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Hasan be like "Dont organize into a 3rd party, instead work inside the Genocide Party and change them from the inside"
(hexbear.net)
https://x.com/socialistadri/status/2051361245664555385
HASAN CHATTER: “but people like Platner are the same people who killed almost 200 little girls in an Iranian school”
HASAN PIKER: “I don’t care”
Am I wrong that the yanks are so cooked that Hasan is still undeniably a good presence in their politics? The guy has gotten fairly close to normalizing the idea of "America deserved 9/11 for its imperialism," if not just getting it broadcast wide and loud.
I'm a cynic when it comes to American politics, and that informs my view of Hasan in terms of weighing up his good vs his bad. From where I'm standing, he's spreading the good tankie word, which is undeniably good. His bad is that his reformist politics will get yanks nowhere. I think it's a fair trade off.
t. guy who doesn't watch streamers, all of my hasan knowledge is osmosis
I think the same way, and I expected the likes of Hasan not to lecture about Graham Plattner and Tucker Carlson. Fuck me I guess.
i'm on the opposite end of the consumption spectrum here and you've pretty much got it bang on. i think his "reformist politics" are overstated. his role is raising consciousness and informing, not getting candidates elected. he's supported candidates who are exclusively opposed by and funded against by the democratic party. they're aren't socialist, but in his broader commentary and established political project, the point isn't to try and magically socialize the democratic party: the goal is to try and help elect people that want to end the genocide, and that they tend to be great mouthpieces for the failed neoliberalist democratic party is all the better.
It is also a very good thing if the people he boosts get crushed by the establishment (either before or after getting elected).
The idea that voting harder will resolve issues needs to be destroyed in the minds of american liberals (and this is partially underway). If there is a better way of propagandizing it than just outright demonstrating it, then I guess I wish someone would inform me about that. Explaining theory doesn't work at scale.
It is also important to keep in mind that Hasan is a figurehead propagandist for the US American Left. His audience is growing with the mainstream coverage, and these people are varely-deconstructed liberals. He would not have his platform (which is valuable to our movement) if he didnt channel his call to action toward things that are easily digestible. "Vote against Zionist/AIPAC candidates -> get involved with their campaigns -> organize outside of the electoral system (start a union, join DSA/PSL)" is a straightforward way to activate his large audience. Over the course of several years it will generate thousands of left-wing leaders who will be equipped (from their experience and education) for more advanced tactics.
It is a shame that this is the most prominent left figure available, but PSL are not yet up to the task. At the same time, Hasan's prominence could lead to that (or something that is equivalently effect).
100%. i agree with your analysis entirely.
to that point, i've always appreciated his willingness to work with bt news and code pink, two of the media organizations that are often considered PSL-affiliated.