In the Washington Post article, "The art and science of flipping a fixer-upper" a good argument can be made for diving deep into the things that make flipping a success. The article focuses on a major tenet of flipping, starting with an underdog, and ending with a star. Doing what most people would find difficult, flippers will often take a house that seems to be the worst on the block, written off by most, and with some simple but needed upgrades, increase the value dramatically.
In politics, flipping is everything. No, not flipping as in changing sides, but flipping information or ideas, profiting not from their sale, but their acceptance. Willie Horton is again in the news, why? Well, put simply, the holiday political season has begun, and it ain't snow thats raining down. In 1988, Willie Horton was used to dessimate the Michael Dukakis campaign , you can't easily buy that sort of ammunition. What matters is not necessarily the facts, but how you flip the story and sell it to the viewers.