If you think I'm "excusing" it, or that I'm questioning whether he really meant to perform Nazi salutes, then I'm not doing a good job making my point. Still, I'm trying to lend as much good faith to the topic as I can manage.

Bottom line, if he were actually interested in Nazism as an ethos, I don't think he would publicize it. Not at this stage, anyway. If you could actually ask Fr. Occam what he thinks about Musk, he'd probably say, "He just gets off on shit-stirring, that's all."

In that respect, he has found a kindred spirit in Trump, and he rationally sees an alliance as the only way to keep his business interests healthy over the next several years.

Steve Bannon's dictum still holds sway, even if the man himself is on the outs with Trump: "The real opposition is the media. And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with shit.” Say what you will about Musk, he's really good at that.