The radical but charismatic Austrian politician named Jörg Haider made the covers of major US news magazines -- along with a US Senator named John McCain (Feb. 14, 2000 TIME; March 13, 2000 Newsweek, international editions).

On Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 1:30 AM local time (7:30 PM Friday Eastern time), Haider lost control of his car while passing. His car rolled several times and although belted in, Haider was killed. This marked the end of a personality who some claimed was on the way to becoming another Hitler.

Jörg Haider was a personal friend of Sadaam Hussein, Muammar Ghadafi and other extremists. His positive statements about Hitler and the Nazis got him into trouble on several occasions, but he had a strong following in Austria and even in the European Union. Many felt he had been setting his sights on more EU influence. He was good looking, athletic and a popular speaker who knew how to work the crowds. Like Hitler, he often held his rousing speeches in beer halls.

This news hit me especially because we lived in Austria for nearly 4 decades and watched political developments there first hand. Jörg Haider's rise to power reminds me in many ways of the rapid political ascent of another politician here in America and I am concerned about the stark similarities that I am observing.