First, they discipline their own ranks……then they come after the rest of us.

Conservative radio host Silverman was cut off in mid-broadcast because he had the audacity to not back up Trump uncritically. The Donald has also expressed his displeasure with FOX, Drudge and other right wing media apologists for not being apologetic enough.

This isn’t just reminiscent of the NAZIs, the Communists in Russia during the Revolution were also harsh with fellow socialists who did not follow their Party Line. The same thing happened in Cuba, when Castro attacked his left-wing allies, the Anarchists and the Cuban Communist Party, for not being sufficiently “Revolutionary”. And of course, we all know the bloody history of the French Revolution.

The first thing dictatorial movements do is go after their own allies if they aren’t dependable. They seek to show a united front and to consolidate their movement under one banner. Those who support them look the other way, thankful their ideological allies are on the ascendant, and not realizing their own turn will come soon enough. And of course, their enemies feel comforted by apparent dissension among their opponents. I’m sure you’ve heard the old refrain…”Let them kill each other off, we’ll be able to control whoever winds up on top.” That’s what German Conservatives said about Hitler, and what American Conservatives said about Trump.

When criminal gangs go to war, it does not lead to weakened gangs. It just means the final winner will be all the more powerful. History may not repeat itself, but sometimes the melody is hauntingly familiar.

https://www.npr.org/2019/11/23/782255191/radio-host-says-he-was-fired-for-criticizing-trump