Veteran political strategist James Carville has always had a knack for being concise. He is, after all, credited with coining "It's the economy, stupid" while directing the 1992 presidential campaign of Bill Clinton. And as host of CNN's Crossfire, he favored a combative in-your-face approach that stood in stark contrast to the stereotype of the mushy liberal. In Had Enough, Carville, along with co-author Jeff Nussbaum, takes that economic phrasing and aggressive style to offer a handbook for lefties tired of losing arguments and elections. To point out how fundamentally misguided he believes the GOP to be, Carville goes straight to the preamble to the U.S. Constitution. While Republicans can be credited with providing for the common defense, Carville says, they have failed miserably on all other directives issued by the founding fathers on what government is supposed to do, including promoting the general welfare, establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, and securing the blessings of liberty for ourselves and posterity. Although the arguments are not remarkably different from those made in a slew of other lefty books (Bush's tax cuts favor the rich, Republicans seek to curtail civil liberties), the book also offers "Had Enough" solutions to pressing issues of public policy that will come in handy for liberals looking to defeat a conservative brother-in-law in a political argument or even hold their own on Crossfire. These solutions always sound eminently reasonable, although that's due in large part to their being contrasted to Carville's interpretation of Bush and company's approach ("Use everything as an excuse to dig, drill, and burn.") Still, Carville and Nussbaum make a cogent, impassioned, and highly entertaining indictment of the Bush administration, which, combined with a smattering of incongruously placed but nonetheless tempting Cajun recipes, makes Had Enough a worthwhile read. --John Moe


From Publishers Weekly
For liberals who think Al Franken and Michael Moore show too much restraint, the Ragin' Cajun launches another no-holds-barred assault on the conservative powers-that-be. Carville's shtick remains intact, so the political commentary is saturated with jokes about being married to a Republican, stories about his family down in Louisiana and recipes for barbecue shrimp and bread pudding. But if you thought he was mad before, wait until Carville tears into George W. Bush and his administration. Not content with merely attacking Bush's Iraqi war strategy, Carville denigrates the entire war on terrorism, reminding readers that Senate Democrats proposed tougher homeland security proposals that the president consistently rejected. He also suggests that not only could Gore have handled 9/11 better, it probably wouldn't even have happened. And he's just getting started at that point, gearing up for tough criticism of tax cuts, school vouchers, tort reform and other GOP policies. But finger-pointing isn't enough; Carville provides a "nice little progressive playbook" of counterstrategies to rebuild economically and socially the way he says only Democrats can. It's hard to tell sometimes whether he's putting on his pitbull act: the "fuel or freedom" tax on SUV owners is probably satirical, but a full ban on contributions to incumbent congresspeople is so radical it's got to be serious. As Howard Dean recently proved, Democratic candidates still turn to Carville for talking points, so don't be surprised to see some of these proposals raised on the campaign trail next year. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
James Carville has had enough, and though most of what he's had enough of begins with Bush, he's not too thrilled with the Democrats either, especially their propensity to roll over like puppies. He wants to take back the country from "tax-cutting, environment-desecrating, secret-keeping, influence-peddling, warmongering, free-speech-hating, hypocritical right-wing goofballs." Got a plan, James? Why, yes, he does, and where other Bush-bashing tomes are heavy on the rant and light on the fix, Carville offers "progressives" their own road map to getting the country moving in the right direction, including ways to fix campaign funding, reform corporations, and restructure entitlements. Candidates who would spend good money for Carville's thoughts can find them here for the price of the book. But don't think he neglects the rant. Along with facts, figures, and interesting arguments, there's swearing, sarcasm, and trashing of well-known conservatives, from Dennis Miller to Bill Bennett. If all that's not enough, the book includes tasty-sounding recipes, too. They make a nice respite from the ragin' Cajun on the warpath. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Review
Al Franken author of Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them The one book Mary Matalin should read, or one of two books every liberal should read.


Book Description
Have you had enough of George W. Bush and the Republican right? Are you sick and tired of the tax-cutting, environment-desecrating, secret-keeping, influence-peddling, war-mongering, free speech-hating hypocrites who occupy America's halls of power? If so, you have company -- James Carville. Like James Carville, America has been bruised and battered by the Republicans who are running our country and running it into the ground. The Bush administration has squandered a five-trillion-dollar surplus and created a five-trillion-dollar projected deficit. Their tax cut for the rich was supposed to create jobs -- but instead America has lost more than three million of them. This administration was supposed to bring honor and dignity to the White House but instead brought lies, leaks, secrecy, and fear. They promised to make the country stronger and safer but instead they've left us overstretched, isolated, and insecure. And Carville has had enough. In Had Enough? the legendary political adviser comes out of his corner swinging, taking on the Bush White House and the Republican leaders in Congress on every front -- from the economy to education to foreign affairs. But he doesn't just attack; he lays out constructive "had enough" solutions for healing the damage done by the Republicans and helping disheartened Democrats get back on their feet. In addition, he offers "Ten Rules for Progressives to Live By" and a new War Room mantra for a new era. Had Enough? is a rousing handbook for taking back the country, for fighting back the right wing, and for returning the power to the people.


