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anamnua

(1,491 posts)
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 09:43 PM Apr 2025

Advice from James Carville

(who masterminded Bill Clinton's two successful presidential campaigns):
With no clear leader to voice our opposition and no control in any branch of government, it’s time for Democrats to embark on the most daring political maneuver in the history of our party: roll over and play dead. Allow the Republicans to crumble beneath their own weight, and make the American people miss us. Only until the Trump administration has spiraled into the low 40s or high 30s in public approval polling percentages should we make like a pack of hyenas and go for the jugular.

35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Advice from James Carville (Original Post) anamnua Apr 2025 OP
Sorry, James, that's bullshit. Ocelot II Apr 2025 #1
No way. Diamond_Dog Apr 2025 #2
Jesus fucking CHRIST!!! That may be one of the stupidest FoxNewsSucks Apr 2025 #3
You were relevant in the last millenium, jimmy. Now just shut up and niyad Apr 2025 #4
His approval's at 43 now and we can't wait much longer. ms liberty Apr 2025 #5
Schumer ILikePie92 Apr 2025 #6
Great minds. CrispyQ May 10 #30
Thank you! ILikePie92 May 10 #31
wrong - on at least a couple different levels stopdiggin Apr 2025 #7
Asinine. Scrivener7 Apr 2025 #8
Proves he is absolutely clueless about where we are Phoenix61 Apr 2025 #9
easy for a person of means to say Skittles Apr 2025 #10
That is a great point Bettie May 10 #32
I know some wealthy folk Skittles May 10 #33
Wholly Disagree MayReasonRule Apr 2025 #11
We don't need your advice, Carville. Paladin Apr 2025 #12
Is he a hard drinker? If so, his brain might be soaked with alcohol so long it's not working right. CTyankee Apr 2025 #13
Of course he would say this. What a coward. AllyCat Apr 2025 #14
I can't say that I have a more politically suitable action plan to counter Carville mdmc Apr 2025 #15
What he is saying imo, is the Democratic Party does not need to stake out a policy platform. Passages Apr 2025 #16
I can see where Carville is coming from. anamnua Apr 2025 #17
Safe on the sidelines, the former player stands... delisen Apr 2025 #18
part of Democracy is sometimes the majority makes a bad move cadoman Apr 2025 #19
i think the gop has a limit as well before they pounce.. samnsara Apr 2025 #20
Approval is already below 45%, 41-43 in the best polls, and disapproval over 55%. lees1975 Apr 2025 #21
It's time for Democrats to embark on the most daring political maneuver in the history of our party... Old Testament Libera Apr 2025 #22
Carville loves to hear himself talk . . . markpkessinger May 9 #23
I stopped listening to Carville some time ago. Paladin May 10 #24
Before people dismiss James Carville anamnua May 10 #25
If you read between the lines of that, he's really saying the best thing would be to Scrivener7 May 10 #26
Carville is a relic from another time. NoMoreRepugs May 10 #27
Carville should take his own advice BoRaGard May 10 #28
Nonsense. mahina May 10 #29
My advice to James Carville milestogo May 23 #34
Anybody else in favor of retiring this old Carville thread? Paladin May 23 #35

FoxNewsSucks

(11,217 posts)
3. Jesus fucking CHRIST!!! That may be one of the stupidest
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 09:49 PM
Apr 2025

things I've ever heard.

Yeah, roll over, shut up, and let the other side control all the messaging. Who is paying him, anyway????

The corporate media is bad enough without Democrats giving up completely, how the hell does he think "the American people" will ever know who they should miss????

niyad

(125,303 posts)
4. You were relevant in the last millenium, jimmy. Now just shut up and
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 09:50 PM
Apr 2025

go fishing, or whatever that hat indicates.

ms liberty

(10,401 posts)
5. His approval's at 43 now and we can't wait much longer.
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 09:56 PM
Apr 2025

But it might be down to the high 30's by the weekend at this rate.

