32 Comments

Thanks for understanding. I think A.S. has more integrity than that. He recognizes his vulnerability and has reflected. Each case, individual. But of course, who knows.

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“Anthony Scaramucci (AS): Business people are more indifferent to the radical right than they are to the radical left. They believe that the radical right is not interested in overly taxing them or taking their enterprises away. And they think the proposals made by someone like AOC or Bill de Blasio, which would flatten society and reduce meritocracy, would be very unfair. . . . This isn't a left or right thing. This is about right or wrong. And the first thing we have to do is empower these people . . . .”

Matthew 19:

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

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Oct 27, 2021Liked by Ruth Ben-Ghiat

Good interview. Important. I think he’s being honest. Blunt. Likely very accurate situational analysis. But, dude’s a hedge fund guy. He’ll play it either way. That’s disgusting.

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He was White House Communications Director "for a time."

Ruth, you're such a diplomat!

Seriously, I'm impressed with the extent to which Scaramucci has come around and is spilling the beans on Trump. Thank you for this interview.

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Oct 27, 2021Liked by Ruth Ben-Ghiat

"We need an American renewal. We need to re-establish our civic virtue, and to pull ourselves back together. That could mean mandatory voting. "

Right. And that will take place just as soon as one of Koch brothers gets around to it.

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Oct 27, 2021Liked by Ruth Ben-Ghiat

Sounds like a typical response of a successful American business man which I have heard so many times since 2016....he recognises the threat to democracy and society but as long as the perceived threat to his business and personal wealth from de Dems is higher than the (less personal?) threat to society and democracy from Trump and GOP, he will not stick his neck out to defend democracy........and if push comes to stuff, will make the same wrong choice as the Capital and Business men did in Italy and Germany in the 1920-1930's and other authoritarian regimes. I hear this far too often because they believe they can personally benefit from and will not become victimised in an authoritarian regime. They know how these regimes ended in disaster in the past but are convinced this will not happen in US. This does not give me much hope for the American democracy in 22 and 24.

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Oct 27, 2021Liked by Ruth Ben-Ghiat

A.S. says "We need to re-establish our civic virtue, and to pull ourselves back together." True but the Republicans, along with their allies in right wing media outlets are doing everything in their collective power to keep the country as polarized and divided as it possibly can. Because as a minority party with only minority support for its policy positions on economic and social issues, Republicans foster discontent and distrust in our country's institutions and voting systems not only to stay in power but to regain Control of congress and Presidency.

Business people, the very wealthy and entrepreneurs don't fear authoritarians, they just hear low taxes and deregulation. Evangelicals hear antiabortion judges and Democrats want to take Christmas away, alienated disaffected blue collars workers, who saw their factories close due to globalization hear anger and nihilism towards elites and their institutions, racists and white supremacists hear shit hole counties, immigration and border crisis, gun owners and libertarians hear they're going to take your guns away. Anti vaxers hear vaccine mandates are an infringement of their liberties despite risking disease and their own death, Angry and armed MAGA mobs hear Biden and the Democrats have stolen the election from their leader and they have to take back their country. Almost half the country and one of its major political parties live in an alternative reality sustained by a constant barrage of media propaganda. Is it any wonder why authoritarianism in America is on the rise?

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Wait! What does he mean “Trump only lost by 40,000 votes”? Nationally, it was 7 million votes.

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I think Scaramucci's take on the motivation of business people is a real revelation. They have no sense of the civic responsibility necessary for a democracy to flourish.

Ayn Rand's simpleton philosophy is as far as they've taken their thinking about governance, I guess.

Little do they know that Rule *By* Law will swallow them up too. F'n dummies.

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