Where's Vivek?

[John Drake]

Except for one congratulations post on X, Vivek has gone completely quiet since December 30. Is he hoping to resurface or is he finished for good? My money is on the latter, because of all the revelations about his Pharma stock scam that came out with his support of H1Bs. I hope this means DOGE is done and finished. I don't want him anywhere near determining what goes into the federal budget. At least for now, on X, nobody's at home.

 

https://x.com/vivekgramaswamy?lang=en

 

 

[Will B Good]

Busy pumping-and dumping with his bezzie, Martin Shkreli, I guess.

[SunnyinBangrak]

  On 1/11/2025 at 8:51 AM, John Drake said:

Except for one congratulations post on X, Vivek has gone completely quiet since December 30. Is he hoping to resurface or is he finished for good? My money is on the latter, because of all the revelations about his Pharma stock scam that came out with his support of H1Bs. I hope this means DOGE is done and finished. I don't want him anywhere near determining what goes into the federal budget. At least for now, on X, nobody's at home.

 

https://x.com/vivekgramaswamy?lang=en

 

 

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You don't want goverment waste cut? Why would anyone support throwing away billions of $? I expected this would be something that unites all Americans.

[herfiehandbag]

  On 1/11/2025 at 11:42 AM, SunnyinBangrak said:

You don't want goverment waste cut? Why would anyone support throwing away billions of $? I expected this would be something that unites all Americans.

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It my be that the uncertainty as to how to define government waste, and the perceived threat to healthcare, social security and welfare programs are leading a lot of people to wait and see just what is proposed. That probably includes a sizable contingent who may have voted for the MAGA cause - after all many will be beneficiaries of these programs. Perhaps in the cold light of dawn they may be considering quite a lot of things.

[SunnyinBangrak]

  On 1/11/2025 at 1:13 PM, herfiehandbag said:

It my be that the uncertainty as to how to define government waste, and the perceived threat to healthcare, social security and welfare programs are leading a lot of people to wait and see just what is proposed. That probably includes a sizable contingent who may have voted for the MAGA cause - after all many will be beneficiaries of these programs. Perhaps in the cold light of dawn they may be considering quite a lot of things.

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Meanwhile back on planet earth

 

"In his latest list, published last year, Paul highlighted foreign aid spending, including an $8.6 million investment in the port city of Esna, Egypt, meant to support tourism jobs there. (That program was due to end in October 2024.)

A prior report highlighted $50 million of US funding for Tunisia's tourism industry, meant to help it increase visitor numbers through 2026."

https://www.businessinsider.com/gop-senator-waste-list-influence-elon-musk-spending-cuts-2024-11

[Patong2021]

  On 1/11/2025 at 9:02 AM, Will B Good said:

Busy pumping-and dumping with his bezzie, Martin Shkreli, I guess.

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Not likely. Shkreli aka federal inmate number 87850-053 is avoided like the plague. He was reduced to playing in the cryptocurrency market. 

[OneMoreFarang]

He realized that Americans don't want to hear the truth. Those "real Americans" didn't like when he said: “A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers,”

[John Drake]

  On 1/11/2025 at 11:42 AM, SunnyinBangrak said:

You don't want goverment waste cut? Why would anyone support throwing away billions of $? I expected this would be something that unites all Americans.

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How about DOGE start with eliminating Elon's Tesla tax credits?

[illisdean]

He's (Vivek) is busy, doing the MAGA tasks Trump has promised Americans. All is good with DOGE, and what could go wrong with the plan to reduce spending, (specifically wasteful spending) as mandated by the 77M Americans who voted for Trump. DOGE is slated to wind up their operation July 2026, so don't expect them to stop before that.

 

DOGE elon/vivek

 

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

  On 1/12/2025 at 6:36 AM, John Drake said:

 

How about DOGE start with eliminating Elon's Tesla tax credits?

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In a perfect world..........................

[HappyExpat57]

  On 1/11/2025 at 11:42 AM, SunnyinBangrak said:

You don't want goverment waste cut? Why would anyone support throwing away billions of $? I expected this would be something that unites all Americans.

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Anyone who has harebrained schemes such as firing everyone whose social security number ends in an odd number has NO CLUE on how to run a successful business.

Since this is on "X," it HAS to be true - right?

 

https://x.com/VivekGRamaswamy/status/1723743653816836377?lang=en&mx=2

[candide]

  On 1/12/2025 at 7:00 AM, illisdean said:

He's (Vivek) is busy, doing the MAGA tasks Trump has promised Americans. All is good with DOGE, and what could go wrong with the plan to reduce spending, (specifically wasteful spending) as mandated by the 77M Americans who voted for Trump. DOGE is slated to wind up their operation July 2026, so don't expect them to stop before that.

