Book by Milton Mayer

Review by Thom Hartmann, originally published at buzzflash.com on November 7, 2005.

"They Thought They Were Free" is an intensely personal book for me. Although I was born after Hitler was five years dead, the horrible dance between fascism and democracy has fascinated me since childhood. And, through a series of odd coincidences, my adult life has been heavily intertwined with those of both Nazis and the victims of Hitler's Nazis.

In the week-and-a-half since election day, there's been a lot of talk about where Democrats need to go next.

Hillary Clinton's loss to Donald Trump was probably the most crushing defeat in Democratic Party history - and a lot of progressives think that they now need to resist the incoming administration at all costs.

Just a few weeks ago, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan was the most miserable man in Washington.

Hillary Clinton looked like a shoo-in to win the presidential election - and polls showed that Republicans were in serious danger of losing control of the Senate - and maybe even the House.

But today the Speaker couldn't be happier.

Donald Trump has promised to "drain the swamp" if elected president - but if his transition team is any indication, he's already swimming in it.

The people Donald Trump has now picked to help him prepare for his move to the White House are the exact same people he railed against his entire campaign.