# A Perfectly Reasonable Amount of Schadenfreude about Things Happening to Trump & His Enablers (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [May 19, 2023, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250 "2023-05-19T03:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 484
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2024, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9662 "2024-12-26T22:35:53Z")
I makes me feel weird that I’m actually agreeing with her. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9663 "2024-12-27T00:31:41Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Unfortunately Loomer can’t win this pissing match. Trump knows that his women are disposable but billionaires are relatively scarce. Trump will discard both of them at some point, it’s what he does. With all the memes about “Musk as President” I doubt Trump will even take office before shoving Musk aside; his ego will demand it. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9664 "2024-12-27T00:43:12Z")
I believe most stuff you say; I hope you’re right this time. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9665 "2024-12-27T01:15:57Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > With all the memes about “Musk as President” I doubt Trump will even take office before shoving Musk aside; his ego will demand it. Nah. Trump consoles himself that his position is safe because Musk is ineligible to _be_ president. Which means that he doesn’t understand the memes _at all_ (and apparently no one is explaining them to him) so he will remain oblivious to the taunts. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9666 "2024-12-27T01:55:09Z")
I hear ya. Never expected to agree with her about anything, ever. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9667 "2024-12-27T04:11:53Z")
Even a broken clock is right twice a day. Even a MAGA loony may inadvertently be correct now and then. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9668 "2024-12-27T08:56:19Z")
Not gonna link to the ongoing shitshow, but Elon 1) appeared in an audio forum under the account “Adrian Dittman” to defend himself while denying it was he (in a feat of masterful disguise rivaled only by [Mr Snrub](https://imgflip.com/i/65fq3l)) and then 2) cancelled Loomer’s blue check subscription, like the free-speech champion he is. It’s fun. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9669 "2024-12-27T09:16:45Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > cancelled Loomer’s blue check subscription Ironic considering that he unbanned her in the first place after Old Twitter kicked her out (which famously lead to her handcuffing herself to the door of their HQ and being completely ignored). ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9670 "2024-12-27T10:58:49Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > I makes me feel weird that I’m actually agreeing with her. Are you actually agreeing with her, or just accepting The Godzilla Solution? “Let them fight”. Unfortunately, we’re stuck with these people running the US government for the next several years, and we know they have no interest in actually listening to anyone outside their circle of supporters and bootlickers. Best we can hope for is that their various personality defects offset each other enough to mitigate their worst efforts and effects. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9671 "2024-12-27T14:48:29Z")
Axios has a pretty good article explaining how that fight got started. For now the fooforaw is contained to Elmo’s platform but it’s not going to stay there. [MAGA civil war breaks out over American “mediocrity” culture](https://www.axios.com/2024/12/26/maga-civil-war-ramaswamy-musk-loomer-cernovich) > A MAGA-world civil war erupted over Christmas when a social media post on American culture turned into a [pitched battle](https://www.axios.com/2024/12/21/donald-trump-elon-musk-maga-x-congress-republicans) over race, immigration and billionaires versus the working class. > **Why it matters:** The fight exposes one of the MAGA movement’s deepest contradictions: It came to prominence chiefly via the white, less-educated, working class but is now under the [full control](https://www.axios.com/2024/12/06/trump-billionaires-cabinet-elon-musk) of billionaire technologists and industrialists, many of them immigrants. > The skirmishes started Sunday when Trump named venture capitalist [Sriram Krishnan](https://x.com/sriramk/status/1870955225978384509) as his adviser on AI policy. > - Krishnan’s appointment triggered [an anti-Indian backlash](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/racist-rants-and-resentment-against-indians-in-us-after-maga-meltdown-over-trumps-ai-pick/articleshow/116689263.cms) on social media, particularly given his past advocacy for lifting caps on green cards. > **[Vivek Ramaswamy](https://www.axios.com/2024/12/04/vivek-ramaswamy-doge-entitlement-spending-cuts) escalated** the conflict into a full-blown war Thursday morning with a [post](https://x.com/VivekGRamaswamy/status/1872312139945234507) on X blaming an American culture that “venerated mediocrity over excellence” for the growth in foreign tech workers. > **The bottom line:** For now the fight is mostly confined to X. But it’s sure to raise difficult questions in the coming days about what Trump’s administration will mean for immigration, labor and the American worker. > - It will also potentially settle a looming conflict over who has the most influence in Trump 2.0 — his historic base or his new-found techno-libertarian allies. Who will Agent Orange choose? His legions of adoring MAGAts, or the billionaires who are currently infusing him with loads of sweet, sweet cash? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9672 "2024-12-27T14:50:51Z")
