ABC's "Good Morning America," which has yet to interview talk show host Mark Levin about his New York Times best selling book on conservatism, featured James Carville on Monday to promote "40 More Years: How the Democrats Will Rule the Next Generation." Co-host Diane Sawyer recited passages from the Democratic operative's tome, "Let me read what you write here. 'Republicans shouldn't be worried. They should be in agony. They should be throwing up.'"
Sawyer continued to read from Carville's book: "Republicans had better get a better policy on prescription drugs and quickly they're going to need a lot more Prozac." An onscreen graphic highlighted past one-party rule and speculated, "Democrats 1932-1968, Republicans 1968-2008, Democrats 2008-2048?"
Sawyer, to her credit, did challenge the thesis of the book, that Democrats will be in power for decades. She skeptically noted, "But, you know, there's people looking at this who say there's a big hole in this argument. And the big hole is the deficit that is building up, the debt that is building up." The GMA co-host added, "In fact, in ten years, per person in America, $2,700 will be spent just to pay the interest on the debt. Not to pay down the debt, but just to pay the interest." Later, she wondered if Democrats are becoming overly confident.
However, Sawyer also gave Carville a free pass to trash the tea party protests that occurred in April. The former Clinton official seethed, "There were a bunch of, like, 75-year-old cranky white guys, mad at everything. It just couldn't have been a better event for the Democratic Party. I hope they come back and tea bag some more." Sawyer offered no retort or comment on Carville's broadside.
A transcript of the May 4 segment, which aired at 7:13am, follows:
DIANE SAWYER: We turn now to politics and a somewhat beleaguered group of Republicans, Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, who spent their weekend at a Virginia pizza parlor on what they call a listening tour to try to reinvigorate the Republican Party. Someone looking on possibly with a smile at all of this is GMA contributor and Democratic political strategist James Carville who has a challenge for all the Republicans who think they can come back. It is a new book out called "40 More Years: How the Democrats Will Rule the Next Generation. " 40 more years? Let me read what you write here, "Republicans shouldn't be worried. They should be in agony. They should be throwing up. Republicans had better get a better policy on prescription drugs and quickly they're going to need a lot more Prozac."
ABC GRAPHIC: Carville's Trifecta: Why Republicans Face Long Odds
JAMES CARVILLE: Right.
SAWYER: 40 Years? What's your case for this?
CARVILLE: First of all, 40 years of dominance by political party at the norm. From 1896 to 1932 there was only one Democratic president. From '32 to '68 only one Republican. And we've been living in an era of almost Republican dominance, 28 years to 12 years in the last 40 and young voters are moving Democratic at an alarmingly fast rate, if you're a Republican. Every growing demographic is trending Democratic and I think we're probably on the verge of another 40-year era of party dominance here.
ABC GRAPHIC: Democrats 1932-1968, Republicans 1968-2008, Democrats 2008-2048?
SAWYER: But, you know, there's people looking at this who say there's a big hole in this argument. And the big hole is the deficit that is building up, the debt that is building up. Even though the Obama administration is in crisis, it is adding constantly adding debt. In fact, in ten years, per person in America, $2,700 will be spent just to pay the interest on the debt. Not to pay down the debt, but just to pay the interest.
CARVILLE: Look, I think that the deficit is going to be a big issue but the Republicans have no credibility. Used to be when I was younger they had credibility on spending and blew all spending credibility in, in, in the early part of this decade. And, sure, they can do better if they are able to attain some of that credibility but right now people aren't just not looking to them and the way that they're talking about this is kind of irrelevant to people.
SAWYER: But, isn't it ripe for them taking back their issue?
CARVILLE: It's their best issue that these tea baggers, they turned everybody off. There were a bunch of, like, 75-year-old cranky white guys mad at everything. It just couldn't have been a better event for the Democratic Party. I hope they come back and tea bag some more. And I think that- I think that the Democrats are going to be smart enough to- when this recession is over and it will be over, to jump back on top of the spending issue like President Clinton did back in the '90s.
SAWYER: Want to talk about some of the other vulnerabilities out there. Again, it's been pointed out there's no guarantee, Arlen Specter moves over to the Democratic side, seems to give a good bloc now to block any vote against them. But strength is not always deployed effectively. Here's Jon Stewart.
