Delicious.
I know, schadenfreude is of questionable moral beliefs.
But watching Musk just pinball all over morality himself is concerning, vaguely amusing, ant scary.
I really have checked, and I can’t find any evidence of him actually contributing to, say, peacekeeping, medical advances, or food and water security.
Unlike the Gates’ The Jobs, the Rockefellers, the Fords, the Carnegies, the Hearsts, Warren Buffet.
83
gotta love Musk. smarter than all these clowns put together and playing the long game for everyone. penny ante state judge - probably some big wigs niece - no big deal.
10
@John
Musk is smart, but also greedy, amoral, and dangerous.
134
@john
Worship the one you like, insult anyone on the other side. Classic djt tactics, and they stink.
93
@john Right, it's always Musk playing 3D chess in which us non-billionaire dummies are all pawns. Couldn't possibly be that Musk is a capricious loudmouth who knows that his money will help him out of any jam he gets himself into.
If you'd read the article, you'd have learned that the judge comes from a humble background and, as the head of the Chancery court, actually holds a lot of power in relation to the almost 2,000,000 businesses incorporated in Delaware. Hardly penny ante, but probably doesn't have fanboys defending her across the internet like Mr. Epic Billionaire does.
128
Why is it that so many who are outraged by Big Oil, Big Pharma, corporate America in general, or a particular political party, nonetheless give a pass to -- even admire -- such a mega-threat as Elon Musk?
One person worth 1/4 trillion (yes, trillion with a T) dollars is more of a danger to America than are all the Twitterati put together, as well as Twitter itself. If Musk decides to spend his money opposing abortion, supporting restrictive voting laws, or buying an AK47 for every member of the Republican Party, there is nothing to stop him. With his money Musk can actually finance Russia's effort to take over much of Ukraine, which he has advocated. But that's nothing compared to the influence (i.e. bought politicians, businesses, clergy) he can wield over the life of everyday Americans.
Whether it's elections, zoning variances, or laws and regulations to advance his own whims, fantasies, and economic interests, he can buy them. With chump change. An example of how Musk operates: in New Mexico, for instance, Tesla has moved onto Pueblo land, so as to avoid having to obey state laws and regulations.
As to Musk and Twitter: I have no interest in addicting, often destructive, gossip-promoting vehicles, such as Twitter. Those who are interested can fight it out among themselves. Twitter is simply an inevitable aspect of the world's one truly democratic weapon of mass destruction: the internet.
49
So why is NYT saying Elon is “rushing to close the deal quickly” as he carries a sink into HQ?
The judge ordered that by Friday deadline.
If I was that long standing employee, that resume should be polished and all my borrowed items from coworkers should be returned.
Sell that stock immediately upon his signing.
It’s going to dive plus he’s taking it private. He has to buy back all the stock.
No one likes a mercurial CEO who is devoid of affinity and only making Twitter money.
15
Why is it that so many who are outraged by Big Oil, Big Pharma, corporate America in general, or a particular political party, nonetheless give a pass to -- even admire -- such a mega-threat as Elon Musk?
One person worth 1/4 trillion (yes, trillion with a T) dollars is more of a danger to America than are all the Twitterati put together, as well as Twitter itself. If Musk decides to spend his money opposing abortion, supporting restrictive voting laws, or buying an AK47 for every member of the Republican Party, there is nothing to stop him. With his money Musk can actually finance Russia's effort to take over much of Ukraine, which he has advocated. But that's nothing compared to the influence (i.e. bought politicians, businesses, clergy) he can wield over the life of everyday Americans.
Whether it's elections, zoning variances, or laws and regulations to advance his own whims, fantasies, and economic interests, he can buy them. With chump change. An example of how Musk operates: in New Mexico, for instance, Tesla has moved onto Pueblo land, so as to avoid having to obey state laws and regulations.
As to Musk and Twitter: I have no interest in addicting, often destructive, gossip-promoting vehicles, such as Twitter. Those who are interested can fight it out among themselves. Twitter is simply an inevitable aspect of the world's one truly democratic weapon of mass destruction: the internet.
7
Think each time Putin hears of Musk being referred to as the world’s richest person, he probably laughs.
Good cover for one imagines the extensive wealth Putin has probably stolen from his country during his reign.
