I believe any normal person with Trump's policies would be a great president, but yeah he is unfit to be president. He is not a fascist though.
Trump in Ohio....
- Thread starter MBF72
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I believe any normal person with Trump's policies would be a great president, but yeah he is unfit to be president. He is not a fascist though.
Don't really care what you call it, it was a disgusting display from the President.
Nothing like that in my lifetime.
You'd expect something like that from China or North Korea... not in the US.
It was a total BS move. In NK or China they wouldn’t need pepper spray....or the wouldn’t waste their time with it. Bad analogy.
A huge tax cut with the economy already humming increase the deficit to extremes that would make repubs apoplectic if a dem did it? Bankrupt is this guy's middle name.
China or North Korea would never tell the law enforcement of their major cities to stand down while havoc ensues. But yeah, that was a bad look for a stupid photo op.
Guess I am not alone. I have no clue who this person is, and didnt read the link. No clue was is said or even if I agree. All I know it is from an Irish publication. fwiw. But IMO, if you don think this guy wants to be the dictator, you are sleeping.
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/...curate-when-applied-to-donald-trump-1.4286248
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/...curate-when-applied-to-donald-trump-1.4286248
The fact is that we are three years into this clown's presidency, and it has NOT become a dictatorship. Had there been no COVID and no George Floyd murder, we had peace, a good economy and low unemployment. The world did not end when he won the election, and it will survive his passing the torch to clown Biden. Hell, the SCOTUS just ruled in a way that he apparently did not support on LGBT labor rights.
Guess I'm sleeping. I believe he has no desire to govern and regrets running for POTUS.
What I have learned is that anyone that uses the terms: Dictator, fascist, Hitler, brown shirt, etc., is typically someone that still has not gotten over that he won the election. Hence the term TDS was born.
He can't spell most words so... Is Trump a fascist? The depends on the definition of one, but why go down that label rabbit hole. I recommend reading How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them (by Jason Stanley). It's a quick, interesting read as was another of his books (How Propaganda Works). How does Trump stack up with some of the characteristics of fascism?
Promotes ultranationalism & xenophobia? Check
Narrative of the golden time / great age? Make America Great Again...Check
The "Great Leader" / strong man who is the only one who can save us all? Check
Undermining of vital / democratic institutions? Check
Assault on truth / redefining of reality / promotion of propaganda? Check
Anti-intellectualism? Check
Undermining and attacking journalism / free press? Check (Anything going on with VOA right now? Nah, nothing to see there)
Normalization of the intolerable? Check
Widespread corruption / cronyism? Check
Promotion of division / us vs them? Check
Fraudulent / tampered elections? He tried and he'll try again.
The ultranationalism, lies, conspiracy theory promotion, attacks on media, firing of IGs, placement of puppets all over goverment, the obscene corruption of his lapdog Bill Barr, etc., etc., etc. Is he a fascist? He's semi-fascist at the very least. He's more fascist than not on the spectrum. He's more of a fascist than any other US President and by a staggeringly wide margin. I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the sentiment.
Sure. Because Trump is who he is: A lifelong business owner who makes the final call and who is trying to run the Presidency like he runs his businesses. I’ve worked with scores of guys like that over the years...they would never be able to survive in a public company. None would qualify as fascists, including Trump. He is also a media whore and knows branding. Netflix series called “Dirty Money” is a good view into that.
Also, I have had the opportunity to have known multiple politicians and consultants, several on the National level that, know him and have shared their opinions privately (most of which are not complementary to say the least). They know what he is and none of those terms (fascist, racist, dictator, etc.) have ever been used to describe him. And when a term like that has gotten thrown out in the conversation, it’s just laughed at.
Border security to mitigate illegal immigration, drug flow, gang flow, human trafficking - Check
energy policy that promotes national security and economic growth. - Check
eliminating and renegotiating trade deals that support economic growth for the United States. - Check
Corporate and individual tax policies that promote economic growth, and jobs.. highest employment rate for blacks. - Check
Reduction of superfluous government regulations. - Check
Foreign policies that has regained America's position of strength and mitigates rogue Nations with nuclear capability. - Check
Holds NATO accountable for their financial responsibilities. - Check
Reduces blank check foreign aid. - Check
On the downside he is clearly not presidential. I'll take that any day over dish rags like Carter and Obama not to mention a senile guy who has done nothing in 47 years.
energy policy that promotes national security and economic growth. - Check
eliminating and renegotiating trade deals that support economic growth for the United States. - Check
Corporate and individual tax policies that promote economic growth, and jobs.. highest employment rate for blacks. - Check
Reduction of superfluous government regulations. - Check
Foreign policies that has regained America's position of strength and mitigates rogue Nations with nuclear capability. - Check
Holds NATO accountable for their financial responsibilities. - Check
Reduces blank check foreign aid. - Check
On the downside he is clearly not presidential. I'll take that any day over dish rags like Carter and Obama not to mention a senile guy who has done nothing in 47 years.
