Water is coming over the gunwales and the rats are jumping ship. Storm clouds are building around the once proud grand old party. You know if McConnell is getting out from under, it's going to come down hard. Another superb letter, and another early night for you Heather! Firing on all cylinders. Thank you.
Water is coming over the gunwales and the rats are jumping ship. Storm clouds are building around the once proud grand old party. You know if McConnell is getting out from under, it's going to come down hard. Another superb letter, and another early night for you Heather! Firing on all cylinders. Thank you.
It's an ugly mess and it's not just big money vs the whacko-fringe. There's a battle between the billionaires too. Peter Thiel leaving the board of Meta to focus on getting trumpian troll elected is but one example of the oligarchical right's extreme faction vs the more sensible big business pro-government billionaires.
Peter Thiel really is an awful. person and I love his professed love for the future of the US when he applied for and was granted New Zealand citizenship a few years ago. He is likely to be surprised when he finds out how progressive a country it is and led by a strong woman to boot.
I only realized yesterday that he was on the board of Fuckerberg and Co. Birds of a feather flock together. Maybe something more than a drop in stock value is headed in Meta's direction and I think it is going to be ugly.
Was I wrong to think Thiel sees the writing on the wall re:Meta and is just jumping from a sinking ship to the militarized rat infested pirate ship in hopes of growing his fortune?
"Isn't thinking in monetary terms?" Grace, like all rich folks, you can bet Thiel is thinking in monetary terms every single second of the day, including his dreams.
Christy, I followed Thiel and his money, to learn what he has been up to.
'Peter Thiel Leaving Meta Board To Focus On Pro-Trump Politics'
'TOPLINE Billionaire Peter ThielтАФone of FacebookтАЩs earliest investorsтАФplans to leave MetaтАЩs board of directors, the company announced Monday, and plans to focus on influencing NovemberтАЩs midterm elections in favor of Trump-aligned candidates, according to an unnamed source cited by the New York Times'
'Thiel became increasingly outspoken in favor of Trump, speaking at the 2016 Republican National Convention and defending TrumpтАЩs тАЬMuslim banтАЭ in 2017, and as Facebook moved to ban Trump from its platform, his position on the board became increasingly contentious.' (Forbes)
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!
'Who is Peter Thiel, the tech billionaire trying to push the U.S. to the right?'
'Thiel has been participating in national politics for most of his life, helping create a conservative journal at Stanford University in the 1980s before diving into tech investing and helping found PayPal. He used the money from PayPalтАЩs sale to invest in other tech companies, becoming the first major outside investor in Facebook and seeing his wealth and influence rocket upward as Big TechтАЩs dominance grew over the past 20 years.'
'In 2016, Thiel supported Donald TrumpтАЩs presidential campaign and later served on his transition team. Now heтАЩs playing an even more direct role in politics, funding the Senate campaigns of two of his close associates, J.D. Vance in Ohio and Blake Masters in Arizona. At the same time, heтАЩs still a force in tech investing and plays a major role in companies including data-harvesting firm Palantir, where he serves as chairman.'
'Straddling the worlds of Silicon Valley and conservative politics has made Thiel a uniquely influential and polarizing individual, though heтАЩs not as widely known as other well-documented political funders such as the Koch brothers. ThatтАЩs likely to change as he dives deeper into U.S. politics.' (WashingtonPost)
How will Thiel use is tech smarts to be be invaluable to Trump and the right-wing candidates he is supporting?
'Since launching in 2013, Rumble, a Canadian video-sharing platform that presents itself as an alternative to YouTube, has become a right-wing haven. The site saw significant growth following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with monthly viewership surging from 1.6 million users in fall 2020 to 31.9 million by the end of 2021тАЩs first quarter. It has since received backing from a group of prominent conservative venture capitalists including Peter Thiel and Hillbilly Elegy author J.D. Vance.'
'After Rumble announced on Dec. 1 that it was planning to go public at an initial enterprise value of $2.1 billion, Trump Media and Technology Group shared on Dec. 14 that Donald TrumpтАЩs proposed social media platform, TRUTH Social, had partnered with Rumble.' (YahooNews)
'Thiel, whose net worth according to Bloomberg News is about $8 billion, also has a serious interest in shaping tax policy. Last year, ProPublica documented how Thiel has shielded billions of his own money from taxation by running his investments out of a Roth individual retirement account. Last year, Democrats in Congress proposed a bill that would force Thiel and other wealthy people using Roth accounts to pay huge tax bills if they ever withdraw their money. Thiel has also given money directly to anti-tax advocacy organizations, such as the Club for Growth.'
