Musk Party

[Tessa K]

It looks like the Monster Raving Loony Party are opening a branch in America

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1dn04lvgpdo

[Lew Dolby]

That should neatly split the multi-billionaire vote.

[Tessa K]

It was inevitable that he would want his own power not a share of someone else's

[bjn]

He’s vulnerable though. He was an illegal immigrant at one point, as he started working in the USA while on a student visa well before he obtained his US citizenship, possibly making a false declaration somewhere in his citizenship application. I don’t think it would be that hard, given the current courts and the administration’s hatred of all things foreign, to somehow take away his citizenship and force him to sell SpaceX. At the very least that could be held over him as a threat.

[Tessa K]

He’s vulnerable though. He was an illegal immigrant at one point, as he started working in the USA while on a student visa well before he obtained his US citizenship, possibly making a false declaration somewhere in his citizenship application. I don’t think it would be that hard, given the current courts and the administration’s hatred of all things foreign, to somehow take away his citizenship and force him to sell SpaceX. At the very least that could be held over him as a threat.

And because he wasn't born there he couldn't be President.

[Lew Dolby]

He’s vulnerable though. He was an illegal immigrant at one point, as he started working in the USA while on a student visa well before he obtained his US citizenship, possibly making a false declaration somewhere in his citizenship application.

Pretty much the same applies to Trump's current wife - worked as a model without a work visa.

[dyqik]

He’s vulnerable though. He was an illegal immigrant at one point, as he started working in the USA while on a student visa well before he obtained his US citizenship, possibly making a false declaration somewhere in his citizenship application. I don’t think it would be that hard, given the current courts and the administration’s hatred of all things foreign, to somehow take away his citizenship and force him to sell SpaceX. At the very least that could be held over him as a threat.

And because he wasn't born there he couldn't be President.

Then there's all the safety investigations of Tesla and Space-X that have been put on hold while he's pals with the president.

He's not going to win much of the anti-immigrant vote, and little to none of the Republican loyalist, centrist or left-wing vote. Which leaves a few billionaires and Silicon Valley types in California, which is a lock-in for the Democrats, and online right wing edge lords, who aren't concentrated anywhere in particular.

[jimbob]

It was inevitable that he would want his own power not a share of someone else's

But he still can't be president.

[Tessa K]

I see Trump is now slagging him off. They haven't quite got to the"Your mum smells" stage but it's not far off.

[TopBadger]

Great news for Democrats...

[IvanV]

Tesla stocks down 6.5% (CNN).

[Opti]

I've tried, god knows I've tried, but every time I see this thread I always expect this thread title to be about different fragrances and whether it is more ethical/effective/chemicalised to use real dead animal organs or synthetic. Or something.

[shpalman]

I've tried, god knows I've tried, but every time I see this thread I always expect this thread title to be about different fragrances and whether it is more ethical/effective/chemicalised to use real dead animal organs or synthetic. Or something.

That's here: viewtopic.php?p=19864#p19864

[bolo]

Musk isn't constitutionally eligible to be president, and I can't imagine that he'd want any lesser elected position. So why is he doing this?

IMHO the most likely explanation is that he's pissed at the GOP and trying to spite them without actually having any coherent plan. That seems 100% in character. If it's correct, then the new party will probably have no impact whatsoever.

If the new party tries to run it's own candidates for Congress next year or for President in 2028, every historical precedent is that it will be a flop, although it could possibly be enough of a spoiler to affect whether a Democrat or a Republican wins in a close race. I presume that, if anything, this would help Democrats by peeling off a few Republican votes, but I don't think that's guaranteed, as it might also peel off non-MAGA Republicans who would otherwise hold their noses and vote Democrat.

The way the new party seems mostly likely to have a real impact is if Musk decides to use it as a vehicle for funding and organizing campaigns for Musk's preferred Republican primary candidates. Even if they didn't win their races, they might drag the winning Republicans toward more Musky positions like reducing the budget deficit, while keeping most of the rest of the MAGA agenda.

[monkey]

Musk isn't constitutionally eligible to be president, and I can't imagine that he'd want any lesser elected position. So why is he doing this?

IMHO the most likely explanation is that he's pissed at the GOP and trying to spite them without actually having any coherent plan. That seems 100% in character. If it's correct, then the new party will probably have no impact whatsoever.

If the new party tries to run it's own candidates for Congress next year or for President in 2028, every historical precedent is that it will be a flop, although it could possibly be enough of a spoiler to affect whether a Democrat or a Republican wins in a close race. I presume that, if anything, this would help Democrats by peeling off a few Republican votes, but I don't think that's guaranteed, as it might also peel off non-MAGA Republicans who would otherwise hold their noses and vote Democrat.

The way the new party seems mostly likely to have a real impact is if Musk decides to use it as a vehicle for funding and organizing campaigns for Musk's preferred Republican primary candidates. Even if they didn't win their races, they might drag the winning Republicans toward more Musky positions like reducing the budget deficit, while keeping most of the rest of the MAGA agenda.

It'll be the last one. It's not going to be a political party, it's going to be a PAC with party in its name.

More often than not Musk exaggerates about what he's going to do, sometime to the point of impossibility.

[bolo]

FWIW, someone claiming to be the CFO of Tesla has registered it with the Federal Elections Commission as an actual party.

[Martin Y]

FWIW, someone claiming to be the CFO of Tesla has registered it with the Federal Elections Commission as an actual party.

My mind's in a whirl. It sure doesn't seem as if Musk is in a thinking things through frame of mind right now and I immediately wonder if there's some ridiculous elephant trap he's just set for himself.

What, I wonder, might the responsibilities of being a political party be which might turn out to cause major headaches for an entity which is also still trying against all the odds (i.e. despite its owner) to be a car company.

[monkey]

FWIW, someone claiming to be the CFO of Tesla has registered it with the Federal Elections Commission as an actual party.

According to the pbs article I have just read there are a fair few similar applications.

clicky

[bolo]

FWIW, someone claiming to be the CFO of Tesla has registered it with the Federal Elections Commission as an actual party.

According to the pbs article I have just read there are a fair few similar applications.

clicky

As usual these days, it's hard to know WTF is actually going on. I am so tired of these clowns.

[TopBadger]

Should we start a sweep-stake on when Musk will be stripped of citizenship and deported?

I reckon Trump will do this around December 2026 (after a hammering in the mid terms)