This is all too familiar, isn't it? In 1931, journalist Dorothy Thompson interviewed Hitler and declared that, rather than “the future dictator of Germany” she had expected to meet, he was a man of “startling insignificance.” She asked him if he would “abolish the constitution of the German Republic.” He answered: “I will get into power legally” and, once in power, abolish the parliament and the constitution and “found an authority-state, from the lowest cell to the highest instance; everywhere there will be responsibility and authority above, discipline and obedience below.” She did not believe he could succeed: “Imagine a would-be dictator setting out to persuade a sovereign people to vote away their rights,” she wrote in apparent astonishment. “No people ever recognize their dictator in advance…. He always represents himself as the instrument for expressing the Incorporated National Will. When Americans think of dictators they always think of some foreign model. If anyone turned up here in a fur hat, boots and a grim look he would be recognized and shunned…. But when our dictator turns up, you can depend on it that he will be one of the boys, and he will stand for everything traditionally American.” ~ Dorothy Thompson, 1937
{listener} Lucy Maud Montgomery’s book Rilla of Ingleside takes place in WWI; the book begins by describing ordinary life (on Prince Edward Island, Canada), then the news comes that the Archduke Ferdinand has been assassinated and everything changes suddenly.
listener---- this story at least seems to have started in your neck of the woods: Drunk Vermonter Arrested In Canada - Didn’t Know He’d Left the US [Click] A quick check on Google Maps shows two or three presumably minor bridge crossings between Montreal and Cobden. ——Alan
Turns out there is also a Kingston, Vermont (I'd never heard of it) a bit east of Middlebury. Milton is about an hour north of Middlebury. Montreal is more than an hour north of Milton. I think there must be somewhere else the bridge took him. But, honestly, he had to have known he wasn't in Vermont anymore. The lay of the land is different, and he would have had to cross through border patrol. If he was driving a vehicle, he couldn't have slipped through quietly. Maybe they'll discover he has some memory or mental issues?
Google Maps shows two apparently secondary roads crossing the river between Montreal and Kingston (Ontario). I wonder if he might have crossed without benefit of a road, thereby explaining the flat tires. Maybe Vermont Digger will elucidate the matter. -----Alan
All this politicking going on elsewhere in the country seems rather strange, since I voted about three weeks ago, and one would hardly know there is a presidential election under way here. I have seen a few signs for county supervisor and city council members, as well as a few for bond issues, but that's about it. -----Alan
This is all too familiar, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteIn 1931, journalist Dorothy Thompson interviewed Hitler and declared that, rather than “the future dictator of Germany” she had expected to meet, he was a man of “startling insignificance.” She asked him if he would “abolish the constitution of the German Republic.” He answered: “I will get into power legally” and, once in power, abolish the parliament and the constitution and “found an authority-state, from the lowest cell to the highest instance; everywhere there will be responsibility and authority above, discipline and obedience below.” She did not believe he could succeed: “Imagine a would-be dictator setting out to persuade a sovereign people to vote away their rights,” she wrote in apparent astonishment.
“No people ever recognize their dictator in advance…. He always represents himself as the instrument for expressing the Incorporated National Will. When Americans think of dictators they always think of some foreign model. If anyone turned up here in a fur hat, boots and a grim look he would be recognized and shunned…. But when our dictator turns up, you can depend on it that he will be one of the boys, and he will stand for everything traditionally American.”
~ Dorothy Thompson, 1937
Read the whole article here:
HCR
I remember reading an essay (or part of a book?) about how utterly normal things were in Italy the day before the country entered WWII.
Delete----Alan
{listener}
DeleteLucy Maud Montgomery’s book Rilla of Ingleside takes place in WWI; the book begins by describing ordinary life (on Prince Edward Island, Canada), then the news comes that the Archduke Ferdinand has been assassinated and everything changes suddenly.
Mega Meteorite tore up seabed and boiled Earth’s oceans
ReplyDelete^ {listener}
DeleteWell, there is that, I suppose. But I should still prefer a Democratic landslide election.
Delete-----Alan
🤣
Delete
ReplyDeleteRussian Oligarch Falls from Window [Click]
—Alan
He met with "some unfortunate accident."
DeleteI am reminded of the Russian oligarch who tied himself into a patio chair and then hopped into the swimming pool.
Delete------Alan
Republicans express alarm that Texas execution nearly went ahead [Click]
ReplyDelete—Alan
ReplyDeleteRudy Giuliani must give control of luxury items and Manhattan apartment to Georgia election workers he defamed, judge rules
Michael Popok video: Latest on Freeman and Moss vs. Giuliani [Click] Stay tuned; more to come, but this is pretty good.
Delete——Alan
listener---- this story at least seems to have started in your neck of the woods:
ReplyDeleteDrunk Vermonter Arrested In Canada - Didn’t Know He’d Left the US [Click] A quick check on Google Maps shows two or three presumably minor bridge crossings between Montreal and Cobden.
——Alan
Make that between Montreal and Kingston.
Delete-----Alan
Montreal and Kingston are both in Canada. I can't imagine where he crossed into Canada.
DeleteTurns out there is also a Kingston, Vermont (I'd never heard of it) a bit east of Middlebury. Milton is about an hour north of Middlebury. Montreal is more than an hour north of Milton. I think there must be somewhere else the bridge took him. But, honestly, he had to have known he wasn't in Vermont anymore. The lay of the land is different, and he would have had to cross through border patrol. If he was driving a vehicle, he couldn't have slipped through quietly. Maybe they'll discover he has some memory or mental issues?
DeleteGoogle Maps shows two apparently secondary roads crossing the river between Montreal and Kingston (Ontario). I wonder if he might have crossed without benefit of a road, thereby explaining the flat tires. Maybe Vermont Digger will elucidate the matter.
Delete-----Alan
If he crossed without benefit of a road, then he definitely knew what he was doing.
DeleteBTW, tomorrow's front page photo was set long before this story happened!
DeleteJust your psychic powers in action, listener.
Delete-----Alan
All this politicking going on elsewhere in the country seems rather strange, since I voted about three weeks ago, and one would hardly know there is a presidential election under way here. I have seen a few signs for county supervisor and city council members, as well as a few for bond issues, but that's about it.
ReplyDelete-----Alan