Trump has some very valuable supporters, without a doubt.
Yikes! Without a doubt!! Thanks for sharing all this Fern! IтАЩm afraid to wonder how many more of these thugs on a mission are hiding under rocks. IтАЩd seen where he sold most of his shares of FB stock years ago (maybe a pre-arranged agreement?-though IтАЩm not sure I understood that right)
If we ever win at Voting Rights we desperately need to put all our weight behind CitizenтАЩs United. Scary that they have seated so many extremist judges, and increasingly have these rich resources to brainwash the masses
He is definitely an SOB! He was successful in sucking our money out of our pockets into his and now has given us the proverbial third finger. LetтАЩs take them all down!
I was watching CNN last night and both Van Jones and the noxious Mike Shields agreed that the Jan. 6 Committee report will not be a factor in the midterms.
I was more than mildly perplexed. I am anticipating riveting public hearings this spring. When the story is put together in toto and then memorialized in a later report, the stage will be set for a solid swing of voters jumping to the Democrats. It seems certain that Republicans will elect many disagreeable characters in the primary, people whose тАЬviewsтАЭ are repellent and backgrounds dubious. (Sorry DJT, youтАЩre not getting тАЬonly the bestтАЭ.)
It seems too much to hope for тАЬbig nameтАЭ indictments, but were there to be a string of those, IтАЩd put hard cash on the Democrats winning House and Senate. Unless, of course, they find a new way to shoot themselves in the foot.
I respectfully and forcefully disagree. This kind of statement has found its way into the nomenclature in the USA. Very simply I refer you to the Democratic Party taking the White House, Senate and House in 2020. This in the face of a corrupt Postmaster General DeJoy and a raging Pandemic.
The Democrats have steadfastly engineered and executed an investigative Committee that is shaking the very foundations of the RNC and the Republican Party; and the January 6 Committee hasn't even begun public hearings. The vastness of their investigation alone is historical.
I was raised to stand up for the people and what I believed in. The popular pastime of disparaging the Democratic weakens public opinion and provides fuel for the opposition. Can we please stop doing this?
100% agree with you, Barbara -- so tired of people doing this. Focus on the amazing work that has been accomplished. The MSM is doing enough focusing on the alleged bad for everyone.
Im in Portugal with the same problem and more. It turns out Russia has cyner attacked EuropeтАЩs biggest server Vodophone for the last three weeks. Our fire, police, government, hospitals, etc went to a radio backup system within 12 hours . I have lost fb, email .
Surely they will be carried on CSPAN? Can we make a unified very loud effort to have all public places switch the channel to CSPAN to watch our government live??
Nobody who watches Fox is going to flip blue no matter what facts they learn. We just need to get out the vote, especially now that it will be so much more difficult to do so. IтАЩm still hopeful, or wouldnтАЩt be bothering with races at all.
Thanks. What can I say: I'm that depraved creature, a bluewater sailor, and I second Isak Dinesen when she says, The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea
Water is coming over the gunwales and the rats are jumping ship. Storm clouds are building around the once proud grand old party. You know if McConnell is getting out from under, it's going to come down hard. Another superb letter, and another early night for you Heather! Firing on all cylinders. Thank you.
It's an ugly mess and it's not just big money vs the whacko-fringe. There's a battle between the billionaires too. Peter Thiel leaving the board of Meta to focus on getting trumpian troll elected is but one example of the oligarchical right's extreme faction vs the more sensible big business pro-government billionaires.
It's really an ugly hot mess.
Yes, I long for the days when the billionaires just wanted to beat us down economically. Sigh.
Peter Thiel really is an awful. person and I love his professed love for the future of the US when he applied for and was granted New Zealand citizenship a few years ago. He is likely to be surprised when he finds out how progressive a country it is and led by a strong woman to boot.
If a libertarian thinks he will thrive in NZ, it only proves billionaires are not all that smart.
I only realized yesterday that he was on the board of Fuckerberg and Co. Birds of a feather flock together. Maybe something more than a drop in stock value is headed in Meta's direction and I think it is going to be ugly.
