Here is an excellent analysis opinion piece from the Chicago Sun Times:
Stop this dangerous man before it is too late.
Is U.S. like Germany of the '30s?
June 11, 2004
BY ANDREW GREELEY Advertisement
X
BERLIN -- I can understand, my German friend said, why Germans voted for Hitler in 1933 -- though he did not receive a majority of the vote. The Weimar Republic was weak and incompetent. The Great Depression had ruined the nation's war-devastated economy. People were bitter because they thought their leaders had betrayed them in the war. They wanted revenge for the humiliation of Versailles. Hitler promised strong leadership and a new beginning. But why did they continue to support that group of crazy drug addicts, thugs, killers and madmen?
The historical question remains. I leave aside the question of the guilt of the whole German people (a judgment beyond my competence because I am not God) and ask what explanations might account for what happened. Hitler turned the German economy around in short order. He was crazy, of course, a demagogic mystic sensitive to aspirations of the German spirit. He appealed skillfully to the dark side of the German heritage. Anti-Semitism was strong in Germany, as it was in most European countries, but not violent until Hitler manipulated it. He stirred up the memories of historic German military accomplishments and identified himself with Frederick the Great -- thus placating the Prussian ethos of the German army. He promised glory to a nation still smarting from the disaster of 1918. Germany was emerging from the ashes, strong and triumphant once again. He also took control of the police apparatus. The military might have been able to dump him till 1937. After that he was firmly in power. The path lay open to holocaust.
Can this model be useful to understand how contemporary America is engaged in a criminally unjust war that has turned much of the world against it, a war in which torture and murder have become routine? Has the combination of the World Trade Center attack and a president who believes his instructions come from God unleashed the dark side of the American heritage?
What is this dark side? I would suggest that it is the mix of Calvinist religious righteousness and ''my-country-right-or-wrong'' patriotism that dominated our treatment of blacks and American Indians for most of the country's history. It revealed itself in the American history of imperialism in Mexico and after the Spanish-American War in the Philippines. The ''manifest destiny'' of America was to do whatever it wanted to do, because it was strong and virtuous and chosen by God.
Today many Americans celebrate a ''strong'' leader who, like Woodrow Wilson, never wavers, never apologizes, never admits a mistake, never changes his mind, a leader with a firm ''Christian'' faith in his own righteousness. These Americans are delighted that he ignores the rest of the world and punishes the World Trade Center terrorism in Iraq. Mr. Bush is our kind of guy.
He is not another Hitler. Yet there is a certain parallelism. They have in common a demagogic appeal to the worst side of a country's heritage in a crisis. Bush is doubtless sincere in his vision of what is best for America. So too was Hitler. The crew around the president -- Donald Rumsfeld, John Ashcroft, Karl Rove, the ''neo-cons'' like Paul Wolfowitz -- are not as crazy perhaps as Himmler and Goering and Goebbels. Yet like them, they are practitioners of the Big Lie -- weapons of mass destruction, Iraq democracy, only a few ''bad apples.''
Hitler's war was quantitatively different from the Iraq war, but qualitatively both were foolish, self-destructive and criminally unjust. This is a time of great peril in American history because a phony patriotism and an America-worshipping religion threaten the authentic American genius of tolerance and respect for other people.
The ''real'' America is still remembered here in Berlin for the enormous contributions of the Marshall Plan and the Berlin airlift -- America at its best. It is time to return to that generosity and grace.
The strongest criticism that the administration levels at Sen. John Kerry is that he changes his mind. In fact, instead of a president who claims an infallibility that exceeds that of the pope, America would be much better off with a president who, like John F. Kennedy, is honest enough to admit mistakes and secure enough to change his mind.
Full Version: Bush Compared To Hilter
QUOTE (Thaiquila @ Jun 13 2004, 12:55 AM)
Here is an excellent analysis opinion piece from the Chicago Sun Times:
Stop this dangerous man before it is too late.
Is U.S. like Germany of the '30s?
June 11, 2004
BY ANDREW GREELEY Advertisement
X
BERLIN -- I can understand, my German friend said, why Germans voted for Hitler in 1933 -- though he did not receive a majority of the vote. The Weimar Republic was weak and incompetent. The Great Depression had ruined the nation's war-devastated economy. People were bitter because they thought their leaders had betrayed them in the war. They wanted revenge for the humiliation of Versailles. Hitler promised strong leadership and a new beginning. But why did they continue to support that group of crazy drug addicts, thugs, killers and madmen?
