In 4 or 5 years we can look back and will see how much DOGE cost American taxpayers.We still have no detailed report on what money will be "saved" by doge. One guy got to make the decisions.
I agree that the power he was granted was unprecedented. That's a different issue from the rules under which he was allowed to work for the government.This type of power given to an unelected advisor is unprecedented, so the rules aren't very clear. Unless there's a rule preventing reappointment and extension, then Musk could have been reappointed and his term extended. But like I said, this is unprecedented. It's not like I can compare this to what happened last time, so I have no idea what the "rules" dictate.
Yeah, not quite. He got Elmo's money, sure. But now he has to put up with Elmo acting like a coyote on meth, trying to spike bills, planning to primary Trump loyalists, and attacking Trump's agenda.Trump is not the brightest bulb, but he played Musk beautifully.
He could just as easily been called an advisor or czar or special something or other or Trump could have written an EO. If Trump wanted him to stay AND Musk wanted to stay he would have stayed. I think this was mutual but not amicable.I agree that the power he was granted was unprecedented. That's a different issue from the rules under which he was allowed to work for the government.
He was classed a "special government employee" under 18 USC 202 (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/202). The SGE designation allows someone to work for the government for a maximum of 130 days within a 365 period. There are no provisions to allow for reappointment within that 365 day period. That is why Musk had to leave.
The statute does not speak at all to what duties may or may not be performed.
I love that what makes this Bill an abomination to a man like Elon Musk is not the fact that it lets AI companies run amok across the United States, or allows Palantir to create a KGB-style dossier on every single citizen in the United States, or cuts Medicaid for the impoverished, but instead that it does not cut enough.
Not to defend Musk, but he has admitted to having Asperger's Syndrome. People on the autism spectrum lack Theory of Mind, which is the innate human ability to understand intentionality. This part of the brain develops early, and by 6 years old, most children understand that others have thoughts of their own which can be affected by their own thoughts and behavior. Humans eventually develop this ability to extent of manipulating others. People with Asperger's do not have this ability. His mind doesn't understand that others can be hurt by his actions.He might as well have said "My problem with the bill is that I came into government to hurt people, and while it hurts a ton of poor people, it just does not hurt enough of them."
I hope this bill sinks, but it almost certainly is not going to.
Who would that be? I'm thinking your assumptions make you look the ass here, but I could be wrong?But your idol and his merry band of ass kissers in Congress want the opposite.
But now everyone hates Musk while TACO Trump continues to grift. Trump got the money, got elected, and has managed to transfer the hate to Musk instead of him.Yeah, not quite. He got Elmo's money, sure. But now he has to put up with Elmo acting like a coyote on meth, trying to spike bills, planning to primary Trump loyalists, and attacking Trump's agenda.
I also don't think he will get away with making Elmo a fall guy for DOGE. He may try, but that will require admitting that he patted Elmo on the back for months while inflicting harm on Americans.
Thanks. That's clear.I agree that the power he was granted was unprecedented. That's a different issue from the rules under which he was allowed to work for the government.
He was classed a "special government employee" under 18 USC 202 (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/202). The SGE designation allows someone to work for the government for a maximum of 130 days within a 365 period. There are no provisions to allow for reappointment within that 365 day period. That is why Musk had to leave.
The statute does not speak at all to what duties may or may not be performed.
Yes, because this administration carefully follows rules and regulations about government employees, contractors and advisors.There are no provisions to allow for reappointment within that 365 day period. That is why Musk had to leave.
I honestly don't think so. EO's can't override actual laws. I'm not defending Musk at all - he screwed over lots of people and should have never been brought in in the first place. I also expected he and Trump would have a falling out eventually - no way Trump could ever stomach an equally big ego out shining him.He could just as easily been called an advisor or czar or special something or other or Trump could have written an EO. If Trump wanted him to stay AND Musk wanted to stay he would have stayed. I think this was mutual but not amicable.
Yes, I agree. The thing is that now, he has no control over the wealthiest man in the world, who owns a social media site much larger than Trump's, is stuck in Goblin Mode, and has no qualms about repeatedly attacking Trump's agenda. Elmo has made a big mess for Dear Leader.But now everyone hates Musk while TACO Trump continues to grift. Trump got the money, got elected, and has managed to transfer the hate to Musk instead of him.
I would argue that he does potentially have some control over him. The office that he holds is immensely powerful.Yes, I agree. The thing is that now, he has no control over the wealthiest man in the world, who owns a social media site much larger than Trump's, is stuck in Goblin Mode, and has no qualms about repeatedly attacking Trump's agenda. Elmo has made a big mess for Dear Leader.
We should also note that President Thin Skin won't be able to hold his tongue for long. Once he starts to attack Elmo publicly, it's going to be a Toddler Social Media Slugfest, almost certainly before the midterms. Fingers crossed.
You're assuming that Elmo is a rational human being, who is willing and able to keep his mouth shut in order to further his interests. His track record over the past several years makes it abundantly clear that is not the case.I would argue that he does potentially have some control over him. The office that he holds is immensely powerful.