 

DOGE elon/vivek

 

 

 

 

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Meanwhile, Musk is already backpedalling... 

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/elon-musk-says-doge-probably-wont-find-2-trillion-federal-budget-cuts-rcna186924

 

Trump is not even sworn in, and he's already backpedalling on all his major promises! 😆

[SunnyinBangrak]

  On 1/13/2025 at 12:15 AM, HappyExpat57 said:

Anyone who has harebrained schemes such as firing everyone whose social security number ends in an odd number has NO CLUE on how to run a successful business.

Since this is on "X," it HAS to be true - right?

 

https://x.com/VivekGRamaswamy/status/1723743653816836377?lang=en&mx=2

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I'd say its a great idea. Govt bloat and armies of idle civil servants suckling on taxpayer teets is a major problem worldwide. What faster and more equitable way to slash costs by 50% in a day than this?

[John Drake]

  On 1/13/2025 at 10:24 AM, SunnyinBangrak said:

I'd say its a great idea. Govt bloat and armies of idle civil servants suckling on taxpayer teets is a major problem worldwide. What faster and more equitable way to slash costs by 50% in a day than this?

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Forget odd and even SSA numbers, just shut down some departments entirely, such as Education. Keep energy, however. Need to go through the State Dept. and ferret out whatever ngos have set themselves up there. Lots of military reform to cut--way too many generals and admirals. Whatever is  going to NPR and PBS can be scrapped too.

[SiSePuede419]

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have already dispatched emissaries across the US government ahead of their mission to slash public spending as joint heads of “Doge” (the so-called “department of government efficiency”), a non-governmental body ordered by Donald Trump to help realize his goal of a radical government shake-up.

 

Their travel budget got turned on so they're spending money on first class airfare, luxury hotels and $500 meals on expense account...

 

To "save" money.

 

Yeah, that's the ticket. 😀

 

Business travel is so cheap nowadays. 🌴

 

Once again the rules only apply to you dirty peasants not the Dark MAGA elitists. 

 

Saving money on the backs of the little people for the MAGA elitists to wine and dine. 🍷

[novacova]

  On 1/11/2025 at 8:51 AM, John Drake said:

I hope this means DOGE is done and finished.

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Don’t get your hopes up, DOGE will make life better for ya

  On 1/11/2025 at 8:51 AM, John Drake said:

I don't want him anywhere near determining what goes into the federal budget.

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It’s probably a good thing since you’re bothered by him, besides he is way smarter and has more insight on the federal budget than anyone here including yourself, after all, you’re here spinning your wheels aren’t you.

[Delta Shift]

  On 1/11/2025 at 8:51 AM, John Drake said:

I hope this means DOGE is done and finished.

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It's the US as a nation with decency that is done and finished !

Whatever happens next, the country is gonna go through a painful process of self-humiliation for the next 4 fckin years.

Haaaahahahahahaha !!! :D :D :D

[John Drake]

And . . . he's gone!  

  Quote

The Department of Government Efficiency’s first order of business was itself: It’s now down to one leader.

Vivek Ramaswamy is no longer part of the commission that President Donald Trump championed, officials confirmed hours after the Republican took office Monday, and that leaves billionaire Elon Musk to run the cost-cutting operation alone.  https://apnews.com/article/vivek-ramaswamy-doge-ohio-governor-musk-trump-328400a5cc47adde8dd97eb628d18164

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[0ffshore360]

IMO if DOGE becomes a reality in the sense of yet another bureaucratic entity it will likely be tasked to provide the illusion of reduced Govt. employees by contracting out the Departmental services to private contractors while retaining Heads of Departments responsible only for avoidance of responsibilities by redirecting attention to the contractors who will enjoy indemnity as a condition of contract.

Those well placed to take advantage of the new policies will have negotiated increased  budget allocations which if eventually  revealed will be excused as a necessary transition cost.

Another tactic is to rename a Govt. Department put out to contract to a privileged non tendered provider excused as being the sole appropriate organization.

 

 

[brewsterbudgen]

It seems Vivek wants to be Governor of Ohio, instead of 'running' DOGE.  Probably a good decision!

[John Drake]

  On 1/21/2025 at 3:03 AM, brewsterbudgen said:

It seems Vivek wants to be Governor of Ohio, instead of 'running' DOGE.  Probably a good decision!

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Face saving gesture. That ain't gonna happen.

[spidermike007]

This is correct, he seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth, but the same could be said about J. D. (just dull) Vance. I haven't seen him in ages and chances are we won't see him much during this administration either.