<description>&lt;p&gt;In 2017 I &lt;a href="http://scripting.com/2017/01/14/whatIfTwtrIsBoughtByARepub.html"&gt;wrote&lt;/a&gt; that Twitter, which had just elected the US president could be bought for $12 billion. (In the podcast I got the number wrong.) &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Given that the US budget is over $6 trillion, and the assets of the government are worth much more, this was a bargain.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Not only did VCs not see this, but Elon Musk did. People kept saying he overpaid for it at $44 billion, but I have a hunch he may be able to make them eat their words. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Anyway, the leadership of the Democratic Party should play close attention to what he's doing, and don't dismiss the waste of money, or whatever you see that he's doing wrong. He hires clever people who see their way around corners that you probably don't. He has better tools that you, in many ways. His server capacity is world class. And obvious brainpower and creativity. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I was right in 2017 and right now in 2024. He could make the difference that puts Trump over the topo.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The quote I cited was by &lt;a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtIFhiqS_TY"&gt;Ann Richards&lt;/a&gt; at the 1988 DNC. "He was born on third base and thought he hit a triple." &lt;/p&gt;</description>

Scripting News podcast

Dave Winer

Warning: Musk could push Trump over the top

OCT 20, 2024-1 MIN
Scripting News podcast

Warning: Musk could push Trump over the top

OCT 20, 2024-1 MIN

Description

<p>In 2017 I <a href="http://scripting.com/2017/01/14/whatIfTwtrIsBoughtByARepub.html">wrote</a> that Twitter, which had just elected the US president could be bought for $12 billion. (In the podcast I got the number wrong.) </p><p>Given that the US budget is over $6 trillion, and the assets of the government are worth much more, this was a bargain.</p><p>Not only did VCs not see this, but Elon Musk did. People kept saying he overpaid for it at $44 billion, but I have a hunch he may be able to make them eat their words. </p><p>Anyway, the leadership of the Democratic Party should play close attention to what he's doing, and don't dismiss the waste of money, or whatever you see that he's doing wrong. He hires clever people who see their way around corners that you probably don't. He has better tools that you, in many ways. His server capacity is world class. And obvious brainpower and creativity. </p><p>I was right in 2017 and right now in 2024. He could make the difference that puts Trump over the topo.</p><p>The quote I cited was by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtIFhiqS_TY">Ann Richards</a> at the 1988 DNC. "He was born on third base and thought he hit a triple." </p>