Elon Musk: Always A Douche

[Neil]

The objective here is to create a fourth constitutional revolution (1776, 1866, 1930s), with the goal of the complete destruction of the current constitutional order and its replacement by elective Presidential dictatorship, with the President advised by a technical elite. Thus, we are very much on the "doesn't care" side of things.  Destroying agency efficacy is the goal, not the unwanted side effect.  The claims of efficiency and audit are just smoke and mirrors to confuse the public and the media and distract their attention.

The tip-off is how Trump's people are responding to the lawsuits.  They are specifically saying that Musk has NO ROLE in DOGE, the pseudo-agency he allegedly leads.  They are not grounding his authority as head of a government bureau (even a fake one like DOGE) because the goal is to destroy all powers of all the bureaus.  Rather, they are saying his authority comes from his role as personal advisor to the President, conveying Presidential orders.  That is, Musk's authority is viceregal - it comes not from serving in an appointed position with Senate advice and consent but as the voice of the President himself.  It is the ultimate logical endpoint of the theory of the unitary executive, where only the President's voice has authority, but that authority is total AND it can be exercised by delegation at the President's personal whim, thus escaping the constitutional fetters of advice + consent and legislative oversight.

Which makes Musk an evil version of Harry Hopkins.

[The Minsky Moment]

I do have to wonder what the value of controlling the President, even a theoretical dictatorial one, if there is no administration to carry out his will.

There will still be an administration, although a much reduced one consistent with the Thielian, techbro Seasteading ideology. There will be a military and a stripped-down welfare state that just cuts checks. Vital health and safety tasks (e.g. FAA) will be maintained at minimum viable levels, unless or until those tasks can be privatized or contracted out. Company and industry regulation will be gutted.  Legal and law enforcement (DOJ, FBI, etc) will be maintained - weakened in some areas like civil rights enforcement but strengthened in others like domestic surveillance and suppression of dissent.

Mechanically, administration will probably look like a modern version of the Carolingian missi dominici, with roving viceroys hired personally by the President promulgating rules and giving directions.  The White House staff will expand significantly although that growth may be concealed "off books" or by giving the viceregal staffs parallel appointments in the bureaucracy.

Such a system could continue to be democratic in form with real elections, but there will be powerful built-in incentives to cheat and suppress the opposition. Both because it can be easily done without repercussions but also because the effect of losing office would be catastrophic.  If an AOC, Saunders, or even a true Left version of Trump took office, Presidential powers could be used the annihilate the techbro ascendancy and impose sweeping restrictions on market capitalism. The winner takes everything dynamic of Presidential elections would lead to extreme measures being used to seize (or maintain power) an will likely sharply increase in violence and social unrest (which in turn will fuel further efforts at state surveillance and repression).

[Syt]

So, what needs to happen next? And how to stop it?

[mongers]

So, what needs to happen next? And how to stop it?

Military coup? 

[Valmy]

So, what needs to happen next? And how to stop it?

I am not really clear on how the rules work anymore to be frank.

[Zanza]

Hitler was named chancellor on January 30th and the Enabling Act that made him dictator was passed on March 24th, basically ending the Weimar constitution. The Nazis needed another year to establish a totalitarian state.

Let's see if Trump can beat that timeline. Looks like it right now.

[crazy canuck]

They are bypassing the need for legislation to be passed. Their position is everyone must simply do what the President commands. They are already at the stage of a totalitarian state. The only question now is will anyone in the US stop them.

[The Brain]

US officers are quite willing to fight the government to defend slavery. Democracy, not so much.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

So, what needs to happen next? And how to stop it?

I am not really clear on how the rules work anymore to be frank.

in that case it's time to revive Robespierre.

"Ah ! ça ira, ça ira, ça ira..."
"

[Syt]

Or Milton.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tenure_of_Kings_and_Magistrates

[mongers]

Now he's bombing Poland:

SpaceX rocket debris crashes into Poland

The pyrotechnics were in fact caused by a Space X Falcon 9 rocket re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. There are reports of sightings in Denmark, Sweden and England.

Pieces of the rocket then crashed into Poland and, experts say, may also have landed in Ukraine.

At around 10:00 local time (09:00 GMT) this morning Adam Borucki was astonished to find what appeared to be a charred tank measuring around 1.5m by 1m behind his warehouse in Komorniki, Poland.

The debris appears to have damaged a light fixture in the warehouse's yard.

Mr Borucki contacted the police, who working alongside the Polish space agency Polsa, determined that the unidentified object was debris from a Falcon 9 rocket, manufactured by Elon Musk's company SpaceX.

[Josquius]

You cannot see attachments on this board.

Fuck knows if it's real. Twitter screen caps are often fake these days. Anyone want to check?

[Valmy]

Propagandists and retards are not allowed free speech?

But yeah even for Musk that seems mind bogglingly arrogant and stupid.

[The Minsky Moment]

So, what needs to happen next? And how to stop it?

Only one effective way I can think of and unfortunately it is not feasible right now and may never be. But not impossible if the Democrats find a real strong leader and survive long enough to sweep mid-term elections.  A return to Congressional government.

[Neil]

So, what needs to happen next? And how to stop it?

Only one effective way I can think of and unfortunately it is not feasible right now and may never be. But not impossible if the Democrats find a real strong leader and survive long enough to sweep mid-term elections.  A return to Congressional government.

A strong leader would do wonders for them, but I am worried about the party trying to find a message.  Hopefully, resistance to Trump's depredations is strong enough that they can pull it off, but in 2024 the Republicans won on both economic and social messaging, which is wild.