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223 comments on Saturday Open Thread

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BOP on April 8, 2006 - 8:10pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top


I seem to recall that Mr. Hitler was elected . . .

 You are incorrect. On March 5, 1933 the last free elections were held in Germany. The people denied Hitler his majority, giving the Nazis only 44 per cent of the total vote despite massive Nazi propaganda and SS/SA intimidation of the electorate.

 Hitler simply proclaimed himself to be above the constitution, commenced unfettered spying on the populace, detained individuals without warrant and spirited them away to remote camps, controlled all information release, appointed himself Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, and manufactured evidence to justify pre-emptive warfare and regime change.

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Jack Greene on April 8, 2006 - 11:30pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
BOP

Yes the Nazi Party had the most seats but did not get a popular majority of the votes (50%+1 vote). This inspite of massive intimidation by the Nazi, Nationalists and the Communist and Socialists. Lots of people were cracking heads back then. The nearest party in popular vote had 18%.

However the Nationalist Party (DNVP) joined in a coalition with the NSDAP which was well over 50%. The Catholic Party later joined to give Hitler the 2/3rds vote he needed to become a dictator "legally."

By this point in time in Germany the center parties were reeling, and the Socialist (SPD) and Commies were the strongest on the hard left, and in a minority.

Link at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_election,_1933

Then Hitler, like Chavez, essentially usurped full power and ended the Weimar Republic. Chavez is an embryonic dictator, albeit one who is popular with the poor of that nation (usually with darker skins) than the middle and upper classes.

What else is interesting is that Germany was the most educated country per capita in 1933 when it freely elected Hitler to lead the nation.

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smekhovo on April 8, 2006 - 11:39pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
"Embryonic dictator" means "I don't like him but I don't have anything on him."
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BOP on April 9, 2006 - 12:34am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top


 And I believe that the USA was the most educated nation on a per capita basis when it elected George II in 2004.


 I do not believe the same can be said for Venezuela.

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ignorad on April 9, 2006 - 1:27am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
you are dreaming
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223 comments on Saturday Open Thread

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