Now Martha, I thought I was the only one calling him by his proper last name. ЁЯШЙ
Was I wrong to think Thiel sees the writing on the wall re:Meta and is just jumping from a sinking ship to the militarized rat infested pirate ship in hopes of growing his fortune?
Maybe he just hates women and democracy and isnтАЩt thinking in monetary terms.
ThielтАЩs allegiance to TFG assures us of the first two, but IтАЩm pretty sure heтАЩs not capable of тАЬisnтАЩt thinking in monetary termsтАЭ ЁЯШБ.
Perhaps Zuckerberg is hoping his worth will stop plummeting if he dumps Thiel?
I think Meta losing money is just rewards for Zuck.
"Isn't thinking in monetary terms?" Grace, like all rich folks, you can bet Thiel is thinking in monetary terms every single second of the day, including his dreams.
I think he might consider destroying democracy a fun but expensive hobby.
Christy, I followed Thiel and his money, to learn what he has been up to.
'Peter Thiel Leaving Meta Board To Focus On Pro-Trump Politics'
'TOPLINE Billionaire Peter ThielтАФone of FacebookтАЩs earliest investorsтАФplans to leave MetaтАЩs board of directors, the company announced Monday, and plans to focus on influencing NovemberтАЩs midterm elections in favor of Trump-aligned candidates, according to an unnamed source cited by the New York Times'
'Thiel became increasingly outspoken in favor of Trump, speaking at the 2016 Republican National Convention and defending TrumpтАЩs тАЬMuslim banтАЭ in 2017, and as Facebook moved to ban Trump from its platform, his position on the board became increasingly contentious.' (Forbes)
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!
'Who is Peter Thiel, the tech billionaire trying to push the U.S. to the right?'
'Thiel has been participating in national politics for most of his life, helping create a conservative journal at Stanford University in the 1980s before diving into tech investing and helping found PayPal. He used the money from PayPalтАЩs sale to invest in other tech companies, becoming the first major outside investor in Facebook and seeing his wealth and influence rocket upward as Big TechтАЩs dominance grew over the past 20 years.'
'In 2016, Thiel supported Donald TrumpтАЩs presidential campaign and later served on his transition team. Now heтАЩs playing an even more direct role in politics, funding the Senate campaigns of two of his close associates, J.D. Vance in Ohio and Blake Masters in Arizona. At the same time, heтАЩs still a force in tech investing and plays a major role in companies including data-harvesting firm Palantir, where he serves as chairman.'
'Straddling the worlds of Silicon Valley and conservative politics has made Thiel a uniquely influential and polarizing individual, though heтАЩs not as widely known as other well-documented political funders such as the Koch brothers. ThatтАЩs likely to change as he dives deeper into U.S. politics.' (WashingtonPost)
How will Thiel use is tech smarts to be be invaluable to Trump and the right-wing candidates he is supporting?
'Since launching in 2013, Rumble, a Canadian video-sharing platform that presents itself as an alternative to YouTube, has become a right-wing haven. The site saw significant growth following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with monthly viewership surging from 1.6 million users in fall 2020 to 31.9 million by the end of 2021тАЩs first quarter. It has since received backing from a group of prominent conservative venture capitalists including Peter Thiel and Hillbilly Elegy author J.D. Vance.'
'After Rumble announced on Dec. 1 that it was planning to go public at an initial enterprise value of $2.1 billion, Trump Media and Technology Group shared on Dec. 14 that Donald TrumpтАЩs proposed social media platform, TRUTH Social, had partnered with Rumble.' (YahooNews)
'Thiel, whose net worth according to Bloomberg News is about $8 billion, also has a serious interest in shaping tax policy. Last year, ProPublica documented how Thiel has shielded billions of his own money from taxation by running his investments out of a Roth individual retirement account. Last year, Democrats in Congress proposed a bill that would force Thiel and other wealthy people using Roth accounts to pay huge tax bills if they ever withdraw their money. Thiel has also given money directly to anti-tax advocacy organizations, such as the Club for Growth.'
Trump has some very valuable supporters, without a doubt.