CrispyQ

(39,990 posts)
30. Great minds.
Sat May 10, 2025, 09:21 AM
May 10

My first thought was, "At least Carville's not minority leader."

Welcome to DU, ILikePie92. So with a screen name like that you have to tell us...what's your favorite pie? Pecan for me.

ILikePie92

(188 posts)
31. Thank you!
Sat May 10, 2025, 02:29 PM
May 10

I think I may not have just 1 favorite. Pretty much love all pie. A few favorites are Key Lime, pumpkin, sweet potato, any berry, peach, rhubarb, apple, ha ha just about all. Pecan too, lol. I have the big round belly to show for it too!

stopdiggin

(14,036 posts)
7. wrong - on at least a couple different levels
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 10:00 PM
Apr 2025

But Carville has been at least consistent in pushing this 'passive aggressive' nostrum.

(there really isn't any question that Ds don't have any significant levers or power right at the moment - but that doesn't preclude us from highlighting gross INSANITY as it rears its head - and contrasting that against what 'responsible' policy and government looks like ... "Remember not so long ago ... When people actually thought that school children were worth investing in - and those that lived in crumbling areas, might actually deserve a break .. ?" )

Phoenix61

(18,477 posts)
9. Proves he is absolutely clueless about where we are
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 10:38 PM
Apr 2025

as a country or what people want. No one will vote for a Dem if we lay down and play dead now. They will never trust us again… and they shouldn’t.

Skittles

(166,089 posts)
10. easy for a person of means to say
Thu Apr 3, 2025, 02:28 AM
Apr 2025

terrifying to the folk who will be severely harmed by these fascist fucks

Bettie

(18,580 posts)
32. That is a great point
Sat May 10, 2025, 03:35 PM
May 10

all of these "consultants" enjoy having lots of money thrown at them for their "wisdom", but they also generally aren't of a social class to actually know what things are like among anything other than maybe, possibly, among the upper edge of the middle class, if they have some relatives or friends who are at that level.

I doubt Carville has talked to a poor person in 40 years, heck, I doubt he speaks to anyone under 50 on a regular basis about any of this.

Skittles

(166,089 posts)
33. I know some wealthy folk
Sat May 10, 2025, 04:36 PM
May 10

I tell them, you don't KNOW people who live paycheck to paycheck so stop judging them!

Paladin

(31,071 posts)
12. We don't need your advice, Carville.
Thu Apr 3, 2025, 07:19 AM
Apr 2025

You're wasting valuable time in which you should be fucking yourself.

CTyankee

(66,587 posts)
13. Is he a hard drinker? If so, his brain might be soaked with alcohol so long it's not working right.
Thu Apr 3, 2025, 08:35 AM
Apr 2025

It takes a while to recover I guess.....

mdmc

(29,369 posts)
15. I can't say that I have a more politically suitable action plan to counter Carville
Fri Apr 4, 2025, 06:40 AM
Apr 2025

Perhaps doing nothing except townhalls and townhalls and townhalls

Keep Bernie doing what he is doing..

Passages

(3,261 posts)
16. What he is saying imo, is the Democratic Party does not need to stake out a policy platform.
Fri Apr 4, 2025, 10:34 AM
Apr 2025

They can just ride out the horror of Trump and by default, accept what the Dems are offering and win. Presidency gone, Congress gone, Senate gone.

Now, if he said something like what Walz is saying, then I would listen.

They're going to expect universal healthcare,": Walz says ...

Salon.com
https://www.salon.com › ... › Griffin Eckstein's Articles
Feb 27, 2025 — The Minnesota governor thinks Democrats can afford to offer a bolder vision when they return to power.



Carville is a centrist coward and should have no role in the party whatsoever.


anamnua

(1,491 posts)
17. I can see where Carville is coming from.
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 03:46 AM
Apr 2025

Trump feeds off attacks. He is the past master of shifting the agenda and turning the heat on his opponents via brazen counterattacks. It is better to let him flounder in his own self-generated cesspool and then move in for the kill when the time is right.

delisen

(7,110 posts)
18. Safe on the sidelines, the former player stands...
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 03:30 PM
Apr 2025

I understand the old wisdom but I think we are in a new game with new rules and stakes.higher than they have ever been.

