[ExI] why not stalin?

[ddraig@pobox.com]

On Monday, 19 October 2026, <spike at rainier66.com> wrote:

>
> because Stalin came to power via the Communist Party, Trump came to power
> via personal popularity.  I think the description of the Trump presidency
> as Bonapartist are probably the descriptions that most fit the current
> situation.
>
>
>
> You may be right Dwayne, but perhaps half of the Yanks never heard of
> Bonaparte and not one in ten teenagers who have.  I know he was a French
> Revolution guy but even I, a history hipster, don’t know if he was a good
> guy or a bad guy.  Which was he please?
>
>

I'm talking about Napoleon. Revolutionary  military commander who was
elected Emperor because he was incredibly popular,  and pretty much
everyone wanted him to run the country. But he didn't head a political
party,  so the moment he was no longer in charge his government
evaporated.  Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Mussolini were all part of political
parties,  whereas Napoleon was just one very charismatic dude.

Dwayne


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