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Will Musk Succeed? [1]

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Date: 2025-03-30

It should come as no surprise that Musk has monetized voting. It should also come as no surprise that Maga voters see this as a brilliant way to attract voters. Anything or anyone that helps them is virtuous. Nevermind that Republicans were crying foul not too long ago for giving people bottles of water while in line to vote. A bottle of water is $2.



Setting aside the obvious ethical dilemma this presents, and the obvious concern that people CAN be bought, how does this play outside the Maga world? For one to accept his money without consideration, that should the shoe be on the other foot, would certainly be cries of “lock her up,” is also to accept that no good can be done in this world if there isn’t a small profit to be made. The party that could be bought by a billionaire, whose voters can apparently be bought for less.

I hear Musk has been on the UW-Madison campus, paying “bros” to vote. It is a curious choice of a campus to get out the vote. Dane County is one of the largest counties, and the most liberal. For Schimel to campaign there is an acknowledgement he is going to need votes beyond his conservative support system.



I wonder how long that $100 lasted for those who took it, and if they ever felt a smidge of guilt. Even a $100, multiplied by 4, is an average month of groceries, and likely more. It isn’t life changing. $1,000,000 is life changing. However, for a million, is Musk going to expect more from this person? He has his personal information. I can almost guarantee this person was pre-screener to make sure he wasn’t liberal. And if they make sure the person is pro-Trump, well they’re not an independent voter, either.

I feel pretty good about Susan Crawford’s campaign. Despite Daniel Kelly’s proclamation he wasn’t a political candidate (last WI judge race vs winner Janet Protasciewicz) he too expected right wing groups to raise money for him. He did not actively seek Trump’s nomination, which may have been some sign of ethical judgement on his part. Or perhaps to try to make an argument that only liberal judges can be bought. Obviously false. On both points. Dems are playing the game the GOP created.

Shimel is a relic from the Scott Walker administration and one-time attorney general. One observation I have is that he goes to great pains to not look like a mysogynistic jerk. Which in itself is curious. I think Susan Crawford is in control of the narrative, and the Dem decision to go after Musk, an unelected agitator, is the right one.



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