they brought some class to this town”. Of course, Dad was from Richmond, Virginia. > [@dtilque](#): > > The woman running for congress in TN-07. I forget her name offhand. This was at a rally for her opponent. > > The election for that seat is tomorrow, BTW. > [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Aftyn Behn. That name alone is enough for the felon to attack her. > [@Coriolanus](#): > > Tennessee (there ain’t no place I’d rather be The comedian Henry Cho said, “Tennessee is the volunteer state. That’s because they can’t make you live there.” > [@Coriolanus](#): > > Enough of me, let’s get Monty back here. Nah, you’re on a roll. Don’t lose the momentum! > [@carlb](#): > > I know he’d just ignore the question, or call the reporter names, but there should have been a follow-up to the effect of, “wait…you went and got an MRI and you have no idea why? Don’t you think that’s weird?” > > The lack of follow-up from most reporters is infuriating. I’ve posted the following at least once before and I’m going to post it again now and, no doubt, more times until the felon and his co-conspirators and fellow criminals are out. The press corps needs to unify. If the felon or one of his ~~professional liars~~ hacks goes off on an inane tangent, insults the reporter who asked a question, or refuses to answer the question, _each and every reporter called on after that reporter should repeat the question_. Lather, rinse, repeat until _the question is answered_ or, and this will be the best visual, the felon or said hack calls off the presser and runs away tail between the legs. > [@Smapti](#): > > I wonder if he even realizes he’s telling on himself with his constant insistence that a standard cognitive test is SOOOOOOO hard and nobody could possibly “ace” one. That’s because he believes he’s the only one with a brain. Everyone else is a zombie. Given he people he’s surrounded by, such a conclusion is not all that surprising. > [@Sherrerd](#): > > It’s Trump’s weakness that reconciles his fans to the need to knuckle under to him; they feel empowered in a way. It’s their choice to bow down to him–because they want him to feel better. They don’t feel forced into it. While I agree there is much truth in what you said, I also believe you’re missing somthing. He’s an old jerk. When he was young, racism and various other prejudices were open and, sadly, accepted in too many places, but especially the racism. He’s old and he’s relishing the days when his father’s prejudices, along with those of his father’s like-minded terrors, were what he loved. Why did he love them? At the base level–and let’s face it, he’s very base–he loves them mainly because he’s a jerk. His father was a jerk and he adored his father. Maybe this is an example of “chicken or egg?” in real life, but I think he adored his father _because_ his father was a jerk. And that moves us to his base, his cult. They adore him because he’s a jerk and he mouths the prejudices they adore. The felon has no filter and says whatever comes to his inane mind. The cult love it becuase the don’t recognize what it really means. He’s stuck in the past. The past that was good for his father, the past that they have convinced themselves was the golden age of America. The past that actually never existed. And they’re bigots big time too. That’s all they need to adore him. By the way, did you ever see _Mississippi Burning_? A Black sharecropper was driving an FBI agent from up North around. The FBI agent asked about the Black sharecropper’s neighbor. The rest of the conversation was like this (to the best of my recollection). > [@](#): > > Black Sharecropper: Oh, we grew up next door to each other. His daddy farmed that land next to mine. My daddy farmed the land next to his. And his land is the exact same size as my land and we grow the same crops. But you know what? My land is worth more than his. > > FBI Agent: What? How can that be? > > Black Sharecropper: I don’t live next door to no n~. > > _Then they both laugh._ If you tell that story to the felon or any of his cult base, do you know what they will get from it? They certainly won’t recognize how harmful and wrong racism is. All they’ll get from it is a certain demographic brings property values down. That’s because they’re stupid racist jerks. They’ll never be anything else. They’ll never get better. In fact, they will simply get worse. So don’t go around thinking when the felon is finally out of office, someone just as as bad won’t replace him. Dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2025, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/15 "2025-12-02T01:31:02Z")
