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Culture War Roundup for the week of July 8, 2024

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but neither is known for their inclination towards gradual, incremental efforts that only yield results when done consistently for long periods of time.

? This describes exactly both Trump's patient efforts in politics (themselves likely stemming in their modern form from Obama humiliating him in 2012, years prior to his 2016 run, and that's not even getting into that it's something he's been thinking about since at least 2000 since he also ran then) and Musk's investments in SpaceX and Tesla.

An intemperate public persona isn't the same as having no patience. Both Trump and Musk have demonstrated incredible patience with their life paths. Even Trump wanting to run again for president this year shows immense patience.

Patience, or obstinacy? The fact that you're willing to keep trying to do something for 20 years doesn't necessarily show patience and the ability to plan and bide your time. What exactly did Trump do to work on his next bid after his joke 2000 run? Was The Apprentice a genius move to make him a celebrity so he'd have a better shot in 2012? I don't think so - I think it's true Trump has always wanted to be president and that ambition never went away, but I also think he flits from project to project and does whatever he wants to at any given time, with very little forethought. I see no evidence that he's a careful, patient planner.

Musk, I am less sure about. He's certainly smart but the jury is still out on whether all his SpaceX and Twitter and Tesla bets will turn out to be genius or hubris.

You're confusing patience with higher-level executive planning. Totally different.