I wrote a post on October 7, 2024 noting an analogy between the state of Germany and Germans in the 1920s that facilitated Hitler's rise to power as well as Hitler's propaganda tactics and that of the United States and Trump.
There is another unfortunate analogy that must be pointed out. Hitler became all-powerful with the craven support of corporate titans and the conservative political establishment. Neither of these groups could stand Hitler, but they knew he was the new game in town and they played to his ego, thinking that sooner or later, he would fail and they would seize power. Of course. that eventuality didn't happen until Germany was reduced to rubble and conquered.
In the case of Trump, we are seeing much similar behavior, but thankfully there are some who are not craven. First the similarities. Both politicians and billionaire corporate titans who spoke very poorly of Trump at one point, changed their tune when they realized that he had captured the soul of the Republican base and was a man who would brook no disagreement.
In general, when primary battles are all over, everyone supports the nominee. That's as it should be. But here there was a difference. In the Republican primary (both 2016 and 2020), those trying to defeat Trump didn't just disagree on policy, they vilified the man in the harshest of terms. Yet once he got the nomination and had obviously captured the party, they all fell in line, one after the other, and kissed his ring. The fact that they had defined him in such negative, dangerous, and unfit terms was now irrelevant.
Then there were those, such as George W. Bush, who refused, even when implored by his daughter, to come out against Trump. He didn't support him or say good things about him, but in this situation, remaining silent was the equivalent of endorsing him. It's like Niemöller in Germany who didn't speak out against the Nazis and when they came to get him, it was too late. (See my post, "Hitler-Trump Analogy.")
But thankfully there were a brave few who refused to forsake their principles—Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, Mitt Romney—as well as those behind the Lincoln Project, who tried to convince fellow Republicans to not support Trump. It was to no avail, but their actions are a bright light during this sordid period of the Republican Party.
Unless Trump starts a nuclear war, he will not leave the United States in a heap of rubble. But he can devastate our institutions and severely damage the country.
One thing is certain: he will not Make America Great Again. That has been a great marketing tool, but as is often the case with marketing, it bears little relation to reality. (See my post, "The 2020 Election Is about the Survival of American Democracy, of our Historic Values.")