19
Musk would be FAR better off just paying the $1B breakup fee and walking away. But it appears that he's not smart enough to do that
11
@Foo You misunderstand. The $1 Billion Break-up fee explicitly requires him to try his best to close the deal and fail to do so.
The problem is, it's never been something he cannot do, it's something he didn't want to do. But the contracts are made explicitly to prevent one from changing their minds.
16
Musk is not conservative. Progressives are just enraged because they cannot control him through social and bureacratic means like they can the rest of society.
5
There should be a mass exodus from Twitter before Twitter becomes the next TruthSocial and Parlor. Between DJT, Kanye and Musk, the three platforms will be a Petri dish of hatred, antisemitism, racism, and lies.
65
Musk has every right to be "rambunctious", so long as he's broken no laws. Millions of Americans have benefitted from his companies, something that cannot be said for ANY of the poor, economic parasites that progressives support.
7
@Montalvo obviously you don't know where the money comes from that benefits his companies. Hints: tax payers and things progressives support . . .
31
Pretty sure that if you are using an iPhone or an Android — or the computer you are typing on — a progressive helped build it or even invented the reality your eyeballs are looking straight at, clearly.
30
I don't understand: who is it that Elon Musk is supposed to answer to ("Elon Musk Seems to Answer to No One")? Unless he has broken a law, who would he (or anyone else in our country) have to "answer to"?
The journalist? Elizabeth Warren? Biden DOJ apparatchiks?
the judge in this lawsuit can only kill the deal. In that sense, we all "answer to" various rules - but we're still free to go about our lives without fearing for our liberty.
It seems to me Musk can attempt whatever (legal) thing he wants, without "answering to" anyone, although things won't always work out in his favor. Also true for the rest of us. He's unimaginably rich, so his field of choices is exponentially greater than those available to most of us. And that, of course, (along with his recent turn away from leftist thinking) explains the implicit class warfare umbrage of the headline.
3
If only it were that simple. Everyone ignores the veracity of legal decisions everyday.
4
@Franklin He's supposed to answer to those on the other side of the deal he signed to buy Twitter. He failed to do so. Hence the headline.
26
Both Musk and Peter Thiel are immigrants from South Africa I think. They are two intelligent guys who have been able to profit from the economic opportunities available in the USA. But don't really seem to understand the social, and civic side of the culture. They profess to be Libertarian's which usually means hard right Republicans when it comes to policies, and no real considerations for the General welfare of its citizens. Or employees.
50
@Jack M. "Libertarian," as I see it, means "in it for myself only," which, as you point out is neither social nor civic in nature.
Libertarianism is "trickle down" political philosophy: the fairy tale belief that while unbridled selfishness may stink at one end of the horse, it will eventually come out smelling like a rose at the other end.
29
This is why companies incorporate in Delaware ... its not just a big file cabinet, its where you find judges who understand businesses and deals.
16
@Dennis
Thanks for pointing that out. If I thought about it at all, I would've assumed it was because of Delaware's tax structure or something. Like where ship owners decide their country of registry...
10
@Dennis Isn't the causality exactly the opposite? Companies register in Delaware because of its friendly corporate legal and tax structure. Because there are so many companies registered there, there are invariably lawsuits, which leads to judges with experience.
20
Didn't the Wall Street Journal do this exact same story like two weeks ago?
2
@CMC i don’t read WSJ regularly. But i read this. Great article!
17
Off topic here: but Teslas are really ugly vehicles but at least it got the main manufacturers moving. Now what's the deal on Twitter? Billions of dollars?
2
@Northern D
Agreed, I love the look of the late 50's Chryslers. But with the Tesla Ludicrous underneath, Of course.
1
Elon is another self-righteous bully. I don't know why rich people seem to think the law don't apply to them, but many of them do think that way and Elon is the perfect example. Elon's demeanor is that he is better than everyone else. The government need to stop giving him so many tax breaks and make him pay his fair share. Having way less money will make him more humble. I would not recommend buying a Tesla or Twitter shares because that would only enrich him and inflate his already over-sized ego. I don't know Elon personally but on TV, social media, and public speakings he's not a polite man.