IANA fighter pilot, but I think the F-35 – despite its looks, and the political machinations that brought it about – is a good aircraft. The Saab Gripen E is also a good aircraft. Is it as good as, or better than, an F-35? I don’t know. IANAFP. But the [Canadian Defence Department thinks the F-35 is better](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/f-35-gripen-dnd-competition-9.6992167). OTOH, the Gripen E _is_ cheaper to buy, cheaper to operate, and was designed to operate in harsh conditions. I think Canada is smart to buy them instead of the F-35. Seriously, Canadian pilots are not (I hope) going to be squaring off against U.S. pilots. They’ll be up against Soviet designs that (I think) would find F-16s a challenge. Still, I think Canada would have bought F-35s if Mr. Potato Head hadn’t bolloxed the deal. So there goes billions of dollars that would have gone to USian companies. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2025, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/16 "2025-12-02T01:59:15Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > IANA fighter pilot, but I think the F-35 – despite its looks, and the political machinations that brought it about – is a good aircraft. I think it looks cool! It gives me a Robotech vibe. [![](https://www.govconwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/f-35.jpg) ](https://www.govconwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/f-35.jpg) Yes, that’s the most shallow evaluation of an aircraft you can possibly give, and I did it. ---
**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:** [December 2, 2025, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/17 "2025-12-02T02:00:00Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > > [@Coriolanus](#): > > > > I like _both_ kinds of music. **Country and Western!** > > What’s it say about me that I love Country music but cannot stand Western music? I’d not be able to tell you. Country & Western have probably merged yet, if you can tell the difference, they haven’t entirely. Anyways, the line is from “The Blues Brothers” and you can guess what kind of music they play. Yet they need a gig, and Elwood (Dan Ackroyd) asks the owner: > **Elwood:** > What kind of music do you usually have here? > **Claire:** > Oh, we got both kinds. We got country _and_ western. The joke is fairly obvious. For a politician at some Open Hall or asked “what do you like” and we’ll use music, you want to answer with a mix of Hank Williams (oldies), Tammy Wynette (also oldie - yet in the movie the crowd stops throwing beer bottles at the band when they play ‘stand by your man’, then the theme to Rawhide - the movie is 45 years old so YMMV), maybe Garth Brooks (very popular), Shania Twain. Probably steer clear of cross-genre Taylor Swift because trump doesn’t like her. Nothing controversial, and if you’re running for office _of course_ you like Western if asked. Lots. You _appreciate_ Jazz. Who _doesn’t like_ Mozart? All only if asked. I don’t know what a “Christian Nationalist” is except it sounds like a skinhead with hair. If you say you don’t like them, you feed trump and weren’t likely to get their vote anyway. USA Today spoke of the “Blue Wave” we’ve been waiting a while for, so I hope she gets elected and rethugs start thinking “maybe getting trump to phone in the crap he’d tweet ain’t such a good idea”. Radioactive Trump is bad trump. > [@Coriolanus](#): > > there ain’t no place I’d rather be A frequent refrain in the Grateful Dead’s song “Tennessee Jed”. Stating you like the band gives trump and others reason to say you like bands that promote drugs (they don’t or didn’t). Best answer here is “I like their album ‘American Beauty’” and you’re good. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2025, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/18 "2025-12-02T02:04:05Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Yes, that’s the most shallow evaluation of an aircraft you can possibly give, and I did it. It’s the only way I can evaluate aircraft. “How close is this thing to a Robotech VF?” Of course the F14 is the greatest aircraft ever designed… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2025, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/19 "2025-12-02T02:05:58Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I think it looks cool! It looks pudgy to me, Anyway, Mr. Potato Head’s tariffs _probably_ nixed billions of dollars of sales for Lockheed and other contractors. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2025, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/20 "2025-12-02T02:13:44Z")
I note the Gripen was judged inferior to the F-35 in “upgradability” and “Mission performance” I’d say those particular categories are now moot; Upgrades can only be done in the US, by a country that has explicitly and repeatedly threatened Canada’s sovereignty. This right there should be a dealbreaker. Given the new reality of international relations, any “mission” that was envisioned a decade ago is now radically changed. More money needs to be invested in drones distributed around the country, as well as in anti-drone warfare. Finally, it looks like what was promised initially for the F-35 is still a long way away. We bought the sizzle, but the steak is looking a lot shittier than advertised. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298.md?page=2)