The NASCAR Nazi

[kalian]

http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/04/38/lost-washburn.php

am about to offend some of you by using the N word. I know it is a word so laden with emotion and historical horror that it should not be used lightly. But sometimes no other word gets the point across.

Nazi.

That’s right, I’m adding my voice to the other hysterical-seeming Americans who are likening the current White House administration to Germany’s grim men in gray.

You know that I don’t like George W. Bush and his crew. I think he is the worst president in our nation’s history. Maybe Andrew Johnson was worse, I don’t know, but he didn’t live in a time when his bad decisions could imperil our democracy and the stability of the world. Bush does.

But a Nazi? Bush would have to go a ways to even begin approximating the horrors of Saddam Hussein, let alone Hitler. But so many of what we could call "Nazi precursors" have been adopted by his administration that it warrants a hard look before the coming election, lest we all wake one day to the sound of goose-stepping.

...more...

Good editorial...

[wtmusic]

1. This op-ed is a classic

http://www.thomhartman.com/democracyfailed.shtml

[kalian]

2. Thanks for the post

[yorgatron]

3. i don't get the NASCAR connection

nor is it explained in the article.

[Avalon Sparks]

4. Still a great read!

He didn't explain the connection - but I get kinda get it.

This is a great OP-ED IMO to send to friends and family, but if I did, I would actually just remove the word Nascar from the piece.

I enjoyed reading it.

[FizzFuzz]

5. I'm kinda reading the NASCAR reference as a description

of the sentiments Bush appeals to. You know the stereotype-unsophisticated, not given to analysis, likes macho crap, white christian america. Like Smirk himself (except without the power or money).

[teryang]

6. Good article

Particularly in agreement with the point of view in both posts.

I differ on the Reichstag fire however. According to Shirer, "...there is enough evidence to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that it was the Nazis who planned the arson and carried it out for their own political ends." Van der Lubbe was a Nazi dupe, who had been taken into custody a few days earlier by the SA.

"The coincidence that the Nazis had found a demented Communist arsonist who was out to do exactly what they themselves had determined to do seems incredible but is nevertheless supported by the evidence." Shirer, P192 Rise and Fall.

Goering had access to the Reichstag from his quarters. Karl Ernst the Berlin SA leader used the tunnel to enter the Reichstag and set the fires. Testimony at Nuremberg was that Goering admitted setting the fires at Hitler's birthday celebration in 1942.

Trial of the communist leadership who were charged with conspiracy to burn the Reichstag resulted in acquittals after Goerings unbelievable performance upon cross examination. Van der Lubbe was found guilty and (interestingly enough) was "decapitated." Shire 192-194. Frankly, I have studied this period and wasn't aware of any serious controversy over this point. More recent scholarship, such as that of Peter Padfield, agrees with the Shirer description of events.