# Elon Musk is a Russian stooge **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 4, 2022, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-is-a-russian-stooge/972666 "2022-10-04T02:15:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2022, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-is-a-russian-stooge/972666/41 "2022-10-07T20:20:23Z")
I think Musk’s POV on geopolitics is real simple: I (Musk) will be totally insulated from anything bad that happens politically to the bulk of humanity. But I won't be insulated from anything that tanks the economy and stock market. That'll hurt me. Lots. So supporting and appeasing dictators is fine as long as the West doesn’t decide to actually fight them & thereby muck up the S&P. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-is-a-russian-stooge/972666/42 "2022-10-08T21:35:50Z")
I think that’s a bit generous. Like most billionaires the bottom line tends to trump all, but he’s a child of Apartheid South Africa. Racism, grievance and propaganda are baked into that period. He’s supposedly got Asperger’s. And he’s lived the last decade or so surrounded by tech bros and celebs who treat him like a deity, hard not to think he’s awash in clinical narcissism. Sadly I doubt this is pure pragmatism on his part. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2022, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-is-a-russian-stooge/972666/43 "2022-10-15T00:03:57Z")
So he can afford Twitter (maybe), but suddenly he can’t afford to fund Starlink for a war-torn country? > **[Musk says SpaceX will keep funding Ukraine Starlink internet](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63266142)** > > The tycoon reverses his earlier decision to stop funding a vital internet service for Ukraine. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2022, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-is-a-russian-stooge/972666/44 "2022-10-15T10:05:19Z")
Nvmd. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2022, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-is-a-russian-stooge/972666/45 "2022-10-15T13:27:47Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > So he can afford Twitter (maybe), but suddenly he can’t afford to fund Starlink for a war-torn country? Power is useless if you don’t use it to extort something from someone. He’s in effect selling Starlink access (or non-access) to the highest bidder. I wonder what Russia is paying now to entice him to cut it off? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-is-a-russian-stooge/972666/46 "2022-10-16T14:49:36Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > And he’s lived the last decade or so surrounded by tech bros and celebs who treat him like a deity, hard not to think he’s awash in clinical narcissism. I was going to post that after people hang on your every word in the board room for some time, one believes that everyone will be interested in your opinion of everything. I’ll second your comment. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-is-a-russian-stooge/972666/47 "2022-10-17T00:14:45Z")
The very next day, he changed his mind. Same link now says: > **[Musk says SpaceX will keep funding Ukraine Starlink internet](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63266142)** > > The tycoon reverses his earlier decision to stop funding a vital internet service for Ukraine. He doesn’t sound happy about it, though. > Musk, you are one of the richest men in the world. Cry me a river that you lose money for doing the right thing. Go fuck yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-is-a-russian-stooge/972666/48 "2022-10-17T22:46:51Z")
Relevant article: [Elon Musk is Transmitting a Message for Putin](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/10/17/fiona-hill-putin-war-00061894) ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2022, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-is-a-russian-stooge/972666/49 "2022-10-20T04:40:51Z")
As much as Musk is a twat, in this he’s 100% correct. There’s huge chunks of the military industrial complex sucking at the government’s teat while supporting Ukraine with materiel and contractors of various flavors. SpaceX and Starlink are providing essential support here and if we’re willing to spend taxpayer money on rocket systems, drones and whatever else we’ve shipped to Ukraine we should certainly foot the bill for a vital strategic resource like telecommunications and internet. Why will we buy bombs but not internet terminals? His being rich doesn’t do anything to change the fact that this situation is unfair to his companies. Him being a Russian mouthpiece certainly isn’t helping him in the negotiation though. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2022, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-is-a-russian-stooge/972666/50 "2022-10-20T23:31:36Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > His being rich doesn’t do anything to change the fact that this situation is unfair to his companies. Him being a Russian mouthpiece certainly isn’t helping him in the negotiation though. Also that this decision happened shortly after a Ukrainian ambassador [insulted him](https://twitter.com/MelnykAndrij/status/1576980433564147712), makes him seem petty on levels rivaled only by Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2022, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-is-a-russian-stooge/972666/51 "2022-10-21T13:30:26Z")
Does anyone else have a Disney earworm thanks to the title of this thread? _Elon Musk is a Russian stooge a Russian stooge, a Russian stooge. Elon Musk is a Russian stooge Na-na-na-na-na._ ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2022, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-is-a-russian-stooge/972666/52 "2022-10-21T19:55:36Z")
Same here. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2022, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-is-a-russian-stooge/972666/53 "2022-10-22T08:30:07Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Why will we buy bombs but not internet terminals? Same reason we have missiles that probably rival the fictional Jericho missile from _Iron Man_ but lack single-payer health care. Musk is still a twat and a Russian stooge, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-is-a-russian-stooge/972666.md?page=2)