I have no time or patience with Ramaswamy and his outlandish statements. If his foray into politics lasts he may very well prove to be a seriously harmful figure. That said, this piece suffers from a common mistake found in political discourse – an apparent belief of knowledge of the innermost thoughts and plans of someone you dislike/disagree with based on evidence no psychologist (I’m a retired one) would ever dream of making such claims. Or indeed, a reputable biographer for that matter.
As I read this article the implication is that Ramaswamy’s embrace of conspiratorial and racist ideas are cynical calculating careerism. Why can’t they reflect sincere belief? (Not that this makes things any better). And why can’t his recent (modest) run of success be just dumb luck rather shrewd calculation? It may be psychologically satisfying to think of someone you disagree with/dislike as a highly intelligent, calculating and malign person rather than a fool enjoying a moment in the sun but intelligence is no protection from paranoid, conspiratorial thinking and in very many cases conspiratorial thinkers though misguided, are painfully sincere. In this case we just don’t know, though there is much to be said for the idea that the simplest explanation is the best. To put it another way never put down to calculating malice what can be explained by stupid folly.
Doesn't the piece talk about how Vivek has totally reversed his views on stuff like DEI but when an interviewer points it out, he talks faster/louder and says he's being misquoted even when they read him the quote? His demeanor argues against sincerity, he seems to be playing a game he's mastered of tossing out garbage he calls a "truth," and when asked to support it with evidence he does a Gish gallop or some other rhetorical trick and simply refuses to engage in any sort of good faith.
I have no idea what he actually believes, but this looks extremely performative and is apparently a reversal of beliefs he held as recently as a couple years ago. Could he have honestly gone down the rabbit hole? Possible, but he looks way too spun-up in what he's getting away with by shouting smack and refusing to talk seriously about any of his claims to give him that much credit.
Until evidence contradicting that emerges, I assume he falls not into the pool of true believers but is yet another cynical grifter who sees a path to some political future he wants very much. This second group is beneath contempt. The true believers have been captured, but people who jump on the fast-lying bandwagon to win fabulous prizes are the very worst of the worst because they know better. They just don't care what damage they do to America and Americans.
On my reading the only apparent change of belief is on DEI and the pro-DEI statement was made in a company document (saying how wonderful the company is) that may not have even been written by Ramaswamy. In any case it is quite possible to say you believe in providing opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds while being opposed to many current DEI initiatives. That said I repeat that I’m hardly in the business of defending the man but believe he should be criticized for what he says rather than what sort of person he is. Attacking the person’s character rather than the argument is an endemic weakness in political discussion.
In the very brief time since Vivek successfully launched himself into the GOP primary, he has acted outrageously to set himself apart and reassure the Trump faithful that he is one of them, in fact that he can be the MAGA standard-bearer should Trump have to drop out. We can't see into people's hearts, so we have to evaluate based on their words and actions. Vivek keeps turning the rhetoric up, relying on the volume and outrageousness of his utterance to keep up the excitement. His accusations and promises are jaw-dropping, and that's what sells to that audience. He has set himself apart from the other candidates and endeared himself to the base with his crazy accusations and arguments, and when confronted on any of this he gleefully refuses to engage on ideas and employs Trumpean bluster and rhetorical malarkey to say "nyah nyah" and get ever louder. In any case it is his own words and acts that form my analysis, and I'm open to reevaluating should he show any interest in being a serious person. So far, quite the opposite. It's gleeful "eff you!" all the way.
No, the sum total, the constellation of what he is saying, oppositional for its sake targeting a particular audience, does have a bearing on what sort of person he is. And that's very valid, extremely valid.
I can’t help thinking about his physician wife and her patients. Does she agree with him about science being a hoax and if so, who would let her “diagnose” and “treat” their disease? Would you want a science-denier to perform surgery on your anesthetized self? Or is this all a hoax on his part, and do they laugh about his experiment after they put the kids to bed? The reflection of Hitler is glaring.
Snake oil salesman of the first order. If he wants to go racist - picture this from the good old days when it was okay to say and show things like this. Rama "Swamy" wearing a turban riding on a flying carpet with his arms crossed making his obvious lies come true. The GOP has descended past the depths of the swamp merrily walking down the steps of hell.
This guy Viveck is the biggest fraud. Anyone who reads this should look up how he got rich. It’s from a pump and dump scheme from a fake company he launched called Axiovant. Look it up on the stock market it’s worth pennies today.
Additionally, Vivek’s playbook to say the craziest pervasive right wing rhetoric to appeal to right wingers shows how pathetic the GOP has become.
Vote Democrat and keep making republicans lose in landslide defeats until they dump maga.
But the media loves this, like Trump whose shoulders he stands on, who he learned from. Ramaswarmy would go nowhere without the media, and they love the outrageous. The media, beholden to their bottom line and how cheap the public attention is, is as guilty regarding where we are politically in this country.
There is no cultured way to say it. This guy is a POS along with his MBA pals.
I have no time or patience with Ramaswamy and his outlandish statements. If his foray into politics lasts he may very well prove to be a seriously harmful figure. That said, this piece suffers from a common mistake found in political discourse – an apparent belief of knowledge of the innermost thoughts and plans of someone you dislike/disagree with based on evidence no psychologist (I’m a retired one) would ever dream of making such claims. Or indeed, a reputable biographer for that matter.
