Donald Trump is an actual fascist: What his surging popularity says about the GOP base

[DonViejo]

The word "fascist" has been abused by the left over the years. But a look at Trump's rhetoric shows scary parallels

CONOR LYNCH

In the political discussion of today, there always comes a risk of being discounted as a crackpot when using a word like “fascist” to describe a political opponent. The word, much like “socialist,” has been so abused since the fall of fascism that it lost its meaning quite some time ago. Comparisons of modern leaders to Hitler tend to be completely void of any substance, and there is even an Internet adage, “Godwin’s law,” that says, “As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.”

In a recent article by Jeffrey Tucker, however, it is argued, quite justly in my opinion, that Donald Trump, whether he knows it or not, is a fascist (or is at least acting like one). Much like Mussolini and Hitler, Trump is a demagogue dedicated to riling up the people (particularly conservatives) with race baiting, traditionalism and strongman tough talk — and, according to polls, it’s working — for now. Tucker writes:

“Trump has tapped into it, absorbing unto his own political ambitions every conceivable resentment (race, class, sex, religion, economic) and promising a new order of things under his mighty hand.”

No doubt about it, Donald Trump has decided to stir the pot, and, as Tucker says, he seems to be running for a CEO position, rather than president of a nation. Trump discusses Iran and Mexico as if they were competing corporations, and says that, as president, or CEO, he will drive them into the ground, make them file for bankruptcy — something Trump legitimately knows a thing or two about. Trump, of course, is largely taken as a joke, and most rational commentators assume he is doing this for publicity — which he is certainly getting.

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http://www.salon.com/2015/07/25/donald_trump_is_an_actual_fascist_what_his_surging_popularity_says_about_the_gop_base/

[Turbineguy]

1. How can he be a fascist?

He doesn't have a little mustache.

(Just trying to help out the RWNJ Trolls)

[moondust]

2. Or an autocrat looking to be king.

I think kids born into vast riches sometimes figure out early on that they're the ones who command the attention and give the orders and never have to listen to anybody. Some may never develop an ability to listen. If T.rump somehow became President I'm not sure he'd even bother forming a team of knowledgable advisors since he'd never listen to them anyway. "Waste of time."

But the GOP base does love loud, bossy, and rich. Many would probably prefer a top-down monarchy over a messy, complicated, egalitarian democracy.

[Motown_Johnny]

3. Draped in the flag and carrying a cross?

Or simply cloaked in patriotism?


Either way, it sure seems to have come to America, at least certain segments of it.