What a shock! Trump blocks Schiff's memo

[_Markk]

You may have a point there -- Trump isn't Hitler, if only because of a difference in cultural climate. If, for example, white nationalism was stronger in the US and there was a call to create internment centers for certain classes of US residents, would he have the moral or political courage to stand up to it? I really wish I could say 'yes,' as I could with former Presidents both GOP and Democrat. But in all honesty I simply can't (and I really hope I'm wrong).

Now, that may be alarmist. But at the same time: before you dismiss the possibility that such a thing could ever happen in America, I will remind you that it already has happened in America. There are many great things about this country, but I to view our nation's present and future without a cautionary glance to the past is to let America be nothing more than a lie we tell ourselves.

If we have any appreciation at all for the lessons of history, the fact that we have a President who is -- to put it very politely indeed -- evidently tone deaf to concerns about broadcasting winks at xenophobic notions should rightly give us pause.

When has a dictator come from our country and brought the world into a world war that killed over 50-100 million people?

If, for example, white nationalism was stronger in the US and there was a call to create internment centers for certain classes of US residents, would he have the moral or political courage to stand up to it?

Are you comparing what FDR did after Pearl harbor with Hitler? I am not sure what your point is?

Thanks

[_Kevin Graham]

Can you show me he is doing nothing?

By end of August, Trump will have spent three times as many days at leisure as Obama

Where was Obama when the Russians hacked the system under his watch? What did Obama do in his 8 years to "confront" this. Russian meddling goes back to Eisenhower...it is nothing new, and my guess is Obama did less than all the others all the way back to Eisenhower, even give the technology we have today.

Do tell how Eisenhower confronted Russian hacking of our emails. You sound so dumb. You just said in another thread you're only reading Left Wing sources and yet you ask such dumb questions like "What did Obama do, my guess.." Your guess? If you were half as informed as you pretend to be you wouldn't need to guess:

Obama expels 35 Russian diplomats in retaliation for US election hacking

Obama Strikes Back at Russia for Election Hacking

White House announces retaliation against Russia: Sanctions, ejecting diplomats

Then Trump comes onto the scene, insisting his buddy Putin is telling the truth when he denies the hacking, and basically says our own intelligence agencies are worthless. He takes the word of Russia over the FBI/NSA/CIA. That's treasonous.

He then refuses to enforce laws passed by Congress to put sanctions on Russia because...?

Gee, whatever happened to the idea that Trump only wants to enforce the laws (i.e. immigration) and here he is spitting in the face of Congress and the American people in order to do what's in the best interest for ... Russian government. That is a dereliction of duty.

[_Bret Ripley]

I am not sure what your point is?

Trump has not been a Hitler. But, as you say, folks haven't give him the chance.

[Guest]

no it won't, your post is childish.

It's true Trump has not send undocumented immigrants to concentration camps, but watch the video and tell me if you notice some similarities

"How did Hitler rise to power? - Alex Gendler and Anthony Hazard"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFICRFKtAc4

[_DoubtingThomas]

but many germans continued to perceieve them as outsiders. After World War I, Jewish sucess led to ungrounded accusations of subversion and war profiteering. It can not be stressed enough that these conspiracy theories were born out of fear, anger, and bigotry. Not fact Nonetheless, Hitler found success with them....His speeches exploited people's fear

"How did Hitler rise to power? - Alex Gendler and Anthony Hazard"

Compare to racist Ad

https://youtu.be/rAt3qVTjKCk?t=53s

[_MeDotOrg]

I am not sure what your point is?

Trump has not been a Hitler. But, as you say, folks haven't give him the chance.

Hitler did not exist in a vacuum. Hitler's greatest genius as a politician was to assimilate the unconscious fears of the German people and articulate an authoritarian philosophy that provided salve for those fears. So when people compare Trump to Hitler, it is only fair to compare the German people with the American people.

Often times, the greatest threat to a country is not its external enemies, but the narrative constructed to interpret the country's history.

The history of the United States is vastly different than Germany, and of course the Nationalist narrative that Trump has constructed is vastly different than Hitler's. There is no American Volk. But there are many other elements of the narrative that are similar. The belief in 'American exceptionalism' means that the Gods have somehow selected a special path for your homeland. The belief that there is an 'other' that is slowly destroying the fabric of your country from within, and all of this propelled by tremendous National insecurity, that our country is the victim of unfair agreements and that we are not getting acknowledgement of our true worth on the World Stage.

Hitler loved rallies in front of adoring supporters. His Brownshirts quickly removed any signs of disunity. He loved large martial displays. The industrialists loved Hitler. And Hitler's propaganda machine always kept the attention on the Jews, Gypsies and other enemies of the Volk.

Trump's narrative of the United States is a part of the Trumpian lens that is bound to consult the popular opinion. So just don't compare Trump to Hitler. It's a symbiotic relationship between Trump and his supporters. He can't exist without them.

[_Bret Ripley]

Hitler did not exist in a vacuum. Hitler's greatest genius as a politician was to assimilate the unconscious fears of the German people and articulate an authoritarian philosophy that provided salve for those fears. So when people compare Trump to Hitler, it is only fair to compare the German people with the American people.