Yikes! Without a doubt!! Thanks for sharing all this Fern! IтАЩm afraid to wonder how many more of these thugs on a mission are hiding under rocks. IтАЩd seen where he sold most of his shares of FB stock years ago (maybe a pre-arranged agreement?-though IтАЩm not sure I understood that right)
If we ever win at Voting Rights we desperately need to put all our weight behind CitizenтАЩs United. Scary that they have seated so many extremist judges, and increasingly have these rich resources to brainwash the masses
Couldn't agree more. Thiel is big time trouble.
Joy Reid just spent some time on Thiel. HeтАЩs even worse than I knew.
Trump met with Thiel and a group of wealthy tech founders/CEOs 12/14/16. Not the bumbling fool so many took him for sadly.
He is definitely an SOB! He was successful in sucking our money out of our pockets into his and now has given us the proverbial third finger. LetтАЩs take them all down!
Christopher, it is and it's getting worse.
True, but remember which side has history on its side.
Agree on all points. Thanks Richard.
I was watching CNN last night and both Van Jones and the noxious Mike Shields agreed that the Jan. 6 Committee report will not be a factor in the midterms.
I was more than mildly perplexed. I am anticipating riveting public hearings this spring. When the story is put together in toto and then memorialized in a later report, the stage will be set for a solid swing of voters jumping to the Democrats. It seems certain that Republicans will elect many disagreeable characters in the primary, people whose тАЬviewsтАЭ are repellent and backgrounds dubious. (Sorry DJT, youтАЩre not getting тАЬonly the bestтАЭ.)
It seems too much to hope for тАЬbig nameтАЭ indictments, but were there to be a string of those, IтАЩd put hard cash on the Democrats winning House and Senate. Unless, of course, they find a new way to shoot themselves in the foot.
Dems not only shoot themselves in the foot but often do so with the foot in their mouth. That's my folks, dammit.
I respectfully and forcefully disagree. This kind of statement has found its way into the nomenclature in the USA. Very simply I refer you to the Democratic Party taking the White House, Senate and House in 2020. This in the face of a corrupt Postmaster General DeJoy and a raging Pandemic.
The Democrats have steadfastly engineered and executed an investigative Committee that is shaking the very foundations of the RNC and the Republican Party; and the January 6 Committee hasn't even begun public hearings. The vastness of their investigation alone is historical.
I was raised to stand up for the people and what I believed in. The popular pastime of disparaging the Democratic weakens public opinion and provides fuel for the opposition. Can we please stop doing this?
Hear, hear Barbara. Strongly agree. United front!
100% agree with you, Barbara -- so tired of people doing this. Focus on the amazing work that has been accomplished. The MSM is doing enough focusing on the alleged bad for everyone.
Hmm. I believe you're right and my impulse for snark got the better of me. Thanks for the heads up!
We all sure get carried away in the heat of the political moment. I know I have.
The mark of a true critical thinker -- the ability to review something and change their mind, based on the evidence. Thank you, Richard.
Barbara I canтАЩt тАЬheartтАЭ you bur I agree with you, wholeheartedly!
Im in Portugal with the same problem and more. It turns out Russia has cyner attacked EuropeтАЩs biggest server Vodophone for the last three weeks. Our fire, police, government, hospitals, etc went to a radio backup system within 12 hours . I have lost fb, email .
That's awful, and yet another "why aren't we hearing about this in our news?"
It's Substack's servers. I was having trouble too
Suspect the two think so as the hearings will probably not be carried on Fox?
Surely they will be carried on CSPAN? Can we make a unified very loud effort to have all public places switch the channel to CSPAN to watch our government live??
Nobody who watches Fox is going to flip blue no matter what facts they learn. We just need to get out the vote, especially now that it will be so much more difficult to do so. IтАЩm still hopeful, or wouldnтАЩt be bothering with races at all.
It just needs to happen a bit faster. Mid-terns are looming, and that could spell disaster for the continuation of this very important work.
That is the Republican plan!
Love the metaphors Dr. Bearman ... have a Melvillean (sic) ring to them.
Thanks. What can I say: I'm that depraved creature, a bluewater sailor, and I second Isak Dinesen when she says, The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea
BTW, the MD is for Maryland, but thanks for the promotion!
ЁЯдгЁЯдг
I, too, was wondering if you meant M.D. or Maryland, my old haunts.
That would be really nice.
The cost of that deal might be more than we want to pay.
Wishful thinking? Fingers crossed!!!
We can only hopeтАж.
That would be a shock!