He’s doing it only in Pennsylvania I believe, and that could count!
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“Musk has made clear that his intent is to register new PA voters who agree with the MAGA agenda, so he is offering a financial incentive to registered voters who sign off—literally—on that agenda”
There’s the rub, is that what he’s doing? If it’s open to Democrats, as he says it is, why would they sign off on the MAGA agenda?
"and if even one person the FBI interviewed said they registered and voted for Trump due to a financial incentive Musk offered… "
That’s promising though, and “he did little legal vetting before launching this scheme” was my point above. He’s a loose cannon. Musk may well have decided that once enough is done to win, no matter how illegal it might be, it doesn’t matter because Trump will pardon him.
I guess it’s all down to what is in “the pledge/his petition” and how quickly the DOJ moves.
Edit: I had a quick search and the petition doesn’t look like a “MAGA agenda” to me, unfortunately.
This is like the old rotten boroughs there used to be in UK and the Russians buying votes in the Moldovan referendum in Moldova.
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"2nd amendment “rights” and “free speech” sounds exactly like a MAGA agenda to me.
But they are in the Constitution Billy, they are currently every American’s agenda.
Yes, but it is a particular sort of American that harps on about them - the sort for whom “free speech” includes the freedom to call people of colour n****** and for whom the “right to bear arms” means multiple semi (and probably fully) automatic rifles. They often claim to be “sovereign citizens” as if that means the laws of the land do not apply to them (except when convenient).
It’s like retorting “all lives matter” or claiming “there are good people on each side” - apparent balance meaning anything but.
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I agree entirely, they are characteristics but not exclusively MAGA. Is it a definition that could show Musk was only incenting MAGA types? Sadly, I’m not sure.
The “pledge” at aimed at the deplorables, but subtly and not exclusively at them. And as we all know, doing anything for a buck is genetically built in Stateside, so incentives work.
I wonder what other ploys will surface in the coming days.
It seems that targeting registered voters only means it is an inducement to vote which is actually illegal in the US.
I was wondering why is was running up to voting day, way past last registration.
A breath of fresh air IMO. A lawyer, Emily Galvin-Almanza, speaks how it is in the US. A bit of sanity, but where will that get anywhere!
Should we refer to Trump supporters as Lago louts?
[I’ll get my hat emoji ]
Trump is saying that it was the hand of God which saved him from a bullet.
I think he should read Matthew 19 v 24.
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
It seems that his stupid and mainly not well educated followers are not able to recognise spin and only follow what they want to hear.
So much for the Radical Christian right who should know better.
I suspect Trump no more believes in God than I do.
Oh, and there’s this:
His latest stunt is visiting a hurricane-devastated area in North Carolina and proudly showing off the “French Fry Preparation” lapel pin that he got during a visit to a (specially closed) branch of McDonalds where he “did a shift” serving food to a hand-picked bunch of supporters…
All because Kamala Harris mentioned that she had worked in McDonalds for a while as a youngster.
The man is a disgrace.
Even if he wins Chris, he’ll be gone someday. The real long term problem is that +/- 50% of Americans (and in other countries) are willing to vote for a disgrace. Looking around the World, Gaza, Russia, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iran, Sudan etc., the term “never again” should be “coming quite soon”.
Of course - but in the meantime he will have had four years to wreak havoc on the American political system and its government.
Last time, Trump was held back to some extent because he was surrounded by people who refused to cross red lines on multiple occasions when Trump tried to do things that were illegal - most notably Mike Pence on January 6th 2021.
This time the crazies will be fully empowered - not just a case of a rigged Supreme Court handing down biased judgements but whole chunks of the government dismantled and twisted to suit the needs of the extreme right.
People often view Trump as a clown, which in many ways he is, but the people behind him are very dangerous.
I take your point about populism being on the rise elsewhere too but Trump is the clear and present danger - for the world not just the US.
After listening (twice) to a retired professor of political science’s analysis of her data, I’ve adopted her prediction of the 2024 US election result. Her analysis does not involve polls. It uses the history of six swing states in the last 11 presidential elections. Her 2024 prediction is based principally on Joe Biden’s 2020 win, involving the minutiae of election results in 496 counties in those states, including their most important cities.
That is combined with today’s changes and trends she’s seen reported by experienced door-knocking canvassers. It also includes about two million just-turned-18 voters since 2020 and how they might vote across these six states, with about eight million of them across the US. And other factors, including what’s happening to Trump’s ground game.
I’m no analyst but her reasoning sounds OK to me! I accept her political scientist’s intimate knowledge of how these swing states vote and her predictions as being reasonably credible. That’s as good a predictor as any, of which there are many others.
Kamala Harris wins three essential swing states, and the election. Of course she could lose, but my hunch is on a Harris win.
How republican shenanigans will affect that possible result is another matter.
I couldn’t agree more. I have no doubt that if he wins it will be a disaster, and as you say he’s primed this time around.
My worry is that even if he loses there are millions and millions of bloody lunatics out there, in the US and elsewhere, that support his type of politics. I like the phrase “the centre’s holding” but it does imply a “garrison” under attack, and for how long will it hold.
I mean look at the dross that’s competing for Tory leadership, unbelievable. I wouldn’t even shake hands with either of them .
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