I wish they would stop referring to these people as far-left or far-right politicians. The only reason they're associated with the left or right is because that happens to be in Russia's interest at any given moment and place. Russian agent or stooge or parrot or puppet is the correct description - OK, maybe something a little less prejudicial, like lobbyist.
If someone who would probably not otherwise belong in politics gets far on the coat tails of a bot or troll or paid influence or organized crime operation, the rest of society should cooperate to isolate them from the political forces they're trying to co-opt, whether we agree with them or not.
I suspect this is the primary reason why horseshoe theory is a thing.
But unless I’m missing something here it’s not some equal far left / far right issue.
It’s an issue with what seems to be exclusively far right parties who are getting caught one after another as a part of this ongoing investigation of operating on behalf of Russia where they are finding very clear money trails and communication records proving it.
So in that context, mentioning where specifically in the political spectrum this is happening is actually very relevant.
It doesn't matter if it's just one end of the spectrum. By pointing this out, you either are or appear to be riding the issue on behalf of the other end. This causes them to close ranks and dismiss it as partisanship.
Besides, Russia has changed its backing preferences over time. Just look at the frivolous moral gymnastics Oliver Stone has been performing from around Putin's arm.
It actually matters a great deal if it’s one end of the spectrum. That’s very much central to the larger issue.
There is nothing about the last ten years that would lead a most people to come to the conclusion that if only we didn’t mention where the problem was specifically that it would become a bipartisan thing that everyone would take seriously.
The ID group in the European Parliament has expelled the German AfD. The AfD tried to get them to only expel their top candidate Maximilian Krah instead, and has banned him from appearing at campaign events.
Looks less like closing ranks and more like passing the buck.
> The only reason they're associated with Russia's interest in the first place is because that happens to be in the interest of the left or right at any given moment and place.
That’s the angle ‘they’ are looking at it from: association with Russia is coincidental, devotion to the right is the underlying issue.
If someone who would probably not otherwise belong in politics gets far on the coat tails of a bot or troll or paid influence or organized crime operation, the rest of society should cooperate to isolate them from the political forces they're trying to co-opt, whether we agree with them or not.
I suspect this is the primary reason why horseshoe theory is a thing.