America & the World V: DOGE Business

[Neon Ignition]

Harris hits back at Republican’s remarks about her lack of biological children | Kamala Harris | The Guardian

[QualityChimp]

I heard yesterday on The Newsagents podcast that Elon Musk’s PAC Is Paying $47 For Each Solicited Petition Signature From A Swing State Voter.
A PAC is a Political Action Committee organised for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates.

however, bawdy boardgame, Cards Against Humanity have formed their own PAC and are offering to pay former non-voters to get involved:
"If you didn't vote in 2020, Cards Against Humanity will PAY you to apologize, make a voting plan, and publicly post "Donald Trump is a human toilet"—up to $100 if you live in a swing state and lean blue."

Immediately, I thought this sounds like bribery, but apparently, it's totally legal.

https://www.apologize.lol/

Here's the full FAQs and it's fascinating (and sweary):

->Open Spoiler<-

What’s happening?
Cards Against Humanity is exploiting a legal loophole to pay America’s blue-leaning non-voters to (1) apologize for not voting last time, (2) walk us through a step-by-step plan of how they’d vote this time, and (3) post “Donald Trump is a human toilet” on social media. This whole thing should probably be illegal—so quick, give us your money before they change the law!

How do you know who didn’t vote?
We formed a Super PAC and bought the personal voting records of every American citizen from a data broker we found on the internet. It’s pretty ****ed up.

Where are you getting the money to pay all of these non-voters?
We’re using 100% of the profits from our all-new 2024 Election Pack—featuring 30 fresh jokes about botched assassinations and weirdos who want to force women to become broodmares for the state. We also chipped in $100,000 of our own money.

Is this really going to work? Why should I give you $7.99 so that some asshole can give a bull**** apology and make a “voting plan”?
Every election, tons of people WANT to vote…and then they forget, or they run out of time. But when you actually sit down and think through how and when you might vote, suddenly it feels easy! Lots of studies show that “making a voting plan” is one of the most effective ways to get a person to actually vote.

In 2020, Trump lost Georgia by only 12,000 votes—way fewer than the number of non-voters we’re planning to reach. So if we get the right people to apologize, your money could actually swing this ****ing election.

Also, you’ll get a funny pack of cards.

Who qualifies to get paid?
Any eligible voter who didn’t vote last time qualifies. But only blue-leaning people in swing states will get a BIG payment.

How do you know who’s “blue leaning”?
We got your partisan lean from the same data broker who sold us your voting history. You wouldn’t believe how easy it was for us to get this stuff. So ****ed up!

The data you have on me is wrong! I didn’t vote in 2020 and it says I did, or it says I’m red-leaning when I’m definitely blue, or whatever. I demand you fix this.
Consider the teachings of Buddhism: “The seed of suffering in you may be strong, but don't wait until you have no more suffering before allowing yourself to be happy.”

Now, calm your mind and meditate on the knowledge that Cards Against Humanity does not have time for this ****.

I voted in 2020. Will you pay me to apologize for not voting in the 2022 midterms?
Sure, but not as much.

Can people outside the United States get the Election Pack?
Technically, you’re not purchasing a pack of cards—you’re donating to a Super PAC and then receiving a pack of cards in return. That means only US citizens (and permanent residents) are eligible. Sorry, Canucks and weird British perverts.

This rules. Can I give you more than $7.99?
If you agree with us that this is a pretty good idea, you can donate as much as you want during checkout for your 2024 Election Pack. Literally no limit, because we’re a Super PAC. This is the kind of crazy **** that happens when the Supreme Court rules that “money is speech” and corporations can spend unlimited amounts of cash influencing elections. If you want to make a very large donation, please email us and we'll work it out.

Everyone is posting about getting paid for their apology. I did my part by getting a pack, and I want to post, too. What should I post?
You should post:

How is this not illegal??? Cards Against Humanity is PAYING people who didn't vote in 2020 to apologize, make a voting plan, and post #DonaldTrumpIsAHumanToilet—up to $100 for blue-leaning people in swing states. I helped by getting a 2024 Election Pack.

