The Next President is...

[Pooter]

Even before twitter valuations tanked Elon offered hugely over market value to buy the company.  I don't think making money in the short term on twitter was ever part of the plan.  

He's spoken at length numerous times about how he's a free speech absolutist and how important it is for humanity to have a public square that isn't hampered by censorship.  I think Elon genuinely cares about turning twitter into that and he's okay with ad revenue/profits suffering in the near term at the expense of a long-term vision.  

But @nsplayrhas a point.  The dude needs to get out of his own way.  Shitposting 24/7 and rolling out (and then retracting) half-baked features while simultaneously firing 75% of the employees is not how you make sustainable, thoughtful changes in a social media company.  Twitter does need to make *some* money, and the CEO acting like an erratic scatterbrained douche isn't helping keep advertisers around.  

Would the left have tried to de-platform and de-app store twitter regardless of Elon's strategy? Of course.  Their new (actually old) move is to simply claim everything they don't like is a dangerous existential threat, and the simple fact that someone who believes in free speech now runs twitter is "dangerous" to them.  

So maybe it's good Elon came in guns blazing with middle fingers in all directions if the left was going to act the same way regardless.  I just hope the near term financial turmoil of twitter isn't enough to compromise the platform in the long run.  

[Sim]

 

Oh no! 🙄 I'm shocked! 

[uhhello]

Lots of billionaires in here with vast experience running social media companies too.  It's awesome.  So much knowledge and insight as to how many workers are required and what needs to be done to sustain/grow the company.  

[Pooter]

30 minutes ago, uhhello said:

Lots of billionaires in here with vast experience running social media companies too.  It's awesome.  So much knowledge and insight as to how many workers are required and what needs to be done to sustain/grow the company.  

Doesn't take a billionaire investor galaxy brain to tell that things aren't going swimmingly over at twitter right now.  But you keep telling yourself Elon is playing 4D chess as he posts pictures of handguns on his nightstand as twitter valuation tanks, they roll-out and then immediately retract features, and 14 of the top 50 largest advertisers on the platform pull chocks.

[FourFans]

4 minutes ago, Pooter said:

Doesn't take a billionaire investor galaxy brain to tell that things aren't going swimmingly over at twitter right now.  But you keep telling yourself Elon is playing 4D chess as he posts pictures of handguns on his nightstand as twitter valuation tanks, they roll-out and then immediately retract features, and 14 of the top 50 largest advertisers on the platform pull chocks.

Have you ever been a unit that went from oppressive leadership to excellent leadership?  Did it perfectly improve overnight, or was there a transition period?  Of course there's going to be speedbumps.  Go lookup how many spacex rockets blew up or crashed before the first one worked...even a little.  Purchasing Twitter wasn't an impulse buy, but a strategic move.  Hell it might have been REAL virtue signaling.  I'm pretty sure Musk knows what he's doing.  What none of us have right now is the "aha" information from the behind the scenes.  Just wait.

Edited November 30, 2022 by FourFans130

[Pooter]

4 minutes ago, FourFans130 said:

Have you ever been a unit that went from oppressive leadership to excellent leadership?  Did it perfectly improve overnight, or was there a transition period?  Of course there's going to be speedbumps.  Go lookup how many spacex rockets blew up or crashed before the first one worked...even a little.  Purchasing Twitter wasn't an impulse buy, but a strategic move.  Hell it might have been REAL virtue signaling.  I'm pretty sure Musk knows what he's doing.  What none of us have right now is the "aha" information from the behind the scenes.  Just wait.

I hear you man, and I really do support what Elon is trying to do.  I don't think twitter was an impulse buy either.  But that doesn't mean the guy in charge hasn't behaved impulsively since. 

Exhibit A: tweeting conspiracy nonsense about Paul Pelosi hours after a brutal attack.  

Don't get me wrong, the media line that the attacker was some "ultra maga" dude was ballwash from the start too.  But where in the social media CEO handbook does it say you should inject yourself into the public discourse by mean tweeting at an assault victim?  Is this just a natural part of the transition period to excellent leadership?

[uhhello]

42 minutes ago, Pooter said:

Doesn't take a billionaire investor galaxy brain to tell that things aren't going swimmingly over at twitter right now.  But you keep telling yourself Elon is playing 4D chess as he posts pictures of handguns on his nightstand as twitter valuation tanks, they roll-out and then immediately retract features, and 14 of the top 50 largest advertisers on the platform pull chocks.

Is there an article or statement somwhere specifically stating which companies have stopped adverstising?  I'm just saying there has been thousands of "such and such according to so and so" lately.  I'm not taking any sides here.  

[Guest nsplayr]

I don’t have any special insight but this is extremely googleable: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/11/28/musk-says-apple-cutting-twitter-ads-here-are-the-other-companies-rethinking-their-ties/amp/

And FWIW I don’t know how much it matters or really care who advertises where or how (or if) Twitter makes money. If Elon wants to own it as a hobby and pay a much smaller payroll from his personal funds and call it a day, cool, go for it.