Right, but you seem to be implying that Trump is not a fascist because he is a lifelong business owner and media whore, as if those must be mutually exclusive things. If Trump learned that he could do everything Duterte does, and it would build support in his base and guarantee his reelection, is there any doubt in your mind he would do it?
Trump is about Trump. Nothing else. Sometimes doing something that will benefit the country will also benefit Trump... but if it benefits Trump but hurts the country, he will still do it because he doesn't care about anything other than himself.
You've worked with guys...? That isn't scientific or academic.
This is completely anecdotal. Like dry cleaners and minorities wearing MAGA hats in parking lots. You know a guy is not evidence and does not make for an argument.
I am not an expert on fascism. I did have to research and write a lengthy paper on it while at SHU. I maintained an interest in the subject and have read several books on the topic. I can (and did) list actual characteristics of fascism off the top of my head. That is non-anecdotal. I did not list them all, but any scholar or expert on the subject would confirm those are in fact characteristics of fascism. Trump does those things before our eyes on a daily basis. Mountains of evidence to support that. Hence, the carefully chosen words: Semi-fascist and more fascist than not on the spectrum. And the conclusion: I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it.
Cmon...that’s a ridiculous stretch making the analogy with Duerte. You think he’s interested in learning about Deurte at this point of his life? His playbook is pretty easy; you should have figured it out by now. It’s more WWF than Banana Republic.
Look who’s snarky...
You read a book on fascism and are trying to draw some broad comparisons to Trump. I’m talking about multiple people that have to deal with Trump directly on legislative issues that have shared their views. I’ll go with my experiences on this one.
For someone so concerned with grammar and syntax, I would have figured reading comprehension was valued.
This has nothing to do with fascism.
It's also partisan hackery at it's finest, I digress. Look, I know you want to try to help your buddy here...but you're not.
Several. At least 3, probably more. I'll take facts and real evidence over I know a guy. There are no broad comparisons. Take one of those characteristics and you don't have to look hard to find the evidence.
Assault on truth / redefining of reality / promotion of propaganda?
How many false and misleading claims while in office are we up to now? I lost count at 16,000. 16,000!!!! He lies about anything and everything, daily. He lies about matters important and inconsequential. He constantly shifts blame for his wrongdoings to others. He regurgitates and retweets crazy conspiracy stuff (Ted Cruz's father, Scarborough, retweeting Q-non garbage). This is the Cliff's Notes version of the Reader's Digest version. We can push the limits of Rivals character limits on this topic alone.
Every single one of those characteristics has tons of hard evidence.
You would make a crappy prosecutor if you call that hard evidence. Repeating the same things over and over again doesn’t make you right.
I actually think that’sa good description. He clearly wants ratings”, so owning the front page (or today, Social Media, etc) is his primary priority.
What did we expect when we elected a TV personality (yeah he has businesses, several of which are epic failures) but his outsized ego has made this the office of the Chief of Ratings.
Actually the only thing he has running well was the economy... and now that has been sabotaged by the virus.
He’s not fit for public office ...I know quite the revelation... but somehow he has plenty of supporters.
I can’t fathom how he got this far considering he can’t put two sentences together with any clarity. Or without being ridiculous.
An embarrassment... but honestly we have made the office of President so unappealing that what really smart person would want it??
answer is no one... as best exhibited by our recent election results.
Check out a professor from I believe Stony Brook, who about a year ago (though she believed it well before then) espoused new economic theory, specifically around federal deficits. From what I recall reading it, her point was that the federal government can print money (is cover deficits) without economic impunity, provided said country itself is in no danger of going bankrupt.
This only holds for the federal government... not states, who don’t print money.
Been while since I read it, so may have some of this wrong, but major point is there. Basically that federal deficits are not a problem so long as the country is not going anywhere
I think he absolutely entered the process with no thoughts, or hopes, of winning. He was in it for the “ratings”, ie help his next TV foray. Then things started to go his way and somewhere along the way, his ego took over and... well here we are
I wrote it because in your post you were calling out someone else for bad spelling. Lol
The fascist bandwagon is as silly as the Trump - Obama - Hitler comparisons that were/are tossed about.