The historical question remains. I leave aside the question of the guilt of the whole German people (a judgment beyond my competence because I am not God) and ask what explanations might account for what happened. Hitler turned the German economy around in short order. He was crazy, of course, a demagogic mystic sensitive to aspirations of the German spirit. He appealed skillfully to the dark side of the German heritage. Anti-Semitism was strong in Germany, as it was in most European countries, but not violent until Hitler manipulated it. He stirred up the memories of historic German military accomplishments and identified himself with Frederick the Great -- thus placating the Prussian ethos of the German army. He promised glory to a nation still smarting from the disaster of 1918. Germany was emerging from the ashes, strong and triumphant once again. He also took control of the police apparatus. The military might have been able to dump him till 1937. After that he was firmly in power. The path lay open to holocaust.
Can this model be useful to understand how contemporary America is engaged in a criminally unjust war that has turned much of the world against it, a war in which torture and murder have become routine? Has the combination of the World Trade Center attack and a president who believes his instructions come from God unleashed the dark side of the American heritage?
What is this dark side? I would suggest that it is the mix of Calvinist religious righteousness and ''my-country-right-or-wrong'' patriotism that dominated our treatment of blacks and American Indians for most of the country's history. It revealed itself in the American history of imperialism in Mexico and after the Spanish-American War in the Philippines. The ''manifest destiny'' of America was to do whatever it wanted to do, because it was strong and virtuous and chosen by God.
Today many Americans celebrate a ''strong'' leader who, like Woodrow Wilson, never wavers, never apologizes, never admits a mistake, never changes his mind, a leader with a firm ''Christian'' faith in his own righteousness. These Americans are delighted that he ignores the rest of the world and punishes the World Trade Center terrorism in Iraq. Mr. Bush is our kind of guy.
He is not another Hitler. Yet there is a certain parallelism. They have in common a demagogic appeal to the worst side of a country's heritage in a crisis. Bush is doubtless sincere in his vision of what is best for America. So too was Hitler. The crew around the president -- Donald Rumsfeld, John Ashcroft, Karl Rove, the ''neo-cons'' like Paul Wolfowitz -- are not as crazy perhaps as Himmler and Goering and Goebbels. Yet like them, they are practitioners of the Big Lie -- weapons of mass destruction, Iraq democracy, only a few ''bad apples.''
Hitler's war was quantitatively different from the Iraq war, but qualitatively both were foolish, self-destructive and criminally unjust. This is a time of great peril in American history because a phony patriotism and an America-worshipping religion threaten the authentic American genius of tolerance and respect for other people.
The ''real'' America is still remembered here in Berlin for the enormous contributions of the Marshall Plan and the Berlin airlift -- America at its best. It is time to return to that generosity and grace.
The strongest criticism that the administration levels at Sen. John Kerry is that he changes his mind. In fact, instead of a president who claims an infallibility that exceeds that of the pope, America would be much better off with a president who, like John F. Kennedy, is honest enough to admit mistakes and secure enough to change his mind.
Stop this dangerous man before it is too late.
Is U.S. like Germany of the '30s?
June 11, 2004
BY ANDREW GREELEY Advertisement
X
BERLIN -- I can understand, my German friend said, why Germans voted for Hitler in 1933 -- though he did not receive a majority of the vote. The Weimar Republic was weak and incompetent. The Great Depression had ruined the nation's war-devastated economy. People were bitter because they thought their leaders had betrayed them in the war. They wanted revenge for the humiliation of Versailles. Hitler promised strong leadership and a new beginning. But why did they continue to support that group of crazy drug addicts, thugs, killers and madmen?
The historical question remains. I leave aside the question of the guilt of the whole German people (a judgment beyond my competence because I am not God) and ask what explanations might account for what happened. Hitler turned the German economy around in short order. He was crazy, of course, a demagogic mystic sensitive to aspirations of the German spirit. He appealed skillfully to the dark side of the German heritage. Anti-Semitism was strong in Germany, as it was in most European countries, but not violent until Hitler manipulated it. He stirred up the memories of historic German military accomplishments and identified himself with Frederick the Great -- thus placating the Prussian ethos of the German army. He promised glory to a nation still smarting from the disaster of 1918. Germany was emerging from the ashes, strong and triumphant once again. He also took control of the police apparatus. The military might have been able to dump him till 1937. After that he was firmly in power. The path lay open to holocaust.
Can this model be useful to understand how contemporary America is engaged in a criminally unjust war that has turned much of the world against it, a war in which torture and murder have become routine? Has the combination of the World Trade Center attack and a president who believes his instructions come from God unleashed the dark side of the American heritage?
