December 2009 and a possible rationale for Karl Rove's vicious attack on Christine O'Donnell

Is there a rational explanation for Karl Rove's vicious, unmanly and -- frankly -- outrageous attack on Christine O'Donnell?

On Tuesday, the night of Rove's explosion, The Freedomist reported that he had earlier been heavily invested in Mike Castle's campaign.

Sources at the Christine O’Donnell victory party revealed to The Freedomist that in December of last year Karl Rove met with Tea Party leaders in Dover, Delaware trying to get them to cut a 'deal' in which they would leave Mike Castle alone and NOT support O’Donnell.

The Freedomist has also learned that Rove was allegedly acting as an operative, although in what capacity it is not known, even as he is playing the role of a political analyst on Fox New in a fair and balanced way...

While Rove's possible affiliation with Castle's campaign hasn't yet been disclosed, I did locate an article that may help shed some more light on the issue.

Mr. Peabody, set the wayback machine to December 2009 and fetch me a copy of the Wall Street Journal while you're at it:

Can Republicans Retake the Senate in 2010?

Probably not, but their candidate recruitment so far has been stellar.

By KARL ROVE
...One feature giving Republicans an edge is that several senate seats are up for grabs because the politicians who were elected to fill them are now serving in the Obama administration. This includes seats formerly held by Mr. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden... Rep. Mark Kirk is a strong candidate to pick up Mr. Obama's old seat in Illinois. Rep. Mike Castle, a popular former governor, could pick up Mr. Biden's former seat in Delaware...

In other words, Rove was shilling for some of the more egregious liberal Republicans last December, especially Castle. A primary challenge by more conservative GOP candidates hadn't even been contemplated by Rove.

Was he a paid operative? Or did he just back the wrong horse, calling his credentials as the all-knowing, all-seeing 'architect' in doubt? Was the attack simply about diminished stature -- whether as a paid consultant or as an oracle for Fox?

That mental exercise is best left to the reader, but suffice it to say that his behavior will only help enrage and energize the conservative base. It's not complicated, Karl: it's only the freaking Constitution, to which neither you, Castle nor the rest of the entrenched Republican establishment seem to give a moment's thought.

That is why we're out to take over the GOP and throw all of the bums out, no matter their party affiliation.

See, that's not too hard to understand, is it, Karl?


Update: Michelle Malkin Rips Karl Rove a New One for His 'Vicious' Attacks on Christine O’Donnell.