I couldn't agree more Greg. Well said & written. "His is just the pasty, punchable face of the fascist insurgency." is all I needed to read this morning. I'll leave my account up (for my artwork) but will delete the app.
Thanks, Helen. It's a sad day. It feels like the end of a really great summer camp, when the parents are coming to pick us all up and we have to exchange contact info and part.
Oct 28, 2022·edited Oct 28, 2022Liked by Greg Olear
Well said. The only *potential* bright spot is that to date the best year for Twitter's Free Cash Flow has been about $600M. Musk will need to pay his creditors about $1.3B per year, so he will either figure out how to more than double the FCF, or be forced to liquidate other assets (really, only TSLA stock) to make that nut every year.
That makes me smile just a little bit while my finger hovers over the "Delete my Account" button
Edited - because at 5:00AM I apparently can't spell "cash"
The money makes zero sense, which is why it seems like he has ulterior -- and nefarious -- motives for buying it. He's in no danger of bankruptcy, even if [when?] this fails. But if he runs afoul of the law? That's what his money won't free him from.
I agree about the money, but if he starts hammering his TSLA stock year after year to pay the interest to the banks, that will tarnish his image a lot.
Already, I am seeing people who showed some restraint in their racism cutting loose, and not getting warnings or time-outs. Not an inauspicious first 24 hours.
That finger gets ever closer to the "delete account" button
Neither of them have any self-awareness, is the problem. Elon says he's terrified to be alone, and with his pile of money, he never will be...but is anyone interested in him for any reason other than his wealth? Doubtful.
I think the amount of money they have allows them to have many "yes-men" around them. If everyone in your circle is always agreeing with you, you never have to change your way of thinking. And you can afford to look at people who don't agree with you as the enemy. But once that money/payroll disintegrates, those yes-men will disappear. Leaving you with no one but yourself. Then they will be offered the opportunity to get real and possibly grow up. There's a thin line between genius and madness.
The Republicans are emboldened by this move and for good reason.
If and when they take it over it will turn into truth social and the magic of Twitter is gone.
I picture Elon like he takes someone's good ideas but can never execute them well. Self-driving electric cars, the rail system, solar.. all kind-of failed. Probably now twitter. Adding back those chaos agents will be an absolute disaster...
I had the best of intentions last night to delete my Twitter account once I heard the Muskovite had officially taken it over, but then I couldn't readily find the "Delete My Account" button, and then I got into a Twitter fight with fascists, and never did it. I'm now looking at this way: if Musk actually does turn off the filters and makes it into a "free speech" platform, it will be a nice place to go to let off steam, and maybe I'll finally be able to get an answer to the question, "Candace Owens, are you a c-nt in real life or is this just a character you play on TV?" without consequences.
Yup, they gave me a 24-hour time out for that question to Owens. TOTALLY worth it, but nobody probably saw it because I stupidly used the whole word. Duh!
I couldn't agree more Greg. Well said & written. "His is just the pasty, punchable face of the fascist insurgency." is all I needed to read this morning. I'll leave my account up (for my artwork) but will delete the app.
Thanks, Helen. It's a sad day. It feels like the end of a really great summer camp, when the parents are coming to pick us all up and we have to exchange contact info and part.
Staying on Twitter for now, but I know where to find you if “Chief Twit” accidentally (or not) nukes the bird app!
Chief of Twat 🫢🤭
Ha!
I wouldn't put it past him.
Well said. The only *potential* bright spot is that to date the best year for Twitter's Free Cash Flow has been about $600M. Musk will need to pay his creditors about $1.3B per year, so he will either figure out how to more than double the FCF, or be forced to liquidate other assets (really, only TSLA stock) to make that nut every year.
That makes me smile just a little bit while my finger hovers over the "Delete my Account" button
Edited - because at 5:00AM I apparently can't spell "cash"
The money makes zero sense, which is why it seems like he has ulterior -- and nefarious -- motives for buying it. He's in no danger of bankruptcy, even if [when?] this fails. But if he runs afoul of the law? That's what his money won't free him from.