What is this dark side? I would suggest that it is the mix of Calvinist religious righteousness and ''my-country-right-or-wrong'' patriotism that dominated our treatment of blacks and American Indians for most of the country's history. It revealed itself in the American history of imperialism in Mexico and after the Spanish-American War in the Philippines. The ''manifest destiny'' of America was to do whatever it wanted to do, because it was strong and virtuous and chosen by God.
Today many Americans celebrate a ''strong'' leader who, like Woodrow Wilson, never wavers, never apologizes, never admits a mistake, never changes his mind, a leader with a firm ''Christian'' faith in his own righteousness. These Americans are delighted that he ignores the rest of the world and punishes the World Trade Center terrorism in Iraq. Mr. Bush is our kind of guy.
He is not another Hitler. Yet there is a certain parallelism. They have in common a demagogic appeal to the worst side of a country's heritage in a crisis. Bush is doubtless sincere in his vision of what is best for America. So too was Hitler. The crew around the president -- Donald Rumsfeld, John Ashcroft, Karl Rove, the ''neo-cons'' like Paul Wolfowitz -- are not as crazy perhaps as Himmler and Goering and Goebbels. Yet like them, they are practitioners of the Big Lie -- weapons of mass destruction, Iraq democracy, only a few ''bad apples.''
Hitler's war was quantitatively different from the Iraq war, but qualitatively both were foolish, self-destructive and criminally unjust. This is a time of great peril in American history because a phony patriotism and an America-worshipping religion threaten the authentic American genius of tolerance and respect for other people.
The ''real'' America is still remembered here in Berlin for the enormous contributions of the Marshall Plan and the Berlin airlift -- America at its best. It is time to return to that generosity and grace.
The strongest criticism that the administration levels at Sen. John Kerry is that he changes his mind. In fact, instead of a president who claims an infallibility that exceeds that of the pope, America would be much better off with a president who, like John F. Kennedy, is honest enough to admit mistakes and secure enough to change his mind.
Interesting, definatly an opinion piece, but interesting
Great job Thaiquila,
As usual you show us how good you are by consistantly giving us links, and respecting private property rights, by not posting other's intellectual property in toto on your opening threads.
I'm truely impressed, as usual, with you're professional abilities. But then again, who could expect any less?
As usual you show us how good you are by consistantly giving us links, and respecting private property rights, by not posting other's intellectual property in toto on your opening threads.
I'm truely impressed, as usual, with you're professional abilities. But then again, who could expect any less?
That's a fact. Thaiquila is so adept at bringing to the forefront these scintillating tidbits of totally useless information that tries to equate Bush w/Hitler. It diminishes any semblance of intellectual honesty he may be trying to convey. 
Where's the meat?
All that this proved is that Hitler and George W. have absolutely nothing in common, but that, indeed, Thaiquilla will sink to any level to make the comparison.
All that this proved is that Hitler and George W. have absolutely nothing in common, but that, indeed, Thaiquilla will sink to any level to make the comparison.
QUOTE (Georgie-Porgie @ Jun 12 2004, 11:39 PM)
Where's the meat?
All that this proved is that Hitler and George W. have absolutely nothing in common, but that, indeed, Thaiquilla will sink to any level to make the comparison.
All that this proved is that Hitler and George W. have absolutely nothing in common, but that, indeed, Thaiquilla will sink to any level to make the comparison.
Sounds a bit like your old bud, the Gent!
The big difference is that the gentleman couldn't actually read the nutty articles that he was posting. Thaiquila, however, is fully resposible for the claims that she makes and the content of what she posts. 
So where is the response to the CONTENT of the argument that there are indeed parrallels between BUSH and HITLER? Instead of attacking me, how about directly attacking the substance of the content?
http://www.suntimes.com/output/greeley/cst-edt-greel11.html
http://www.suntimes.com/output/greeley/cst-edt-greel11.html
QUOTE (Thaiquila @ Jun 13 2004, 12:53 AM)
So where is the response to the CONTENT of the argument that there are indeed parrallels between BUSH and HITLER? Instead of attacking me, how about directly attacking the substance of the content?
There are no similiarities...unless they exist in your own skewed view of the events/situations...
QUOTE (Boon Mee @ Jun 13 2004, 07:15 AM)
QUOTE (Thaiquila @ Jun 13 2004, 12:53 AM)
So where is the response to the CONTENT of the argument that there are indeed parrallels between BUSH and HITLER? Instead of attacking me, how about directly attacking the substance of the content?
