“I alone assume political, moral, and historical responsibility for all that has happened... If Fascism has been a criminal association, then I am the chief of that criminal association...” -- Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, announcing 96 years ago today to the Italian Parliament that democracy would be replaced by his Fascist dictatorship. Mussolini was dogged by corruption investigations when he made his grab for dictatorial power. His modern doppelgänger, desperate demagogue and white supremacist leader Donald "Mango Mussolini" Trump, also faces a host of legal problems once he departs the White (Supremacist) House, as he assuredly will. In the meantime, he would love to replicate Mussolini's assumption of illegitimate power, democracy be damned.
On the eve of Trump's next coup attempt on Wednesday, aided by a seditious crew of unAmerican hacks, we recommend you read this prescient August, 2016 article by Ruth Ben-Ghiat entitled "The American Authoritarian," where she draws striking parallels between Trump's and Mussolini's ascent to power. And Ben-Ghiat's article was written before Trump demonstrated his authoritarian impulses over four years in office.
