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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#340701: Nov 22nd 2020 at 4:55:40 PM

Trump actually hates the military because he thinks they're too soft, so very fascist.

Trump pardoned a Navy SEAL war criminal for murder and torture as well as firing weapons indiscriminately into civilian locations.

He hates rules against targeting families and said doing so would be one of the things he did in office.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
GoldenKaos Captain of the Dead City from Cirith Ungol Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
Captain of the Dead City
#340702: Nov 22nd 2020 at 5:00:29 PM

It really isn't as if Hitler wasn't any less of a Fascist before he got to the bit where Jews were being systematically exterminated. Likewise, Trump isn't any less of a Fascist because he hasn't crossed whatever arbritrary line of awfulness you (in the general sense) have set for him.

And before someone says "Oh, Trump was never going to be as bad as Hitler" - people didn't think Hitler was going to be that bad either. Fascism is actually pretty good at growing within Liberal Democracies in such a way that by the time Liberals usually realise the threat, it's too late.

"...in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach."
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#340703: Nov 22nd 2020 at 5:11:52 PM

The thing about Trump is we're actually at a point where America's democracy has stopped him from seizing the Presidency for Life despite the popular vote saying otherwise.

If nothing else, Trump WOULD become dictator for life against the will of the people but just failed to.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#340704: Nov 22nd 2020 at 5:31:02 PM

"And before someone says "Oh, Trump was never going to be as bad as Hitler" - people didn't think Hitler was going to be that bad either. Fascism is actually pretty good at growing within Liberal Democracies in such a way that by the time Liberals usually realise the threat, it's too late."

Fascism isn't "easy" at growing within liberal democracies. Germany wasn't that. The Weimar Republic was in the middle of a depression, had no political legitimacy, a brand new democratic tradition, and was filled with ex-Imperial German politicians and military leadership, most of whom weren't that ideologically distant from 1932 Hitler. Italy, Croatia, Hungary, etc. weren't long-standing liberal democracies when they became fascist. Neither, for that matter, was Spain. The UK never became fascist, France didn't, the US didn't, Canada didn't, India as independent state didn't.

Fascism grows in places without respect for institutions, the rule of law, a free press, or the democratic process, but that isn't because liberal democracy is the kernel from which the fascist state grows, but because democracy isn't entrenched, and authoritarian leadership more easily replaces displaced authoritarian leadership.

Edited by CrimsonZephyr on Nov 22nd 2020 at 8:31:54 AM

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#340705: Nov 22nd 2020 at 5:34:27 PM

Trump just fired Sidney Powell of "Release the Kraken" and "I'm gonna Blow up Georgia" fame.

R/Conservative is finally realizing Trump is losing due to this.

https://in.mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN2820UB?utm_source=reddit.com

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Nov 22nd 2020 at 5:35:29 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#340706: Nov 22nd 2020 at 5:34:36 PM

Trump is hardly Hitler, or a Nazi. The most you can argue is that he has fascistic tendencies, without really consciously ascribing to the ideology itself.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#340707: Nov 22nd 2020 at 5:36:06 PM

Trump has overseen concentration camps, forced sterilization, and an attempted end of democracy in America.

What needs to make a Nazi comparison?

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#340708: Nov 22nd 2020 at 5:39:18 PM

Unless calling Trump a fascist wins us elections, it isn't even that useful.

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#340709: Nov 22nd 2020 at 5:39:57 PM

Normalizing Trump is a mistake.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Galadriel Since: Feb, 2015
#340710: Nov 22nd 2020 at 5:53:34 PM

[up]I agree.

Normalizing evil was the problem with how Democrats reacted to the Bush administration. It took horrific abuses - torture, murder of civilians with remote drones in undeclared wars, sweeping violations of civil liberties - and turned them into mere policy disagreements (if that - the drone strikes were continued by Obama). We can’t afford to keep doing that, especially not with things like concentration camps, extortion of allies for partisan gain, and attempts to overthrow democracy.

Edited by Galadriel on Nov 22nd 2020 at 8:57:43 AM

nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#340711: Nov 22nd 2020 at 6:11:35 PM

Bloomberg: Biden will name Tony Blinken as his Secretary of State

Blinken was Deputy Secretary of State and Deputy National Security Advisor under Obama and is a longtime Biden aide.

