The right wing had a bonanza when they connected liberalism with communism. The problem was they may have overused the communism thing and people are now tired of it. The conservatives big prediction: Social Security would lead to communism failed, and a new scare word was needed.
Fascism doesn't do it, too many Americans are educated and know that fascism is right wing. Conservatives should pick their scare words with more care.
Yeah it's a pathetic joke at this point. It worked for McCarthy for a few years and pretty much died with him of consumption. Only the underbelly posters who think anybody's taking them seriously on internet message boards are left to tilt at the rhetorical windmills.