meanwhile, at the Limestone mine in Pennsylvania.. LOL. you CANNOT make this stuff up
Musk / Trump press conference should be must watch for every taxpayer....
- Thread starter -lowcountrydawg
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So that should stop them from doing it now? This is good no matter how much you hate them.
Yeah the TDS gets worse when it is cloudy and rainy.
0.0% of the Constitution is dedicated to giving Congress the power to run education in the United States.
Therefore that is a power granted to the people and the individual states, per the ninth and tenth amendments to said COTUS, much like running healthcare or retirement plans.
Jimmy Carter received 50.1% of the popular vote, pretty similar to what Donald Trump received in 2024, in the election, securing his presidency, during which he signed the Department of education into law.
You brought up Congress, and admittedly, Congress was heavily democratic at that time. No argument there.
Congress gets its powers from the constitution, and liberals are screaming from hilltops that we are in a constitutional crisis so (checks the COTUS……..crunches the numbers……..ok, got it)
0.0% of the US Constitution is dedicated to giving Congress the authority to establish a department of education. That is therefore a power reserved for the people and the states, via ratified amendments to that Constitution.
You should probably check your sources (you're literally doing what you have criticized others for), since it doesn't exactly align with what your "posted without comment" is actually trying to emphasize:
The U.S. State Department’s procurement forecast for 2025, updated in December 2024, lists Tesla as the recipient of a $400 million contract for "Armored Tesla" vehicles. This is the largest projected contract in the forecast, spanning five years with an anticipated award date of September 30, 2025. The forecast was revised under the Biden administration, before Donald Trump took office, and is managed by the Defensive Equipment and Armored Vehicle Division. It’s unclear if this refers to modified Cybertrucks, which Tesla claims are "armored" and "bulletproof" but have limited protective capacity, or a new dedicated armored vehicle. Other armored vehicles, like BMW X5/X7 and various sedans, are also listed but with smaller budgets, ranging from $40 million to $50 million.
The contract has sparked debate due to its size and timing, especially since Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, is a senior government official under Trump, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Some see it as a potential conflict of interest, though the forecast predates Trump’s administration. Critics question the necessity of $400 million in armored vehicles for the State Department and note oddities, like the contract being categorized under "All Other Miscellaneous Food Manufacturing." Supporters argue it aligns with electrification goals, potentially offering cost-effective options for embassy or VIP use. The contract’s status remains "TBD" regarding competition, leaving its finalization uncertain. You can check the details in the State Department’s FY25 Procurement Forecast spreadsheet, line 22.
At some point, your parroting of this type of crap needs a re-evaluation. You seem really smart...but, your sources are getting dumber.
I hope he signs an EO to increase the number of mental health treatment facilities. It’s been less than a freaking month and you lefties are absolutely losing it. Please get some help.
Case study in a
$400M for a company with a market cap of $1 Trillion. Had Musk sucked up to Biden and endorsed Harris and EV mandates, market cap might be $2 Trillion. This is so tiny Musk probably doesn’t even know about it. To say nothing of the fact that Tesla’s technology beats the dogshit out of anyone else’s, and doing that kind of contract w Ford or GM would be a disservice to Americans.
To try and argue Musk is better off financially under a Trump admin is an impossible task. More powerful and more famous? Yes.
Argue that Musk is an asshole or power hungry or whatever. But to say he is motivated in his DOGE role to enrich himself with government money? Doesn’t even come close to passing the smell test.
...and also, as I pointed out above...the contract was secured under Biden.
Details can be a bitch when a they get in the way of a narrative.
Sounds like we are actually getting something for our money. More than I can say for so many expenditures we have been made aware of. I’m sure his contracts will be scrutinized much more closely than anyone else in the country. It’s sad some can’t celebrate what this man contributes. Even sadder that the previous administration basically tried to cancel the man. Major mistake on their part.
Some posters here can "LOL" at your post, but it's a legitimate point. The absolute clown show of "dick" references, awkward 'songs' and generally impotent attempts to stir up the non-existent base is indicative of how far-left the Democrats have shifted, how 'out of touch' they are, and the general impotence of their message has become.
