Take It Back: A Battle Plan for Democratic Victory

by Paul Begala and James Carville

Book Overview

TOP TEN REASONS WHY REPUBLICANS SUCK 10. They're so incompetent they couldn't pour pee out of a boot if you wrote the instructions on the heel. 9. They lie like a rug. They lie like a dog. They lie like . . . ummm . . . a dog's rug. We mean, they just lie all the time. 8. They're a pack of crooks. 7. They are unbearably sanctimonious. 6. They have no sense of humor. 5. They're losing the war on terror. 4. They've put our economic future in Beijing's...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743277538
• ISBN13: 9780743277532
• Release Date: September 2006
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Pick it up, Read it and try to refute the facts

I was challenged by a friend to read this and try to refute the facts brought up by the authors about the current rampant corruption in the Republican Party. Honestly, as a former Republican voter, I have to agree with the authors. 1. The current Republican Party is not my father's party, nor the party I thought it was. 2. The amount of corruption in this Republican Party and current administration would make turn of the century Robber Barons blush. 3. The evidence cited in the book is irrefutable. The current Republican Party and current administration do not have our (Americans) best interests at heart. To them it is Party first, Greed second and maybe, Americans a distant third. Lastly, what makes this book all the more readable is the fact that they (authors) own up to the horrible mistakes made by the democrats in the last two presidential elections. I hate to admit it, but if democratic strategists follow the steps to 'take back' the government, as outlined in this book, my former party is in big trouble.

Carville and Begala have nailed it!

I saw Carville and Begala on Meet the Press Sunday, and bought the book that afternoon. They have nailed it, especially regarding message, values and national security. There is no question we were message-challenged in 2004, and are still finding our way. But as Carville and Begala point out, message is more than a list of issues. I am Chair of the Georgia Democratic Party, and have sent a copy to all 30 members of our Executive Committee. Every state chair, party official, and activist should read and learn from this book. Carville and Begala are, of course, very entertaining, but more importantly, they offer a roadmap to victory in 2006 and beyond.

Well Thought-Out Recommendations!

Democrats have failed at the basics: defining their message, attacking their opponents, defending their leaders, inspiring their voters. "Take It Back" is focused on a set of issues believed to have cost Democrats recent elections, and presents alternative approaches. The Kerry-Edwards ticket carried only 8 states outside the Northeast, while Republicans took 97 of the 100 fastest growing counties with a margin of 1.7 million. The Republicans did it on the basis of being regular guys (vs. Democrats seen as snots). Bush tied Kerry among college graduates, but beat him 53 to 47 among the non-college group. Bush's campaign portrayed Kerry as weak, waffling, and weird. No president has lost re-election in wartime - knowing this, Bush used 9/11 as his answer to everything. Portrayed the election as "a choice, not a referendum" in response to Bush's low poll numbers. Attack, attack, attack - that was the Republican focus - Kerry's not one of us. Conversely the Democratic Convention banned attacks on Republicans. Abortion: The percent of abortions dropped from 28 to 24.5 under Clinton (was unchanged under Reagan) - the authors sees this as partly due to the expanding economy, and the Clinton commitment to sex education and contraception. Democrats should also stress that being "pro-life" means doing something regarding jobs, health insurance, and support for mothers. Americans are conflicted on abortion - they don't want to ban it, but do want to restrict it. (Examples include precluding abortions during the last three months, wanting the M.D. to inform potential patients of abortion alternatives, requiring a 24-hour waiting period, requiring those under 18 to get parental consent, requiring a woman to inform her husband first, and banning partial-birth abortions. Yet, despite these strong preferences for restrictions, all eight Democrat candidates supported the special interest groups in this area and supported no restrictions. Instead, Democrats should focus on efforts to reduce abortions - eg. a 95% cut in ten years, backed by specific programs. Gun Control: The NRA says "enforce the laws already on the books" - we don't need more. Actually they opposed passage of those laws, but realize they don't have the votes to repeal them. McCain-Lieberman sponsored a bill to extend background checks for gun show buyers - however, this is like tilting at windmills because only an estimated 1.7% of crimes involved guns bought at gun shows. The authors further suggest a position of leaving the topic to the states - 18 states already require background checks for those buying at gun shows. Carville and Begalla also suggest Democrats show respect for gun owners. Gay Rights: At best .08% of the total population is direction affected by the gays in the military issue - again, not worth getting into the hassle. Instead, should focus on the approximately 10% in the general population to ensure employment non-discrimination (a position supporte

Good Medicine for Democrats!

For any Democrat depressed or disillusioned about our country's future, this is just what the doctor ordered. Carville and Begala tell us why achieving real reform isn't about moving left or veering right. It's about staking out clear positions and fighting for them -- on affordable health, national security, energy independence, tax reform and more. They challenge Democrats to put their faith into action, and refuse to sit back and let extremists define America's values. They remind us that it's the Bible, after all, that says, "Be not afraid," and that Democrats can't be timid, weak or wishy-washing on values debates. Here's the bottom line: this is a powerful book that, if followed, will help Democrats win the White House back. It's clear that Carville and Begala are more than brilliant political strategists. They are true-believers that want our country to do better.

Sun Tzu for the Democrats in the Age of Bush

This is the first truly ground-breaking contribution to the "How on earth can Democrats win if they couldn't even beat Bush in 2004?" genre. Carville and Begala stake out a position that bridges the gap between bold Progressivism and DLC-style triangulation. Make no mistake about it: while this book calls for a big tent attitude on issues like abortion, it is decidely NOT another rallying cry for a retreat to the center. Contrasting their vision to the moderate, wishy-woshy "something for everyone" campaigns Democrats have waged (and usually lost) in recent years, Carville and Begala demonstrate that Democrats can win when they have a strong, simple message rooted in morality and principle. They make a persuasive case that an anti-corruption, pro-energy independence, pro-tax fairness, and pro-health care agenda is both good policy and good politics. Best of all, they do so with considerable wit and charm, annihilating the common Republican depiction of liberals as "elitist" and "politically correct." In both content and form, an indispensable guide to progressive political strategy.