One more shoe has dropped in the Hasan Piker saga.
One more shoe has dropped in the Hasan Piker saga (by the time this is finished, we’re gonna need Zappos’ entire inventory). It seems that some Democrats have convinced themselves that Piker’s entire existence is evidence of a global conspiracy to destroy the Democrat Party.
A workable basic outline of the theory can be found in this clip, courtesy of Asmongold. The stated thesis is: “Imagine your goal is to ratf**k the Democratic Party and American democracy as much as possible.” Details follow: The plot was triggered by Piker’s “rich uncle” who “owns a media company” (this apparently refers to Cenk Uygur). The goal is to “target left-leaning audiences” and move them to “anti-left views” in order to hamper “electoralism, activism, and even the social inclusive values” of the party.
And what is the major force behind the conspiracy, the unmoved mover that sits in darkness and moves all the pieces one after another? Why, of course, it’s China (I mean, what would any conspiracy theory be worth without the Chinese?), which is “counting on” Piker to….
Wreck the Democrat Party? Really? Are you sure?
The critical thing here is not the plausibility of the theory itself, which, for obvious reasons, hovers just above zero. It’s the fact that the theory is making the rounds at all, and has convinced some Democrats. Any organization or system that has gone unstable and has slipped into a tailspin eventually goes through a phase in which the membership, ill-informed and very likely being lied to by their leaders, begins relying on conspiracy theories to provide an explanation as to why things have gone wrong. It occurred in France in the early days of the revolution, and in Russia just before the Romanovs were overthrown. It generally happens very late in the day, when rationality has been all but abandoned and the rank and file are grasping at straws. It’s a sign of desperation at best.
It’s interesting that these theories have targeted Piker. It clearly shows how little he’s trusted by the people he claims to speak for. It calls to mind the story of the revolutionary lounging in a Paris café in 1848 who sees a shouting, agitated mob running past and races out after them saying, “I have to get in front of them! I’m their leader!”
Only in this case, the mob has turned around and is chasing Piker.
And just think – it’s still only August. Another two and a half months until the election.
THE ARTFUL DILETTANTE 