"A candidate who projects a mythical image without specific policies can create a blank slate onto which people will project what they agree with and dismiss what they disagree with, she said."

This can work! This was pretty much the same strategy employed by Barack Obama — known back then as the "Light Worker" to some of his supporters — during his successful run for the presidency in 2008.

poor Hopenchange

Still can't get over a moderate Democrat twice laying waste to Republican candidates in an electoral landslide, the first by 10 million votes, the 2nd by 5 million votes. And it's about to happen again. Poor fella. This will be worse, though - a woman!

Trump pens up the media in one section in his appearances, mostly so their cameras won't show his profile (oh, the vanity!) Seriously though, the fear that Trump sells, the racial dogwhistles, etc.. make a valid comparison.

And when Trump mentions specifics, they are horrid! He has said three times that Saudi Arabia should have nukes. Going to be interesting when even Netanyahu comes out for a Democrat, just to protect the state of Israel!

A madman. Web Link

Also: Trump - the very definition of a ChickenHawk.

One thing I recall seeing over and over when reading about how
Hitler came to power, which was not all at once, is that it was said
at the time that the animal natures of men were encouraged.

I see this parallel for a long time in the US. People are more rude,
very unkind. Helping anyone but yourself is ridicules. Success
by cheating or crime is tolerated. Inequality abounds.

The comparison of how Trump either is taking advantage of these
social forces or just being supported by them seems very
appropriate to me.

The conversation is very important as a matter of fact. But I do have
a question ... which is, what are we supposed to do if we find ourselves
convinced that we are following in the same path or history repeating
itself?

Evidently: Hitler never bankrupted shell corporations to steal from creditors. Hitler actually knew the issues facing his country. Hitler did not really think he was part of a superior race. Hitler did not change parties and political positions to con the masses. Hitler was a deranged mass murderer but not nearly as devious and dangerous as the Donald.

Every Republican Presidential nominee since 1960 has been compared to Hitler by the press and/or academics. It goes with the territory.

If Ohio governor John Kasich (who is to the left of Mrs Clinton on some issues) should get the nomination, he will certainly be compared to Hitler in the fall campaign.

"Every Republican Presidential nominee since 1960 has been compared"

Perhaps. I don't recall GWB (pre-election) being called that, only afterwards when he condoned torture, invaded countries under false pretenses, etc..

Yes, those dastardly Libruls are awful. Look what those Libs did to Obama, drawing Hitler mustaches on his photo, calling him Stalin, a radical Christian AND a confirmed communist radical muslim.

Oh, wait...


Yes, better to attack Libruls than try to defend the leader of the GOP, Donald Trump, who now wants to use nukes, and jail women who require their constitutionally protected right to abortion.

Wow, that has a certain ring to it, doesn't it?

-> the leader of the GOP, Donald Trump


Let me be the first to thank our poster above, and The Donald, for gift wrapping the Senate. We appreciate it! And now let's talk about the House....

Cruz is the worst candidate ever - even GOP senators joke about murdering him. A truly reprehensible PERSON. He cheats at every chance. Using that nude photo of Trump wive 4 was despicable. Typical Cruz. Cruz fits the subject of every lawyer joke created.

Trump is the joke candidate that caught lighting in a bottle because GOP voters are revolting. against the politician elites.

Couldn't one prof have disagreed? Not only did the story take up half a page, it was plugged on the front page. Among other things, Trump is admonished for saying the media "is biased." While I don't agree with Trump on anything else, I think he might be right on this. This story is more proof. Can I expect a similar Kepler's panel on Bernie Sanders? After all, Hitler was a National Socialist.

green pimpernel -- "Can I expect a similar Kepler's panel on Bernie Sanders? After all, Hitler was a National Socialist."

1) A MASSIVE violation of Godwin's Law.

2) There is a huge difference between socialism and National Socialism. I strongly suggest that you read Sir Ian Kershaw's work on Hitler, so that you can get the difference.

Couldn't believe that when I read it. National socilism and democratic socialism. Our schools have failed.

Just curious if Hitler doubled the National Debt in 8 years...


Really folks 20 Trillion dollars as Oboma waves good bye

Obama inherited Bush's trillion dollar deficit and has cut it in half. More deficit reduction than any Republican.

Ever.

Bush gave Obama monthly job losses of 800,000. Obama has given us 70 months of positive job growth.

All while being obstructed by the GOP.

What is the GOPs job plan, that doesn't include tax cuts for billionaires?

Obama is a great president. Especially compared to any Republican. Recall that REAGAN tripled our debt.

Reagan TRIPLED the DEBT.

Reagan TRIPLED THE NATIONAL DEBT.

Sorry for making your head hurt.

Troll: Re Godwin: the profs broke it first. Just finished "Rise and Fall" again. Suggest you try it. My remark was in jest, but I do see similarities, particularly the strong backing by youth and the going after capitalists. I thought anyone with a sense of humor would have realized I was being flip. I concede I was insensitive, forgetting that Sanders is Jewish. Besides, my target was the media. Read the post again.

Uh, just because someone mentions Hitler or Nazi Germany is no reason
to say they lost a debate. Somehow we Americans love to charge towards
a Twilight Zone direction where logic and rationality have no influence and
say and point to things that have more emotional associations than facts.
I really hope we learn to do better than this.

It depends totally on what is being argued, and the idea to call what was
put out there as a joke, ie Godwin's Law, a law, and further, the idea to
invoke it like it really is a law or it really makes sense ... is simply beyond foolish.
No wonder we are hearing grumbling that schools want to get rid of algebra.
We desperately need to learn abstract rational thinking, but we get very
few examples of it in our lives or our media any longer.

... and by the way, anyone who is serious described Bernie Sanders as an FDR New Deal Democrat.

Bernie's interpretation of socialism has no, nothing, zero elements of state ownership of industry.

Actually even that has worked for many CAPITALIST countries including Singapore and South Korea
and even Japan when the state wants to support an industry that is facing impossible competition
from abroad, uh ... like most of our manufacturing in the US is at this point.

The point is, Bernie is for the American people and giving them as much support as we do corporations
and billionaires, maybe more considering the past 30 years.