JON STEWART ("Daily Show" clip) : I guess that means now, the Democrats also control the House, the executive and without Al Franken, they'll have a filibuster proof majority in the Senate. They haven't had that much power since Jimmy Carter's presidency and, man, that went great. That was a juggernaut of progress.
SAWYER: Too confident? Over confident, Mr. Carville?
CARVILLE: Well, you know, Diane, I started this project long before the 2008 election. In fact, as early as may of 2000, even April we were identifying me the author of "40 More Years." Yes, I mean, is there a chance that some of this is, sort of, Democratic hubris? Of course. But, the underlying dynamics that are shaping the American electorate are sort of in place and unless there's something to do to change them this is going to be a pretty tough time for the Republican Party.
SAWYER: Let's talk about what could change them. On the Democratic side and on the Republican side. You have listed a kind of trifecta. Your own trifecta of the three dangers that the Democrats face, how they could lose it all. And hubris is the first one?
CARVILLE: Of course, it always is. And I said early on, on one of- the big problem was going to be we were going to start getting in trouble and our people would tart getting indicted. It follows power around. It always has.
SAWYER: And not controlling the spending issue. But, what can you do in this economy?
CARVILLE: There's probably not much you can do in this economy and probably not much you want to do in this economy to control the spending issue, but, again, presumably we'll come out of this and they'll have to have credibility and get a hold of it.
SAWYER: And ideological purity tests. Of which particular kind?
CARVILLE: With the Republicans, look, my friend Mark Shields said do you want to be in a church chasing out heretics or you want to be in a church that's trying to bring in converts? The Republicans are always- he's not a Real republican or, you know, Rush Limbaugh says that good riddance to Specter and McCain and his daughter ought to go. That's not the kind of church we want to have. When a party gets political power it tends to become arrogant and start chasing people out that it doesn't agree with. I hope we don't do that.
SAWYER: Okay, the Republican comeback advantages are, we talked about getting credibility on spending so that was your first one out there. But the second one was to recruit fresh candidates, specifically what do you think they can target and how fast?
CARVILLE: Well, I think they can target people pretty quickly and got to get the faces of the party off. They're trying to get this Eric Cantor, this young guy from Virginia and talk a lot about Paul Ryan, who's a Congressman from Wisconsin but they need to start recruiting people at the city council level, at the county level too.
SAWYER: And, quick last one, learn to use a scalpel. Got about 15 seconds.
CARVILLE: Right, they just don't have any- calling people socialists and fascists and all of that. It just turns people off to no end. Just one giant machete they have. Put it down. Get a scalpel. You'll do better.
SAWYER: Okay. Take your vitamins 'cause you have got to live 40 years to see if James Carville was right. That's the book, "40 More Years." Thanks, James.
—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.




















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Unfortunately, Carpville may
May 4, 2009 - 11:09 ET by winston smithUnfortunately, Carpville may be right -- as long as the GOP continues to behave politically like liberal Democrats and the main stream media continue to shill exclusively for liberal Democrats no matter how far to the left the Republicans march.
Carville questions 'how can
May 5, 2009 - 02:37 ET by klchadwickCarville questions 'how can democrats blow it?'.....by talking like this, that how! Honestly, nobody shoots themselves in the foot faster than a liberal Democrat!
video of carville on GMA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcBBsnaXjrY
http://politicaldessert.wordpress.com
Overestimate
May 5, 2009 - 09:21 ET by grumpyoldbNot that I'm drawing parallels here, but the last socialist that predicted how long they would be in power predicted a 1000 year reighn... or was that reich.......
"It's their best issue that
May 4, 2009 - 11:17 ET by Chris Norman"It's their best issue that these tea baggers, they turned everybody off. There were a bunch of, like, 75-year-old cranky white guys mad at everything.
Everyone at these tea parties were 75 year old white guys? Wow, a lot of them sure looked younger - and female - and some even looked to be African American. The taunting (and lying) Carville sounds as smug and overconfident as Sawyer worries about.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
For an example of Carville's
May 4, 2009 - 11:34 ET by KJ_sezFor an example of Carville's stupidity and arrogance, one need look no further than the title of the book: government should serve the people, not attempt to "rule" the people.