[Sim]

31 minutes ago, Pooter said:

Exhibit A: tweeting conspiracy nonsense about Paul Pelosi hours after a brutal attack.  

 

“a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye.” is a conspiracy theory?  

Impressive exhibit! 

 

 

Edited November 30, 2022 by Sim

[Pooter]

1 hour ago, Sim said:

 

“a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye.” is a conspiracy theory?  

Impressive exhibit! 

 

 

Man somebody should pay you to curate a list of batshit alt-right obscure no name "news" sites. The links you come up with make newsmax and oan look reputable by comparison. 
 

Why didn't Paul Pelosi "run away" from his attacker? Must be some giant conspiracy.. or perhaps.. and hear me out on this one because it's pretty wild.. he didn't scamper away because he's eighty-fucking-two years old

[tac airlifter]

39 minutes ago, Pooter said:

Man somebody should pay you to curate a list of batshit alt-right obscure no name "news" sites. The links you come up with make newsmax and oan look reputable by comparison. 
 

Why didn't Paul Pelosi "run away" from his attacker? Must be some giant conspiracy.. or perhaps.. and hear me out on this one because it's pretty wild.. he didn't scamper away because he's eighty-fucking-two years old

Bro everything about the “official version” of that story smells like ass.  Elon said what anybody with common sense was thinking.

 

[O Face]

10 minutes ago, tac airlifter said:

Bro everything about the “official version” of that story smells like ass.  Elon said what anybody with common sense was thinking.

 

Not to mention the NBC reporter, who was there with the breaking news, has apparently vanished and NBC suddenly has a newfound respect for “accurate” reporting. 

[busdriver]

4 hours ago, Pooter said:

Doesn't take a billionaire investor galaxy brain to tell that things aren't going swimmingly over at twitter right now.  But you keep telling yourself Elon is playing 4D chess as he posts pictures of handguns on his nightstand as twitter valuation tanks, they roll-out and then immediately retract features, and 14 of the top 50 largest advertisers on the platform pull chocks.

To be fair.  Twitter hasn't looked good from a financial perspective, ever.  It simply isn't a profitable business, and its "valuation" has always been nonsense.

 

Also, characterizing a muzzle loading pistol (alongside a picture of Washington crossing the Delaware) and a sci-fi video game prop (from a game in which totalitarian corporations rule the world) as a picture of "handguns" is well, missing the point I guess.

[arg]

The fact that this administration said they are keeping an eye on twitter should scare the shit out of you.

[FLEA]

18 minutes ago, arg said:

The fact that this administration said they are keeping an eye on twitter should scare the shit out of you.

I earnestly would be but honestly I believe Joe thinks Twitter is his nieces pet farm chicken. 

[FourFans]

Best place to post it: Jocko Willink's most recent podcast is with Tulsi Gabbard.  Great interview.  I'd vote for her.

[dream big]

23 minutes ago, FLEA said:

I earnestly would be but honestly I believe Joe thinks Twitter is his nieces pet farm chicken. 

His handlers don’t 

[Guardian]

Is there a way to check Twitter membership and money made before and after Elon? Heard something this morning that it has more members and is making more money now than ever. Didn’t get a reference.

[HeloDude]

7 hours ago, FourFans130 said:

Best place to post it: Jocko Willink's most recent podcast is with Tulsi Gabbard.  Great interview.  I'd vote for her.

Unless she’s drastically changed her position on the issues, that’s a hard pass for me.  
 

https://www.politico.com/2020-election/candidates-views-on-the-issues/tulsi-gabbard/

[nunya]

5 minutes ago, HeloDude said:

Unless she’s drastically changed her position on the issues, that’s a hard pass for me.  

She is trying to convince us just that - she's changed her position. She's an inverse Charlie Crist and I think her real staying power will be about the same.

Edited December 1, 2022 by nunya

[FourFans]

Ok, I'll admit I don't agree with many of her positions.  If I'm honest, I've NEVER found an actual electable politician that I agree with on most topics.  Of all the options out there, she seems intelligent, articulate, clearly hasn't had a stroke, is willing to discuss difficult topics without equivocating on terms, and seems willing to compromise where it's necessary.  That list would eliminate most of our current politicians.  Hell, she stood up to 3 hours getting asked hard(ish) questions by Jocko.  That's got to count for something.  Imagine Biden, Pelosi, Fetterman or AOC doing that.  Is she my favorite?  Nope.  But I'd take her and Dan Crenshaw in a heartbeat over the asshats we currently have in power.

4 hours ago, HeloDude said:

Unless she’s drastically changed her position on the issues, that’s a hard pass for me.  
 

https://www.politico.com/2020-election/candidates-views-on-the-issues/tulsi-gabbard/

Who would you prefer?

