MAHA

More from Rebecca Watson on bullshit public policy coming from BKjr's gang at HHS.

And the main problem seems to be that we're allowing these jagoffs to run the joint almost solely on the premise that A.I. is the be-all and end-all in management - to the point where they just turn the thing on and we're all supposed to do whatever the fucking computer pukes out.

The machine works for me -

not the other way around.

Today's Rich

10% words

20% tone & inflection

70% body language

And so - 90% of your message has practically nothing to do with its content.

Generally, people want the steak, but most of them won't buy it if you don't sell the sizzle.

Eddie Izzard explains it:

An Idea

Ladies - and gents - give it some thought. I think it's brilliant.

It Bears Repeating

"In this world, there isn't as much humanity as one would like. But there's enough."

--James Baldwin

In a government that stands on checks and balances - when those checks and balances begin to fail - the last check is the collective will of the people to stand up and demand a change for the better.

We've been here before. And we're still here.

Perspective

Here's a look at some of those lazy good-fer-nuthin' freeloadin' illegals who're stealing all the jobs while sittin' around soaking up all the free stuff Uncle Sam showers on them all day every day.

(And they carpool to the work site - how cool is that?)

hat tip = Lukey Dude

On DOGE In Restrospect

 

Elon on Drugs
byu/EsperaDeus inPublicFreakout

Musk Says He’ll Be Trump’s ‘Friend And Adviser’ After Leaving White House

Key Facts:

• Musk said, “I’ll continue to be visiting here and be a friend and adviser” to Trump, who said Musk’s “not really leaving.”
• Trump repeatedly praised Musk and what he described as “colossal change” spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency, telling reporters “he’s gonna be back and forth, I think, I have a feeling—it’s his baby and he’s going to be doing a lot of things.”
• Musk departs the White House after publicly criticizing the price tag of Trump’s signature policy bill earlier this week, and announcing earlier this month he would scale back his political spending.
• Trump tapped Musk, the richest person in the world, to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) earlier this year after Musk spent more than $250 million to help elect him.
• As a special government employee, Musk was not paid and his service was limited to 130 days.
• Musk admittedly fell far short of his goal to cut $1 trillion in government spending, but made drastic reductions that could have a lasting effect, including eliminating some agencies entirely and laying off tens of thousands of federal workers, though many of those decisions remain under challenge in the courts.

DOGE’s Elimination Of Usaid May Have Led To Over 300,000 Deaths

Eliminating the U.S. Agency for International Development: The Trump administration has terminated more than 80% of grants and contracts, having a drastic and in some cases, devastating, impact on global health funding. The cuts may have resulted in about 300,000 deaths, according to an estimate by Brooke Nichols, an associate professor of global health at Boston University. The majority—more than 200,000—are child deaths. Many stem from malnutrition and malaria. The White House has denied any deaths from the USAID cuts—Secretary of State Marco Rubio told House lawmakers earlier this month “no one has died” because of the cuts.

DOGE Firings Under Musk Remain Contested

Courts have overturned tens of thousands of the firings spearheaded by Musk, among multiple legal actions against his work at DOGE. A judge this week refused to dismiss a lawsuit against 14 states that sued Musk and DOGE, alleging illegal access of government data. More than 260,000 federal workers have been fired, taken buyouts or retired since Trump took office, a tally that far exceeds the record 195,000 cut during former President Dwight Eisenhower’s first year, according to Reuters. The Supreme Court last month paused an order by a San Francisco judge requiring the federal government to reinstate more than 16,000 probationary workers—or those who were newly hired—fired by six agencies. New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg called DOGE’s work “a failure” in a piece published Friday that notes “its firings, re-hirings, use of paid administrative leave and all the associated lack of productivity” could cost more than $135 billion this year, according to the Partnership for Public Service.

Musk Repeatedly Changed DOGE’s Goals

Musk said during Trump’s campaign he believed he could find $2 trillion in federal government savings, then made a goal of $1 trillion in cuts when he was appointed to lead DOGE before saying last month he anticipated $150 billion in savings. DOGE’s website has featured numerous errors, including triple counting savings from a contract, claiming it cancelled grants that were terminated years ago and using “billions” when it meant “millions,” according to The New York Times, which also reported DOGE changed its public reporting methods in an apparent attempt to make errors harder to find.

Musk raised eyebrows when he used a salute that closely resembled the one used in Nazi Germany at a Trump inauguration event in January. Twice while on stage Musk projected his arm diagonally upward from his chest with an open, downward facing palm. Some observers said it was a “Roman salute,” a take reshared by Musk, who never outright denied the accusations likening him to Hilter, and the Anti-Defamation League determined it was “not a Nazi salute.”

Today's Rich

The Hobbes quote:

“...the life of man is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

He was making reference to the monarchy, but still - we have government and social norms to protect us from ourselves.

The Ruling Elite

They don't listen to you or me, and they've become so enamored of their power - and the money they enjoy from their wealthy benefactors - they don't even listen to themselves as they barf their talking points into the atmosphere.

Ron Johnson (R-WI): By the way, I have never met a poor person who created jobs
byu/LegislativeLariat indemocrats

 

Was It The Drugs?

