I got my zillionth email today from the Scott Walker campaign in Wisconsin, with the subject line, “Senseless Recall.” (Based on a Google search, I’m not the only one to have received this.)
This word choice is interesting, of course, because “senseless” is typically used to describe acts of violence.
We frequently hear of “senseless shootings,” “senseless murders,” “senseless deaths,” and even “senseless accidents.” We might also hear of “senseless vandalism.” But, until recently, I’ve never heard of a senseless election (though pointless is probably a much more frequent description.)
By definition, of course, Walker’s campaign may be correctly describing the recall election. He looks poised to win, and thus, this could end up being just a way to waste millions of dollars — and countless hours — pursuing a political vendetta against a Republican governor.
But the descriptive word has been used so frequently as to imply it was not a senseless choice, but instead, a very specific and strategic choice. Clearly, “senseless” has a pejorative connotation. The goal, I’m guessing, is to subtly compare the recall election to some sort of tragedy — which, perhaps it is.
Either way, this comes from a brilliantly devious mind (and perhaps, you might say, it takes an equally devious mind to deconstruct it?)
Anyone know if Frank Luntz is on this race?