As I read this article the implication is that Ramaswamy’s embrace of conspiratorial and racist ideas are cynical calculating careerism. Why can’t they reflect sincere belief? (Not that this makes things any better). And why can’t his recent (modest) run of success be just dumb luck rather shrewd calculation? It may be psychologically satisfying to think of someone you disagree with/dislike as a highly intelligent, calculating and malign person rather than a fool enjoying a moment in the sun but intelligence is no protection from paranoid, conspiratorial thinking and in very many cases conspiratorial thinkers though misguided, are painfully sincere. In this case we just don’t know, though there is much to be said for the idea that the simplest explanation is the best. To put it another way never put down to calculating malice what can be explained by stupid folly.
Doesn't the piece talk about how Vivek has totally reversed his views on stuff like DEI but when an interviewer points it out, he talks faster/louder and says he's being misquoted even when they read him the quote? His demeanor argues against sincerity, he seems to be playing a game he's mastered of tossing out garbage he calls a "truth," and when asked to support it with evidence he does a Gish gallop or some other rhetorical trick and simply refuses to engage in any sort of good faith.
I have no idea what he actually believes, but this looks extremely performative and is apparently a reversal of beliefs he held as recently as a couple years ago. Could he have honestly gone down the rabbit hole? Possible, but he looks way too spun-up in what he's getting away with by shouting smack and refusing to talk seriously about any of his claims to give him that much credit.
Until evidence contradicting that emerges, I assume he falls not into the pool of true believers but is yet another cynical grifter who sees a path to some political future he wants very much. This second group is beneath contempt. The true believers have been captured, but people who jump on the fast-lying bandwagon to win fabulous prizes are the very worst of the worst because they know better. They just don't care what damage they do to America and Americans.
On my reading the only apparent change of belief is on DEI and the pro-DEI statement was made in a company document (saying how wonderful the company is) that may not have even been written by Ramaswamy. In any case it is quite possible to say you believe in providing opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds while being opposed to many current DEI initiatives. That said I repeat that I’m hardly in the business of defending the man but believe he should be criticized for what he says rather than what sort of person he is. Attacking the person’s character rather than the argument is an endemic weakness in political discussion.
In the very brief time since Vivek successfully launched himself into the GOP primary, he has acted outrageously to set himself apart and reassure the Trump faithful that he is one of them, in fact that he can be the MAGA standard-bearer should Trump have to drop out. We can't see into people's hearts, so we have to evaluate based on their words and actions. Vivek keeps turning the rhetoric up, relying on the volume and outrageousness of his utterance to keep up the excitement. His accusations and promises are jaw-dropping, and that's what sells to that audience. He has set himself apart from the other candidates and endeared himself to the base with his crazy accusations and arguments, and when confronted on any of this he gleefully refuses to engage on ideas and employs Trumpean bluster and rhetorical malarkey to say "nyah nyah" and get ever louder. In any case it is his own words and acts that form my analysis, and I'm open to reevaluating should he show any interest in being a serious person. So far, quite the opposite. It's gleeful "eff you!" all the way.
No, the sum total, the constellation of what he is saying, oppositional for its sake targeting a particular audience, does have a bearing on what sort of person he is. And that's very valid, extremely valid.
I can’t help thinking about his physician wife and her patients. Does she agree with him about science being a hoax and if so, who would let her “diagnose” and “treat” their disease? Would you want a science-denier to perform surgery on your anesthetized self? Or is this all a hoax on his part, and do they laugh about his experiment after they put the kids to bed? The reflection of Hitler is glaring.
What the actual fuck?
Best comment - sums all the words up to their bare essence!
I just don’t think the MAGA base will ever be able to get fully past Ramaswamy’s skin color.
Perhaps, but they like to believe the Emperor has clothing on. In Ramaswamy's case it is "white" skin.
In just what version of maga world does someone named "Ramaswami" have a future?
Between the criminality/fascism/lunacy of GA prisoner inmate P01135809, Ramaswamy and RFK Jr, we MUST re-elect Joe Biden. All hands on deck.
Well said Linda A.
Snake oil salesman of the first order. If he wants to go racist - picture this from the good old days when it was okay to say and show things like this. Rama "Swamy" wearing a turban riding on a flying carpet with his arms crossed making his obvious lies come true. The GOP has descended past the depths of the swamp merrily walking down the steps of hell.
Rama”smarmy”..is more like it.
Wow, well that was a profoundly depressing read to end the week on. It's hard to imagine anyone being this shallow and empty - and yet here we are.
This guy Viveck is the biggest fraud. Anyone who reads this should look up how he got rich. It’s from a pump and dump scheme from a fake company he launched called Axiovant. Look it up on the stock market it’s worth pennies today.
Additionally, Vivek’s playbook to say the craziest pervasive right wing rhetoric to appeal to right wingers shows how pathetic the GOP has become.
Vote Democrat and keep making republicans lose in landslide defeats until they dump maga.
he is running to avoid lawsuit
VR: I'm just asking (leading) questions.
Not hard to gain favor by telling people lies when that’s all they want to hear. That old scam works like a charm!
But the media loves this, like Trump whose shoulders he stands on, who he learned from. Ramaswarmy would go nowhere without the media, and they love the outrageous. The media, beholden to their bottom line and how cheap the public attention is, is as guilty regarding where we are politically in this country.