Posted on 08/25/2015 1:58:59 PM PDT by dschapin
I am honestly getting a little scared of what I see happening in politics at the moment. Trump seems to be creating a personality cult where his supporters don’t seem to care what they are supporting provided he attacks the people they don’t like. I am starting to feel a little bit like a German citizen in the early 1930’s watching normally rational conservatives start to cultishly follow a strong leader who they thought would fight back and stop the communists.
Seriously if I had to pick a political philosophy for the Trump movement I would say that it is fascism for the following reasons.
1. Trump's support of and past involvement in crony capitalism (such as his support for using the condemnation power of the state to take property for private parties with good government connections).
2. Trump's followers extreme desire for a strong leader and almost mystical belief that he can fix things without caring what his beliefs or idealogy is.
3. Trump's support for a type of nationalism that is starting to push into the overtly rascist and nativist realm.
4. The delight that Trump seems to take in personally demeaning and attempting to destroy anyone who opposes him. And the way that his followers cheer him on in so including supporting him using sexist slurs against Megan Kelly for doing her job as a journalist.
5. Finally, the fact that Trump and his supporter seem to have no concern for the constitution or the separation of powers.
Damnit;; the last four words of your post made me spew a really good SCOTCH out my nose and onto my desk. I just barely got my head turned in time.
I observed degrees of cult of personality with Obama. I do not see the same with Trump or any such elation among open Trump supporters. If it manifests, I would see it; we would all see it, what with Trump doing marches on Washington (none forthcoming AFAICS, but we are in wait-and-see mode). Neither Luigi Facta nor Kurt von Schleicher were Obama-like figures to say the least, in addition.
If you want to see ACTUAL fascism, all you have to do is look at how the obama administration operates.
Hyperbole thy name is...
In the middle of the night; and I’m a CRUZ guy.
(snicker)
I see a lot of Obama in Trump.
Neither of them had political records. This allowed their supporters to project their hopes and views on to them.
Both are promising major new national programs. Obama had health care, and Trump his new version of Operation Wetback.
Both had - have! - cults of personality. I am not certain why you don’t see The Great Leader Trump cult, but it sure looks like there is one to me on a number of forums, including FR. I think Trump’s TV exposure is probably is his best asset in the current race.
Of course, Trump has actual real world achievements to point to, unlike Obama. But he was also a Democrat until 2008. And if government is a Whore, Trump has been one of her Johns.
I am perfectly willing to vote for Trump in the General. IN the Primary, however I will support Cruz. He has a consistent political record over his single term in the Senate (no abstains for him). He is not perfect, but he tries and has paid a price for attempts to be a conservative the pesthole that is the Senate. Walker is my second choice. His achievements as governor and his resilience in the face of vicious opposition are admirable.
What does Trump’s alleged cult of personality consist of? Please cite examples.
Trump’s past is known and quite public. Obama is still a veritable mystery man, which reminds me of a description Hermann Goering had of Adolf, “the unknown corporal”.
Lack of “political record” does not bother me in particular, especially in the face of entrenched DC leftism that tends to eat away at and exclude conservatism in the Beltway; but the fact is that from the little known of Obama, he certainly did have a “political record” albeit mostly consisting of agitation.
None of that solidifies Trump as a candidate for me, of course. He has a long way to go; but the fact that the left fears and smears so much is not a negative and reveals at least some things about how Trump would govern.
Post 22. I agree.
At the very least I am concerned we are drifting toward dictatorship. I’ve seen at least one conservative tract (that I can’t find now) that predicted we are two presidents from a dictatorship.
The problem is not Trump, or Obama et. al. ...its the Congress which refuses to perform its role with equal power to the executive and judiciary.
With Congress performing its role properly a strong leader like Trump would excell in a representative republic.
Unchecked....I worry about any president.
Static.
This might help: http://thefederalist.com/2015/08/11/donald-trumps-paradoxical-cult-of-personality/
I think Trump’s political record is mostly one of cozying up to government for favors or just to get stuff done. I believe one of the reason he cited for being a Democrat was to purchase favors from Democrat politicians (including the Clintons).
As you might guess, no matter how much I like what Trump is saying about illegal immigration, he makes me nervous. America is due for its “man on horseback” and Trump might be it.
http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Man-Horseback-Guy-Odom/dp/0825305012
The perfect conservative candidate is Ted Cruz.
Changing the political system is patient work that takes decades …I read through the undue praises of Rand and Christie, and even the equally-undue comparisons to Josef, the Chairman and Hugo, and happened to stop there. I had thought Tracinski to be better than this.
Is that you, Jeb?
I see a lot of truth in it. A lot Trump followers know too little about him and are a just a bit too enthusiastic in their support.
For instance this is Trump on gun control (another hot button issue for me):
http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Donald_Trump_Gun_Control.htm
He was supporting gun control in 2000 and, suddenly he is “against gun control.” Hmmm. When did he suddenly grow?
But darn few Trump supporters are going to ask that about their Great Leader.
“3. Trump’s support for a type of nationalism that is starting to push into the overtly rascist and nativist realm. “
I don’t think so.
Is your account a front for the GOPe to have a presence here?
The gun control issue would be one for the debates. Not that there are too many RINOs that would materially support the Second Amendment.
Take note that the Uniparty is helping to create Trump as a politician. His support can’t be maintained by pure rhetoric, of course. I daresay more is known about Trump than most establishment hacks, either way.
I can say the same 5 things about the GOPe and Dems.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.