Often times, the greatest threat to a country is not its external enemies, but the narrative constructed to interpret the country's history.

The history of the United States is vastly different than Germany, and of course the Nationalist narrative that Trump has constructed is vastly different than Hitler's. There is no American Volk. But there are many other elements of the narrative that are similar. The belief in 'American exceptionalism' means that the Gods have somehow selected a special path for your homeland. The belief that there is an 'other' that is slowly destroying the fabric of your country from within, and all of this propelled by tremendous National insecurity, that our country is the victim of unfair agreements and that we are not getting acknowledgement of our true worth on the World Stage.

Hitler loved rallies in front of adoring supporters. His Brownshirts quickly removed any signs of disunity. He loved large martial displays. The industrialists loved Hitler. And Hitler's propaganda machine always kept the attention on the Jews, Gypsies and other enemies of the Volk.

Trump's narrative of the United States is a part of the Trumpian lens that is bound to consult the popular opinion. So just don't compare Trump to Hitler. It's a symbiotic relationship between Trump and his supporters. He can't exist without them.

Thanks, MDO. That's a much better expression of what I inadequately summed up as "a difference in cultural climate." Can I keep you on retainer to ghostwrite my posts?

[_subgenius]

Hitler did not exist in a vacuum. Hitler's greatest genius as a politician was to assimilate the unconscious fears of the German people and articulate an authoritarian philosophy that provided salve for those fears. So when people compare Trump to Hitler, it is only fair to compare the German people with the American people. .

Neither Comparisons Are Fair, They Both Perpetuate A Political Boogeyman That Does Not Exist.... No, Really... Does Not Exist!
Whatever Myth You Have Created To Rationalize Trump Being Your President Has No Basis In Reality. The Irrational Trauma You Suffered In November 2016 Is Because You Were A Member Of The Cult Of Presidency From 2008 To 2016.... when that illusion disappeared you were left with a psychological condition that has yet to be resolved. The Hitler Nonsense Is Just Nonsense And It Only Serves To Distract You From Reality.

[_canpakes]

Hitler did not exist in a vacuum. Hitler's greatest genius as a politician was to assimilate the unconscious fears of the German people and articulate an authoritarian philosophy that provided salve for those fears. So when people compare Trump to Hitler, it is only fair to compare the German people with the American people. .

Neither Comparisons Are Fair, They Both Perpetuate A Political Boogeyman That Does Not Exist.... No, Really... Does Not Exist!
Whatever Myth You Have Created To Rationalize Trump Being Your President Has No Basis In Reality. The Irrational Trauma You Suffered In November 2016 Is Because You Were A Member Of The Cult Of Presidency From 2008 To 2016.... when that illusion disappeared you were left with a psychological condition that has yet to be resolved. The Hitler Nonsense Is Just Nonsense And It Only Serves To Distract You From Reality.

subs, the pyschobabble distracton doesn't work well for most anyone, and certainly not you, especially when you are peculiarly capitalizing each word. : )

MeDotOrg makes a valid comparison to the style exhibited by some, including Hitler, to Trump's approach - i.e., to "assimilate the unconscious fears of the ... people and articulate an authoritarian philosophy that provided salve for those fears".

I'd again point to Trump's own acceptance speech at he RNC, wherein he presented a list of bogeymen and terrible situations to his eager audience, and then proclaimed, "I alone can fix it".

Trump's actions are his own and cannot be blamed on any previous Presidency, so I'm not sure why you're fixating on the Obama thing again. Perhaps you have a psychological condition that has yet to be resolved?

[_subgenius]

subs, the pyschobabble distracton doesn't work well for most anyone, and certainly not you, especially when you are peculiarly capitalizing each word. : )

This does not invalidate my argument or the veracity of the "pyschobabble distracton". If you can dispute the assertion from a position other than one of grammar, then please do so.

MeDotOrg makes a valid comparison to the style exhibited by some, including Hitler, to Trump's approach - i.e., to "assimilate the unconscious fears of the ... people and articulate an authoritarian philosophy that provided salve for those fears".

Nope, which is the point of my rebuttal MeDotOrg actually does not make a valid comparison. Inasmuch as it may also be used to compare that poster to Hitler as using the unconscious fears of Trump as means to articulate why one should vote Democrat in 2018.
So, while I can easily concede that "using fear" is a standard and typical political device, it is rather absurd to associate Trump with Hitler. It is rather like comparing Sanders to Mussolini because "socialism".

I'd again point to Trump's own acceptance speech at he RNC, wherein he presented a list of bogeymen and terrible situations to his eager audience, and then proclaimed, "I alone can fix it".

Again, the use of this rhetorical device in a political speech is common and cliché'. This does not merit the hair-on-fire-Hitler-proclamations.

Trump's actions are his own and cannot be blamed on any previous Presidency, so I'm not sure why you're fixating on the Obama thing again. Perhaps you have a psychological condition that has yet to be resolved?

Oh, i know i have unresolved psychological conditions, and currently my ability to recognize them is the most glaring distinction between myself and almost every liberal/Democrat omg-Hitler! post on this board.