What is the definition of "fascist", and how does that term apply to G.W. Bush?

Main Entry: fas·cism

Pronunciation: 'fa-"shi-z&m also 'fa-"si-

Function: 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 opposition

2 : a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control <early instances of army fascism and brutality -- J. W. Aldridge>

- fas·cist /-shist also -sist/ noun or adjective, often capitalized

- fas·cis·tic /fa-'shis-tik also -'sis-/ adjective, often capitalized

- fas·cis·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb, often capitalized

A lot of people throw labels around even when they don't understand them. I could understand the fascist label in his first term--it seemed like no matter what he did no Republican would question him, and people started treating the Democrat's opposition as if it were unpatriotic, which scared a lot of people--slandering people's patriotism over devisive issues is a stepping stone to dictatorship. He also took some actions in office to solidify his executive powers at the expense of people's privacy. Most who called him fascist were simply afraid he would become one, and that people's freedom would suffer. I don't think it could happen now, especially after the mid-term elections.

Your opinion is correct. The people who are calling President Bush Fascist are just imbeciles.

A fascist is one whose lust for money or power is combined with such an intensity of intolerance toward those of other races, parties, classes, religions, cultures, regions or nations as to make him ruthless in his use of deceit or violence to attain his ends. The supreme god of a fascist, to which his ends are directed, may be money or power; may be a race or a class; may be a military, clique or an economic group; or may be a culture, religion, or a political party.

Fascism is a political ideology and mass movement that seeks to place the nation, defined in exclusive biological, cultural, and/or historical terms, above all other sources of loyalty, and to create a mobilized national community.

I dislike George Bush a lot, but, no, he is not a fascist. The driving force behind his actions have little to do with feelings of superiority over other people. I think he is dedicated to and genuinely believes in his goals of spreading good to the whole world.

Because those people are uneducated idiots.

Bush's policies are decidedly anti-Fascist, and Hitler was a NAZI while Mussolini was the Fascist.

Basically, it's an authoritarian system that is very nationalist, often claiming religion, and attempts to brand all opposition as un-patriotic. the government also tends to merge Government and corporate interests.

Looking at our government now, it fits all of these criteria. there are actually 14 that are often used by scholars, but they basically boil down to those three. If you look at the definition without any sort of bias you will be forced to admit that's about where Bush falls politically.

Bush is alot of things .........but not a fascist according to the strictest definition

Fascists are dictators that use corporate power to solidify themselves in power. Bush is hardly a fascist by that definition. When someone calls him a fascist, they're really saying that he's not upholding the freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution.

By calling anybody a fascist....are in a way calling that person a hitler...

For me its the ultimiate insult to call any american a fascist or hitler..

Even Ed Kennedy (who is the closest to that term),I wouldnt call him that, despite the fact he fits that description much better.