PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

Some of you may have seen documentaries on TV detailing the Nuremberg trails of Nazi war criminals. I watched three installments again the other night and came away with a provocative question.

With Donald Trump, could we be seeing the rise of a Hitler-type figure in our own country?

It is not a new thought, having been raised by a number of political commentators who are worried about the strident and often-racist character of the current presidential campaign, especially by the over-the-top, seemingly irrational comments by Trump.

Consider these perceptions from this person who wants to be a world leader.

• Trump says it’s time for the U.S. to recover from an economic malaise — much like Hitler did to rally the people in 1930s Germany. [In the case of the U.S., the malaise, whatever its characteristics, is not as severe as the conditions in 1930s Germany.

• Trump says he wants to deport all immigrants and build a wall to keep them out — something like Hitler did in blaming the Jews for all of Germany’s troubles, only Hitler and his allies didn’t just deport the Jews…they killed more than six million of them.

• Trump engages in strident criticism of women, the disabled, those who don’t have as much money as he says he does, and various other groups to promote his own ego – much like Hitler did to buttress his standing.

• Trump fails to separate himself from an endorsement by David Duke, the leader of the Ku Klux Klan — which reminds of Hitler aligning himself with racists.

• Trump accepts raised-arm salutes from his followers — much like Hitler with the now infamous “seig heil” salute.

• Trump says he will expect the military to obey his orders, whatever they are, including illegal torture — much like Hitler did in his day.

Speaking of ego, one phrase caught my attention in the part of the Nuremberg documentaries that dealt with Hitler’s number two, Herman Goering. It was this, a description of Goering whose “ideology served an ego.”

Remind you of anyone today as we watch one of the most incredible races for president in my memory, one that features Trump who appeals to the worst instincts in voters?

As I have watched this spectacle, I have found myself wondering how and why many German people remained silent as Hitler rose to power, thus providing at least a silent assent to one of the worst – if not THE worst – crimes against humanity in history.

I, for one, won’t be silent.

[A footnote: Trump’s leading Republican opponent, Ted Cruz, and the two Democrats seeking their party’s nomination, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, are not much better, though none of them conjure up images of Hitler. I don’t intend to for any of them, preferring instead someone will call Americans to live up to a just and tolerant society.]