#fishhook theory

[odinsblog]

The closer it gets to Election Day in the U.S., the more the talking points of authoritarian Republicans and tankies converge, and the harder it becomes to differentiate between them (source)

[brasskingfisher]

Radfems, MRAs and convergent evolution

A weird thought that came to me recently is how extremist radfems and FARTs basically support the exact same social philosophy and attitudes of these right wing extremists, despite their seemingly opposing positions. And I honestly can't think of a better example of convergent evolution (where two or more separate organisms individually develop near identical traits) or fishhook theory (where you divert so far from the initial idea you loop back around to the opposing side).

[nerdjpg]

Fishhooks...Horseshoes ... these political theories Just remind me I don’t have a dad

[odinsblog]

Replace Biden’s name with Trump

[odinsblog]

I’m just remembering how hard and long Nancy Pelosi fought against impeaching Trump, and how she went with the lightest narrowest charges, and how she flatly refuses to go for another impeachment of Trump, even though he has flagrantly broken dozens and dozens of laws ... and then to see how she just doesn’t want to impeach any Republican president.

This shit is a game to her.

Pelosi admitted - even with proof that George Bush lied America into it’s longest war in history, Pelosi feels like we gotta play by the rules and make sure we don’t upset too many delicate conservative voters.. (FishHook Theory)

Like WTF??

Is Mitch McConnell bad?? YES!

Does Mitch McConnell need to go? HELL YES.

But if McConnell and Bush and Trump are all bad (and they are), then what exactly does that make Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi? Their allies? Co-conspirators? Enablers?? Accomplices before during and after the fact?? 

Idk, but if that’s “Democratic” “leadership” then who needs Republicans?

They’re too busy a) rehabilitating George Bush’s image b) chasing after conservative voters, and c) bending over backwards to appear “fair and balanced” to Republicans —but LOL, not to progressives.

HOW THE HELL DO YOU NOT WANT TO IMPEACH GEORGE W. BUSH? STILL? WHEN YOU KNEW HE WAS LYING US INTO A WAR?? AGAINST PEOPLE WHO HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SEPTEMBER 11TH??

[odinsblog]

i have a probably stupid question, but i hear fishhook theory mentioned a lot without really seeming to mean the same thing every time. Can you point me towards a quick overview of what it actually means?

[re: this post]

@red--thedragon Not a stupid question. This is a quick answer that I put together on mobile. It’s not the gospel, but I think it answers your question (mostly).

The Fish Hook theory states that centrists and the far-right (so-called moderates) are in-fact very close on the political spectrum.

The Fish Hook theory was created in response to the “Horseshoe” theory, which (falsely) equates the far-left with the far-right, despite both sides having fundamentally opposing beliefs.

Fish Hook theory basically says that when centrists compromise and allow the far-right to preach their beliefs, they help empower the far-right to grow greater, and lead to the rise of fascism.

Again, Fish Hook theory suggests that “moderate” centrists work in unison with the far right and help move acceptable political discourse (aka, the Overton Window) further and further to the political right, and pave the way for fascism. Fish Hook Theory says that moderate centrists and Republicans are part of the same problem.

The United States does not have a left wing party that fundamentally opposes the right wing.

More simply put: Centrism (sometimes called neoliberalism, triangulation, or Clintonism) will necessarily enable political right and the rise of inequality, corporatism, and fascism - due to centrists’ excessive tolerance and incessant willingness to “reach across the aisle” and compromise with even hard core Republicans.

Related articles:

https://theweek.com/articles/755549/time-abandon-horseshoe-theory

and

https://progressivearmy.com/2017/10/08/fish-hook-theory-real/

and, a very useful primer here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Democrats?wprov=sfti1

[odinsblog]

So this is one of the people MSNBC loves to elevate, pass the mic to, and basically parade around as an example of a “good” Republican? The guy who helped the GOP unleash Sarah Palin on American politics? And remember David Brock, the Republican who lied on, and tried to slut sham Anita Hill? LOL, he’s yet *another* DNC surrogate, fundraiser, and trusted Clinton/DNC/DCCC insider.

https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/27/us/book-author-says-he-lied-his-attacks-anita-hill-bid-aid-justice-thomas.html

LMAO, centrist Dems STAY tryna rehabilitate Republicans, even as they’re busy attacking progressives. Republicans and corporate Democrats are allies united against a common foe: actual progressives. Establishment Democrats love Republicans and “ex” Republicans more than their own progressive base.

Not even a week after her victory, and the allegedly “liberal” network has already started attacking Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. This is just mud slinging by centrists. It’s corporate Dems trying to push their hopelessly flawed “horseshoe theory”. Remember, it was centrist Democrats—not Republicans—who coined the phrase “alt-left” so that they could create a false equivalence with the alt-right.

Remember kids: “centrists are 50 percent Republican and 25 percent ‘former’ Republican” and that’s 75 percent too much Republican for me.

Alexandria Osasio-Cortez is against literally EVERYTHING Trump represents. It’s journalistic malpractice to suggest that they’re even remotely the same. Republicans and centrist Democrats teaming up on cable tv to attack Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is proof that the Fishhook theory is a lot more accurate than the Horseshoe theory.

I’m glad Ocasio kicked their sorry ass old white guy, Joseph what’s-his-face, down the stairs.

[odinsblog]

Centrists = 50% Republicans + 25% “formerly” Republicans + 24% Status Quo Advocates + 1% Incrementalism