# Elon “ Ready to serve” **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 20, 2024, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939 "2024-08-20T11:31:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [August 21, 2024, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/21 "2024-08-21T23:00:05Z")
As I’ve said repeatedly in other contexts trump himself is probably the least dangerous figure in a putative trump Administration. It’s the gawdawful mix of Fascists and klepto-capitalists he’d usher in then studiously ignore their depredations as long as he got his percentage of everything they stole. _Those_ are the real danger. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/22 "2024-08-23T15:15:30Z")
I really don’t understand why Elon is a Trump supporter. Maybe he’s just anti-democrat? He’s been very clear about his hatred for “woke-ism.” But I do think he’s genuinely one of the most intelligent & driven people alive today. I think it’s similar to if Thomas Edison or Nikola Tesla offered to join a president’s cabinet. You’d want the brain power but you’d also want to keep them on a short leash. ---
**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:** [August 23, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/23 "2024-08-23T15:21:59Z")
Elon Musk is certainly a lot like Edison, in that both blatantly took credit for the work and ideas of other people and engaged in many morally dubious business practices including smear campaigns against anyone they saw as a rival (like, for example, Tesla). As for Musk’s intelligence, I can only quote Rod Hilton on the matter: > [@](#): > > He talked about electric cars. I don’t know anything about cars, so when people said he was a genius I figured he must be a genius. > > Then he talked about rockets. I don’t know anything about rockets, so when people said he was a genius I figured he must be a genius. > > Now he talks about software. I happen to know a lot about software & Elon Musk is saying the stupidest shit I’ve ever heard anyone say, so when people say he’s a genius I figure I should stay the hell away from his cars and rockets. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/24 "2024-08-23T15:43:14Z")
““Oh, God please don’t let Trump get in the Whitehouse again…””. That is the only prayer I’ve ever prayed. Elon is a bigoted, biased drug addled fool. Add him to Trump in Washington and we’re doomed. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/25 "2024-08-23T15:51:29Z")
> [@Dark\_Sponge](#): > > Maybe he’s just anti-democrat? He’s anti a lot of things that are decent. People who hate the same things have ways to find common ground despite their other differences. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/26 "2024-08-23T16:05:54Z")
There are times when that “must be a natural born citizen” thingie is reassuring. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/27 "2024-08-23T16:19:03Z")
Not the he legally could, but if re-elected, I’m sure Trump would waive that requirement. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/28 "2024-08-23T16:31:36Z")
Note that the “natural born citizen” requirement applies only to the president and vice-president, not to cabinet or other appointed offices and is not subject to waiver by Trump or anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/29 "2024-08-23T16:37:02Z")
Right. Many historically prominent cabinet Secretaries and advisors have been naturalized immigrants. ---
**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:** [August 23, 2024, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/30 "2024-08-23T16:41:05Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Note that the “natural born citizen” requirement applies only to the president and vice-president, not to cabinet or other appointed offices and is not subject to waiver by Trump or anyone else. Which is how we ended up with Henry Kissinger. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/31 "2024-08-23T16:41:45Z")
Also Madeline Albright. Probably others, but they’re the best-known ones today. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/32 "2024-08-23T16:46:45Z")
_Zbigniew Brzezinski has entered the chat_ Plus all these peoples (some of whom have been mentioned) > **[List of foreign-born United States Cabinet members](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_foreign-born_United_States_Cabinet_members)** > > As of 2023,\[update\] there have been 23 members appointed to the Cabinet of the United States who had been born outside the present-day United States. > Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers who signed the U.S. Constitution, was the first cabinet member to be born outside of the United States. President George Washington appointed Hamilton, born in Nevis in 1755 or in 1757, as the United States' first Secretary of the Treasury in 1789. Irish-born James McHenry, whom Washington appointed... ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/33 "2024-08-23T16:49:04Z")
Though I believe his highest position was National Security Advisor. which isn’t, I think, in the line of succession. Meanwhile Kissinger and Albright were Secretary of State, which is. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/34 "2024-08-23T16:53:18Z")
Presidential succession is an important consideration, but not centrally stated in the initial discussion. There are lots of places Elmo could be slotted in. ---
**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:** [August 23, 2024, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/35 "2024-08-23T16:53:56Z")
A few certainly come to mind… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/36 "2024-08-23T16:54:08Z")
The point is that _whatever_ appointed position he might take, presidential succession is irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/37 "2024-08-23T16:57:13Z")
People, people, I’m looking ahead to Elmo might try to do next! ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/38 "2024-08-23T17:03:57Z")
They deserve each other. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/39 "2024-08-23T17:04:42Z")
“I’m sorry Mr. Musk but it turns out there’s only room for one self-promoting narcissist in this administration and we’ve already filled that position.” ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939/40 "2024-08-23T17:07:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > “I’m sorry Mr. Musk but it turns out there’s only room for one self-promoting narcissist in this administration and we’ve already filled that position.” - Missed opportunity. Few things are as much fun as watching _two_ self-promoting narcissists fighting for attention. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-ready-to-serve/1005939.md?page=3)