Trump Isn't Hitler (but he is a fascist) - Some More News:

[Saviolo]

Cody Johnston once again putting all of the pieces together better and faster than any major news organization. Not a very funny one this week, since it's about creeping American fascism (with a few creeps we already know about at the head), but definitely worth the watch.

[olegramps]

1. Creeping? The Republicans have been pursueing fascist policies for over forty years.

One of major objectives of fascism is to destroy the unions. Reagan and Thatcher went after them with a vengeance. It marked the beginning and end of the labor movement in the United States. It was coupled with Reagan's repeal of the Fairness Doctrine in broadcast and unlimited ownership of radio stations that became the mouth piece for the so-called "Right-to-Work Laws. The working class swallowed it hook, line and sinker. It has been coupled with the attack on every government agency, especially those dealing with the safety net. The aim: An Authoritarian Presidency just like those now ruling China and Russia with a cabinet of billionaire oligarchs. It is no mystery why Trump admires the strongmen dictators, it aspires to be one.

[Saviolo]

2. A agree, it's been creeping for a long time.

And it's still creeping. If it moves too fast people might notice something's wrong (though at this point, I think that ship has sailed, hence the acceleration in recent years).

[DetlefK]

3. Cody, you forgot spanish fascism. And portuguese fascism.

[sandensea]

6. The GOP's even worse.

As repressive, puritanical, and corrupt as Franco and Salazar were, they could at least point to some real accomplishments for their once almost-medieval countries in terms of economic development and public works.

Shitler is the worst of both worlds: A self-righteous, larcenous authoritarian with genocidal tendencies - but with the kind of Bush/Coolidge freewheeling policies that lead to big crashes in pretty short order.

God help us all.

[DetlefK]

4. Fascism is about destroying traditions to bring back an imaginary past.

When Mussolini came to power, he did away with the italian bureaucracy and government to rebuild the roman empire from ancient times.

When Hitler came to power, he did away with democracy to rebuild an imaginary medieval german empire.

When Trump came to power, he destroyed the law to bring back the good old times when the government wasn't meddling in your business.

[Sneederbunk]

5. Tin Horn Fascist.

[RussBLib]

7. Reading Madeleine Albright's book Fascism

In it she details that Mussolini coined the term "drain the swamp" when he was rising in power. (Sorry, I don't have the actual Italian phrase handy)

Kinda sounds familiar.