 

Edited December 1, 2022 by FourFans130

[bfargin]

It appears that Tulsi is just maturing and gaining wisdom as she ages. The left’s ideology is shown hollow and without foundation as you gain wisdom and experience. When you abandon any absolute truth, there is nothing left…it becomes all about feelings. I’m glad she’s continuing to grow.

I like her and would guess that we’d agree on things and disagree on things, just like any two people would. I’d take her as a leader over most anybody else in current political leadership in our country.

[HeloDude]

3 hours ago, FourFans130 said:

Ok, I'll admit I don't agree with many of her positions.  If I'm honest, I've NEVER found an actual electable politician that I agree with on most topics.  Of all the options out there, she seems intelligent, articulate, clearly hasn't had a stroke, is willing to discuss difficult topics without equivocating on terms, and seems willing to compromise where it's necessary.  That list would eliminate most of our current politicians.  Hell, she stood up to 3 hours getting asked hard(ish) questions by Jocko.  That's got to count for something.  Imagine Biden, Pelosi, Fetterman or AOC doing that.  Is she my favorite?  Nope.  But I'd take her and Dan Crenshaw in a heartbeat over the asshats we currently have in power.

Who would you prefer?

 

Well, let’s see…I would prefer someone who:

1. Doesn’t want to ban AR-15s and similar type sporting rifles

2.  Doesn’t want to require backgound checks for private sales…and essentially then creating a registry

3. Didn’t support Bernie Sanders

4. Didn’t endorse Joe Biden

5. Doesn’t support ending cash bail

6. Doesn’t support raising the federal min wage to $15/hr (pre-covid btw)

7. Doesn’t support forcing businesses to provide for family paid sick leave, etc

8. Doesn’t support “free” college…ie forcing taxpayers to pay someone else’s tuition 

9. Doesn’t want forced closure of existing nuclear power plants 

10. Doesn’t support “Medicare for all”

…I can go on, if you’d like?

As for who I would support…ummm, a lot of people over her.  Rand Paul?  Ron DeSantis? Chris Sununu?  Nikki Haley?

[FourFans]

9 hours ago, HeloDude said:

Well, let’s see…I would prefer someone who:

1. Doesn’t want to ban AR-15s and similar type sporting rifles

2.  Doesn’t want to require backgound checks for private sales…and essentially then creating a registry

3. Didn’t support Bernie Sanders

4. Didn’t endorse Joe Biden

5. Doesn’t support ending cash bail

6. Doesn’t support raising the federal min wage to $15/hr (pre-covid btw)

7. Doesn’t support forcing businesses to provide for family paid sick leave, etc

8. Doesn’t support “free” college…ie forcing taxpayers to pay someone else’s tuition 

9. Doesn’t want forced closure of existing nuclear power plants 

10. Doesn’t support “Medicare for all”

…I can go on, if you’d like?

As for who I would support…ummm, a lot of people over her.  Rand Paul?  Ron DeSantis? Chris Sununu?  Nikki Haley?

I'm guessing you didn't listen to the podcast. 

Yes, I'd like those guys as well.  I seriously hope Trump doesn't get the RNC's nomination so a rational adult with a concept of humility can run instead.  But I digress.  Gabbard clearly doesn't fit in any red or blue box.  Important to me personally: Listening to her speak her opinions in a long form setting it's obvious, she's not a tyrant.  Sure, I'd prefer a more conservative leader.  But she actually learns and is willing to change her opinions on topics.  If she's willing to grow and evolve, I think she deserves the benefit of the doubt.  Where she used to stand is not where she's standing now. 

What's more, I'm willing to bet that she has a rational reason for each of her positions.  Like an ACTUAL rational, thought out reason.  Political figures like that today are few and far between.  I'll gladly take an 'opponent' like that instead of Fetterman, Biden, or Pelosi any day.  We as conservatives are going to have to realize that finding common ground to move forward as a nation first requires us choose NOT to die on EVERY SINGLE HILL in the political landscape.  It requires persuasion and compromise.  (yes there are hills to die on, such as transing kids, and teaching CRT to the military, vaccine mandates, etc... but I didn't see any of those big ticket items on your list, but then, everyone's list is different)

I specifically hope to see the Democrat party lean more like Gabbard, and the Republican party lean more like Crenshaw.  Going hard over Left or Right only leads to tyranny.  Yes, the Left is going absolutely nuts right now in our country, but people forget that the Right can do that just as bad.  The 50's red scare was very much a product of the political Right, and it led to horrific tyranny of a sort in our country.  I'm a history nerd, and I see a lot of parallels in the Right's media narrative leaning that way right now.  It's not healthy.

I'd enjoy listening to Gabbard and Crenshaw debate all those topics you listed.  I'll have to see if they've podcasted together.

Edited December 2, 2022 by FourFans130

[Prozac]

8 hours ago, FourFans130 said:

I specifically hope to see the Democrat party lean more like Gabbard, and the Republican party lean more like Crenshaw. 

Note that both of those individuals served. We most definitely need more of that. Amazing what you can do when you realize you have some common goals even if you disagree on how to get there.