Ramaswamy’s ascendance to a position of power does validate his view that America venerates mediocrity over excellence. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9673 "2024-12-27T15:35:54Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > Who will Agent Orange choose? His legions of adoring MAGAts, or the billionaires who are currently infusing him with loads of sweet, sweet cash? I’d go with the legions of MAGAts. Even as a legion, they don’t have the power or influence to effectively oppose Trump, and they likely would never even try. But the billionaires have their own center of power, and it’s one they can deploy in any way they choose, with no delay, even if they do a full 180 on some issues. Those people could really hurt Trump, and so they’ll end up being his most important target, if he starts to perceive them as the enemy. And he won’t hesitate to use the power of the government to hit them where it hurts - their money. Look for Musk to end up declared a threat to national security, so Trump can freeze his assets. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9674 "2024-12-27T15:47:22Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > **[Vivek Ramaswamy](https://www.axios.com/2024/12/04/vivek-ramaswamy-doge-entitlement-spending-cuts) escalated** the conflict into a full-blown war Thursday morning with a [post](https://x.com/VivekGRamaswamy/status/1872312139945234507) on X blaming an American culture that “venerated mediocrity over excellence” for the growth in foreign tech workers Um, no. The growth in foreign tech workers came from American corporations caring more about lower costs per hour than quality. My company actually had a goal of 98% of systems work being outsourced. We, the peons, have notced longer development times with poorer results. Errors are not caught at run time; the users are now doing data quality checks. This is not a culture venerating mediocrity, it’s corporate greed. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9675 "2024-12-27T16:04:25Z")
The X-Cretin continues to hit the fans as Leon has suspended vast numbers of blue checks (and their monetization) for daring to question his pro-mass immigration stance. He has also referred to them as “subtards”. They are, as you might expect, a little miffed about this. Whereas I… [![](https://media.tenor.com/4h0Z--sGHgsAAAAC/jason-momoa-folding-chair.gif) ](https://media.tenor.com/4h0Z--sGHgsAAAAC/jason-momoa-folding-chair.gif) ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9676 "2024-12-27T16:30:03Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > The growth in foreign tech workers came from American corporations caring more about lower costs per hour than quality. [hijack]As someone who worked in tech for 40 years (recently retired) and witnessed this phenomenon first-hand, I’m surprised that no one’s written a book on the subject. Outsourcing, and the abuse of H1-B visas (ostensibly because it’s difficult to fill tech jobs with American citizens, which is bullshit) and the corresponding degradation of system quality. It was a long-running slow-motion scandal before our very eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9677 "2024-12-27T16:32:04Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > This is not a culture venerating mediocrity, it’s corporate greed. Corporate greed and mediocrity often cling; these are not mutually exclusive things. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9678 "2024-12-27T16:53:04Z")
By definition, the corporate mindset is, “what’s the shittiest product we can get away with and still make money?” It’s not veneration of mediocrity, it’s strategic acceptance. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9679 "2024-12-27T17:18:46Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > But the billionaires have their own center of power, and it’s one they can deploy in any way they choose, with no delay, even if they do a full 180 on some issues. Those people could really hurt Trump, and so they’ll end up being his most important target, if he starts to perceive them as the enemy. And he won’t hesitate to use the power of the government to hit them where it hurts - their money. Look for Musk to end up declared a threat to national security, so Trump can freeze his assets. I mean, what they have is _influence,_ not true hard power; they just don’t want to admit otherwise even to themselves. It’s the old mistake of the wealthy who back dictators for their own profit; they are constitutionally unable to realize that once the dictator is installed he can just take their money if he feels like it, or kill them. Ask all the Russian oligarchs who “fell out of windows” how much influence and protection their money gave them. And while Trump won’t instantly gain dictatorial powers, he’ll have more than enough power to screw over a random billionaire if he feels like it. Heck, look at Elon Musk’s recent standoff with the Brazilian government; [he was the one who blinked](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/08/elon-musks-x-back-online-in-brazil-after-receiving-court-clearance.html), because in the end they have real, hard power and he doesn’t. Plus, MAGA worships him and the billionaires don’t, he’s going to consider basking in their worship more important than the profits of people who aren’t Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9680 "2024-12-27T17:25:18Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > I mean, what they have is _influence,_ not true hard power; they just don’t want to admit otherwise even to themselves. It’s the old mistake of the wealthy who back dictators for their own profit; they are constitutionally unable to realize that once the dictator is installed he can just take their money if he feels like it, or kill them. Yeah. I’ve posted this before: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/yBFJGz5P_G8/hqdefault.jpg "The Expanse - Avasarala confronts Errinwright") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBFJGz5P_G8&t=38) Unless they’re recruiting soldiers who are as loyal to them as the US military is to the United States, they need to tread lightly. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9681 "2024-12-27T20:31:47Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > The X-Cretin continues to hit the fans as Leon has suspended vast numbers of blue checks (and their monetization) for daring to question his pro-mass immigration stance. He has also referred to them as “subtards”. Republicans: Liberals want to replace you with foreigners! Elmo and Vivek: lol let’s replace Americans with foreigners > **['Scam by the oligarchs!' Steve Bannon piles on Elon Musk in MAGA civil war](https://www.rawstory.com/steve-bannon-elon-musk/)** > > Former Donald Trump adviser turned far-right pundit Steve Bannon came down hard against tech billionaire Elon Musk in the battle that flared up this week between right-wing businessmen and the MAGA activist class, The New Republic reported on... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250.md?page=483) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250.md?page=485)