It's a literal shit-show.
Simply 'hating Trump' is rapidly becoming a losing proposition.
Media has changed. Like it or not...consumers are critical of their sources & have become critical of being told that Trump is "literally" Hitler. The assumption that the American Voter is so stupid to fall for that line is exactly why the Democrats are flailing and failing to produce a message that resonates w/ anybody that isn't on their payroll.
It doesn't matter at all who the contract was secured under.
I didn't say that Musk was using the unprecedented executive power that he bought $280m to award his himself contracts. As I've said above, he is literally the single most conflicted person on the planet when it comes to federal spending, and yet he is also the person unilaterally making decisions regarding billions in federal spending.
Choosing to ignore this issue, which is only one of a long list of issues with DOGE, is willful ignorance. This isn't a game, and it isn't a private enterprise with far smaller stakes. These decisions are potentially impacting millions of lives and in most cases, Elon doesn't even understand the implications of his decisions, much less take the time to conduct a meaningful cost/benefit analysis.
He also admitted, during that very strange event in the Oval Office, that he lied about condoms to Gaza and can't be expected to "bat 1000" while he spreads those lies via the global communication platform that he owns and controls.
In a sane world, absolutely none of this would be considered acceptable, but at least the libs are being owned and bathrooms protected.
Y'all might want to take the time to research Elon's many public statements in the past about what he wants for the future of the country. It isn't really about reduced federal spending.
I also suggest checking out the two comments Elon's son Little X made to Trump during that presser. It's funny, but much more so telling.
EDIT: So, apparently the USAID disruption has led to $500m in food at risk of rotting on docks of Houston. The inspector general who issued that warning was fired immediately by Trump. It isn't about effectiveness or waste, it's about messaging, and the administration doesn't care who gets hurt in the process.
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I think I could make a better argument that he’s the least conflicted. The vast majority of his wealth is Tesla which has a direct reverse correlation in valuation relative to the Trump agenda which promotes oil production, elimination of EV mandates, and China tariffs. Not to mention the guy already has Monopoly money and is much more motivated by non-financial stuff at this point. Versus pretty much anyone else that could have been appointed, who could conceivably benefit in terms of materially impacting their own net worth.
Rather than just broadly saying “he’s conflicted” and pointing out that some of his companies do business with the feds (hint: we all do business with the feds, but a much larger portion of our net worth is at stake in our business with the feds)……..I suggest painting a scenario in detail on how Musk can materially change his net worth via this role. And how that wouldn’t be transparent to all involved.
In a sane world, you wouldn’t be upset about cutting the government’s wasteful spending. There is nothing sane about this line of thinking. All of the conjecture is just fear and excuse making for something long overdue. I just look at it like this will. Been 20 plus days. Every single day trump has accomplished something. Or done some work for the American people. Biden was on vacation for half of his term. This is what work looks like. He has answered more questions in two weeks than Biden did in the last two years.
You are complaining about someone working for free. Simply explaining he is trying to make things better. You have two lifelong democrats trying to fix this. Look at how middle ground the people are surrounding Trump. Rubio, his chief of staff, tulsi, rfk, Elon etc. they just realized the Dems had gone way too far left. It isn’t like they woke up and turned into far right zealots. It is mind blowing that no hard core lefty realizes this. Maybe look in the damn mirror. The middle ground of your party is basically running the gop. What does that tell you will? Which is why there are more registered Republicans than ever
You can make that argument, but it’s a horrible one.
I’m in the auto business. Tesla is about to get crushed by very affordable and very compelling Chinese EVs. I can’t overstate just how impressive the new wave of Chinese EVs are. The only way Tesla can compete moving forward will be massive and targeted tariffs, which he will surely get.
Space X lives or dies on federal dollars and contracts.
Regardless of either of the points above, Musk is by far the wealthiest man in this country. All of these program cuts are going to be used to help offset further tax cuts for the wealthy, which Trump has been open about and the GOP included in their just released budget.
