> But if Hitler’s “powers of fascination” were not the key to his success, what were the keys? Arendt doesn’t say here, but one factor seems apparent: a receptive audience.
Also the principal's interest in *using* his power to serve his own ambitions, no? Here I suppose H. was *more* ambitious than T., although there are people who want to use the latter to serve *their* ambitions
I think that Hitler was more politically ambitious than Trump, and smarter, too, in the sense that he had some knowledge of German history and held strategic aspirations. (See John Lukacs, THE HITLER OF HISTORY.) Trump is lazy and ignorant, but now he's highly motivated, as he sees a return to the presidency as a get-out-of-jail-free card. And, despite all the Cassandras abroad (your truly included), Trump still seems to find buyers for his patent medicine. He does have an amazing reptilian intelligence; he identifies just the right nerves to tap to further his cause (himself). And, yes, toadies and minions abound in the form of ideologues and fellow grifters (and some, say Bannon, hold both titles).
> But if Hitler’s “powers of fascination” were not the key to his success, what were the keys? Arendt doesn’t say here, but one factor seems apparent: a receptive audience.
Also the principal's interest in *using* his power to serve his own ambitions, no? Here I suppose H. was *more* ambitious than T., although there are people who want to use the latter to serve *their* ambitions
David,
I think that Hitler was more politically ambitious than Trump, and smarter, too, in the sense that he had some knowledge of German history and held strategic aspirations. (See John Lukacs, THE HITLER OF HISTORY.) Trump is lazy and ignorant, but now he's highly motivated, as he sees a return to the presidency as a get-out-of-jail-free card. And, despite all the Cassandras abroad (your truly included), Trump still seems to find buyers for his patent medicine. He does have an amazing reptilian intelligence; he identifies just the right nerves to tap to further his cause (himself). And, yes, toadies and minions abound in the form of ideologues and fellow grifters (and some, say Bannon, hold both titles).