To some extent you can take pieces of any political system and make comparisons to any leader. If you go so far to suggest Trump, Obama, Reagan are Nazis, Fascist, Communist, you tend to look a little dull or at best akin to a sophomore who took their first poly sci course.
As an exercise, if you have never read Mein Kampf, you should. Pretend you don't know who wrote it and see what your reaction is. The parallels to late 20th and early 21st century world events might surprise you. History repeats itself.
To some extent you can take pieces of any political system and make comparisons to any leader. If you go so far to suggest Trump, Obama, Reagan are Nazis, Fascist, Communist, you tend to look a little dull or at best akin to a sophomore who took their first poly sci course.
As an exercise, if you have never read Mein Kampf, you should. Pretend you don't know who wrote it and see what your reaction is. The parallels to late 20th and early 21st century world events might surprise you. History repeats itself.
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Now you're just grasping at straws. Debating me with actual substance at your back on an issue is no fun at all. With none, it's fruitless.
Many long-time posters reading this are nodding in affirmation.
I will appear arrogant and/or self-aggrandizing to say so, which makes me cringe. Debate and negotiation is a gift I have. I have been told this for most of my life. It's not a surprise I do quite a bit of it for a living. I hear it from counsel I work with regularly. There are many things I'm terrible at. This isn't one of them. If this debate were a in legal, academic, and/or debate competition setting, I would trounce you. I know it. You know it. I know you know it. Everyone reading this knows it. The issue here is your inability to admit it, which is a consistent theme with your persona in this space. There is not a pithy retort, a LOL, a SMH, a non-sequitur, a hasty framing attempt, or logical fallacy that will help you escape this reality. My recommendation here: Punt the ball. You're looking at 4th and forever.
Lastly, what I presented is the literal definition of hard evidence: Facts that are definitely true and can be proved. The characteristics of fascism/fascists I've laid out in this thread are facts/true and can be proved. The few specific examples I have provided where Trump falls under those categories are also facts/true and can be proved. Here is a last example:
Under Promotion of division:
“Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. We can unite without him, drawing on the strengths inherent in our civil society. This will not be easy, as the past few days have shown, but we owe it to our fellow citizens; to past generations that bled to defend our promise; and to our children.” James Mattis recently felt the need to break his silence and tell us this, despite his strong personal desire to not criticize a current president as former cabinet member. John Kelly backed him up. Mattis saying it and Kelly backing him up is true and can be proven. The many, many divisive comments Trump has made are on the record. We have video, audio, print, and tweets (whole lotta tweets). The rhetoric coming from Trump is true and can be proven. Those would be used against him to make a case he promotes division.
Have a good weekend.
This is par for the course for you (as I head out for a tee time
. You don't like the response so you go into these long and silly unhinged rants that make no sense. And I guess having affirmation for your posts must be important, even if it is a obvious sign of your insecurity.BTW, I am a big fan of Mattis and his quote is spot on (and he'd make a great President)...but it all has nothing to do with your fascist claims, but so be it. Gotta run.
I agree with that. I would not make any of those arguments, including explicitly calling Trump a fascist in the vein of a Mussolini. That is why I very specifically used the terms semi-fascist and more fascists than not on the spectrum, with a specific conclusion of saying the argument has merit and should not be so quickly dismissed.
I agree with this also. I have read it. Along with the book I've noted in this thread, I read On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century within the past few years. It outlines how we as a country are positioning ourselves dangerously close to fascism, illiberalism, and/or authoritarianism. Trump is a menace, but an incompetent one. Imagine a sinister character with intellect and capability sitting in the White House in this environment. We're all screwed then. Have a great weekend.
This is par for the course for you (as I head out for a tee time
BTW, I am a big fan of Mattis and his quote is spot on (and he'd make a great President)...but it all has nothing to do with your fascist claims, but so be it. Gotta run.
You're projecting again. Hit em straight.
Democracy? Who in government cares about democracy? That's a joke if I ever heard one. Who will you be voting for that cares about democracy? Maybe your local mayor, but I doubt it. Was there a vote to tear down statues that wasn't publicized? Or are all of our politicians staying silent as a group that makes up the feelings of about 10% of the country just decide to do as they want.
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anon_ezos2e9wn1ob0
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Lmao what? Is your arm long enough to pat yourself on the back? What's the one constant of these left wing losers on piratecrew, they all need people to know how important they are LMAO
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anon_ezos2e9wn1ob0
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I must of missed the vote as well. I, and many people I talk to, are so sick of this crap.
