Political battles are not that much different from traditional wars and battles. Most of the attention is always focused on what’s visible, what you can see, the consequences.
However, it’s far away from the geography where the real stakes are determined. Three levels: #1) The actual fighting, the battle space. #2) The assembly of Generals at HQ. #3) The cloistered closed-door meetings where the politicians decide.
The media keeps everyone focused on #1, it’s easier – there are “sides” etc. But the GOPe roadmap, and the eye-opening “Splitter Strategy”, was found by focusing intense sunlight upon #3.
Now…
…When the stakes are at their highest, anyone is expendable. As a consequence no-one is not expendable.
Remember that.
Focusing on the safer battle space of #1 – Bobby Jindal came out publicly and told the Never Trump folks, they were going too far:
The GOP establishment is done for…this race shows that. Voters are angry and frustrated…Donald Trump should serve as a wake-up call.
When huge chunks of your base are telling you something, you have to listen to them…let’s let the voters speak.
[…] The reality is, you can do the math. He has done very, very well. It is exactly what is wrong with the GOP establishment and it ignoring the will of the voters.
[…] If it comes down to Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, I would certainly support Donald Trump as the Republican nominee. (link)
Woven between the words expressed by Bobby Jindal is a tactical reality few are paying close attention to. The visible battles are being waged without anyone looking to see who exactly is orchestrating those battles, and for what larger benefit?
Here’s the sequential drop out order from the 2016 Presidential Race:
- Governor Scott Walker
- Governor Rick Perry
- Governor Bobby Jindal
- Senator Lindsey Graham
- Governor George Pataki
- Governor Mike Huckabee
- Senator Rand Paul
- Governor Jim Gilmore
- Governor Chris Christie
- Carly Fiorina
- Senator Rick Santorum
- Governor Jeb Bush
- Dr. Ben Carson
- Senator Marco Rubio
Leaving a two-year (Jan ’13 – March ’15) Senator, Ted Cruz, and milquetoast Governor John Kasich to oppose, and coordinate against, candidate Donald Trump.
What the media hide:
With the over-the-top help of the GOPe Generals (#2), Kasich won Ohio; therefore he has to stay in.
Why?
Because if Kasich dropped out according to Ohio election law all of his 66 delegates become bound to the second place finisher, Donald Trump.
John Kasich cannot exit the race without helping Donald Trump. Senator Ted Cruz knows this. Senator Ted Cruz does not want Governor John Kasich to leave the race because of it. Yet Ted Cruz goes on TV demanding a Kasich exit.
When you accept these fundamental truths, you clearly see, yet again, the GOPe scheme involves Ted Cruz.
The political battle space (#1), as it is being sold via media, is a Potemkin village.
But most of you already know that by now.
How do you know?
Because you have focused on #3, where the real decisions are being made.
Today, surprise, Governor Jeb Bush endorsed Senator Ted Cruz…. We’ll talk about that.
Carefully.
Because, well, I don’t want to be Michael Hastings.