“Think WIKD” when you’re wondering why the Republican candidates are doing what they’re doing – that’s my new motto: It stands for What Is Karl Doing.
In other words – how do you apply Karl Rove’s Machiavellian lens to what’s going on within the Republican primary – assuming it’s orchestrated and not accidental. For those, like my husband, who think I’m being too paranoid on this, I say: I prefer to be paranoid and prepared rather than caught off guard and in search of Canadian real estate in November. Ya know?
Here are some examples of what seems like chaos and ridiculousness with a WIKD lens applied:
- Way back last year, when Palin and Bachmann were both potential candidates, I thought – why is Karl letting this happen. And that’s when I realized that they make folks like Newt and Mitt look moderate. Since the election will be won in the middle and not on the right or the left, this is, ultimately, an advantageous point.
- Along those lines – by having Santorum and Perry attack Mitt for being just like Obama, it may cost Mitt some support from the right, but it starts to sow seeds of support from the independents/moderates
- By having Newt attack Mitt for being a vulture capitalist (love that term)– it defangs this particular eventual argument for the Democrats (just like the Rev Wright story coming out in the primary did rather than down the Oct stretch). It also makes Mitt MORE appealing to a segment of the Republicans who like that sort of thing) THEN – by having Newt back off of that argument, it essentially and symbolically says “but this is a non-issue anyway”.
- It seems like the Republican primary is a circus and could go on a long time. The WIKD version of that is: reality TV draws much more attention than news. So – let’s hold onto the spotlight and keep it off the Democrats/Obama. Plus – it gets the anti-Obama invective shown on prime time more frequently and for a longer span of time. We all know the more the Republicans repeat a meme (even a lie), the more likely it is to be considered a truth, or at least sow seeds of doubt.
Now – it’s your turn. Post your WIKD thoughts in the comments below!
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