It's Jan. 15, 1933 in America: Mitt Romney, An American Hero in Preventing a Trump Putsch

Mitt Romney, the guy who looks like the guy who is in the photo frame you buy at Target, may just be America's most unlikeliest hero. But a hero nonetheless and maybe just in the nick of time. He may be the vanguard of preventing an electoral putsch that destroys American democracy--and America.

Mitt Romney, preventer of a Trump putsch.

Imagine if a German politician of Romney's stature had led the movement to prevent Adolf Hitler from becoming chancellor before January 30, 1933? That's what Mitt did yesterday in Salt Lake City in opposing Donald Trump's nomination as the Republican Presidential candidate.

Yes, the comparison between Trump and Hitler is deliberate.

In 1933, probably no German thought that Hitler would actually attempt to exterminate European Jewry, the disabled, and other groups or plunge the world into the most destructive war in history. But the signs were there. Just read Mein Kampf.

In 2016, no American (at least semi-reasonable Americans) believes Trump would attempt to exterminate Mexicans, Muslims, the handicapped and other groups or plunge the world into nuclear holocaust. But the signs are there. Just listen to most any Trump speech.

Hitler was also democratically elected by the German people. Sometimes tyrants use democracy to subvert it. That is what Trump is doing. He is a demagogue. And Romney coolly and calmly made the case that Trump is not only unqualified to be President, but a clear and present danger to the nation and the world.

Donald Trump sans brown shirt. It's Jan. 15 1933 in America.

Just as Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus during the Civil War, he was not about to let the enemies of the Union use the Constitution to destroy the nation. If the Republican Party needs to change the rules of its convention to prevent an unqualified bigot from being ruining its party and the nation, then damn the "will" of the people.

It's January 15, 1933 in America. Mitt Romney understands that. Some might call him an elitist. But history might call him a patriot if he can prevent a Trump presidency.