Pic Of The Moment: How Times Have Changed

[EarlG]

Hi-res version

Long TSA wait times persist despite ICE deployment as a potential deal to end the shutdown takes shape

[FakeNoose]

1. Yeah, Mussolini didn't end well either

We've all seen the photos so I won't post them here. But ....

[Moostache]

12. I hope Trump ends up EXACTLY like Il Duce... (n/t)

[underpants]

2. It bears repeating

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221121647

[erronis]

6. Interesting. Wilhelm was kaiser while Frederick Trumpf was in Germany

The idjt's grandfather must have learned a few things from this terrible leader.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Trump

[FakeNoose]

13. Yes but his ace-in-the-hole was Otto von Bismarck

Wiki link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_von_Bismarck

Chump doesn't have anybody like that in his administration. (Thank goodness he doesn't ... things would be much worse!)

[wnylib]

15. Kaiser Bill is one reason why I am American and not German.

Kaiser Bill's father, Kaiser Friedrich (aka Fritz to his subjects), promoted social and political reforms to Germany's government to make it more like Britain's Parliamentary system. He was married to Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Victoria. My great-grandfather was an officer in the German cavalry. He supported Kaiser Fritz's reforms.

But Fritz died after 3 months on the throne. Kaiser Bill persecuted his father's reform supporters and accused them of treason. (Sound like someone we know?) My great-grandfather's friends warned him that he was on Kaiser Bill's list to be arrested on treason charges. They helped him escape Germany with his very pregnant wife and 3 children ages 5, 3, and 1.

My grandfather was born in Buffalo 2 weeks after his parents reached the US.

Trump is driving Americans abroad in the same way that Kaiser Bill did. Then Hitler did the same. The US benefited from Albert Einstein and many other talented and accomplished people leaving Europe to escape persecution.


ETA: In one of life's ironies, my uncle (named Bill), served in the US Army in Europe in WWII to defeat the nation that his grandfather (my great-grandfather) fled from.

[leftstreet]

3. Did ICE disperse that crowd with tear gas yet?

DURec

[Johnny2X2X]

4. Mussolini didn't make the trains run on time

That's a myth. Similar to trump's government, Mussolini had a kakistocracy which is a government run by the least qualified, most unprincipled, or worst citizens, essentially "rule by the worst".

Nothing worked well under Mussolini, same as America under Trump.

[erronis]

7. But they are both master liars!

[Bengus81]

8. Yep..and the pic should be changed to 1920 when Mussolini consolidated power

and then became Dictator in 1922.

[EarlG]

11. Yes, I know

But the phrase "Mussolini made the trains run on time," while a false statement, has become a popular cliche used to express the idea that some people will tolerate living under a dictatorship, and ignore terrible things that the dictator is doing, provided that they believe the dictator is doing specific things to improve their lives.

Whereas our current dictator is doing terrible things while also notably failing to do specific things to improve people's lives, hence the juxtaposition of the cliche with the state of our current reality.

[Torchlight]

17. Sounds serious

Good luck

[dalton99a]

5. Kick

[Norrrm]

9. Trump Mussolini Il Douche

Trump Mussolini Il Douche

[LetMyPeopleVote]

10. K&R

[Exp]

14. Hilarious and on POINT! nt

[peppertree]

16. The Rump Regime closely resembles the last Argentine dictatorship (whose coup turned 50 yesterday)

Both were installed with the blessing of local - and international - elites

Both appealed to right-wing snobbery, bigotry, self-righteousness, and vindictiveness

Both were staffed by a motley crew of incompetent fascists, bigots, snobs, and grifters - while their more competent officials were often harassed into quitting

Both relied on financial deregulation, high-income tax cuts, and other elitist economic policy - while imposing harsh austerity on everyone else

Both doted on military budgets while demonizing public employees (though the Argentine regime at least invested heavily in public works)

Both promoted media, as well as business, consolidation - while steering said mergers into the hands of cronies

Both had ample cheerleading by well-financed media lapdogs and clapping seals

Both enjoyed pageantry and parades (though the Argentines didn't have a ballroom built) - and tried to capitalize on athletes' victories

Both persecuted labor unions, academia, the press, lawyers, and dissidents in general

Both were quick to disappear people and quietly set up concentration camps (though the Argentine dictatorship was far more extreme)

Both took to wars to distract from worsening domestic problems

Both left a mountain of new public debt - saddling federal coffers with onerous interest charges for decades

Both derailed economic growth and upward mobility - permanently, in Argentina's case

And both admired Apartheid South Africa, while despising Jimmy Carter

[Wonder Why]

18. THey both lost all their wars.

[Ruby the Liberal]

19. That is excellent. nt