# Vivek Ramaswamy **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 30, 2023, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352 "2023-08-30T15:30:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2023, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/101 "2023-09-02T14:17:31Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > He just wants a lackey that just says yes to Trump. > > So it’s Kari Lake, then? Or the pillow guy. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2023, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/102 "2023-09-02T16:02:25Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Or the pillow guy. Imagine how vindictive _that_ guy would be as VP. ---
**Author:** ![Digger11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@Digger11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digger11)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2023, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/103 "2023-09-02T23:44:35Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > I realize trying to inject logic into this stuff is fruitless, but the administrative state is the executive branch, not some separate entity. Do they seriously not understand this? Presidents from at least FDR onward have complained about the government bureaucracy being a force that withstood their efforts and goals. So it’s not entirely unrealistic to view “administrators” as a branch of government that’s separate from the elected “top layer.” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/104 "2023-09-03T00:13:23Z")
It kinda has to be, if you want a modern state to function. Can you imagine what would have happened to the country under TFG if there _hadn’t_ been a bureaucracy? That crew couldn’t organize a piss-up in a brewery. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/105 "2023-09-03T02:32:56Z")
> [@Digger11](#): > > Presidents from at least FDR onward have complained about the government bureaucracy being a force that withstood their efforts and goals. So it’s not entirely unrealistic to view “administrators” as a branch of government that’s separate from the elected “top layer.” That’s more or less the premise of the British series _Yes, Minister_, and its sequel. James Hacker is appointed Minister of Administrative Affairs in the Cabinet, and later becomes Prime Minister. His battles aren’t with the opposition party, but with the long-term civil servants who are supposed to implement his policies. It’s a brilliant show. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/106 "2023-09-03T05:58:38Z")
It is a brilliant show. If a fan, I recommend the books which are even better. The Civil Service position, stated by Humphrey to Bernard, is Ministers come and go. They often have no expertise in their portfolio (which is better for the bureaucracy than if politicians really do know a lot, or are “too ginned up”, because they might try to affect change) . That most Ministers are not smart enough to understand the detailed ramifications of decades of subtle policy, even if they wished to learn it. That they are too influenced by politics and party to make sound policy. That Ministers care only about reelection, positive publicity and worry about negative publicity. That politicians are not sound, and not usually Oxbridge educated. So the role of the Civil Service is to keep politicians in the dark and get them to make reasonable choices by making all the alternative options unsuitable. This didn’t work with Trump. Humphrey is more right than wrong, and replacing knowledgeable bureaucrats with sycophants would result in disasterous loss of knowledge, institutional memory and dangerous short-sighted decisions to the benefit of Trump’s totalitarian friends. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/107 "2023-09-03T06:13:08Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > - God is real. > - There are two genders. > - Human flourishing requires fossil fuels. > - Reverse racism is racism. > - An open border is no border. > - Parents determine the education of their children. > - The nuclear family is the greatest form of governance known to mankind. > - Capitalism lifts people up from poverty. > - There are three branches of the U.S. government, not four. > - The U.S. Constitution is the strongest guarantor of freedoms in history. If God is real He/She doesn’t need to exist by legislative fiat. Most politicians seem to believe God is their co-pilot. Or supplicant. Humans did pretty well without fossil fuels for thousands of years. The nuclear family involves a very limited form of governance. It is arguably better than that provided by some politicians, who are experts on governance. Has the Civil Service ever referred to themselves as a branch of government? The US Constitution is an amazing document, summarized well by comedian Colin Quinn. Amazing for its time. The USS Consitution, in some ways, is a stronger guarantor if it is true that power flows from the barrel of a gun, as the NRA suggests. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/108 "2023-09-03T06:16:02Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > The USS Consitution, in some ways, is a stronger guarantor if it is true that power flows from the barrel of a gun, as the NRA suggests. Good one. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/109 "2023-09-03T07:22:51Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > I predict Trump’s nickname for him, should he need one, will be “Vivisectionist Swami,” You’re presuming that Trump knows the word “vivisectionist.” I doubt that he knows what it means, and if he has heard it, has no idea how to spell it. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/110 "2023-09-03T13:10:31Z")
