text: Mark Twain said: “History doesn’t repeat, but it rhymes”. 
  
  It’s premature & excessive to brand the Trump phenomena fascism (or Trump & the contending factions in & on the margins of the GOP as quasi-fascist).  It is reasonable, however, to assert that:
  
  1. Significant segments of US society are frustrated, anxious & angry with personal prospects & for their country & thus open to charismatic, deeply reactionary populism buttressed by violent measures & unrestrained by respect for legal norms;
  
  2. Internal GOP dynamics rewards demagogues that can mobilize that reactionary passion; &
  
  3. Thus, the shambolic Trump & GOP faction circus, the increasing licence they & their supporters give to police street violence & to exclusion & persecution of minorities etc. sets a pattern that could in the near future be exploited by a well led, clear-eyed, purposeful, truly fascist movement & leader.