Oh, I'm not arguing that edolf thinks or ever will think that someone powerful potentially has control over him. Oligarchs often don't. That doesn't change the reality of the situation, though.You're assuming that Elmo is a rational human being, who is willing and able to keep his mouth shut in order to further his interests. His track record over the past several years makes it abundantly clear that is not the case.
'Disgusting abomination': Musk goes nuclear on Trump's 'big beautiful bill'
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/03/elon-musk-trump-bill-00382653
Elon Musk came out swinging against President Donald Trump's "big beautiful bill" on Tuesday, slamming the reconciliation package as a "disgusting abomination" in a massive break from the president just days after stepping away from his role in the administration.
"I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore," Musk wrote on his social media platform X. "This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it."
Musk, who Trump had tapped to lead the federal expense-slashing Department of Government Efficiency, went on to criticize the bill for setting up Congress to "increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!)" and saddle Americans with "crushingly unsustainable debt."
____________________________________________________
This is precisely what democrats have been saying every day since republicans came out with their budget bill. Republicans have always increased the national debt, and always done the same way, by massive tax cuts for the rich. Historically, it's always democrats that have always reduced the deficits that have been run up by reckless republican presidents and Congress.
View attachment 67572844
'Disgusting abomination': Musk goes nuclear on Trump's 'big beautiful bill'
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/03/elon-musk-trump-bill-00382653
Elon Musk came out swinging against President Donald Trump's "big beautiful bill" on Tuesday, slamming the reconciliation package as a "disgusting abomination" in a massive break from the president just days after stepping away from his role in the administration.
"I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore," Musk wrote on his social media platform X. "This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it."
Musk, who Trump had tapped to lead the federal expense-slashing Department of Government Efficiency, went on to criticize the bill for setting up Congress to "increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!)" and saddle Americans with "crushingly unsustainable debt."
____________________________________________________
This is precisely what democrats have been saying every day since republicans came out with their budget bill. Republicans have always increased the national debt, and always done the same way, by massive tax cuts for the rich. Historically, it's always democrats that have always reduced the deficits that have been run up by reckless republican presidents and Congress.
View attachment 67572844
Trump has long been a master at manufacturing drama. The same cannot be said about his ability to craft good policy.The whole affair smacks of the need for drama in place of good policy.
The way to find efficiency is NOT mass firings with no background.
The way to reduce costs is through efficiency and eliminating your work force is counter to that.
Having been there in a much smaller capacity I can definitively state that the first efficiency is duplication. EVERY outfit on earth has it. It's easy to find and eliminate. The second is fat middle management.
Any first year MBA candidate knows that.
Like Edison, Musk is a scientist. Smart scientists get great MBA's to run their ideas for them.
Elon is not a smart scientists. He's so stupid he thinks he knows everything.
What the inexperienced Musk did was classic rich boy - slash and burn without thought or input in the consequences
Well, in THAT case, let me be the first to NOT play that game and tell you straight up what I think:but I do find it hilarious that anti-Trumpers (anti-GOP) folks, crawl all over themselves to demonize the first, and then if he switches gears (like he did), they demonize that too.
The same cannot be said about his ability to craft (any) policy.Trump has long been a master at manufacturing drama. The same cannot be said about his ability to craft good policy.
Bad news for America.'Disgusting abomination': Musk goes nuclear on Trump's 'big beautiful bill'
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/03/elon-musk-trump-bill-00382653
Elon Musk came out swinging against President Donald Trump's "big beautiful bill" on Tuesday, slamming the reconciliation package as a "disgusting abomination" in a massive break from the president just days after stepping away from his role in the administration.
"I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore," Musk wrote on his social media platform X. "This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it."
Musk, who Trump had tapped to lead the federal expense-slashing Department of Government Efficiency, went on to criticize the bill for setting up Congress to "increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!)" and saddle Americans with "crushingly unsustainable debt."
____________________________________________________
This is precisely what democrats have been saying every day since republicans came out with their budget bill. Republicans have always increased the national debt, and always done the same way, by massive tax cuts for the rich. Historically, it's always democrats that have always reduced the deficits that have been run up by reckless republican presidents and Congress.
View attachment 67572844
Perhaps if the retarded left hadnt filled the USAID program with idiotic programs like pro trans puppets shows in Moldova and if the rat party hadnt used the program to funnel billions into the bank accounts of their supporters, the few good programs wouldnt have been impacted at all. Of course...the fact that the State Department IS still reviewing and passing legitimate funding doesnt matter to you. As long as you can swallow and regurgitate the leftists lies, you will always be happy.Starving Third World kids is a bizarre way to go about that.
only if it then went directly into his pocket via the Starlink contract he wanted, and taking over of the FAA and being paid to upgrade the systems.Or maybe he really wanted to find and eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse ...
Starving kids to make a point about puppet shows is insane.Perhaps if the retarded left hadnt filled the USAID program with idiotic programs like pro trans puppets shows in Moldova and if the rat party hadnt used the program to funnel billions into the bank accounts of their supporters, the few good programs wouldnt have been impacted at all. Of course...the fact that the State Department IS still reviewing and passing legitimate funding doesnt matter to you. As long as you can swallow and regurgitate the leftists lies, you will always be happy.
Meanwhile...36 trillion in debt and counting....
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