There are no similiarities...unless they exist in your own skewed view of the events/situations...
QUOTE (lamphun)
QUOTE (C.Woww @ Jun 4 2004, 02:37 PM)
President George W. Bush’s increasingly erratic behavior and wide mood swings has the halls of the West Wing buzzing lately as aides privately express growing concern over their leader’s state of mind.
In meetings with top aides and administration officials, the President goes from quoting the Bible in one breath to obscene tantrums against the media, Democrats and others that he classifies as “enemies of the state.”
“It reminds me of the Nixon days,” says a longtime GOP political consultant with contacts in the White House. “Everybody is an enemy; everybody is out to get him. That’s the mood over there.”
In meetings with top aides and administration officials, the President goes from quoting the Bible in one breath to obscene tantrums against the media, Democrats and others that he classifies as “enemies of the state.”
“It reminds me of the Nixon days,” says a longtime GOP political consultant with contacts in the White House. “Everybody is an enemy; everybody is out to get him. That’s the mood over there.”
Just finished reading Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L. Shirer.
While GWB's behaviour may be Nixonian it also has some very weird similarities with the behaviour of Adolf Hitler when everything was falling apart.
QUOTE (William L. Shirer. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. Publ 1960)
In his case what had been hardness became cruelty, while a tendency to bluff became plain dishonesty. He often lied without hesitation and assumed that others lied to him. He believed no one any more. It had already been difficult enough dealing with him: it now became a torture that grew steadily worse from month to month. He frequently lost all self control and his language grew increasingly violent. In his intimate circle he now found no restraining influence.
I drop kicked another poster for quoting himself, but in this case I told you so !!
So lamphun and Thaiquila both think that Bush and Hiltler are pretty much one and the same and can't back it up.
What a Pathetic Pair!
What a Pathetic Pair!
QUOTE (Boon Mee @ Jun 13 2004, 07:15 AM)
QUOTE (Thaiquila @ Jun 13 2004, 12:53 AM)
So where is the response to the CONTENT of the argument that there are indeed parrallels between BUSH and HITLER? Instead of attacking me, how about directly attacking the substance of the content?
There are no similiarities...unless they exist in your own skewed view of the events/situations...
The parallels are the paranoia of those who find themselves in power without the abilities to control their baser instincts.
QUOTE (Lord Acton)
All power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely
[QUOTE=lamphun,Jun 13 2004, 11:49 AM] [QUOTE=lamphun][QUOTE=C.Woww,Jun 4 2004, 02:37 PM]President George W. Bush’s increasingly erratic behavior and wide mood swings has the halls of the West Wing buzzing lately as aides privately express growing concern over their leader’s state of mind.
In meetings with top aides and administration officials, the President goes from quoting the Bible in one breath to obscene tantrums against the media, Democrats and others that he classifies as “enemies of the state.”
“It reminds me of the Nixon days,” says a longtime GOP political consultant with contacts in the White House. “Everybody is an enemy; everybody is out to get him. That’s the mood over there.”
[/QUOTE]
[/QUOTE]
Lampy quoting this garbage is very deceptive. We already went over the fact that the author had no identifiable sources for his information. Hence pure fiction.
Therefore the comparison is also fictional.
This is what the opposition is reduced to the using of fictional writing to criticize.
How many brain cells do you need to recognize this as bogus?
In meetings with top aides and administration officials, the President goes from quoting the Bible in one breath to obscene tantrums against the media, Democrats and others that he classifies as “enemies of the state.”
“It reminds me of the Nixon days,” says a longtime GOP political consultant with contacts in the White House. “Everybody is an enemy; everybody is out to get him. That’s the mood over there.”
[/QUOTE]
[/QUOTE]
Lampy quoting this garbage is very deceptive. We already went over the fact that the author had no identifiable sources for his information. Hence pure fiction.
Therefore the comparison is also fictional.
This is what the opposition is reduced to the using of fictional writing to criticize.
How many brain cells do you need to recognize this as bogus?
The title of the article quoted was as follows.
Bush's Erratic Behavior Worries White House Aides
By DOUG THOMPSON & TERESA HAMPTON
Jun 4, 2004, 06:15
While you may not like it and it's obviously an opinion piece, it is based on the factual day to day situation in the Dubya White House. Call me an enemy of the state if you like.
Bush's Erratic Behavior Worries White House Aides
By DOUG THOMPSON & TERESA HAMPTON
Jun 4, 2004, 06:15
While you may not like it and it's obviously an opinion piece, it is based on the factual day to day situation in the Dubya White House. Call me an enemy of the state if you like.
