Politics 101: It’s OK For ‘Dad And Dad’ To Fight
Let’s face it: Elon Musk is new to politics. And he’s learning a lot of things the hard way, and for better or worse.
President Donald J. Trump at least has a presidential term’s worth of experience under his belt, as well as over a decade’s worth of leading one of the largest Populist movements in American history.
Money and fame does not grant a pass when it comes to experience and wisdom. Anyone — rich or poor, cable TV talking head or local door-knocker — who has been in the game for at least a presidential term knows well that there are “no permanent friends and no permanent enemies” in politics. Or at least there shouldn’t be. From high-profile barbs at “Lyin’ Ted” Cruz to blow ups against Marco Rubio on the debate stage, 47 knows how to play the game and bring former enemies into his fold. Even former Democrats such as Tulsi Gabbard.
Musk may very well join the ranks of those who have dared to tangle with The Don and later re-earn his favor. Either way, this may be a learning experience on a few fronts for the Tesla chief, as the dust-up everyone’s talking about concerning the Big Beautiful Bill consumes most of the oxygen in the political world this evening.
Below are three key principles we would like to impart to Mr. Musk if he happens to read this (and perhaps he can offer some entrepreneurial wisdom in response).
1) Criticism is patriotic, not disloyal. Sure, criticize when you feel it’s important to. But when someone fires back at you — even if it’s the President himself — take it on the chin and for the team. That’s the price you pay and many have paid before you. Did Musk think he could roast a centerpiece of Trump’s first half-year back in the office and get away with no sleights from Trump? If so, that’s awfully naïve. Using the spotlight for a low-blow punch, such as the assertion that Trump is on the Jeffery Epstein client list, is equally sophomoric. Agreeing with a call for impeachment? That’s absolutely unsophisticated in almost every imaginable way.
2) Accept “Half a loaf” — one of Ronald Reagan‘s favorite axioms. The full phrase “a half a loaf is better than none” is a proverb that reflects a willingness to compromise and accept partial solutions or agreements, rather than rejecting everything completely and outright. Reagan used this phrase in various contexts, including his approach to negotiations with the Soviet Union and his stance on minimum wage bills. He believed that even partial progress was a step forward, especially when compared to having nothing at all. It’s the long game.
Expecting historic budget cuts with the narrowest of GOP margins in the House and in the first six months of Trump 2.0 is … you get the picture.
3) Third parties don’t work. New parties become minor third parties unless one of the two major parties is first abandoned. That’s been the historical pattern in the United States, at least. Case in point: The Republican Party took over the vestiges of the old Whig regime, but brought in with them disaffected Abolitionists and Free Soil Democrats, and a small showing of Anti-Masonics for a little added spice. But modern third parties often stay in minor-party mode for a reason: because of the personality cults that lead them and egos they attract. Their motive obviously isn’t to win but to make noise.
A recent example was former Democrat Andrew Yang‘s otherwise admirable effort to build a “non-party” which developed into the Forward Party. Heard from them lately? The Reform Party was building some steam there for awhile until Ross Perot stepped aside. Any word from the Lyndon LaRouche crowd? Independent presidential forays have been equally doomed.
Rather, the better solution may be to elect more Republicans so an actual rescission bill can pass Congress and we can see mid-’90s Contract with America-like reforms once again. Breaking up the family will not get conservatives, Populists, moderates with a fiscal conscience, or assorted America First Revivalists anywhere. And it sure won’t enshrine the DOGE cuts into law.
We might add a fourth and fifth lesson here. 4) Beware of “kabuki theater” (i.e. this may be a controlled burn to help Musk retain his air of independence) and 5) “All politics is local” (Musk has been notoriously missing at campaign fundraising dinners, stumping for candidates, etc.). But we’ll stop here because we don’t want “daddy and daddy” fighting anymore, either. It’s a needless distraction.
And besides, it may all be kabuki.
