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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: 5, Informative) by aristarchus on Monday November 21 2016, @02:33AM

    by aristarchus (2645) on Monday November 21 2016, @02:33AM (#430279) Journal

    Jmorris, you are a fool.

    Look around in this thread, I ain't in the habit of repeating myself,

    You cannot say things that every Soylentil knows for a fact are not true, it doesn't work.

    We are not talking about some obscure utterance, she has said it over and over again, including her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.

    Yes, we are. Given your usual right-wing nut job understanding of the Constitution of the United States, you may be unaware there are amendments beyond the first two. Hilary was referring to the 14th, and the legal decisions that allowed corporations legal status as fictional persons, which given the totally corrupt Citizens United decision, could use some clarification (if America is to survive: who do you think is "free speeching" or paying for all the fake news?) She never said she wanted to abolish the First Amendment.

    Remember, I usually know more about the positions of my Enemies than most supporters do.

    Oh, if only we could forget! If only it were true! If ONLY you stopped claiming things that are not true. But lets talk about Stalin and Dialectical Materialism, OK?

    Doubt me at your peril of being made a fool of.

    Right back at ya, bro! But you never seem to understand that you are making a fool out of yourself with farfetched paranoid interpretations of rather straightforward statements in public speeches. Come in from the cold, jmorris! I worry what might happen to you if Thiel ever decides that you are an irritation.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 21 2016, @01:58PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 21 2016, @01:58PM (#430505)

    and the legal decisions that allowed corporations legal status as fictional persons

    a corporation is a fictional person with the legal rights of a person

    that's what a corporation is

    that's what the word means

    it was not invented by a clerk in the 1860, the clerk knew it had always been the case

    don't lecture others on the law when you don't know basic shit like this

    • (Score: 2) by aristarchus on Monday November 21 2016, @04:26PM

      by aristarchus (2645) on Monday November 21 2016, @04:26PM (#430602) Journal

      a corporation is a fictional person with the legal rights of a person

      that's what a corporation is

      Are we speaking in general, or only about American law? A legal fiction, which is a special kind, not just a "Sherlock Holmes" kind of fictional person, but as opposed to a natural person.

      that's what the word means

      I am embarrassed by your ignorance. Corpus is Latin for "body", as in corpse, or corps d'espirit. Now a corporation is not literally a body, it is a group, a collection, a pool, usually formed for purposes of sharing risk or avoiding liability.

      Don't lecture people about lecturing about something you know nothing about, please?