By Richard Cohen
December 5 at 7:21 PM
Last week on MSNBC’s “All In with Chris Hayes,” a guest mentioned the new unmentionable: Weimar. The guest was Bob Garfield, a liberal media critic, and he was discussing Donald Trump. Hayes was mildly disapproving of the reference. “I tend to stay away from Weimar comparisons for a variety of reasons,” he said. That would make sense if only Trump himself did not constantly bring them to mind.
I must stop right here to emphasize what I will not be saying. I will not be calling Trump a fascist. I will not be saying he’s an anti-Semite because, manifestly, he is not. I will not be smearing him with the clear bigotry of some of his supporters, although I fault him for not slapping down the haters with more energy. Still, the reference to Weimar is apt, not because Trump is another Hitler but because the United States might be another Germany.
Weimar is the charming German city that gave its name to the parliamentary democracy that was created following World War I and which Hitler crushed in 1933. It was never a robust democracy, but it nevertheless was the government of Europe’s most important — and, in many ways, advanced — country. Berlin in the early 1930s was a tolerant and liberal city. Many a Hollywood filmmaker got a start in Berlin. I cite Billy Wilder — “Some Like It Hot,” “Double Indemnity,” “Sunset Boulevard” — for one.
In a relative snap of the fingers, all that changed. Weimar’s intellectuals, artists, actors, writers, architects (Bauhaus) and others fled. The precipitating event was, of course, Hitler’s appointment as German chancellor. That was Jan. 30, 1933. Almost exactly a month later, the German parliament building, the Reichstag, was consumed by fire. A Dutch communist, Marinus van der Lubbe, was accused of setting it. (He was subsequently guillotined.) Hitler, declaring a vast communist threat, asked President Paul von Hindenburg for emergency powers. He got them. He kept them until he died.
Here is the relevance of Weimar. Trump has shown a daunting disregard or ignorance of the Constitution and of law. Regarding the use of torture, he has said that the military must follow his orders — even if they are illegal. More recently, he declared that flag-burning should be a crime and that flag burners be punished by “perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail.” The remark was one of his off-the-cuff inanities — since 1989, flag-burning has been protected political speech, and citizenship, we’d like to think, is forever. The tweet — so few words, so much meaning — spoke to Trump’s abysmal lack of knowledge but, more important, contained an emotional truth. Trump despises dissent and often reacts emotionally to setbacks or challenges.
Now, ask yourself what might happen if there were a huge terrorist incident on American soil. Might this man of little knowledge and no restraint attempt to suspend civil liberties? (After all, even Abraham Lincoln did.) His instinctive reaction to flag-burning was all wrong. In addition, he holds the Nixonian view that the law is what he says it is. The courts have time and time again ruled otherwise.
Yet, I wonder if a compliant Congress and an even more compliant American people would balk at giving Trump any emergency power he seeks. His election was a stunner — an eruption of anger and resentment that is putting an epochally unqualified man in the White House. So great was the urge to trash the status quo that Trump’s lying, bragging, cheating, insulting and breathtaking ignorance did not disqualify him. Indeed, his very unsuitableness for the presidency immensely credentialed him. He is loved by many because he is loathed by others.
Already Trump has brought the Republican Party to heel with even his most vociferous critics — Mitt Romney, for instance — willing to discuss a Cabinet post. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan speaks of Trump as if he’s just had a chat with Ben Franklin — some good ideas, and let bygones be bygones — but this passivity is actually good. Trump needs to be surrounded by political adults. Sooner or later, someone’s going to have to throw a pitcher of cold water in his face. (Watch the hair!)
I have too much faith in America and its institutions to think that Weimar is the future. It is, however, a warning, not something that shouldn’t be discussed, but something that should be mulled. The differences between Weimar Germany and contemporary America are significant but so, increasingly, are the similarities.
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Replies
These nitwits try to insult you for selling cars to make money. That must really sting- I'd bet most all of them have bought a used car.
Since the usual suspects are cowards, we have no idea what they do, other than provoke and post memes. Very little original, intelligent and educated opinions. Nothing but a band of trolls. Pathetic at best. Consumers of fake news.
My first post mentioned no names and no insults, but leave it up to gato to attack me personally. He knows nothing else- certainly not an intelligent opinion. I would bet these jokers all graduated from The Trump University of Insults. That's all they got. Certainly not educated/informed opinions.
Ester's OP in this forum nailed it, but some folks can't handle the truth.
Makes me count my blessings. I too could be an idiot.
"Makes me count my blessings. I too could be an idiot."
Kelvin you are. There is my rejoinder.
There are no intelligent or educated opinions in anything you post just your Alt Left communistic dreams.
Like fidel's jeep they don't work.
The Fantasy fools who have been dominating this Forum with politics and other subject matter unrelated to Boquete or Panama, are ensuring that .ning will continue to diminish as a "Boquete social forum", and by doing so, they're selfishly depriving the community of a valuable resource.
Esther some of us have lives and dont troll all day.
That's all you got? I'm more concerned about voter repression and income equality. Not to mention the upcoming tax cuts for the rich. America, the land of slow learners.
Fake news is the new trend, as if Fox, Limbaugh, et al, weren't bad enough. Some folks will believe anything.
As far as accomplishments, Obama inherited an economy on the brink, and left it with the lowest unemployment in nine years.
Clinton's first month in office, the unemployment rate was 7.3 percent. By December 2000, it was 3.9.
Obama's first month in office, the unemployment rate was 7.8 percent. By last month, it was 4.6.
Fact checkers got to-
http://www.factcheck.org/2016/07/obamas-numbers-july-2016-update/
Accomplishments? Obamacare would have been successful if he'd not compromised with the repubs, allowing the profiteering insurance companies in. If he'd stood up for single payer (Medicare for all), and regulations on BigPharma, it would be a different story.
After six years the repubs still don't have a healthcare plan of their own- just a slogan. "Repeal and replace". Six years is a long time to come up with an alternative. Replace with what?
I can hear crickets.
These post election Trump rallies are reminiscent of the 1930's.
"Just when I think I'm done with these forums, someone says something too stupid to go undisputed."
Kelvin why so angry? Is it because the jeep broke down carrying your hero fidel? How fitting an end for a communist. They should have put him under the rock instead of in it.
The unemployment rate is a sham and has been since obamer removed people who gave up looking for work. The labor participation rate is the lowest since 1978.
Obama care sucks and was designed to force single payer but alas HRC didnt WIN.
There is a replacement plan in the congress.
Didn't Barry keep campaigning for two years after the election? he is still out there trying to convince people how great he is and nothing is his fault.
It is a beautiful day in Boquete go out and enjoy it.
Labor Participation Rate
for fuc_'s sake, leave it alone and go somewhere else.
Are you still selling cars? Been out of touch.
Gee, I agree. Its enough already........
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