Remember him prancing on stage, and then fuckin' around with a chain saw, and the Nazi salute, and how he had his 4-year-old son in the Oval Office talkin' shit to Trump?



Elon Musk allegedly took large amounts of drugs including ketamine while advising Trump

Doge head at times took psychoactive drugs daily - including ketamine, ecstasy, and mushrooms, according to NYT

Elon Musk engaged in extensive drug consumption while serving as one of Donald Trump’s closest advisers, taking ketamine so frequently it caused bladder problems and traveling with a daily supply of approximately 20 pills, according to claims made to the New York Times.

The world’s richest man regularly consumed ketamine, ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms during his rise to political prominence, anonymous sources familiar with his activities told the Times. His drug use reportedly intensified as he donated $275M to Trump’s presidential campaign and later wielded significant power through his role spearheading the “department of government efficiency”, or Doge.

Musk announced his departure from government service on Wednesday evening, months after exhibiting erratic behavior including insulting cabinet members and making a Nazi-like salute at a political rally.

Ecstasy is classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Schedule I controlled substance with no accepted medical use, making it entirely prohibited for federal employees – though Musk has been classified as a “special government employee” and not subject to the same stringent rules as a regular employee.

While ketamine can be legally prescribed as a Schedule III substance, recreational use or mixing it with other drugs would probably violate federal workplace policies.

The Doge leader developed what those sources described to the Times as a serious ketamine habit, consuming the powerful anesthetic sometimes daily rather than the “small amount” taken “about once every two weeks” he claimed in interviews. “If you’ve used too much ketamine, you can’t really get work done, and I have a lot of work,” Musk previously told journalist Don Lemon in March 2024, downplaying his consumption.

However, by spring last year, the Times reports that Musk was telling associates his ketamine use was affecting his bladder – a known consequence of chronic abuse of the drug, which has psychedelic properties and can cause dissociation from reality, according to the DEA.

His regular medication box contained pills bearing Adderall markings alongside other substances, according to sources with the Times who have seen photographs of the container.

It remains unclear whether Musk was under the influence during his time at the White House, where he attended sensitive meetings with foreign leaders and held power over federal spending cuts.

When asked for comment on the reporting and whether Musk did any drug tests, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields skirted the question, saying that Musk “has accomplished more for American taxpayers than many career politicians”.

“Few CEOs in America would leave the comfort of the C-suite to serve in the federal government,” Fields said in a statement. “Yet Elon Musk did just that, joining the Trump Administration’s efforts to cut waste, fraud and abuse. DOGE and its core mission is now embedded in the fabric of the federal government and continues to drive efficiency and save taxpayer dollars.”

SpaceX maintains strict drug-free workplace policies for employees due to its government contracts. However, those insiders tell the Times that Musk received advance warning of random drug tests – undermining their effectiveness.

Popular podcaster and public intellectual Sam Harris, who publicly ended his friendship with Musk, wrote in a January newsletter: “There is something seriously wrong with his moral compass, if not his perception of reality.”

BTW (google search):

Drug testing for White House employees is a complex issue with a history of evolving policies and practices. Here's a breakdown of the key aspects:

1. Mandatory Drug Testing:

• Executive Order 12564: Issued in 1986, this order mandates a drug-free federal workplace and authorizes drug testing for federal employees, including those in the Executive Office of the President.
• Testing Designated Positions (TDPs): White House positions deemed sensitive (e.g., those with security clearances) are subject to random drug testing, as well as testing based on reasonable suspicion, accidents, and follow-up from rehabilitation programs.

2. Types of Drug Tests:

• Random Testing: Employees in TDPs are randomly selected for drug tests.
• Reasonable Suspicion Testing: Testing is conducted when there is a reasonable basis to suspect drug use by an employee.
• Accident/Unsafe Practice Testing: Drug tests are administered following accidents or unsafe practices potentially linked to drug use.
• Applicant Testing: Some positions require pre-employment drug testing.
• Follow-up Testing: Employees who have undergone drug treatment or rehabilitation may be subject to follow-up testing.

3. Substances Tested For:

• The standard drug testing panel typically includes marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and phencyclidine (PCP).

4. Employee Assistance Program (EAP):

• The White House offers an EAP to support employees struggling with substance abuse.
• Employees who voluntarily admit to drug use and seek help through the EAP may avoid disciplinary action, provided they refrain from further drug use.

5. Confidentiality:

• Drug testing records and results are kept confidential, with access limited to authorized personnel, such as the Medical Review Officer (MRO), EAP staff, and relevant management officials.

6. Disciplinary Actions:

• Employees found to be using illegal drugs may face disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

7. Recent Changes and Considerations:

• Marijuana Policy: There has been some discussion and adjustments regarding the White House's policy on past marijuana use by employees, with potential waivers and pledges to abstain from future use being considered.
• Impact of Reclassification of Cannabis: It's unclear how potential federal reclassification of cannabis may affect drug testing policies for White House and other federal employees.
• In summary, drug testing is a significant aspect of White House employment, particularly for those in sensitive positions. The White House aims to maintain a drug-free workplace while also providing support for employees seeking help with substance abuse.

It's Gonna Get Worse