In order to survive as a democracy we need to bring an end to the party formerly known as Republican.

cadoman

(1,489 posts)
19. part of Democracy is sometimes the majority makes a bad move
Sun Apr 6, 2025, 01:18 PM
Apr 2025

And needs time to understand and correct it. We'll be proven right and ready to rebuild once they do.

samnsara

(18,579 posts)
20. i think the gop has a limit as well before they pounce..
Sun Apr 6, 2025, 09:09 PM
Apr 2025

Last edited Tue Apr 8, 2025, 08:20 PM - Edit history (1)

..they know when hes too weak to attack back.. we should coordinate.

lees1975

(6,695 posts)
21. Approval is already below 45%, 41-43 in the best polls, and disapproval over 55%.
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 11:29 AM
Apr 2025

I don't think that's good advice. We are already rolling over and playing dead and Trump simply ignores it and moves on unchecked.

Democrats are making themselves irrelevant. The resistance to Trump is moving well past their hang-ups and continued blunders. Several individuals need to step away and help the party get out of its traditional, old-school politics mode that cost it the 2024 election, and get with the program.

22. It's time for Democrats to embark on the most daring political maneuver in the history of our party...
Tue Apr 8, 2025, 11:36 PM
Apr 2025

...Ignore everything that James Carville says. Please!

markpkessinger

(8,809 posts)
23. Carville loves to hear himself talk . . .
Fri May 9, 2025, 07:01 PM
May 9

. . . and yes, he was part of Bill Clinton's successful campaigns 30 years ago. But it isn't 1992 or 1996 anymore, and this is a very different country from what it was back then.

What's more, one could argue -- and indeed I have argued -- that while Carville's strategy may have worked in securing presidency for Bill Clinton, the party paid a huge, long-term price for it. Carville was among those who pushed Clinton to effectively begin dismantling the social safety net (welfare "reform," anyone?), with Clinton proclaiming publicly that "The era of big government is over!" The Clinton presidency was when the party abandoned the working class, and many working class voters never forgot that.

I don't think Carville has anything to offer in the present moment. I wish he'd just get lost in the Louisiana swamps!

Paladin

(31,071 posts)
24. I stopped listening to Carville some time ago.
Sat May 10, 2025, 08:22 AM
May 10

I recommend that all Democrats do the same, immediately.

anamnua

(1,491 posts)
25. Before people dismiss James Carville
Sat May 10, 2025, 08:53 AM
May 10

it must be remembered that he engineered an end to 12 years of Repub rule and ushered in an two term Clinton presidency.

Scrivener7

(56,488 posts)
26. If you read between the lines of that, he's really saying the best thing would be to
Sat May 10, 2025, 08:56 AM
May 10

get a strong voice of opposition going and actually do stuff. But since we don't seem to be able to put that together, the only thing left is for us to do nothing and call it "daring."

I guess I agree.

BoRaGard

(6,400 posts)
28. Carville should take his own advice
Sat May 10, 2025, 09:11 AM
May 10

what a pathetic weenie. He sounds like a republicon.

Must have gone SUBMISSIVE TO THE MISSUS.

Tragic.

mahina

(19,913 posts)
29. Nonsense.
Sat May 10, 2025, 09:13 AM
May 10

Go home James Carville, youʻre drunk.

By no means should we work to define them by their actions, but sit back and take it easy, wait to be defined by them, is that it?

What a load.

Paladin

(31,071 posts)
35. Anybody else in favor of retiring this old Carville thread?
Fri May 23, 2025, 04:27 PM
May 23

I mean, his advice sucked back on April 2, when it first appeared. And it damn sure hasn't improved, over the last couple of months.

There's never a shortage of lame-assed political viewpoints to sort through. I propose that we give Carville a rest---the lengthier, the better. "Roll over and play dead"? Bullshit.

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