What were we talkin' about???

From the online Webster’s dictionary:

fas·cism noun
Etymology: Italian fascismo, from fascio bundle, fasces, group, from Latin fascis bundle & fasces fasces
1 often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition2 : a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control

It seems Republicans have a fondness for that term lately. Senator Rick Santorum [R-PA], Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, Vice President Cheney and even President Bush have used the expression in the past few weeks, calling terrorists ‘Islamic fascists.’

It’s a sound tactic.

By using the term ‘fascist’ to describe terror groups, they conjure up images of WWII German and Italian fascist groups and link the terrorists to an ideology regarded as repugnant to almost every American. They also link the war in Iraq to a (comparatively) just war to deter the aggressions of those countries. With the mid-term election only weeks away, they seem to have found a counter to the Democrats’ use of the war as justification for turning out Republicans from Congress.

I doubt the Democrats will have any sort of response. They seem lackluster at best and hopelessly disorganized at worst to mount any sort of challenge to the Republicans. The United States seems to be more and more a country with a one-party system.

Hmmm…that kind of resembles the definition of fascism, doesn’t it? Ah, the irony…