Several examples from the history of the last century — with particular clarity in the Spanish Revolution and the rise of Nationalist Francisco Franco — follow a pattern.  Communists made inroads and proved themselves to be such immoral, disruptive radicals that even fascists seemed preferable to ordinary people.

Modern Democrats in the United States know themselves to be engaged in a Communist revolution.  They know themselves to be imposing radical change by any means necessary, regardless of the preferences of the electorate.  And so they expect a populist fascist to be the result.

But the Trump Era differs in two important ways.  First, as in so much else, America is exceptional, in the strict sense that it is an exception to historical rules.  Just as our “conservatives” want to conserve classic liberalism, our populists want to return to representative democracy and individual freedom.

Second, Communism has metastasized, merging socialism and fascism to run the table for totalitarianism.  The radicals absorbed the fascists, and there is no opposing totalitarianism.  All that remains is the victory of either Democrat totalitarians or the ippsupporters of freedom.