Elon is playing the long(ish) game. Where the country’s best interest happens to align with Elon, he will make decisions that help us. But where those interests diverge, which they will quite often, don’t expect Elon’s to suddenly become a charitable figure.
Will is very smart.
Its just that the Dems have no plan, no strategy and no leader right now so this is all they can do.
Not sure about your first statement, but there is a lot of truth in everything else you said.
He sure is finding a lot of money the Dems hid or fraudulently threw away on illegal immigration.
Auto business,,,, helps explain a few things.
You anti-anything good for the country crying and whining really gets old. Chinese EV's taking over,,,, LMBO
Geezus Cussing Cryst I wish you clowns would STOP reminding us that Elon donated $280 million towards the Trump campaign and the RNC.
Is that ATF you got?
Zuckerberg donated $350+ million to Biden and the DNC in 2020 then censured Conservatives and cooperated with the FBI to interfere with the election.
It's THEIR MONEY..........they can give it away to whomever they want.
The censoring thing is a much different animal.
Here is a very tangible accounting of what is only a very small subset of the benefits that Musk is getting out of his current deal. Amazing coincidences, I'm sure.
Ill bet you havent asked yourself , hey why are they investigating Musks organizations? Has that occurred to anyone?
@lowcountrydawg - Some of the most brilliant people in history have not functioned well in society. Sometimes they see things differently, but are not able to function well with people and society. Don't know him personally obviously, but everyone needs to consider that. I give him credit for what he has done in business.
Maybe because he doesn't like to follow rules. It works sometimes, but not always. Remember he didn't grow up in this country.
And unlike some political retribution, his problems started before he started funding the reelection.
Have you asked yourself if he funded Trump so he could get a position where he could get rid of people investigating him. He is so smart right. Just asking.
Auto business....and works for a JAPANESE Company by his own admission.....he let that slip at some point..I keep receipts
Thenk you, good sir. There is, and never was, any mandate for the federal government to run education (or health care or retirement plans, for that matter) in the first place. Loony liberal goons in government just seized that power for themselves.
This is not ‘Nam, Dude. There are rules.
Loony liberal goons in Washington just took these things over, yet now are screaming “constitutional crisis!”
The actual constitutional crisis happened when the federal government seized this power in the first place. Tyranny!
They’ve made an incontrovertible mess of education (and health care and retirement plans to boot). I’ve had no choice but to pay up or have my property seized. That’s not how a republic works. Liberals don’t understand we are a republic. They insist on calling the U.S. “our democracy.”
Two wolves and a chicken voting on what’s for supper is how a democracy works.
Liberals in Washington who think they know better than everybody else how everybody else ought to run their lives have made an absolute mess of the U.S. of A. We are already $36T in debt and the government is set to renege on promises they made to give me money in retirement. They’ll call it “means testing.” They’ll say I was too industrious and sacrificed too much and that I have means and therefore I get back none of the monies I have paid into social security.
What recourse will I have? My representation in Washington is Assoff, Warnock (repeal the seventeenth!), and, since I’ve been ‘mandered into his district even though I live in Macon, Sanford Bishop,
It’s hard to change the hearts and minds of people who are convinced that they’re smarter than you and that their heart is in a better place than yours, but please keep trying. I will too.
What are the consequences of the bleeding liberal heart that think they know better than you how your life ought to be run?
Tyranny.
I have no fealty to any party, I am a registered independent. I vote GOP on virtually everything but my water board rep anyway because the Democrat party is full of lunatics, because there are never any libertarian candidates on the ballot leaving me with no voice in government. I hope against hope every election that elected Republicans realize that that they were not born under the sign of Vagitarius, but they cower and cave to Democrats every time (time for an article V convention).
I leave you with my favorite quote.
“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. This very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be "cured" against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals”
-C.S. Lewis
How do you know he doesn’t like to follow rules?
When he bought X and told the Libs to eat dirt , literally every Government agency came after him. I wonder why? He was sued by every government agency that used to be friendly to him and his work. He didn’t begin supporting Trump until the first assassination attempt. You guys loved Elon before he started making waves.
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