I predict this is no more than a sunshine squad for PR reasons. Trump met with Al Gore for many hours as well, then nominated the most ardent climate change denier as head of the EPA the next day. As long as that kind of thing doesn't change (e.g. Trump literally comes out and says, "OK, I was wrong, I finally believe in climate change"), there's nothing here.
Particularly when it says, “meet with the President frequently to share their specific experience and knowledge as the President implements his economic agenda.” - this is a man too lazy and detached to even be interested in his own intelligence briefings (http://www.npr.org/2016/12/13/505348507/what-exactly-is-the-...). All evidence so far points to him not caring at all what new ideas this panel brings, if even paying attention at all.
He said he doesn't need to dedicate time to have people tell him the exact same thing everyday, but to let him know when things change. If anything, that's an efficiency gain that a site full of programmers and avid "meetings are the devil" folks should appreciate. Every time that gets cited right now it roughly translates to "person who only reads headlines."
I imagine it is somewhat frustrating to hear,
Analyst A: "We have more developments in how the Russian intelligence operation helped in securing your election, sir."
Trump: "I don't believe that happened, next subject!"
Analyst B: "Sir we have more corroboration that the Russians were involved in the election as bad actors."
Trump: "You're fired!"
I don't believe that every president before Trump simply put up with redundant meetings. This is the busiest job in the world, presidents are intelligent people, somebody would have put an end to daily security briefings if they weren't useful before now.
Trump has spent a lifetime fighting contractors and trying to keep projects within budget. Maybe Musk and Bezos can persuade him to expand the use of fixed-price "space act agreements" at NASA (like those previously won by SpaceX and Blue Origin for CCDev) instead of the traditional cost-plus contracts. Trump has recently tweeted about Pentagon projects going over budget; maybe he can be persuaded to push the fixed-price model there as well.
He is a business man who takes business decisions. He cares not who is in the white house, provided he has access and he can benefit from this. He certainly will.
But that said, this is just noise anyway. It's not like these guys, however much we like them, will have any say in policy.
Are you or anyone you know a completely one-dimensional person? Do you have the capacity to learn just one (and no more) topic?
Stop acting like people can't learn or have multiple passions/knowledge domains.
Please, there's absolutely nothing special or unattainable about politicians. If anything, they are the people who are most trained, set in their ways and corrupted in the most corrupted system humanity has known.
I welcome any and all outsiders.
The cynic in me says this is entirely about PR, but if it's not, this is a suprisingly positive step in the right direction.
I'm not sure what to make of it and wonder what will come of it.
I don't know if having this spectrum of people is a strategic move on Trumps part for some deeper purpose or if it's just because they believe the things he believes and he's trying to make for an easy political life.
I guess in the long run, we shall see.
Of course real cynics will yell too much power is being given to business people.
People keep saying Trump's cabinet and team is "business leaders and political outsiders" when it's hard to imagine people more "inside" than lobbyists.
Distraction accomplished.
> Of course real cynics will yell too much power is being given to business people.
Real cynics will point to the evident factional politics in the substantive appointments and that the thing you are giving so much weight to is a powerless advisory body.
I agree in general. But when Auschwitz survivors make the Hitler comparison up we should listen. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/in-the-age-of-trump-...
Not only did Trump talk plenty about his policy ideas and followers notably chose him based on these policies, Trump's views have never been expressly "liberal".
Furthermore, plenty of people have predicted exactly how Trump would turn out. During the race, the left media continually argued that Trump would be appointing "1%ers" to his cabinet, and that is exactly what has happened.
As for his "playbook", he clearly doesn't have one, and this has been consistently stated by opponents. But he's still as predictable as any other politician. This myth that he is somehow unpredictable is absurd. It's pretty clear exactly how he intends to run this country.
There's indeed a good chance that none of the doom and gloom will play out. Silicon Valley excels at "failing fast", and the latest signs are showing they're adjusting quickly already.
“I think a bit strongly that Trump is probably not the right guy” for the presidency, and wouldn't be the best candidate to represent the U.S. abroad, he told CNBC.
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s economic and environmental policies “are the right ones,” Musk said.
From: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/elon-musk-on-donald-trump-j...
It would be one thing to prefer one candidate over the other.
But Musk's remarks are very strong.
Basically: "This man is not qualified for the job" is a very string rebuke.
And then to go on his panel? It's a little hypocritical.
Trump knows that these guys value their careers more than their credibility, and he's making Elon Musk, Mitt Romney etc. 'kiss the ring' and 'eat their own words'.
They will likely have to say positive things about Trump in the future, coming out of meetings etc..
I'm by not means a Trump fan but there are shades of brilliant Machiavellian bits about this.
Elon Musk and Travis Kalanick are both admirers of Ayn Rand and likely supporters of Donald Trump (although they probably couldn't express their support prior to November 8th).
Musk is a much more surprising choice, not just because of his obvious environmentalism. Both Kalanick and Musk are well-known for not being very worker friendly. At least Musk leads by example. He destroyed his own marriage through overwork and expects his employees to do the same.
It's not like he was a mid level white collar exec staying too long at the office.
Hopefully won't be an illusion and this would change my perception of Musk. I really hope it won't... really....
I thought we were on a one week long hiatus from this crap.
Please, down vote this article if you have the ability.
IMHO This is pretty relevant stuff for anyone interested in the future of the companies these men run.
