More Of James Carville Panicking Over Bernie Sanders And Democratic Incompetence

Hotair ^ | 02/07/2020 | John Sexton

[SeekAndFind]

Earlier this week James Carville went on MSNBC and told Democrats it was time to panic. “I mean, I’m 75 years old why am I here doing this? Because I am scared to death that’s why,” Carville said. The clip of Carville’s on-air panic went viral and today, Vox interviewed Carville and gave him a chance to revise and extend his remarks:

Sean Illing
Why are you “scared to death” about the 2020 election?

James Carville
Look, the turnout in the Iowa caucus was below what we expected, what we wanted. Trump’s approval rating is probably as high as it’s been. This is very bad. And now it appears the party can’t even count votes. What the hell am I supposed to think?…

We have candidates on the debate stage talking about open borders and decriminalizing illegal immigration. They’re talking about doing away with nuclear energy and fracking. You’ve got Bernie Sanders talking about letting criminals and terrorists vote from jail cells. It doesn’t matter what you think about any of that, or if there are good arguments — talking about that is not how you win a national election. It’s not how you become a majoritarian party…

I’m not sure Carville is personally that far off from Bernie’s positions on these issues, but he knows that winning an election means focusing on issues where you have an electoral advantage, not ones where the electorate is against you. The counter-argument, which Vox’s Sean Illing makes, is that maybe things have changed so much that Sanders can win despite his far-left platform.

Sean Illing
A lot of threads there. First, a lot of people don’t trust the Democratic Party, don’t believe in the party, for reasons you’ve already mentioned, and so they just don’t care about that. They want change. And I guess the other thing I’d say is, 2016 scrambled our understanding of what’s possible in American politics.

Are we really sure Sanders can’t win?

James Carville
Who the hell knows? But here’s what I do know: Sanders might get 280 electoral votes and win the presidency and maybe we keep the House. But there’s no chance in hell we’ll ever win the Senate with Sanders at the top of the party defining it for the public. Eighteen percent of the country elects more than half of our senators. That’s the deal, fair or not.

So long as McConnell runs the Senate, it’s game over. There’s no chance we’ll change the courts and nothing will happen, and he’ll just be sitting up there screaming in the microphone about the revolution.

As another example of a losing issue, Carville brought up a viral video in which a voter confronted Elizabeth Warren over her college debt forgiveness plan:

Here’s another stupid thing: Democrats talking about free college tuition or debt forgiveness. I’m not here to debate the idea. What I can tell you is that people all over this country worked their way through school, sent their kids to school, paid off student loans. They don’t want to hear this shit. And you saw Warren confronted by an angry voter over this. It’s just not a winning message.

The core of Carville’s message is that you have to always be thinking about the persuadable voters because ultimately every election is about persuading a majority of voters with your most appealing issues. As Carville sees it, there’s no alternative: “look, if no one’s persuadable, then let’s just have the revolution.”

As for the outcome in 2020, Carville was asked if he sees anyone who can beat Trump and replied, “I don’t know, I just don’t know.”

Carville will be ignored by Sanders’ supporters, probably with a jaunty “Ok, boomer.” He’s old, he’s out of touch, he’s moderate—lots of reasons to ignore him. But I think he’s right about Sanders, at least so far.

[decal]

If you can’t figure out how to put a cap on straight, you should go find a trash can and put it over your head, instead...

[NautiNurse]

Carville doesn’t look healthy.

[Cowboy Bob]

We should all help Bernie. A brokered convention should be avoided.

[DannyTN]

Old Snake Head ain’t wrong.

[Buckeye McFrog]

so.....Carville’s message to Dems is to just lie about what they want to do until they get control of all the levers of power. Then they can cram it all down our pieholes.

[Salamander]

But this made me LOL

“he’ll just be sitting up there screaming in the microphone about the revolution.”

[bigbob]

Carville actually does understand voters, much like the late great Pat Caddell, another honest democrat. He’s the only one on the left pointing out that the emperor is buck naked and nobody is taking him seriously.

Face it, if they had a Bill Clinton running, we’d be sweating. That’s the kind of candidate Carville is wishing for.

[blueunicorn6]

Carville is a crook.

Anyone who still supports the Democrat Party has a criminal heart.

[Bell Bouy II]

My 1st thought, looks like a senile old fart.Mary M got her hands full if they even share the same space.
I know their place is expansive so probably not

[Salvey]

the late great Pat Caddell

I really miss his insightful analyses and comments.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Face it, if they had a Bill Clinton running, we’d be sweating.

We might dislike Bubba Bill, but just look at what he did as President:

1) He said in his SOTU speech: “The Era of Big Government is Over.”

2) He actually SIGNED the Welfare Reform Bill forced on him by Congress under Newt Gingrich.

3) He actually SIGNED the tax bill forced on him by Congress under Newt which among other things, lowered Capital gains taxes.

4) Because Bill Clinton worked with the Republican Congress, we actually had a BUDGET SURPLUS for the first time in decades.

[CAluvdubya]

Carville doesn’t look healthy.

I don't think so, either. Looks like chemo....

[samtheman]

He’s basically saying: do it the Clinton way. Lie about everything you actually believe in.

[Bell Bouy II]

always been a chrome dome,does look like some one dressed him(did a crap job)

[03A3]

"then let's just have the revolution."

Exactly what revolution is he talking about? A sissy one?

[jeannineinsd]

"So long as McConnell runs the Senate, it’s game over. There’s no chance we’ll change the courts and nothing will happen"

Carville places great importance on judges. Democrats use the courts to make things happen. We need to be very thankful to Trump/McConnell for the great job they are doing getting conservative justices confirmed.

[pepsi_junkie]

Everything Carville does is to help the Clintons .... start with that premise and ask “how does this help the Clintons?” Well, saying Bernie is a sure loser helps pave the way for a “moderate voice”. So of course, reluctantly Hillary will come out of retirement if the country needs her and the dems nominate her in spite of not running in primaries...

[henkster]

He looks more and more like Gollum. But he is right about one thing; politics is the art of the possible. What Sanders and Warren are selling the majority of Americans aren’t buying. So the good news is that no, it is not possible for them to be elected President.

So we need one of them to get the nomination because he didn’t say any of these things about Buttigig, who is doing exactly what Carville is saying should be done. Say what the people want to hear to get elected, then when in office, do what you want. That’s why we don’t want Buttigig at the top of the ticket. He knows how to sound “moderate” but he will wreck the economy just as thoroughly as the other two. Maybe he needs the full four years to do it when Sanders or Warren would accomplish it in two. The danger is he has a chance of winning and doing just that, where the other two have none.

[Stosh]

What bothers Serpenthead is this generation of Dumbocrats has forgotten how to lie about what they are, and he’s just the person to teach them how to do it (maybe not as good as Bubba was able to, but good enough to win the votes of the shlubs that elect Democrats).