> the alternative to Trump becoming Hitler is that they have to live out the rest of their lives as confirmed morons.
No, it isn't. If a candidate makes promises that sound a lot like the ones Hitler made ("all of your problems are because of <minority>. We'll get rid of them and make <country> great again") it's reasonable to think that the candidate might follow through with that. If the candidate later sees the light, or is unable to push that agenda for some reason, then that's excellent. Everyone is happy with that and no one looks like a moron, they're just relieved.
> how excited/happy the Trump critics seem to be
Perhaps people are happy that others share their views, that others are willing to stand up for what they feel is right and they're willing to protest on the streets to make it happen. If people saw that everyone around them reacted with apathy, they'd feel the exact opposite.
Maybe what Scott Adams is saying would be easier to swallow if it didn't come right on the heels of this Executive Order, which implements some of the worst things Trump promised on the campaign trail. The Order even has some classic authoritarian hallmarks - a temporary measure until we can "figure out what is going on". Makes it easier to accept for now, but does anyone imagine that on day 57, the White House will experience an epiphany about this that will "solve" the problem they're talking about? No, this measure will be renewed again and again, similar to how Erdogan in Turkey and Maduro in Venezuela renew their "temporary" emergencies.
Coincidentally, Erdogan, Maduro and Trump all promised to return power "to the people".