# 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:** 368
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7341 "2026-07-21T21:49:39Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > I cannot currently distinguish a “pluscuamperfecto” from a “subjuntivo”. Of course not: there is nothing to distinguish there, those are two different grammatical categories. Pluscuamperfecto is a verb tense, it expresses a past that is completed and finished. Say “eat” (_comer_): Había comido. There was a moment in the past where somebody had already eaten, then the sentence continues with whatever happens then. _ **Había comido** cuando llegó_. When he arrived, he **had** already **eaten**. That is indicative. Subjunctive (in Spanish at least, as it was taught to me in school) is a mode of the verb that expresses not a tense (past, perfect past, pluperfect past, present, future and whatever there is are all possible in subjuntivo), but a possibility that did not come to pass. If you are fluent in Spanish subjuntivo happens automatically when you put an _ojalá_ in front: _Hubiese comido._ Say for instance: _Ojalá **hubiese** (o **hubiera** ) **comido** cuando llegó, porque no teníamos nada que ofrecerle_. I ignore whether the translation “I wish he **had** already **eaten** when he arrived, as we had nothing to offer” is also called pluperfect subjunctive in English, I have the feeling the anglophones use the grammatical terms differently (or not at all, more likely). If it is subjunctive in English it looks exactly the same as indicative, both say **had eaten**. No wonder they get confused, it looks identical but it wants to express something completely different. The same words are grammatically different. It’s like speaking prose all your life without realizing it. Now pretérito anterior (_hubo comido_), that is hard to explain to anglophones. Even Spanish speakers use that sparingly. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7342 "2026-07-21T21:53:12Z")
Working for Trump means that I don’t give people the benefit of the doubt if they’re accused of something illegal or ethically dubious. For example, the US Ambassador to Canada has been connected to an app used by an Albertan separatist group. Apparently Albertan separatists have also met with the Trump Admin. Maybe it’s a coincidence and I should be less suspicious? > **[Alberta Separatist Group’s Controversial Voter ID App Has Links to US...](https://pressprogress.ca/alberta-separatist-groups-controversial-voter-id-app-has-links-to-us-ambassador-maga-influencers-and-wealthy-michigan-republicans/)** > > US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra says he was ‘not aware’ American-made app he previously promoted was used to help Alberta separatist group ---
**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:** [July 21, 2026, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7343 "2026-07-21T21:55:24Z")
Will all of this be on the exam? ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7344 "2026-07-21T21:55:49Z")
Yes, of course! ---
**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:** [July 21, 2026, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7345 "2026-07-21T21:56:06Z")
DAMN! ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7346 "2026-07-21T22:13:34Z")
As I would always tell my students who asked what would be on the exam. “What you don’t know will be on the Exam.” ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7347 "2026-07-21T22:19:54Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Yes, of course! ¡De haberlo sabido! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7348 "2026-07-21T22:35:36Z")
Defense Secretary Hegseth, along with the chair of the Joint Chiefs (and the Agriculture Secretary for some reason) appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee to ask for $70 billion for the Iran War. And Hegseth seemed noticeable sweaty. Too much testosterone? Too little? ---
**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:** [July 21, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7349 "2026-07-21T22:42:39Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > And Hegseth seemed noticeable sweaty. Too much testosterone? Too little? Trump notoriously likes his people to be aggressive when being questioned by members of Congress. So who would be surprised if little Pete thought that downing some T supplements would result in a performance that Trump would publicly praise? I mean, it seems more likely than not. As for the scrod/grammar joke: hadn’t heard that one before, and did laugh out loud! ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7350 "2026-07-21T22:42:41Z")
Maybe just right. Enough to be nervous but not enough to kill someone. ---
**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:** [July 21, 2026, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7351 "2026-07-21T22:44:08Z")
> [@dougrb](#): > > Enough to be nervous but not enough to kill someone. Though in this Administration, ‘killing someone’ appears to be no big deal. Ask those gunned down in American cities or those in boats off South America… ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7352 "2026-07-21T22:45:02Z")
Maybe he finally realized what an insecure, idiotic, posturing, worthless, hateful, excuse for a human being he is. He finally knows he isn’t qualified to clean up road kill, let alone oversee the US military. This sudden epiphany and atypical, surprising bit of self awareness about all of that made him nervous. I doubt it though. ---
**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:** [July 21, 2026, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7353 "2026-07-21T22:50:58Z")
I share your doubt. ---
**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:** [July 21, 2026, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7354 "2026-07-21T22:52:03Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > And Hegseth seemed noticeable sweaty. Too much testosterone? Too little? Too much _thinking about other men’s_ testosterone! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7355 "2026-07-21T23:42:08Z")
Hegseth said something about how the Defense Department was being “led by combat tested veterans and world class business leaders who are running the department like a business.” As opposed to the philosophy majors and classics scholars who were previously running it. And what is with this obsession with claiming to run the government or part of it like a business? (And if they really were running it like a business, they would never have gotten involved in this stupid war.) ---
**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:** [July 21, 2026, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7356 "2026-07-21T23:46:43Z")
Well, they **are** running the gummint like one of trump’s businesses, namely, down the drain. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2026, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7357 "2026-07-22T00:09:17Z")
Tricky ---
**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:** [July 22, 2026, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7358 "2026-07-22T00:11:53Z")
I can see how someone who hasn’t given it much thought would think running the government like a business is a good idea, but a _war_? running a _war_ like a business? damn these people are dumb. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7359 "2026-07-22T00:37:53Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > As opposed to the philosophy majors and classics scholars who were previously running it. There went a perfectly good drink! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/7360 "2026-07-22T00:44:45Z")
Veterans and people from the defense industry have been running the DoD for a long time. That is actually the problem; it’s the military-industrial complex that Eisenhower warned us about. Putting outsiders in charge might be a good idea. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298.md?page=367) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298.md?page=369)