I agree about the money, but if he starts hammering his TSLA stock year after year to pay the interest to the banks, that will tarnish his image a lot.
Already, I am seeing people who showed some restraint in their racism cutting loose, and not getting warnings or time-outs. Not an inauspicious first 24 hours.
That finger gets ever closer to the "delete account" button
Will EM be a surprise guest tonight? What will he be drinking?
Unlike the good folks at SNL, we would never have his smug face on our show. : )
I deleted my account. Great writing. I so appreciate your work.
Thanks, Carol.
I’ve got nothing to add, Greg, except that Musk’s big forehead needs blinking neon lights saying “FASCIST”.
[nods sadly]
This piece might cost you your blue check, Greg. So be it.
I thought I was being nice lol
BTW, I love Old Testament metaphors.
This one works perfectly, I think.
Twitter banned me for my posts about how chump was just another Hitler waiting his turn. Wonder if Elon would welcome me back. Don’t think I’ll ask.
The banning made no sense, it never did, it was designed to ban our side always and boost the fascists.
Watching Kanye's reckoning over the last few days has been exquisite. I only hope Elon has the same experience awaiting him.
Neither of them have any self-awareness, is the problem. Elon says he's terrified to be alone, and with his pile of money, he never will be...but is anyone interested in him for any reason other than his wealth? Doubtful.
I think the amount of money they have allows them to have many "yes-men" around them. If everyone in your circle is always agreeing with you, you never have to change your way of thinking. And you can afford to look at people who don't agree with you as the enemy. But once that money/payroll disintegrates, those yes-men will disappear. Leaving you with no one but yourself. Then they will be offered the opportunity to get real and possibly grow up. There's a thin line between genius and madness.
If you decide to go it'll be like the Pied Piper, I predict.
Funnily, "Pied Piper" is the same of the app they create on "Silicon Valley" that's supposed to fix the internet.
The Republicans are emboldened by this move and for good reason.
If and when they take it over it will turn into truth social and the magic of Twitter is gone.
I picture Elon like he takes someone's good ideas but can never execute them well. Self-driving electric cars, the rail system, solar.. all kind-of failed. Probably now twitter. Adding back those chaos agents will be an absolute disaster...
Hopefully Elmo just loses interest, as he usually does. Your assessment of him is spot-on, as usual.
I'll catch you here and on your podcast. But for now, I closed out my twitter account last night. Just my way of spitting into the wind, I guess.
As long as you stay here, Ellen! : )
I will!
I had the best of intentions last night to delete my Twitter account once I heard the Muskovite had officially taken it over, but then I couldn't readily find the "Delete My Account" button, and then I got into a Twitter fight with fascists, and never did it. I'm now looking at this way: if Musk actually does turn off the filters and makes it into a "free speech" platform, it will be a nice place to go to let off steam, and maybe I'll finally be able to get an answer to the question, "Candace Owens, are you a c-nt in real life or is this just a character you play on TV?" without consequences.
I once got a 72 hour time out for referring to Tomi Lahren as "Tampon Lampshade". Totally worth it.
Yup, they gave me a 24-hour time out for that question to Owens. TOTALLY worth it, but nobody probably saw it because I stupidly used the whole word. Duh!
The Babel Tower wss just bad fiction.
Musk is real bad news.
His brain and dick loose on the planent is Terrorism.
I'm a luddite guilty of having email.
Never signed up for Twatter, Facehook, Snatchshot and all other such bs.
Not Paris, I grant you, but we'll always have Greg Olear's Prevail, podcasts, and Five/8!
I'll keep email and greg and books.
Dont do podcasts, Utube and videos
If i live till January be 5 years since i watched my TV
And still I get the feeling you know more than most, including me, cal.
I read a lot.
Currently reading the New Yorker story on the death of Reverend Calvin Butt of NY.
We share a first name. My mom was a Calvinist but died a Baptist fundamentalist.
Butt and share a July birth date. But im 10 years older.
And we both attended a one room school house.
My mom and grandmother started me reading the King James Bible at 3 years of age.
At 82 my friends tell me I'M an atheist.
Pero, quien sabe.