Definitions are getting mangled here -- Naziism is not identical with Fascism, and what Italy experienced under Il Duce was more than just fascism. In other words:

NOUN: 1. often Fascism a. A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism. b. A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government. 2. Oppressive, dictatorial control.

Now, it is true that locking citizens up without bail or trial is not the whole of Fascism, and that threatening to put Christian moral codes into the constititution is not the whole of fascism although it can be said to constitute suppression of the opposition through censorship.

But I think what is being offered here is that the seeds are of the same flavor. When our President starts asserting he has been given a Divine mission he is pushing awful close to the rationalizations used by those Germans who stamped Gott Mit Uns on their helmets, and those Japanese who were sure they were riding a Divine Wind. (Another excellent reason to keep religous matters out of political ones).

A