31
@Montalvo Correction: Elon Musk is better at designing and selling electric cars than everyone else. But how does that make him an expert on Ukraine, on China?
Musk is also better at making himself rich than just about anyone else, and his current actions are further proof of that. Buying Twitter, for Musk, is like buying the ultimate direct mail list.
11
"Elon's demeanor is that he is better than everyone else."
He IS better than everyone else and his achievements prove it!
1
No due diligence. Twitter is an dead albatross, a propaganda sinkhole, that Musk tried to wriggle out of. Its business model dependent upon trolls and pols, profitability unlikely. Thankfully, McCormick has given him a lesson in judicial prerogative, and informed tactical restraint, holding him up to the consequences of his financial and media shenanigans. A free speech absolutist? Just wait until he becomes the main target of his own creation, or better yet, presides over a similar drift toward obsolescence as the Donald’s media “empire”. It must be disconcerting for such types to face the music before such a judge, when the continuances end, and the litigants must finally pay up or shut up. It will be the story of American democracy whether the Donald and Elon are actually held accountable and can’t just do what they please forever. At least here, Elon must comply or pay.
27
Musk and Twitter - what a terrible combination. Fortunately, I have never used Twitter - the very name sounds immature.
IMO, social media has a great deal of responsibility for the political incivility we have today, and facilitates communications between groups like Proud Boys. i.e. J6 coup attempt.
16
@Pat Boice
Many people agree with you and many of them are young enough to have grown up with the internet and see it as a dangerous, unregulated, and unmoderated component of today's society.
14
@TRA I hope so, but I fear not. They may just see the internet, etc. as just a perogative of adulthood, sort of the way they see driving, until the first traffic accident.
1
@Pat Boice Yes, I agree that social media fosters political incivility. But regulating Facebook/Twitter/Truth Social Incorporated runs into constitutional problems.
We need to learn to use it, like THEY use it, except for public good. We need to learn from our adversary.
3
He is public enemy harm spreader number one.
10
He never wanted to buy twitter. He just wanted an excuse to sell Tesla stock at record valuations and pay the one billion exit fee.
That simple.
24
@scott
It will be interesting to see if you turn out to be right.
6
I used to think Musk was a pioneer...a different, influential leader. But now I am convinced he is like all the other corporate greed leaders. He is out for himself and we can only rely on the court system to handle his power, influence and wealth. However, his purchase of Twitter will give the power back to the GOP misinformation machine who were rightfully ban from the site. No win situation even when the courts are doing the right thing.
65
Corporate titans aren’t controlled by the judicial system. It has been made subservient to them. None of them fear jail time, and all of them will gladly pay derisory fines and no admittance of guilt as a cost of doing business in the shadows. And if the fine is too large, they will appeal it away. And if their actions are too egregious, they retire on the back of a gigantic severance package.
42
@Xoxarle this isn’t a criminal case just fyi we don’t have debtors prisons here in the USA either
1
i think it's a serious issue when we rely too much for equity and justice on a single branch of government.
even a cursory glance suggests that both the executive and legislative branches are riven by political factional disputes that make up the rules as they go along. only the judiciary seems guided by a specific process and irrevocable principles.
true, the current supreme court does not seem above politics, but it also gets involved only if and when lower courts or state legislatures disagree.
i'm firmly apolitical: there are valid concerns at both ends of the political spectrum. human beings speak their truths, no matter how they have been programmed to believe by local culture and economic circumstances.
these disputes all come down to this: where we are going with our "progress", and what we expect to find when we get there?
humanity is driving pellmell into a fog. a catastrophic collision with the facts of reality is inevitable.
4
@drollere Trying too promote both-siderism tells us all we need to know about your politics.
4
@jcs
To me, "both-siderism" harkens back to when Democrats and Republicans had dinner together, because they were all stuck in D.C. for the Session anyway. They got to see the complex details of the other guy's point-of-view, worked out compromises. Some of them shared living spaces, got to know each other as co-workers, fellow parents, regular people. Maybe they took 30% off the top, but they worked out the problems, and kept the country running.
Maybe now that everyone sees "the sausage being made" in 4K , we aren't that fond of the result.
The boy's club; they made democracy seem so easy.
"Elon Musk Seems to Answer to No One"
Elon resembles the U.S. Press in that respect.
