On Carville: Democrats' best fighter aware key to winning is in knowing

[NVMojo]

June 13, 2006

It's like listening to a rib-cracking prizefighter quote Shakespeare.

When James Carville speaks of measured Democratic approaches on the sensitive subjects of abortion rights and gay marriage, you'll almost forget that he's arguably his party's most effective street scuffler.

Almost.

Then he'll interrupt his rhapsody to remind you that the Democrats must seize this moment in history while President Bush's popularity is lower than a snake's belly. He'll tell you the Democrats must get in there and fight like they mean it, show some leadership, some backbone and vision, and remind converts and critics alike that they're the best qualified to guide America's future -- as long as they're willing to put up a fight.

While John Kerry was stiffly imitating JFK in a presidential version of "Legends in Concert," Carville was hooking and gouging and calling for his colleagues to get out there and thump somebody upside the head. Nobody likes wimps, not even other wimps, and the Democrats had second-guessed themselves so long they'd begun to look like the Alan Alda Party, but with smaller biceps. Losing both houses of Congress, the White House and the spin in the popular media will do that.

more...

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jun-13-Tue-2006/news/7928265.html

[Mass]

1. Carville is part of the problem, not of the solution.

That he won a three way election does not make him a genius. He is way too ready to triangulate. Liking Zell Miller does not make him a democrat.

[Rageneau]

8. Don't Dump On James

Carville doesn't LIKE Zell Miller; he WORKED for him as a campaign manager. And that was back when Miller was a Clinton ally and still sane. Lots of us work for clients we don't necessarily like, but should we be judged by their behavior? Should Carville?

Also, don't lump Carville in with Brazille, Shrum and the other 'loser advisors' who have run such dismal campaigns for democrats. Carville doesn't run dismal campaigns, and was never in favor of the 'earth tones' approach that has cost us (at least) three elections.

As for Matalin: I can't understand that marriage either. I could never live with someone whose views were so opposite of mine. But c'est la vie.

The way I figure it, Matalin must get AT LEAST as much grief from her side as Carville gets from ours. That doesn't seem to affect the fact that she gives her side 110%, and I don't think it affects James's dedication, either.

[dsc]

11. She got worse

Many Republicans claimed she had actually sabatogued Bush 1's reelection campaign.

[sweetheart]

2. Carville best fighter

?? "most effective scuffler" ??

mmm..

[marylanddem]

3. Carville is married to a neocon. true love? perhaps. but

I still don't trust him.

[AlinPA]

4. Sorry, I honest to God can't see how he could be married to that woman.

[marylanddem]

6. me either. i have a lot of trouble with the idea that someone

of supposedly strong convictions could marry someone with totally opposite strong convictions. To me they're a pair of showboats in a novelty act.

[AlinPA]

9. I don't understand it either. How could any Democrat stand to be in the

same room with someone of her ilk? And marry her? Sounds stupid to me.

[madfloridian]

5. No more Carville.

No more.

[durrrty libby]

7. Agreed. Can't we do better than Carville, Begalia and Donna?

[yurbud]

10. Being ugly, married to an uglier winger, and having a funny accent

doesn't make you tough.

There a movie about his campaign in Latin America recently.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/our_brand_is_crisis/">Our Brand Is Crisis

I read that the guy he was helping was a neoliberal fuck.

Part of the problem with a lot of Dems isn't just communication and toughness, but their actual agenda. It's hard to say things that will make people vote for you when you have no intention of doing them.