Once again, I want to call on the commentariate and others to consider submitting guest columns to EA.
Today, as an example, I could have spent every hour writing posts on important ethics issues, but I can’t (I devoted too much time as it is) because I have difficult, time-consuming and perilous personal and business tasks swinging over me sword of Damocles-like, I have no staff or assistance now, and I’m feeling unusually pressured and anxious.
The Trump Derangement theme of the day which I would ideally be examining in more detail is the freakout over Elon Musk attending a Cabinet meeting today as if this is another assault on democracy by Donald J. Hitler. Established in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, the President’s Cabinet consists of advisors who oversee particular areas within the executive branch with the President’s consent and Congressional approval.
There is not a word in our founding document about how they should meet, if they should meet (pseudo-President Biden had almost no Cabinet meetings) or who else can attend if and when they met. The Cabinet could meet around a poker table. It could meet as a costume party. The President could tell one Cabinet member that he or she isn’t invited if he’s sick of looking at his or her face. Children have attended Cabinet meetings. Dogs have been invited.
As I noted at the time, Jill Biden attended a Cabinet meeting, and the same news outlets screaming about Musk being “unelected” and a “co-President” never uttered a peep of complaint.
These Trump Deranged obsessions are obnoxious, misleading, cheap, ignorant and apparently getting dumber by the day.
Ethics Alarms 
There was a decent article in The Spectator today discussing the attacks on Musk (it’s behind a paywall, so I probably can’t share). But it put into pixels what should be obvious to everyone: the mainstream press and Dems (I repeat myself) are attacking Musk because they know that at this point, they can’t directly attack Trump.
Musk is about the only thing they’ve got right now. Trump, as it’s said, “flooded the zone” on his first day and hasn’t let up. He didn’t walk into office amazed, like he did last time. He walked in with a clear agenda, a solid plan, and talented people willing to contribute. His first team was patched together, and not well; this team (and agenda) were considered, measured, and it’s likely that this process started three years ago.
Musk has always been a controversial character. He seems to relish the role, which may have something to do with why he and Trump are sympatico. I wouldn’t trust either, and I’ll be darkly amused to see which of them ultimately tries to knife the other first.
But in the short term, all the mud being thrown at Musk is deliberate, calculated, and carefully focus-group-tested. Musk is all they have. He’s the only potential chink the armor. And more to point, Musk is the tip of the spear that threatens everything the beltway establishment has established in the past 40 years.
I must admit, because there are people whom I dearly care about in the Alexandria area (including our esteemed host), I’m wondering what real estate values in choice areas around the Swamp are going to do in the next few years. My guess is that the picture might not be pretty.
Out of curiosity, I checked Realtor for housing prices in DC, and it apparently is one of those places where the housing costs are astronomical. It is ranked pretty high on the most expensive places to live, and one site I came across said that the cost of living is 43% higher than the national average. I wonder if depressing the housing market wouldn’t help easy the cost of living in the area?
And President Biden didn’t have a Cabinet meeting for 11 months, if I recall correctly. It’s just another double standard. If a Democrat does it, it’s fine. If a Republican, especially Trump, does it, it’s evil.
Elon Musk may have been invited to a Cabinet meeting to bring our report on DOGE to the President and all members of his cabinet. I have been on a church council, and we regularly invited others with responsibilities in our church to bring out report to the council. Company board meetings may invite external consultants and lawyers when needed. People who object to the mere presence of Elon Musk at a Cabinet meeting most likely do not have any executive experience, or been on a board or council.
A small cadre of really wealthy people should take up a collection to buy Elon Musk a real suit – with a collared, buttoned shirt and a tie. He’s in the White House, not Fetterman’s office.