He's a very smart individual and knows how to pull the media strings to get what he wants.

It's not like we have a host of other political stories to talk about. Like what happened in the latest Democratic debate.

better than someone like Trump as president.

Let me know your thinking about that.

out pretty good under corporatist governments. Some in the short term but others in the long run.

But mostly because that is what he is a corporatist and they are the owners of media. If we think bush and co. allowed corporations and the MIC to have their way. Just wait for Trump. He is all about money. All the other bull he is talking is window dressing.

very conscious of history. He is striking a common core with many people and that has led some countries into horrific hellholes. There is a lack of empathy and humanity with him IMO. He's a ruthless CEO type and IMO that is not the makings of a good president.

as with some of the fascist dictators of the 20th century. It shouldn't be taken lightly, but I think we're in better shape compared to back then. For one, Trump is no Hitler in terms of his personal appeal. Hitler had something of a sympathetic backstory, being born into a struggling middle class family and becoming a decorated WWI veteran. Trump is a boorish loudmouth born into privilege. Ultimately, there's only so far you can go with your popular "he's one of us" appeal there. Also, I think many of the insecurities and failures of his past led Hitler to work hard at developing his skills as a public speaker/figure. Again, Trump being born into privilege and already famous is unlikely to be as open to self-improvement in this regard.

Jesus christ, did I really just use Hitler as a positive example?

Wealth and Fame for fame's sake. We worship a different backstory.

That's why he's dangerous.

ETA - Hitler!

characteristic is persecution and suppression of some group the fascist followers, mainly social conservatives, want persecuted. Here, we have a wealth of groups these would-be fascists are straining to attack: all immigrants, American citizens belonging to a long list of minority group, non-Christians, and, of course, liberals.

I'm not sure Trump's the kind to be that afraid of, though. He would maybe just be a sheepdog whomping up national unrest for self aggrandizement, to be taken out by a pack of real wolves if a really destabilizing situation occurred.

That said, I believe we're far, more stable than some imagine. I just wish the signs of what could happen "IF" and who'd be turning in neighbors to the government weren't so obvious. It makes it hard to respect them for their good facets.

is a little bit reminiscent of the nationalism that developed in Germany after WWI, as is the anti-immigrant rhetoric.

And we all remember how that turned out. Not well.

foreigners for their countries' problems. It's always the "others" who cause the problems, never your own 1%.

the mannerisms are exactly those of Benito.

Not the Austrian Corporal, who had a genuine messiah complex, amongst all the other myriad twists in his brain.

Mussolini was a big-talking blowhard, a cheapjack bully, and nothing more than a loudmouthed nationalistic street goon when you cut to the crux of the biscuit. The parallels are, um, readily apparent. Giovanni Gentile wrote all the theoretical materials for him and the Duce was smart enough to memorize them.

A very apt comparison, I think.

for very different reasons mind you.

1) that foreign off shore bank used by the rich
2) that foreign subsidiary of an American Company used to shelter its money from taxes it SHOULD pay
3) that foreign country, our government always seems to attempt to give democracy/attempt to control its government/attempt to control its people
4) that foreign country American Company moves it manufacturing to in order to get lower/cheaper labor rates AND increase profits while shielding its money from taxes


ALL done for $$$$$$

Sorry if your post was sarcastic, I sometimes can't tell, looked serious to me. If I understood you correctly I agree with your points, just pushin back on the finger-pointing at the foreigners instead of at the forces of power that are using them (and us).

Every damn show now on the network highlights him. There are other things going on that need to be discussed but on MSNBC it trump trump and more trump. It is so tiring and unwatchable.

And if he is against foreigners why did he marry 2 foreign women. Aren't American women good enough for him. I wish someone would point that out.

Or, in Trump's case, who don't actually want to be president.

The corollary is also true... history is replete with buffoonish and ineffectual characters who became little more than jokes and footnotes.

"To be fair, I'm sure that speech sounded much better in the original German."

Still the best one-liner about any political speech. I cannot imagine the fun Molly would have with tRump and the rest of the klown kar.

He plays up to corporations & big media. Says his brain trust will consist of successful business people. Blames everything on dirty criminal foreigners. Says he'll build a much bigger military. He assures everyone that he'll treat everything like a business. That's somewhat equivalent to Mussolini saying he'd get the trains to run on time.

It's not like we have any shortage of them..

Check it out - brings your post down to one to one comparisons:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027099967

chilling commentary...