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posted by janrinok on Sunday November 20 2016, @10:27PM   Printer-friendly
from the points-to-ponder dept.

The fallout of the American Presidential election of 2016 continues, and many are concerned about what the eventual consequences will be. One potential member of a Trump administration has many more worried than not. Observe:

As Donald Trump commences his ghastly slouch toward Washington, a coterie of sycophants snatches at his coattails: Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani, Chris Christie—we knew this particular trio would scurry after heightened relevance and authority. Unsurprisingly, all three have slavered their way to the president-elect's transition team, and possibly into the Cabinet. Less expected, perhaps, was billionaire PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel's recent appointment to the same advisory committee. And yet, an alliance between Trump and Thiel, however appalling, seems so fitting that hindsight renders it almost preordained.

One wonders about the temperament of the President-Elect, but even more about the basket of, um, unemployed, that swarm around him seeking positions in the new administration. Peter Thiel is well know for having bankrupted Gawker over the Hulk Hogan affair, but for personal reasons.

But Thiel did not bankroll Hogan's lawsuit in a show of fraternity. He had nurtured a grudge since December 2007, when Gawker published an article entitled, "Peter Thiel is totally gay, people." Thiel condemned Gawker for publicly outing him, though the site contended that he had already disclosed his sexuality to those in his social sphere. Although Thiel referred to Gawker as "a singularly terrible bully," he did not pursue legal action. Instead, his rancor smoldered until, nine years later, he landed a belated—but fatal—blow.

What might such vindictiveness accomplish with more than millions of dollars, but the full faith and credit of the United States, if it sought to silence criticism, whistle-blowing, truth-telling and journalism? Should Soylentils be worried?


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  • (Score: 4, Informative) by blackhawk on Monday November 21 2016, @01:12AM

    by blackhawk (5275) on Monday November 21 2016, @01:12AM (#430255)

    Famous users of Palantir services include Saruman, Sauron, and now the US government :D

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  • (Score: 3, Funny) by LoRdTAW on Monday November 21 2016, @04:36PM

    by LoRdTAW (3755) on Monday November 21 2016, @04:36PM (#430612) Journal

    Now don't be hasty criticizing them. Sauron was an excellent job creator who put the unemployed orcs to work building a mighty military. Saruman was key to all of this and managed the business with great success. It was the leftist hippy elves with their long hair who were offended by Sauron's ability to exert military might.

    • (Score: 3, Funny) by Grishnakh on Monday November 21 2016, @05:29PM

      by Grishnakh (2831) on Monday November 21 2016, @05:29PM (#430679)

      Oh please, this is just garbage revisionist history by the victors, painting their enemies as evil sub-human warmongers.

      The truth is that Mordor was a peaceful, industrializing society, which was ruthlessly destroyed by the evil imperialist wizard Gandalf and his minions, the Elves and the Gondorian men (and a few Hobbits).

      You can read all about it here:
      http://ymarkov.livejournal.com/270570.html [livejournal.com]
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Ringbearer [wikipedia.org]