Still unconvinced we are heading down the road to fascism:?

[indigonation]

Maybe this article has posted here on DU at some time or another, but I'm convinced the PNAC/neo-cons have studied the tactics of Mussolini and Hitler. We should start calling them neo-fascists. Rove's divisive and demonizing statements the other day prove it. Liberals/dems are definitely being villified and scapegoated. I don't think they are at a point they can start rounding us up yet, but let them work out some of the bugs in the Patriot Act. :smile:

There's also the 14 Defining Characteristics of Fascism, but I thought this was also good list since it was compiled when nobody was comparing this administration to Hitler's. The whole article is worth the short read. http://www.remember.org/hist.root.what.html

<snip>
Fascism and Nazism as ideologies involve, to varying degrees, some of the following hallmarks:

*** Nationalism and super-patriotism with a sense of historic mission.

*** Aggressive militarism even to the extent of glorifying war as good for the national or individual spirit.

*** Use of violence or threats of violence to impose views on others (fascism and Nazism both employed street violence and state violence at different moments in their development).

*** Authoritarian reliance on a leader or elite not constitutionally responsible to an electorate.

*** Cult of personality around a charismatic leader.

*** Reaction against the values of Modernism, usually with emotional attacks against both liberalism and communism.

*** Exhortations for the homogeneous masses of common folk (Volkish in German, Populist in the U.S.) to join voluntarily in a heroic mission_often metaphysical and romanticized in character.

*** Dehumanization and scapegoating of the enemy_seeing the enemy as an inferior or subhuman force, perhaps involved in a conspiracy that justifies eradicating them.

*** The self image of being a superior form of social organization beyond socialism, capitalism and democracy.

*** Elements of national socialist ideological roots, for example, ostensible support for the industrial working class or farmers; but ultimately, the forging of an alliance with an elite sector of society.

*** Abandonment of any consistent ideology in a drive for state power.
<snip>

[Mythsaje]

1. Yeah, but...

Bush isn't charismatic.

:evilgrin:

[uppityperson]

2. Not for everyone, but for enough

[Mythsaje]

3. And I'll be damned

if I'll ever understand it.

[loyalsister]

4. I agree

I really think that the fact that he manages to come across as part of a group to which he clearly does not belong, demographically, educationally, occupationally, nor socially says something.

[uppityperson]

6. People are stupid? People don't want to think? People want sugar daddy?

You can fool some of the people all the time because they don't care enough to figure out how to think and reason for themselves? I don't understand it either.

[loyalsister]

11. People also go to the movies

and believe the actor on the screen is actually the character they are playing.
They have a hard time imagining that Henry Winkler is not quite as "cool" as the Fonz.
That is more of what is going on here.

[uppityperson]

14. Ronald Reagan?

[loyalsister]

16. Not exactly

Reagan's efforts were much less cynical. Bush is a populist shell and he and especially Rove know it. Bush's whole cowboy persona that he created seems real to most people. The fact that he comes across as dumb only supprts it. That's not to say that ranchers are dumb, but it goes along with the mythology that real men don't have time to worry about such things as proper english.

[indigonation]

10. I can't stand to look at smirk, but he has many adoring fans

The bushbots really believe hes - shucks, just a regular nice cowpoke from Texas - a guy you could go have beer and barbeque with. :puke:
The other half of them think he's appointed by God. That's not charismatic?

[annabanana]

15. (remembering creepy picture)

Of a girl, enraptured, gazing a B*sh as if he were, indeed, the risen Christ.
can't find it...

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. no, no doubt at all

We are already there in some many ways... it ain't even funny

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. Oh no. I'm convinced.

We're living it.

[Cleita]

8. I have written it here on DU before that I

think Rove and Co. are studying the Third Reich very carefully, especially, how the Nazis overthrew the Weimar Republic and installed a military dictatorship whose economy was fueled by war.

Unfortunately, they haven't read the last chapters on how it ended. Like they don't seem to have an exit plan in Iraq seems to be holding true for their empire building. They don't know or want to believe that it's going to end up badly.

[Initech]

9. Heading toward? We're already there!

*** Nationalism and super-patriotism with a sense of historic mission.

CHECK.

*** Aggressive militarism even to the extent of glorifying war as good for the national or individual spirit.

CHECK.

*** Use of violence or threats of violence to impose views on others (fascism and Nazism both employed street violence and state violence at different moments in their development).

CHECK.

*** Authoritarian reliance on a leader or elite not constitutionally responsible to an electorate.

CHECK

*** Cult of personality around a charismatic leader.

CHECK.

*** Reaction against the values of Modernism, usually with emotional attacks against both liberalism and communism.

CHECK

*** Exhortations for the homogeneous masses of common folk (Volkish in German, Populist in the U.S.) to join voluntarily in a heroic mission_often metaphysical and romanticized in character.

CHECK

*** Dehumanization and scapegoating of the enemy_seeing the enemy as an inferior or subhuman force, perhaps involved in a conspiracy that justifies eradicating them.

CHECK

*** The self image of being a superior form of social organization beyond socialism, capitalism and democracy.

CHECK

*** Elements of national socialist ideological roots, for example, ostensible support for the industrial working class or farmers; but ultimately, the forging of an alliance with an elite sector of society.

CHECK

*** Abandonment of any consistent ideology in a drive for state power.

CHECK

[helderheid]

12. watch this flash

http://www.bushflash.com/14.html

narrated by mike malloy

[helderheid]

13. serious - watch it