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Trump before Trump - Silivio Berlusconi was maybe the first of the modern populists - a political outsider who used celebrity status and media influence to ente

Trump before Trump - Silivio Berlusconi was maybe the first of the modern populists - a political outsider who used celebrity status and media influence to enter the halls of power, and then proceeded to denigrate the establishment at every opportunity. It's a serious matter that this type of personality finds political favour amongst the people, and that our current systems of governance allow for unserious characters of this type to become paramount leader of an entire country. More of this type to come. Tucker Carlson for President? Jake Paul? Wouldn't bet against either or worse

fatfingerd 3y ago
In history classes in the US, Mussolini is often cast as a minor sidekick of Hitler, but Hitler was following in Mussolini's footsteps but had much greater military capabilities. If history is an indicator then it is hard to exaggerate how bad a new populist strategy originating from Italy may end up being once it infects other nations.
- gpderetta 3y ago
  I'm still surprised that the Comedian-bootstrapped Internet-driven populist party idea hasn't taken a foothold in other countries.
  - pjc50 3y ago
    Arguably that's the Trump version (although he was a gameshow host rather than a comedian).
    - gpderetta 3y ago
      Trump followed the rich tycoon playbook of Berlusconi, I think. He also did work within the framework of existing politics. Grillo wasn't particularly rich and bootstrapped a new party through his internet reach. Although it is possible that Casaleggio was the real mastermind behind it.
      - red-iron-pine 3y ago
        > He also did work within the framework of existing politics. I mean sorta? He didn't have any particular allegiance to one or the other, and famously ran as a Democrat before. He clearly has nothing but distain for either party and is mostly there out of his own ego, or because foreign intelligence was goading him (one way or the other) to.
  - hunglee2 3y ago
    Famously, Zelensky was a comedian and won an election on a populist ticket. I think also Italy had a left wing comedian type become a party political leader. It's happening, Joe Rogan an in independent ticket
  - Apocryphon 3y ago
    Jimmy Dore grinning
- Apocryphon 3y ago
  Well, the Italians invented Rome, after all.
red-iron-pine 3y ago
I could, no joke, see Jake Paul taking a run at it. Tucker C is too compromised from his emails getting leaked and already has the reputation of being a spineless mouthpiece. He'll need more than (foreign) money to run the cursus honorum enough to get legitimacy, i.e. what happened to Sarah Palin.

fatfingerd 3y ago

In history classes in the US, Mussolini is often cast as a minor sidekick of Hitler, but Hitler was following in Mussolini's footsteps but had much greater military capabilities. If history is an indicator then it is hard to exaggerate how bad a new populist strategy originating from Italy may end up being once it infects other nations.

gpderetta 3y ago
I'm still surprised that the Comedian-bootstrapped Internet-driven populist party idea hasn't taken a foothold in other countries.
- pjc50 3y ago
  Arguably that's the Trump version (although he was a gameshow host rather than a comedian).
  - gpderetta 3y ago
    Trump followed the rich tycoon playbook of Berlusconi, I think. He also did work within the framework of existing politics. Grillo wasn't particularly rich and bootstrapped a new party through his internet reach. Although it is possible that Casaleggio was the real mastermind behind it.
    - red-iron-pine 3y ago
      > He also did work within the framework of existing politics. I mean sorta? He didn't have any particular allegiance to one or the other, and famously ran as a Democrat before. He clearly has nothing but distain for either party and is mostly there out of his own ego, or because foreign intelligence was goading him (one way or the other) to.
- hunglee2 3y ago
  Famously, Zelensky was a comedian and won an election on a populist ticket. I think also Italy had a left wing comedian type become a party political leader. It's happening, Joe Rogan an in independent ticket
- Apocryphon 3y ago
  Jimmy Dore grinning
Apocryphon 3y ago
Well, the Italians invented Rome, after all.

red-iron-pine 3y ago

I could, no joke, see Jake Paul taking a run at it. Tucker C is too compromised from his emails getting leaked and already has the reputation of being a spineless mouthpiece. He'll need more than (foreign) money to run the cursus honorum enough to get legitimacy, i.e. what happened to Sarah Palin.