Elon Musk recently announced that he’s planning to throw some pocket-change at Maine’s Senate race, to the tune of $100 million or so to re-elect Susan Collins. I’m sure he really believes that his endorsement would be a huge boost with Maine voters, and I’m also pretty sure the effect will be profoundly the opposite. He’s such a complete narcissist, I really don’t think he can comprehend how toxically anti-charismatic he is. It’s sort of grimly hilarious. Anyway, I’d like as many Mainers as possible to remember that Susan is Elon’s favorite 😆, so I sent this letter to-the-editor to the Portland Press Herald.

This is what I wrote:

I think it’s a great sign that Elon Musk is planning to spend $100 million to re-elect Susan Collins. It’s a great sign of exactly what you get when you vote for her. A veneer of public service, wrapped in decades of performative concern, purchased by the richest people in the richest industries. She funded them with tax cut after tax cut delivered off the back of our lagging wages, and now the windfall is returning to her campaign coffers.

I see what that money bought. A hollowed-out middle class. Rural schools and hospitals and nursing homes closing. Jobs declining, cost of living rising, dreams of college and home ownership slipping out of reach for the next generation. And I see how the richest guy in our state, and the richest guy in the world, are super-funding Susan.

This is the job she was paid to do, funneling wealth and resources to the top. And she delivered. And became a millionaire herself while she was at it.

Susan Collins needs to convince regular Mainers that she works for us, and all those campaign ads aren’t going to pay for themselves. I’m sure Elon thinks that Mainers will be excited to have an eccentric celebrity like him buying us a Senator. But me personally, I just don’t believe that these donor-class asset-strippers have Maine’s best interests in mind. They just see something else they want to own. And I’d rather have someone representing Maine who isn’t bought and paid for.