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Elmo and AfD, because during 2008 campaign, Obama was instructed to not use the words “labor union" [1]
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Date: 2025-01-06
An anti-progressive movement—financed by the ultrawealthy—that aims to blur political lines and centralize power for the long term. For some, their ambitions don’t stop there.
A recent NY Times article says the Democrats ‘lost’ the working class when the US working continues to be poorly defined as American consciousness has been warped by the rise in reactionary discourse.
Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a veteran Republican economic adviser in the Bush White House and for John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, observed that huge shocks to the nation’s economic system — terrorism and war, the financial crisis and the coronavirus pandemic — had upended many Americans’ lives, but least of all those of the wealthy. The rich did not send their children to war, their banks were bailed out, and they rode out the pandemic working from home.
It seemed to make sense politically: With the largest cities and the growing suburbs backing those center-left parties — which Mr. Piketty called “the Brahmin left,” or “parties of the educated” — shrinking towns and rural areas would matter less and less.
The Democrats’ alienation from blue-collar voters was scarcely a unique phenomenon. Across the developed world, as Western democracies have grown more affluent and less industrially centered, so have the parties that once represented the working classes, said Thomas Piketty, the French economist who has become one of the foremost experts on wealth inequality.
Trump once called Jan. 6 a 'heinous attack.' Now he calls it a 'day of love.'
Over the weekend, Donald Trump unleashed an angry new rant over the news that his sentencing for his hush money conviction will proceed this week. Buried in Trump’s rage was a key tell: He’s signaling that he’ll use his conviction as a pretext to carry out his own autocratic second-term designs. There are also indications that he hopes to milk his sentencing toward other ugly ends. We talked to Adam Gurri, the editor of Liberal Currents magazine , who’s been making good arguments lately about Trump’s pursuit of “personalist” rule, which shapes everything around the personality at the center of his movement. Gurri explains how Trump is already signaling that this is where his presidency will go — and why that’s so ominous. Listen to this episode here .
Elon Musk is trailing an extended online chat between himself & AfD leader Alice Weidel on X Spaces on 9 January. Musk is now fully dedicated to promoting neo-fascism in Europe as well as the US.
— Tom Scott (@tom--scott.bsky.social) January 5, 2025 at 4:49 AM Elon Musk’s opinion article in Die Welt explaining his support for the AfD has sparked widespread debate. I see a lot of speculation on how this piece came about so let me explain.
As a friend of Elon and a Supervisory Board Member of Axel Springer, I saw his public support for the AfD on X as an opportunity for him to elaborate on his views in a more thoughtful and detailed way. I reached out to Jennifer Wilton, the editor-in-chief of Die Welt, to gauge her interest in an editorial from Elon on the subject. After careful consideration, she agreed that such a piece would be of significant news value and worthy of publication. I then approached Elon, explaining the potential impact of this opportunity to clarify his position. He liked the idea, wrote the article, and Die Welt published it. Elon Musk’s opinion article in Die Welt explaining his support for the AfD has sparked widespread debate. I see a lot of speculation on how this piece came about so let me explain.As a friend of Elon and a Supervisory Board Member of Axel Springer, I saw his public support for the AfD on X as an opportunity for him to elaborate on his views in a more thoughtful and detailed way. I reached out to Jennifer Wilton, the editor-in-chief of Die Welt, to gauge her interest in an editorial from Elon on the subject. After careful consideration, she agreed that such a piece would be of significant news value and worthy of publication. I then approached Elon, explaining the potential impact of this opportunity to clarify his position. He liked the idea, wrote the article, and Die Welt published it.
This is the article in English that Elon submitted that was translated and published in German.
Only the AfD Can Save Germany
Germany stands at a critical juncture, its future teetering on the edge of economic and cultural collapse. As someone who has invested significantly in Germany's industrial and technological landscape, I believe I have earned the right to speak candidly about its political direction.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) represents the last vestige of hope for this nation. Here's why:
Economic Revival:
Germany's economy, once the powerhouse of Europe, is now mired in bureaucracy and stifling regulations. The AfD understands that economic freedom is not just desirable but necessary. Their approach to reducing government overreach, cutting taxes, and deregulating the market echoes the principles that have made Tesla and SpaceX successful. If Germany is to reclaim its industrial might, it needs a party that will not just talk about growth but enact policies to foster an environment where businesses can thrive without the heavy hand of government.
Immigration and National Identity:
Germany has opened its borders to mass migration, which, while humanitarian in intent, has led to significant cultural and social tensions. The AfD advocates for a controlled immigration policy that prioritizes integration and the preservation of German culture and security. This is not about xenophobia but about ensuring that Germany does not lose its identity in the quest for globalism. A nation must maintain its core values and cultural heritage to remain strong and united.
[...]
To those who decry the AfD as extremist, I say, look beyond the labels. Look at the policies, the economic plans, and the cultural preservation efforts. Germany needs a party that isn't afraid to challenge the status quo, that isn't bogged down by the politics of the past.
The AfD can save Germany from becoming a shadow of its former self. It can steer the country towards a future where economic prosperity, cultural integrity, and technological innovation are not just aspirations but realities. Germany has been too comfortable with mediocrity; it's time for bold changes, and the AfD is the only party offering that path.
Elon Musk
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