It wasn't that long ago people Swooned to Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin too.
There were Many people that tried to tell the masses the reality. But too many were interested in feeding that normal human trait of wanting to be on the winning team.
Perhaps as we learned from Obama's candidacy we should actually listen to what they are selling (In Obama's Case-Fundamental Transformation, Spreading the wealth around) instead of fawning over him like a H.S. Prom King. When in reality he is more of real life Biff Tannen.
But then you are making the assumption (and you can make it if you want - I think we should always be on guard for it) that this is a parallel situation.
But what fundamentally defines a mob being swept up in the thrall of a charismatic dictator is NOT frustration, or even black and white thinking. It's MINDLESSNESS.
When you can show me that Trump's supporters, myself included, are mindless, then you got me.
But I don't think you can hit Trump's supporters for mindlessness, and that's why I encourage those posting the mindless name calling posts, or the simplistic low hanging fruit criticisms, to understand that in most cases you're looking, at least on this site, at would-be-Cruz-supporters who don't believe Cruz will, in practice, be able to get enough done. That he won't be able to move congress and the country.
I can say that for myself, but I also think I can say it for millions of Trump supporters. We AGREE more with Cruz, intellectually. But so what? What good is it if for the next 8 years Cruz is perfect on the issues, but moves no one?
Have you considered that an identifiably far right conservative like Cruz will cause the other side to clam up and commit to grid lock, essentially immobilizing Cruz? Does he have the charisma to unlock that jam? I don't think so. Normally I love grid lock, but not when you have to correct 8 years of damage. Cruz knows nothing about how an economy actually works. He intellectually supports the ideas of a certain school of economics, but he doesn't know squat about how to make an economy run. (That is not a deep insult - it's not disqualifying.) Trump does.
As for tyrants - all of us have to make a choice about whether we see Trump as serving Trump first , or serving America and the Constitution first.
But you're not talking to a bunch of hypnotized idiots who worship Trump. I never watched any of the guy's shows in my life, never followed him, never cared about it, though the 5 million dollar offer for O to release his records was a stupid stunt.
I do a cold hard calculation about what are his abilities, what does he intend to do, where are his loyalties, will the country actually follow him.
Bottom line: Where are we in 8 years, how much damage have we undone.
That type of calculation is a far cry from what future Hitler or Mussolini mobsters were thinking about. They were thinking 'how can I get something for nothing' ... whether it be health care, pride, revenge, or just free stuff.
So while I think it's good to be on guard whenever any charismatic politician comes to the forefront, and you may find some group-think mentality among some Trump supporters - you will for any candidate - but ask yourself this: Have you seen more mob mentality coming of those posting for Trump, or for those Hating Trump -- who think just because they are calling us sheep and worshippers, that we are, therefore, sheep an worshippers?
I address this to the royal 'you' - not you to whom I'm responding here: What if we're actually smarter than you on this one ... what if we've actually thought it out more thoroughly, more deeply? What if I could, if I wanted, criticize Trump more effectively than you, because I've already examined it? Has that even occurred to you? Has it occurred to you that you are stuck on a point we worked out long ago, and that rather than being behind you in thinking, the only reason we're not standing where you're standing is that we're way way ahead of you in terms of what will actually benefit the country in the direction of our common ends - which at least here, we DO agree on.
I don't care about persuading you - Trump is going to win anyway. I DO ask you to consider if you've misread the situation. Those of us who support Trump have already had to ask ourselves that. Prior to his running and publishing his positions, I also thought he was just a windbag, even if a successful one. But if you look at his life, it's actually full of substance, perhaps not the type delicate Americans prefer, but there is hard work, intelligence, commitment to making his business great. I think he's onto the next thing, and I think he's pretty much just a very effective one-track-mind. The only thing you care about it 'ok then, what is that track right now.' I've made my bet.
Cruz is awesome, by the way. Just a matter of the guy I'm hiring: Who's going to produce more of what I want? I'm hiring Trump. Would love to have Cruz working for me too. Frankly - whether they do it privately or publically - as a team - Trump tempering Cruz and Cruz tempering Trump - excellent mix. Trump has a lot to refine in his political philosophy. Cruz has a lot to learn about communicating.
Trump for 8, then Cruz for 8. Rather than merely stalling the demise of the nation, they might be able to perform the I think never been done before feat of actually reversing a nations inevitiable drift to collectivism and ultimately demise. Perhaps we'll turn out truly exceptional there too, that would be a miracle.