9
@SaintJoseph I wonder who you think the "U.S. Press" should answer to, exactly? Congress? The President? Because that model is active in some countries and the results aren't great. The Press does need to follow the laws of the country/state (lible, etc)
19
@SaintJoseph
The press answers to the government in China and Russia. Perhaps those countries are more to your liking?
12
@SaintJoseph
I guess the press should simply answer to you, right?
9
A brilliant, incredibly wealthy, yet insatiable narcissist with an opinion on every subject and one of the world's biggest soapboxes.
What could possibly go wrong?
64
If only there was software that could eliminate all mentions of Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and Kanye West in the online media, I would buy it in an instant.
Our only hope is that Elon leaves for Mars soon.
92
The Times, and the media generally, are making the same mistake with their coverage of Musk as they did with the former guy in 2016, describing him in terms that make him sound like a troublesome child rather than the malicious, dangerous narcissist he is.
"Rambunctious" and "disruptive" just don't cut it. Stop squinting at him, fully open your eyes to the danger he poses to our democracy, then use the appropriate language to describe such a person.
132
THIs is disturbing
In a nutshell, Kanye, Elon, Trump (House Judiciary GOP tweet).
6
If only Musk was a decent man his billionaire status wouldn't matter in the least. If only he cared about the people and the planet and was willing to use his enormous wealth to help the world we would cheer him on. But he doesn't care about anyone or anything other than himself and the fun he can have with his wealth. Musk is one sad and sorry man.
36
Trump and Elon and Ye.
You really could have predicted we would end up here. Yawn.
6
Musk loves drama and quite possibly doesn't himself know whether he'll do the deal by Friday. He's having sooo much fun noodling with Putin, planning to move Tesla production to Mexico (sorry, Texas), attacking Apple, kowtowing to Xi, and pocketing subsidies from US taxpayers. And if he does finish the deal by Friday he gets to fire 75% of Twitter's remaining employees and move the rest out of the US! He's living the life that Trump and his fellow Republicans only dream of.
23
Nice to see our legal/court system working as it should. Quite a contrast to the "no so Supreme Court" these days.
34
Musk obviously has impulse control issues and is never consistent with his advice. He wants to buy Twitter and then he doesn't. He doesn't bother with due diligence prior to signing an agreement. He suggests a negotiated settlement for the Ukraine invasion, including a UN sponsored referendum for the Donbas. But does he suggest the same for Taiwan (UN sponsored referendum on whether the Taiwanese support Chinese control). Of course not, that would anger his Chinese customers and the Chinese government.
39
If only all our courts could function like the Court of Chancery. Transparent, efficient, consistent and largely apolitical, you can almost always depend on them to do the pragmatic, reasonable thing. When they change course it is for logically sounds reasons that clarify rather than confuse.
Contrast that with our kangaroo US Supreme Court, where established Constitutional rights are gleefully voided, decades-old precedent is reverse for purely political reasons, and Justices like Clarence Thomas boldly shield would-be traitors like like Ginny Thomas and Lindsey Graham.
The Court of Chancery is a shining example of how the common law can work well. The US Supreme Court is a gross example of how it can fail miserably.
189
@Todd i don't disagree with you, but it's genuinely hilarious to hear you say that when the opening to Charles Dickens' bleak house paints a VIVID picture of the interminable horror of the court of chancelery. Its a different one, but the contrast is too vivid for me to not mention
Frankly, I think Musk will pull out of the deal and pay the 1 billion. He didn't show good diligence in his quest to own Twitter so he should suffer the judgement.
Also, I'd like Twitter to not win the case and to not have its share holders enrich themselves.
Twitter needs to die a slow death on it's own merits.
32
Musk shutting down Twitter, that mindless echo chamber whose contributors face no peril for their pernicious offerings, could only be topped by his including Facebook and Instagram. A worthy hat trick.
14
@Shiva
Twitter is not a "mindless echo chamber whose contributors face no peril for their pernicious offerings..."
Which contributors? Not the journalists, academics, lawyers whose news and commentary can be truly exceptional!
Have you used Twitter -- and if so, who did you pay attention to? FPOTUS Trump alone?