I wonder if he can actually read. I think he can but I am not kidding. Honestly, I sometimes wonder if he is actually illiterate. Probably not buuut…I dunno. Maybe he can read but has zero comprehension (seems more likely). ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/111 "2023-09-03T13:37:08Z")
Do you think he can tell you what “sanctimonious” means? ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/112 "2023-09-03T13:55:55Z")
He might have watched _Demolition Man_… ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/113 "2023-09-03T14:01:44Z")
Moderating: > [@Spoons](#): > > You’re presuming that Trump knows the word “vivisectionist.” I doubt that he knows what it means, and if he has heard it, has no idea how to spell it. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I wonder if he can actually read. I think he can but I am not kidding. > [@slicedalone](#): > > Do you think he can tell you what “sanctimonious” means? > [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > He might have watched _Demolition Man_… You’re all talking about Trump in a thread about Vivek Ramaswamy. Let’s stop this hijack now, please. ---
**Author:** ![Eric1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3bc359/32.png) [@Eric1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric1)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/114 "2023-09-03T19:57:08Z")
Vivek’s written three books and none of them stocked at the library. Maybe he’s mistaken a presidential campaign for a book tour. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/115 "2023-09-03T20:10:06Z")
Vivek doesn’t seem to know when to stop. It’s quite likely he lobbied to have _his own books_ pulled from the shelves. Y’know … to get DeSantis to say _one supportive thing_ about him, and the “Moms for Liberty” to canvass for him. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/116 "2023-09-04T16:54:27Z")
Much too high-fallutin’ and thought through. You overthink tanTrump, he will most probably just belch out [Ramalamadingdong](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI7wMWM9IqQ) with a dismissive handwave and a sneer in an unappropiate moment and his _Volk_ will rave. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/117 "2023-09-05T09:31:03Z")
They made a good point on MSNBC about Vivek being Trump’s spokesman. If Trump was ever considering going to the debates, he really doesn’t need to now, because there is already someone there spreading MAGA talking points, defending trump and attacking Trump’s rivals the way he would himself. And with Vivek doing it for him, Trump doesn’t need to respond to any uncomfortable questions or attacks. The only risk is that Vivek actually manages to pull support away from Trump himself, but there’s no sign of that in the polls yet, and arguably it’s not something Vivek is even trying to do. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/118 "2023-09-05T13:09:30Z")
Interesting POV. I’m not following the ~~news~~ RW propaganda closely. Is Vivek really shilling for trump by name? If instead he’s just pushing MAGA talking points those don’t redound to his advantage because MAGA voters aren’t policy-based voters, they’re (cult of) personality-based voters. Once in office Vivek (or DeSantis) might be more effective economic or cultural rightists than ineffectual trump would be. But they won’t be more effective _salesmen_ for those (idjit) ideas; trump’s got that niche sown up. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/119 "2023-09-05T21:33:38Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’m not following the ~~news~~ RW propaganda closely. Is Vivek really shilling for trump by name? Yeah, when asked about the indictments or jan 6th he certainly shills for Trump. I know some will say he has criticized some of Trump’s words prior to the Capitol riots, but that’s more that he has to try to keep contact with some of what he said in the aftermath of Jan 6th. _Now_ when he’s asked about Jan 6th, he says the _real_ cause of it was censorship of the Hunter Biden laptop story. Really. And meanwhile he’s quite happy to attack the other candidates for the presidency. > [@](#): > > If instead he’s just pushing MAGA talking points those don’t redound to his advantage because MAGA voters aren’t policy-based voters, they’re (cult of) personality-based voters. I partially disagree. Yes, right now, while Trump is still around, Vivek has no chance of getting the nomination. There’s a lot of love for Trump. But it is not because MAGA is forever tied to one person’s charisma. A large part of the love for Trump is that he hates the same people, believes the same self-serving conspiracy theories as the base wants to, and he’s not “politically correct”, by which we mean he’s a spiteful, petulent jerk in a way that many Americans wish they could be. It’s not policy, it’s not even a consistent ideology. It’s wrestlemania. Vivek is emulating all of this successsfully. He’d have no issue inheriting most of the MAGA voters if Trump were to pass away or be incarcerated. And I am very much accounting for Vivek’s skin color and (nominal) Hindu religion. As long as you hate the browns, it’s ok to be brown yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352/120 "2023-09-05T21:50:20Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > _Now_ when he’s asked about Jan 6th, he says the _real_ cause of it was censorship of the Hunter Biden laptop story. That explains why the crowd was chanting “hang Mike Pence”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivek-ramaswamy/989352.md?page=7)