The article also notes that Jake Sullivan is expected to be named National Security Advisor.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#340712: Nov 22nd 2020 at 6:31:34 PM

I can genuinely say I've heard that name before. He was the Biden advisor who was talking with the Taiwanese ambassador a few days ago.

And he has some songs on Spotify?

Edited by Parable on Nov 22nd 2020 at 6:35:08 AM

AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#340713: Nov 22nd 2020 at 7:10:24 PM

Is that a good thing or a meh thing? I think someone else asked that but nobody could provide a clear answer.

As far as I can tell, Blinken is a career bureaucrat, so I have little knowledge of his ideological stances on various issues other than that he's experienced and on good terms with Biden. That he's opened communication channels with Taiwan off the bat is good news, as it indicates the Biden administration views countering CCP's efforts at imperialism and (re-)establishing strong support with other East Asian nations as a matter of importance.

Edited by AlleyOop on Nov 22nd 2020 at 10:15:46 AM

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#340714: Nov 22nd 2020 at 7:19:53 PM

Kids in cages are not exactly concentration camps in the Nazi sense. That is a bit charged.

Also, forced sterilization is legal in the US, so if we are going that route, then a lot more people are going to come out looking bad here.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#340715: Nov 22nd 2020 at 7:26:01 PM

Zephyr: even that dosent make a facist, just places were facism can arise.

After all facism is in part polarization in their ultimate expresson and a love for violence into everything, compared to that trump is a best a typical latino dictator like maduro for examples, he just want to rip everyone pocket and feeling himself.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#340716: Nov 22nd 2020 at 7:35:42 PM

He's also been on Sesame Street explaining the refugee crises to Grover.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#340717: Nov 22nd 2020 at 7:47:55 PM

[up][up][up]Compulsory sterilization isn't actually legal anymore in the USA. So ICE doing that to women would actually be them committing a serious crime.

The last known legal forced sterilization was in Oregon in 1981.

Disgusted, but not surprised
NickTheSwing Since: Aug, 2009
#340718: Nov 22nd 2020 at 7:49:18 PM

Now, it remains to be seen if Trump or one of his kids really will try and run again in 2024 or if they'll just soak up media corp profits...

...but I shudder to think about what sort of lunatic they'll dredge up to try and go further right than Donald Trump.

2024 Headlines The Republican Party broke with tradition when Primary Voters chose a Ouija Board channeling Adolf Hitler's Ghost as the nominee.

Edited by NickTheSwing on Nov 22nd 2020 at 7:49:37 AM

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#340719: Nov 22nd 2020 at 7:52:54 PM

[up]Also from 2024:

Independent voters still undecided between the literal ghost of Hitler and President Biden.

Edited by M84 on Nov 22nd 2020 at 11:53:47 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#340720: Nov 22nd 2020 at 7:55:12 PM

Alternative 2024 headline: Satan has become the Republican nominee, due to a plurality of evangelical support.

Edited by Draghinazzo on Nov 22nd 2020 at 12:55:43 PM

Blueace Surrounded by weirdoes from The End Of the World Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Surrounded by weirdoes
#340721: Nov 22nd 2020 at 7:57:53 PM

Given how they are so self-serving with His word, it's fitting.

Wake me up at your own risk.
RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#340722: Nov 22nd 2020 at 7:59:01 PM

"Also, forced sterilization is legal in the US, so if we are going that route, then a lot more people are going to come out looking bad here."

Cool, charge the rest of them too.

It's been fun.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#340723: Nov 22nd 2020 at 8:03:17 PM

[up][up][up]"Sure he's the literal Devil, but Biden is pro-choice."

Disgusted, but not surprised
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#340724: Nov 22nd 2020 at 8:06:14 PM

When and how did abortion become like THE "single issue" among single issue voters anyway?

Demongodofchaos2 Face me now, bitch! from In a Cultivation World (Ancient one) Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Face me now, bitch!
#340725: Nov 22nd 2020 at 8:08:07 PM

After Roe vs Wade back in the 70's happened. Evangelicals and fundamentalists did not like that at all.

Watch Symphogear

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