> No, but (I think) the discussion here is around the _potential_ of
> current right extremism as base for a "fascist" movmement should one
> arise. And I think the same could be said for this tendency as it has
> shown itself in the pat. Silver Shirts were a triviality in the '30s,
> but Father Coughlin, for one, was less trivial. No fascist movement of
> substance emerged, but that (small?) core for one did then and, if Chip
> is right, does now.
This is an excellent example but it tends to support Doug's point. Coughlinites did form the potential nucleus of a fascist movement (though it never came close to happening). In fact, there was strong support for the actual fascist movements in Italy and Germany among those ethnic communities in many places in the US in the 30's.
But look at the rhetoric and ideology of Coughlin, and those immigrant pro-fascists. Does it bear the slightest resemblance at all to the Tea Baggers? Coughlin wanted to nationalize the banks, for god's sake. If there were a Father Coughlin today, the Tea Baggers would see him as a major enemy.
SA