Reps 68-08?
May 4, 2009 - 11:54 ET by MaximusBraveheartServe? They have a lot more fun ruling and taking other peoples money and spending it how they see fit.
I seem to recall Carter, Clinton, Clinton. That is 12 out of 40 years so about 30% Democrat. And what % did they have a majority in both houses? M-B
Carville
May 4, 2009 - 11:58 ET by merlin61Yes, KJ I agree about the title of the book. Also,
this man is completely arrogant and ignorant. There were no "cranky old white men" at the tea
parties that I saw, they were young to middle age
to old, white, black, yellow,etc.who are fed up
with what is happening in America right now and
want the SPENDING &BAILOUTS TO STOP.
This means Dems and Reps. I hope both parties
get the message. We want conservative government, not populist do whatever is
popular government, nor do we want communism
or socialism. Keep speaking out and lets have
more demonstrations against government takeovers.
This country will not
May 4, 2009 - 11:54 ET by R D HelmThis country will not survive four years of democrat dominance in anything resembling its current form, much less forty.
-Dave
This coup has gone on long enough. The time to put it down is NOW.
Looks like Carville's been skipping his Prozac, Scott
May 4, 2009 - 12:30 ET by Gary HallThat is truely a bizarre summary. Here's one rather easy to see picture of what actually was:
The Balance Of Power Between Congress and The Presidency
Looking at the one claim, "Republicans 1968 - 2008. Was Carville/Sawyer referring to the White House, congress - or both?
During that 40 year stretch, the Democrats controlled the congress for 25 years (except that the R's had the Senate for 4 years). The R's did have the WH, for 28 of the 40 years, w/ the D's having the other 12 years.
Over the past 64 years, the R's controlled the House for only 14 years, the Senate for 20 years. Looks like it's still the Republican's turn here.
The R's do hold a slight advantage on the WH - being on top for 36 of the past 64 years.
gary
BTW, PJTV has kept a count
May 4, 2009 - 12:36 ET by KarinBTW, PJTV has kept a count of tea party attendance. North of One million.
take back our children's education
May 4, 2009 - 12:49 ET by katainkentthe first step to making sure this never happens.
Hold on ‘cause the world will turn if you're ready or not ~ KT Tunstall
He's a schmuck!!!!!
May 4, 2009 - 13:18 ET by Roscoe MendagoIt's not new ideas that's going to make the Republicans day, but Democrat failure. All the ideas that are needed to square this country away are already out there. What creates a change in political power? It's not just someones ideas that appear better than the other guy, but the other guy fails miserably. Every milestone in Carville's example are one or the other parties failure, or in most cases Democrat deception and subsiquent exposure of their inadequacies and wrong headed social and economic policies.
Obama is 100 days into his requisite failure, and you can bet the farm on it. Obama hasn't run an ant farm, much less a lemonade stand, he's gonna muck-it-up, it's already evident. He's backtracked on campaign promises, talking about running the detainees through tribunals, all the while releasing classified docs that reveal our secrets that should be kept from our enemies. Does this guy possess a lick of common sense? This will be his undoing, dragging his partners in surrender with him.....
This guy is going to get us all killed!!!
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Golly Gee... Why I just
May 4, 2009 - 13:31 ET by bigtimerGolly Gee...
Why I just can't understand it...Carville had the exact same talking points this morning when he was on with Imus whoring his book...and of course for the most part good ol' buddy Imus laughed along with him in agreement.
Some things never change...agenda stays the same with all.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Hey there ABC
May 4, 2009 - 22:28 ET by pbthinkerSo where's the interview with Mark Levin? Number one, best seller, but they have to drag out Carville to promote his book, because it fits their template.
If the Republicans want to win next election, they'd better start taking on the MSM. Now is the time for a war with them. Obama successfully avoided doing any debates on Fox News, how did he get away with that. Well, Republicans have to go on these shows and be prepared to take them on and point out their hypocrisy. They have to do it in a confrontational way, but not act like cry-babies. The MSM, in this country, deserves nothing less than an all-out political war, since they're unwilling to cover politics fairly let's make it a point to show everyone they're not doing their job. Can it possibly be that hard? There are websites devoted to the liberal media bias, so there's a lot of material to work with.
Election 2008-God's way of showing us that elections count.