Is "President" Bush a fascist?

Question

According to wikipedia:
"Fascism is a radical totalitarian political philosophy that combines elements of corporatism, authoritarianism, extreme nationalism, militarism, anti-anarchism, anti-communism and anti-liberalism."

actually "FAQ" how can you call fascism more socialistic when fascism is defined as anti-communistic and anti-liberal?

Answer 1

Yes, George W. BOOsh is - indeed - a fascist. Then again, a fascist dictator would be nothing without his loyal group of followers that include fundamentalists, and many members of the Republican Party (as well as some right-wing "Democrats" that support BOOsh's actions through their votes in Congress).

Reading how fascists have risen to power in the past, the similarities to BOOsh's rise is freightening at the least. There are historically "14 Points of Fascism". BOOsh's policies fit hand in hand with every last one of them.

To the blinded individual that ignorantly claimed that Fascists have to be Socialists: Benito Mussolini - former leader of Italy during WW2 - once said: "Fascism should be called Corporatism". Who better to know than a fellow Fascist Dictator? What makes socialism more corporate than a Fascist operated and perverted version of Capitalism? There is no logic in your ill-informed claim.

14 Points of Fascism (from linked site):

1) Powerful and Continuing Nationalism: Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

2) Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights: Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

3) Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause: The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

4) Supremacy of the Military: Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

5) Rampant Sexism: The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.

6) Controlled Mass Media: Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

7) Obsession with National Security: Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses

8) Religion and Government are Intertwined: Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

9) Corporate Power is Protected: The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

10) Labor Power is Suppressed: Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

11) Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts: Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.

12) Obsession with Crime and Punishment: Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations

13) Rampant Cronyism and Corruption: Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

14) Fraudulent Elections: Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

After all that I have shared with you here, I must close with this last quote from an ex-president: James Madison: "If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of a foreign enemy."

Answer 2

By definition of the term, yes.

Another definition, from the Princeton dictionary:

Fascist: someone who advocates a right-wing authoritarian hierarchical government (as opposed to democracy or liberalism).

And Sean (above) is correct. Fascist is the opposite of liberal. To be liberal is to support liberty and personal freedom, and to believe that individual rights are more important than government controls.

Answer 3

Only if you take such a loose view of the word that it would also apply to Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, and Ted Kennedy.

Calling President Bush a fascist is just as silly and juvenile as the conservatives who call Sen. Clinton a communist. The man actively encourages legal immigration into this country. His economic outlook is closer to liberal Keynesianism than anything fascistic. How many industries has Bush nationalized? Not too many. You can cite election "irregularities", but as of yet Bush still hasn't seized power for himself or called off elections. Hell, the man regularly obeys the Supreme Court when they overturn his actions.

According to Wikipedia, "Socialism refers to a broad array of doctrines or political movements that envisage a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to social control." Well, most of the Democratic Party believe in SOME level of social control of property and wealth distribution (progressive income taxation, inheritance taxes, wetlands preservation), so does that make them socialists?

Answer 4

Reading your definition, Fascism doesn't sound that bad because it sounds the opposite of Liberal. A political party with nuts to back it up.

Answer 5

NO!!! If you want to know what a fascist is, go to North Korea, Iran, Syria, Pakistan, Red China, or any other country of your choice.

Answer 6

Bush is the spokesperson for the RNC. Don't build more into it than it is.

Go big Red Go

Answer 7

no, he is a social conservative but not a facist. and his economical views are very captalistic and facism is often pulled to the socialist side(but not socialist)

Answer 8

yep, Bush is a Fascist for sure

Answer 9

yes100°/°Bush is a fascist from a long time ago

Answer 10

By that definition, I think everyone would be facists. Relax.