Then I might agree with you -- but the problem lies in selection and amplification.
3
Musk is Example #1 of why no individual should ever control a billion dollars, much less 200 billion. Yet in Get-Rich-Quick America, he's practically a god: the embodiment of the American Dream.
43
@Bunk McNulty
Like Yvonne Chouinard pointed out: every billionaire is a policy failure.
19
@Bunk McNulty -- You couldn't be more right. Americans worship the rich and always have. We think they are smarter than us and are entitled to whatever they want. Politicians bow down to them and treat them like rock stars. In truth, most of them are nothing more than arrogant megalomaniacs who think they are always right and have questionable business practices.
14
@Bunk McNulty
He does have his own car company. GM et al NEVER thought he'd make it.
Even Henry J. Kaiser failed at that. And he had a steel company!
The American Dream may be corrupt, but he embodies the American Dream.
You think NASA and Boeing TOGETHER will beat him to Mars?
Don't bet against him.
I don't care much about his personality.
It's all about his achievements, the things he's built.
1
His vehicles get a federal tax credit, NASA awards SpaceX a $1.6 billion dollar contract on the eve of default. He consider reexamining Starlink's role in the Biden administration's effort to assist Ukraine in it's war against the Russian invaders.
17
Musk answers to customers. I’ve already nixed my Tesla plans.
44
That's because he's been allowed to amass unimaginable wealth thanks to GOP tax policies.
68
The right response to so much of this sort of anti-social behavior from Elon Musk, Peter Theil, Barre Seid, the Kochs, and their likes was devised by American politicians called "Progressives" more than a hundred years ago. It's called "progressive taxation" and in essence mandates taxing greater incomes and fortunes at higher and higher rates than the lower fortunes/wealths and incomes. A Democratic President, Wilson, signed progressive taxation into law under a Constitution amended in 1913 to permit it with what was then called the "progressive income tax." (From 1940s to the 1950s, the highest rate was 90%.) A Republican president, Teddy Roosevelt had earlier signed an inheritance tax for wealth, but it was less progressive. The hugely disappointed millionaires of the preceding "Gilded Age" railed at both as "socialist." They have concentrated since on lowering taxes for the rich and claiming it was for the rest of us.
74
@william Everdell
In Delaware Chancery Court contracts are sacred,
in this case the M&A contract between Musk and Twitter.
Without enforceable contracts we are China or Russia.
16
@william Everdell
It is ludicrous how wrong you are. Peter Theil, Barre Seid, the Kochs are all ferocious climate deniers, Elon Musk has done more to put oil out of business bar none.
We agree Musk if NOT a climate denier more importantly not because of what he says but because of what he does. How many million dirty gasoline cars are not driving around today with gasoline tanks polluting the air?
3,233,623 Teslas as of October 2022 are on the road.
Millions more electric cars are on the road to a big extend because TESLA started it all. Today there are more than 16.5 million electric cars on the road, triple the amount in 2018.
So get real ,Elon Musk is no Peter Theil, Barre Seid, or David Koch.
3
I hope she pins his ears back a good deal. He's a somewhat despicable character who thinks his wealth allows him to run roughshod over others. Next, I'd hope to see Trump appear before her court. Likely she'd not put up with his nonsense either.
100
Money money money. Nothing else matters.
12
those of us who have joined the "electric revolution" can give Elon Musk some due credit. Once you own a Tesla you'll begin to understand the direction this country must go in for all our sakes. Unfortunately, Musk is such a wild card that he should step down as CEO of Tesla automotive and let a "stable genius" run the company. Obviously, his engineering teams are responsible the product I drive every day and I'm grateful to them. Also, the entire business model of buying these vehicles and obtaining service will lead one to never retreat back to the old model---(in a showroom with a salesman as your blood sugar goes down and they grind you into the ground with a bad deal that you sign on the dotted because you're too exhausted to fight any more).
So yes, Musk is an idiot some of the time but don't conflate that with Tesla the company.
12
The actual path to a sustainable future is no personal electronic transport unless you have mobility challenges. Driving a Tesla is a just a way for rich people to feel better about themselves, not a path for a more sustainable world.
45
Elon Musk is a genius. He is forced to sell Tesla shares to overpay for Twitter which he intends to creatively destroy. Talk about making nothing out of something. Go, Judge McCormick, go.
