# Trump & Co. are not fascists. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 22, 2017, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772 "2017-03-22T16:36:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/aca169/32.png) [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inbred_Mm_domesticus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772/41 "2017-03-23T02:00:53Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > It doesn’t help my side (liberals and Democrats) to overstate the case by accusing Trump & Co of being that which they are not. Doesn’t help your side with what? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772/42 "2017-03-23T02:12:00Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Miller is absolutely a fascist. Look, \*you \*try moderating the Pit, and see how long you can hang on to your liberal principles! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772/43 "2017-03-23T02:17:31Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Look, \*you \*try moderating the Pit, and see how long you can hang on to your liberal principles! But you don’t moderate the Pit. _flees_ ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772/44 "2017-03-23T02:29:33Z")
> [@Crane](#): > > He even mimics some of the mannerisms of Il Duce. Trump’s a gesticulating fat-cheeked guy who persuades with bluster; the similarities were inevitable. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772/45 "2017-03-23T02:38:32Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > But you don’t moderate the Pit. > > _flees_ Yeah, you better flee! I’m sending my Brown Pants\* after you for that one! \*They’re like Brown Shirts, but they startle real easy. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772/46 "2017-03-23T03:17:28Z")
Bryan#44, Trump can’t jut his chin beyond his jowls. Il Duce was better at that. Crane ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772/47 "2017-03-23T04:00:04Z")
Does anyone care to distinguish between whatever Trump & Co are and fascists? What is currently missing from their belief system that keeps them on this side of the fascist line? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772/48 "2017-03-23T04:42:49Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > Does anyone care to distinguish between whatever Trump & Co are and fascists? What is currently missing from their belief system that keeps them on this side of the fascist line? Trump doesn’t have his own private paramilitary organization. A fascist needs a bunch of guys in uniform who’ll go out and intimidate his enemies. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772/49 "2017-03-23T07:22:54Z")
Fascists or not, they’re fucksticks. And shitstains. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772/50 "2017-03-23T12:47:31Z")
Nor can they, collectively it seems, effectively shovel shit from one place to another. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772/51 "2017-03-23T13:02:14Z")
> [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](#): > > Doesn’t help your side with what? Doesn’t help my side with putting together a positive argument and policies to move forward. Satisfying as it is to call Trump & Co. out on one fuckery after another, it doesn’t build the case for a winning liberal strategy in future elections. i.e. “Vote for us, we’re not fascists!”, while true, is not really inspirational. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772/52 "2017-03-23T13:15:31Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Trump doesn’t have his own private paramilitary organization. A fascist needs a bunch of guys in uniform who’ll go out and intimidate his enemies. He has his Twitter followers to do that for him. ---
**Author:** ![Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/aca169/32.png) [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inbred_Mm_domesticus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772/53 "2017-03-23T16:08:19Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Doesn’t help my side with putting together a positive argument and policies to move forward. Satisfying as it is to call Trump & Co. out on one fuckery after another, it doesn’t build the case for a winning liberal strategy in future elections. i.e. “Vote for us, we’re not fascists!”, while true, is not really inspirational. I disagree because the Democrats are capable of doing both. The local Democratic politicians where I live discuss reinforcing the ideals of the Democratic party for the betterment of the people they represent. I imagine this is the same wherever you go and find Democrats in office. Wherever there are elections, Democrats need to put up their candidate and then commence dumping on the opponent along with suggesting how they will solve the problems of the people they seek to represent. In last year’s election, I believe Clinton did not work hard enough to convince the people she wished to represent she is planning to improve their lives. So some strategically important people stayed home. Where Democrats are completely out of power. Such as in Washington DC, then just criticize, insult, create doubt and create fear so that the people who voted for the Republicans before decide to stay home because of the perception of failure. Claiming that Trump is a fascist works toward that end. Spending days and days on his lying tweets also works toward that end. When people’s lives do not improve after the next 4 years and Washington is filled with one controversy after another over tweets, then will be the time to offer up a wonderful positive new candidate with a positive message. Right now just be insulting, inaccurate, and negative. It works, don’t ever think it doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772/54 "2017-03-23T16:54:01Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > A fascist needs a bunch of guys in uniform who’ll go out and intimidate his enemies. Who are _you_ to dictate what a fascist needs? What are you, some kinda fascist? :mad::mad::mad: ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772/55 "2017-03-23T17:19:58Z")
> [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](#): > > I disagree because the Democrats are capable of doing both. The local Democratic politicians where I live discuss reinforcing the ideals of the Democratic party for the betterment of the people they represent. I imagine this is the same wherever you go and find Democrats in office. In my state/district, the R encumbent candidate is already running ads in prep for 2018. Not a word from the D challenger(s). And this is a state where Hillary won by 5 points and a largely blue corner of the state. So perhaps some Democrats are actively working to win the next election, but not enough of them. > [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](#): > > Wherever there are elections, Democrats need to put up their candidate and then commence dumping on the opponent along with suggesting how they will solve the problems of the people they seek to represent. In last year’s election, I believe Clinton did not work hard enough to convince the people she wished to represent she is planning to improve their lives. So some strategically important people stayed home. I agree. I’m just not seeing lessons learned. > [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](#): > > Where Democrats are completely out of power. Such as in Washington DC, then just criticize, insult, create doubt and create fear so that the people who voted for the Republicans before decide to stay home because of the perception of failure. Claiming that Trump is a fascist works toward that end. Spending days and days on his lying tweets also works toward that end. When people’s lives do not improve after the next 4 years and Washington is filled with one controversy after another over tweets, then will be the time to offer up a wonderful positive new candidate with a positive message. > > Right now just be insulting, inaccurate, and negative. It works, don’t ever think it doesn’t. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m tired of hearing the insults without the Dem solutions. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want anyone to go easy on the orange jackass & Co. I’d just like to hear some progressive ideas on how to make things better and I don’t want to wait 4 years to hear them. Eg. Everyone agrees that there are things in the ACA that can be improved. So let’s hear those ideas from the Dems. It would be a good contrast to the bullshit AHCA the Republicans are shoveling. ---
**Author:** ![squidfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@squidfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squidfood)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772/56 "2017-03-23T17:42:10Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I’d just like to hear some progressive ideas on how to make things better and I don’t want to wait 4 years to hear them. Eg. Everyone agrees that there are things in the ACA that can be improved. So let’s hear those ideas from the Dems. As witnessed with the (R) successful “contracts with America”, the time to really do this is in the runup to 2018, with the leading promises being based on where things stand a year from now. Right now is the time for listening in town halls and so forth, trying ideas at local levels, and identifying candidates, while on the national stage letting the R’s hang themselves but keeping the spotlight firmly on the R-provided noose. Progressive ideas in the first 100 days will just get lost in the noise. ---
**Author:** ![Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/aca169/32.png) [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inbred_Mm_domesticus)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2017, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772/57 "2017-03-24T04:49:22Z")
I agree with pretty much everything you are saying \*\*Quicksilver \*\*, but I would be more worried if I do not hear the things you would like to hear by early 2018. In the meantime, sit back and criticize. There are lots of Progressive causes you can contribute your time or money to if you want to do something more positive. ---
**Author:** ![HumbleThinker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@HumbleThinker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HumbleThinker)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2017, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772/58 "2017-03-24T12:55:11Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Exactly. I think the point is to actually debate or discuss the real issues, instead of using loaded language. The thing is, the use of ‘fascist’ and ‘Nazi’ has been so overused that it’s losing it’s meaning today. It seems to be the equivalent now of calling someone who is a lefty or liberal a ‘communist’…and has about the same impact due to it’s over/mis-use. > > It’s a shame, really, because it dilutes the evil of real communists and fascists. Whether words have lost their meaning or not, we should use them to describe someone if we feel they are accurate and find they actually are accurate upon close inspection. Where I agree with you is that we shouldn’t JUST say things like “Trump is a fascist” and leave it at that. That’s just a soundbite, which is what our society tends to latch onto. But if you can make the case that Trump is a fascist or this or that liberal is a communist, then you should go ahead and make it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-co-are-not-fascists/782772.md?page=2)