Is there some way I can force Elon Musk to pay $47 to Cards Against Humanity PAC?
Funny you should ask! If you’re a registered voter in PA, GA, NV, AZ, NC, WI, or MI, just type your name into this dumb website for his PAC, put “[email protected]” as your referrer, and they'll be legally obligated to pay us $47. The more people who do this, the more Musk money we’ll get to un-**** America.

If he doesn’t pay up, we’ll sue him again.

I used to love your card games before you got all political.
Your mom used to love you before you got so ****ing stupid.

[charlesr]

That made me lol.

[Neon Ignition]

Piers Morgan apologises to Jay-Z and Beyoncé over allegations made on chatshow | Music | The Guardian
I get it. I do get it.
I think we'll be revisiting this one down the road though.

[MartyG]

I heard yesterday on The Newsagents podcast that Elon Musk’s PAC Is Paying $47 For Each Solicited Petition Signature From A Swing State Voter.
Immediately, I thought this sounds like bribery, but apparently, it's totally legal.

It should be totally illegal - paying people to vote for a particular candidate? How is that in any way a free and fair election? Just means the richest person in the room will win and I'll bet Musk has more money than Cards of Humanity.

[QualityChimp]

It should be totally illegal - paying people to vote for a particular candidate? How is that in any way a free and fair election? Just means the richest person in the room will win and I'll bet Musk has more money than Cards of Humanity.

In the FAQ I posted, they say "This whole thing should probably be illegal—so quick, give us your money before they change the law!" and "you can donate as much as you want during checkout for your 2024 Election Pack. Literally no limit, because we’re a Super PAC. This is the kind of crazy **** that happens when the Supreme Court rules that “money is speech” and corporations can spend unlimited amounts of cash influencing elections."

Worst case scenario: Musk buys the election.

However, if this is looked at and seen as an illegal practice, the legal loopholes will be tied up.

[Neon Ignition]

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-wants-the-military-used-against-americans-who-dont-support-him-on-election-day

[fishbowlhead]

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/stor...n-election-day

Theres a reason 3 people have tried to kill him already.

[Neon Ignition]

Not so odd you might think...

Embedded Tweet

Except he did it for a solid half hour!

Embedded Tweet

Embedded Tweet

[Neon Ignition]

Elon Musk gives $75m to pro-Trump group, putting him among the largest Republican donors | Elon Musk | The Guardian
Buying social media platforms isn't the only way Musk is bad with money

[Neon Ignition]

Kamala Harris pledges break from Biden presidency in testy Fox News interview | Kamala Harris | The Guardian

Trump stands by debunked claims immigrants are eating pets at event for Hispanic voters | US elections 2024 | The Guardian

Georgia election rules passed by Trump-backed board are ‘illegal’, declares judge | Georgia | The Guardian

[fishbowlhead]

Trumple will 100% make another armed grab for the office if he looses in the votes, like a clock ticking forward, it’s just inevitable.

[Protocol Penguin]

Trumple will 100% make another armed grab for the office if he looses in the votes, like a clock ticking forward, it’s just inevitable.

Seems the case, yes. I just hope that the US federal government is already making preparations to resist this. A combination of the 2000 presidential election shenanigans and January 6th on steroids doesn’t sound a particularly pleasant situation the face unprepared.

[wakka]

Yep. The closer we get the more I'm feeling that we aren't going to get a decisive result and it's going to be Gore v Bush all over again, but this time with armed insurrectionists.

Gonna be pretty scary.

[Neon Ignition]

https://mynbc15.com/news/nation-world/british-labour-party-sending-staff-to-campaign-for-harris-in-us-swing-states-united-kingdom-uk-left-leaning-kamala-harris-2024-election-democratic-party-north-carolina-pennsylvania