126
@Zengzi
Elon Musk is a genius.
The man is a stable genius.
4
@Rick
I think you forgot to put the /s on your post.
6
We must put an end to Mr. Musk and creatures such as he. The various courts in which Justice is served are hopefully effective venues by which to make this happen.
30
Sounds like maybe Mr. Musk who spins around like a Vespa in Rome’s traffic has run into a steam roller that can’t be dodged in Judge McCormick. We await the Judges ruling.
29
Too much money is bad for the soul.
44
@Rupert , I think too much money too fast.
4
@Rupert
I don't agree. There are lots of very wealthy people who use that wealth to help other people and the planet. But someone with the enormous wealth of Musk who has never progressed much past the age of about 8 is dangerous. I don't know about his soul or even if he has one that functions.
9
@Ugly And Fat Git
No, I think too much money.
Rupert has it right.
4
I fervently hope that Elon Musk and his investors fail to complete the purchase of Twitter on Friday.
The company is "over-priced", Musk wants to cut 75 percent of the workforce, and he apparently has no clue as to how to balance moderation with user needs and advertising.
Yet Musk failed to do his due diligence.
Let him pay the $1 billion penalty and retreat in disgrace.
95
@Sharon Stout
If it were only a $1B penalty, Musk would have cut the check a long time ago.
Twitter is seeking specific performance, which means they want to force Musk to go through with the purchase. It's a fantastic deal for the shareholders. And that'll be the subject of the trial.
24
@Sam
It might be a fantastic deal for the shareholders -- and for the officers who have Golden Parachutes.
Forcing Musk to go through with the purchase would result in a terrible deal for the Twitter users who do not like his stated moderation preferences -- and for the Twitter workforce, who would suffer under a mercurial owner.
As for democracy and the "public sphere," what does domination by a single billionaire add?
8
@Sharon Stout
I don't disagree, I'm just saying that the reason why this dispute is still live is that it's not as simple as Musk paying $1B for a get out of buying Twitter card.
4
Musk’s either unable to control his impulsivity, or he was trying to pump-and-dump the twitter stock price.
Either way, he should be held accountable.
111
@Lauren Noll 🟢
Musk and his apologists blame Aspergers.
Baloney.
7
I am leaving Twitter -- and so should everyone who believes in democracy. Musk doesn't understand that free speech with no limits ultimately destroys democracy and, ironically, leads to speech that devours freedom and free speech.
178
“Free speech…destroys democracy”? Really? I don’t think so.
1
@GZ
Jefferson may take some umbrage with your reasoning.
4
Thank God there is someone holding him accountable. He seems to be the archetypal cartoon villain barely in sheep's clothing.
187
@kitty talking of thanking God while Musk is no angel he is no evil either. Enough with the unwarranted negativity.
Mr. Musk has done more to destroy the life threatening fossil fuel economy bar none. There is less dirty gasoline polluting the air killing people due to asthma, childhood leukemia, heart disease, and bronhitis because of Mr Musk's pushed for electric cars.
Mr. Toyoda even bragged that his gas burning Toyotas were superior to magnificent Teslas because he offered more choice of styles. If you can have a three star Michelin feast with a Tesla who needs the ugly fast food big choice of garbage food offered by Toyota. All Toyotas burn gasoline. There is no choice of a single Toyota that does not damage children's lungs with dirty air.
Also who is the great hero giving Ukraine thousands of receivers and free access to satellite Internet within 48 hours of request? How gigantic was this help to the Ukrainians to be able to push back the Russian invaders?
Ok sometimes Musk makes mistakes He was slow understanding the threat of COVID for his workers but he reversed himself once it sunk in how wrong he was. The idea of finding a negotiated solution with the Russians is not evil. The protections of the freedom to use Russian in Ukraine is a fundamental human right that should not be denied. If Belgians have 3 recognised official languages why can't the Ukrainians have 2? Besides it gave Putin a pretext to invade. Give the defeated Russians a way to get out.
3
I heard that the U.S. government was going to perform some national security review of Musk’s acquisition. The government hasn’t confirmed or denied. Is this judge able to order them to do so?
10
@Marcy No.
6