Scrutable

bjn wrote: Sun Jul 06, 2025 11:41 am 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.

bjn wrote: Sun Jul 06, 2025 11:41 am 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.

Tessa K wrote: Sun Jul 06, 2025 12:11 pm

bjn wrote: Sun Jul 06, 2025 11:41 am 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.

Tessa K wrote: Sun Jul 06, 2025 10:50 am It was inevitable that he would want his own power not a share of someone else's

Opti wrote: Mon Jul 07, 2025 3:05 pm 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.

bolo wrote: Mon Jul 07, 2025 6:55 pm 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.

bolo wrote: Mon Jul 07, 2025 10:23 pm FWIW, someone claiming to be the CFO of Tesla has registered it with the Federal Elections Commission as an actual party.

bolo wrote: Mon Jul 07, 2025 10:23 pm FWIW, someone claiming to be the CFO of Tesla has registered it with the Federal Elections Commission as an actual party.

monkey wrote: Mon Jul 07, 2025 11:32 pm

bolo wrote: Mon Jul 07, 2025 10:23 pm 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