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Amazon has put a LOT of money into DC. From setting up an HQ2 in DC to Bezos personally purchasing the largest mansion in the city to host event for political
by koheripbal 7y ago
Amazon has put a LOT of money into DC. From setting up an HQ2 in DC to Bezos personally purchasing the largest mansion in the city to host event for political power brokers.
It should be no surprise that he's pissed that that amount of investment isn't starting to pay dividends.
- GCSAQCMIYI 7y agoNot to mention the newspaper.
- smitty1e 7y agoIt's worth not mentioning.
- GCSAQCMIYI 7y agoDo you think he bought it because he really likes journalism?
- chadcmulligan 7y agoHere's an interview with him here about it [1] It seems he had a mix of reasons, he says. No doubt now that it's a functioning entity he has an added bonus. I remember at the time though most people thought he was throwing good money after bad. [1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/stephaniedenning/2018/09/19/why-jeff-bezos-bought-the-washington-post/#3335b1163aab https://www.forbes.com/sites/stephaniedenning/2018/09/19/why...
- GCSAQCMIYI 7y agoThe reasons he gives for buying it don't tell us anything. His net worth is in the 12 figures. Everything he says publicly is crafted by a well paid and highly competent PR team. If he bought it to gain political influence, which seems to me the only reason that makes any sense whatsoever, or for any other reason that would put him in a bad light, he would not in a million years come out and say that openly.
- marcus_holmes 7y agoNo idea why you're getting downvoted. This is the guy who refuses to pay his shareholders a dividend, or his employees more than he absolutely has to. He didn't buy a newspaper because he loves giving money away on good causes.
- GCSAQCMIYI 7y agoI am quite surprised by the downvotes here. They almost make me think that people are being paid to create an appearance of a pro-Amazon/pro-Bezos consensus on this site.
- smitty1e 7y agoI'm unsurprised but the commitment to Orthodoxy here on HN. I've experienced copious carpet bombings for deviations from the Received Truth, however mild and documented.
- smitty1e 7y agoNo, failure to control the spigot equates to lack of influence over the output.
- GCSAQCMIYI 7y agoDo you have some personal insight into the minds of WP employees? Do you have first-hand knowledge that the identity of the owner of the business has had no impact on any of their decisions, like who to hire or what to publish? Leaders like Bezos don't have to write down a memo to make sure people carry out their will.
- coffeefirst 7y agoActually, I do. You're wildly underestimating how rebellious newspaper editors are. If someone was messing with the reporting, everyone in DC would know, and you'd see remarkably detailed reporting on it throughout other parts of the press.
- chadcmulligan 7y agoI wasn't defending Bezos - just putting forward the situation at the time. I feel the idea that this is some brilliant forward plan of domination isn't correct, sure it was a possibility but the element of risk was one that everyone else walked away from. Respect to him for that, having said that, I disagree with a lot of his business practices, but that seems to be the current business environment - he's just working within the rules. The rules need to change.
- arkitaip 7y agoHe's like a mob boss who buys off politicians until he realizes they are useless because they are part of a system that wants to fight him.
- pnw_hazor 7y agoIBM and Oracle also protested the bidding/RFP process. Their protests were dismissed twice so far. Once by the agency and again by a judge. Oracle has appealed the judge's dismissal of their protest. In contrast, Amazon's protest resulted in an injunction because the judge determined it was likely Amazon would prevail in trial.
- KarlKemp 7y agoYou are mixing up "DC the actual city" and "DC as a synonym for politics". DoD couldn't care less about Bezos' mansion or HQ2's impact on the city's economy. And running a newspaper that continuously annoys a President doesn't really fit the apparently popular idea that Bezos is spending money to get favourable treatment from politicians. Especially when that politician you're annoying is known to have a somewhat vindictive streak and doesn't quite grok the difference between being entrusted money and power to use on behalf of a country and owning money and spending it in his own interest
- GCSAQCMIYI 7y ago>And running a newspaper that continuously annoys a President doesn't really fit the apparently popular idea that Bezos is spending money to get favourable treatment from politicians. At least from outward appearances, most of the ruling class and permanent government isn't particularly fond of the current President.
- r_luna 7y agoThat's what our current President and his "deep state" wants you to believe. However, after three + years it's pretty obvious that our President has a firm grip on power. He still plays the victim every once in a while. But all the departments are quite clearly bowing and pleasing him as best they can.
- Aeolun 7y agoOr giving that appearance while they wait it out?
- smabie 7y agoIs there a difference?
- SuoDuanDao 7y agoI don't know about that, he wasn't able to get the press to play nice on COVID the way it did during swine flu.
- skrebbel 7y agoHow is Bezos buying a big house an investment in the city? Come on.
- sabujp 7y agoseriously? inviting politicians and lobbyists to parties on your own dime?
- Ari_Ugwu 7y agoSeems it's less a 'party' and more a networking event where I'm sure your competitors are not invited. Also less 'your own dime' and more a business expense that helps Bezos skirt even more taxes. I can't see it as an investment in the city. Maybe if he bought and renovated an apartment building. Held events in a top floor space. Transformed the lobby into a community business and tech center.
- detaro 7y agoIt's not investment "in DC" as in "into the betterment of the city", but as in "in the area of DC (to promote to the powers there)".