We do love our dictators in this country.
You know the historical context for a dictator?
It was a rare occurrence in the Roman Republic (the government they had before there were emperors). Normally they were rule by two consuls and a whole slew of other government officials - and the Roman Senate, which consisted very largely of just about anyone who'd ever had a high position in the Roman government.
But in the case of extreme emergency - it allowed them to appoint a dictator who was granted all authority to address the situation. Say, the Celts were pouring down the peninsula and they needed quick action.
The position was to be occupied for as long as the emergency existed - or six months.
Whichever came FIRST.
It only came to mean authoritarian despot when Sulla tossed out the time limit - and later when Caesar appointed himself dictator for life.
Not the best circumstances.