How many brain cells does the "idiot of the state" have?
And G.P. shuts down yet another thread.
Pass the popcorn...
Pass the popcorn...
QUOTE (Georgie-Porgie @ Jun 13 2004, 05:39 AM)
Where's the meat?
All that this proved is that Hitler and George W. have absolutely nothing in common, but that, indeed, Thaiquilla will sink to any level to make the comparison.
All that this proved is that Hitler and George W. have absolutely nothing in common, but that, indeed, Thaiquilla will sink to any level to make the comparison.
Does it matter, their kind are DESPERATE.
It doesn't matter HOW FAR LEFT TEQUILA HAS TO GO, IT WILL CONTINUE TO CLING ON TO THIS ABSURD ARGUMENT.
But hey, it gives me something to laugh at.
"The strongest criticism that the administration levels at Sen. John Kerry is that he changes his mind. In fact, instead of a president who claims an infallibility that exceeds that of the pope, America would be much better off with a president who, like John F. Kennedy, is honest enough to admit mistakes and secure enough to change his mind."
If Kennedy had not changed his mind at the Bay of Pigs, America, Cuba and the world would have been better off. If he had supported those men traped on the beach, and liberated Cuba, there would not have been a Cuban Missile Crisis.
If there had been a successful liberation there would not have been boat lifts, and airplane hijackings, and adventures into Africa and Central America. The Bay of Pigs was a weakness of indecision- a black spot on his presidency.
The Cuban Missile was decisive, and was the brightest spot on his presidency.
It is unknown what he would have done with Viet Nam. It was his baby, and chances are it would have destroyed him like it did Johnson, had he lived.
And to make the case that Bush and Hitler are similar is rubbish. Hitler's rise follows economic collapse following war. Hitler's actions against the Jews were because of hatred of them following the actions of many jews during WWI. Bush is a Jewish State supporter. Hitler wanted "living room", not so Bush. Hitler's actions were unprovoked, not so Bush. And on and on.
And with regard to the drunk tag you liberals want to label Bush with- US Grant was the Union's best general, and a drunk.
If Kennedy had not changed his mind at the Bay of Pigs, America, Cuba and the world would have been better off. If he had supported those men traped on the beach, and liberated Cuba, there would not have been a Cuban Missile Crisis.
If there had been a successful liberation there would not have been boat lifts, and airplane hijackings, and adventures into Africa and Central America. The Bay of Pigs was a weakness of indecision- a black spot on his presidency.
The Cuban Missile was decisive, and was the brightest spot on his presidency.
It is unknown what he would have done with Viet Nam. It was his baby, and chances are it would have destroyed him like it did Johnson, had he lived.
And to make the case that Bush and Hitler are similar is rubbish. Hitler's rise follows economic collapse following war. Hitler's actions against the Jews were because of hatred of them following the actions of many jews during WWI. Bush is a Jewish State supporter. Hitler wanted "living room", not so Bush. Hitler's actions were unprovoked, not so Bush. And on and on.
And with regard to the drunk tag you liberals want to label Bush with- US Grant was the Union's best general, and a drunk.
Thank you, sir, this lib in particular won't listen though, tequila thinks he's Hilter reincarnated and smithy thinks that, get this, he's actually insane.
These people will say and do whatever to get Bush out of office, scary I know.
These people will say and do whatever to get Bush out of office, scary I know.
QUOTE (Georgie-Porgie @ Jun 13 2004, 12:13 PM)
So lamphun and Thaiquila both think that Bush and Hiltler are pretty much one and the same and can't back it up.
What a Pathetic Pair!
What a Pathetic Pair!
Don't think the comparison is fair, but I can tell you one thing, some of his supporters could easily have been members of the Nazi Party.
Cheers
Trot
QUOTE
Don't think the comparison is fair, but I can tell you one thing, some of his supporters could easily have been members of the Nazi Party.-trot
I'm eagerly awaiting your list of followers who would be NSDAP members. And before you start with John Ashcroft, let me point out that he is not a follower of teutonic mythology, does not favour state control and regulation of the means of production, does not call for the extermination of a religious group, and to the best of my knowledge has not ordered the mass extermination of prisioners in some ditch, somewhere "over there".
Your list is going to be interesting.
Their list will be a list of zero. The Republican Adminsitration in the White House today is the most intelligent and far-sighted group of individuals to be in Washington since Ronald Reagan's day,
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