Download Description
"Have you had enough of George W. Bush and the Republican right? Are you sick and tired of the tax-cutting, environment-desecrating, secret-keeping, influence-peddling, war-mongering, free speech-hating hypocrites who occupy America's halls of power? If so, you have company -- James Carville. Like James Carville, America has been bruised and battered by the Republicans who are running our country and running it into the ground. The Bush administration has squandered a five-trillion-dollar surplus and created a five-trillion-dollar projected deficit. Their tax cut for the rich was supposed to create jobs -- but instead America has lost more than three million of them. This administration was supposed to bring honor and dignity to the White House but instead brought lies, leaks, secrecy, and fear. They promised to make the country stronger and safer but instead they've left us overstretched, isolated, and insecure. And Carville has had enough. In Had Enough? the legendary political adviser comes out of his corner swinging, taking on the Bush White House and the Republican leaders in Congress on every front -- from the economy to education to foreign affairs. But he doesn't just attack; he lays out constructive ""had enough"" solutions for healing the damage done by the Republicans and helping disheartened Democrats get back on their feet. In addition, he offers ""Ten Rules for Progressives to Live By"" and a new War Room mantra for a new era. Had Enough? is a rousing handbook for taking back the country, for fighting back the right wing, and for returning the power to the people. "


About the Author
James Carville is the author of five bestselling books: All's Fair (with Mary Matalin); We're Right, They're Wrong;...And the Horse He Rode In On; Stickin'; and Buck Up, Suck Up (with Paul Begala). He lives in Virginia with his wife and two daughters.

FROM OUR EDITORS

James Carville, the scrappy political consultant who directed Bill Clinton's successful presidential campaign, launches a devastating attack on the Bush administration and its poisonous policies and proposes sound, savvy counterstrategies for getting the country back on track.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In Had Enough? the legendary political adviser comes out of his corner swinging, taking on the Bush White House and the Republican leaders in Congress on every front - from the economy to education to foreign affairs. But he doesn't just attack; he lays out constructive "had enough" solutions for healing the damage done by the Republicans and helping disheartened Democrats get back on their feet. In addition, he offers "Ten Rules for Progressives to Live By" and a new War Room mantra for a new era.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

For liberals who think Al Franken and Michael Moore show too much restraint, the Ragin' Cajun launches another no-holds-barred assault on the conservative powers-that-be. Carville's shtick remains intact, so the political commentary is saturated with jokes about being married to a Republican, stories about his family down in Louisiana and recipes for barbecue shrimp and bread pudding. But if you thought he was mad before, wait until Carville tears into George W. Bush and his administration. Not content with merely attacking Bush's Iraqi war strategy, Carville denigrates the entire war on terrorism, reminding readers that Senate Democrats proposed tougher homeland security proposals that the president consistently rejected. He also suggests that not only could Gore have handled 9/11 better, it probably wouldn't even have happened. And he's just getting started at that point, gearing up for tough criticism of tax cuts, school vouchers, tort reform and other GOP policies. But finger-pointing isn't enough; Carville provides a "nice little progressive playbook" of counterstrategies to rebuild economically and socially the way he says only Democrats can. It's hard to tell sometimes whether he's putting on his pitbull act: the "fuel or freedom" tax on SUV owners is probably satirical, but a full ban on contributions to incumbent congresspeople is so radical it's got to be serious. As Howard Dean recently proved, Democratic candidates still turn to Carville for talking points, so don't be surprised to see some of these proposals raised on the campaign trail next year. (Dec. 5) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

With his usual biting wit and incendiary rhetoric, political consultant and media talking head Carville presents an alternative to the Bush presidency in this funny, informative, and challenging book. This is primarily a critique of the faults, failures, and lies of the Bush administration, but Carville does not spare his Democratic colleagues. He also issues a call for them to go after Bush and reclaim power. With homey, down-to-earth language and a few recipes thrown in (for red bean soup, salad, and bread pudding), Carville is irresistible, even when one disagrees with his analysis. He covers a wide range of issues, describing the Bush response to problems and an alternative view of those problems, followed by his "Had Enough" solutions. Carville will convert few with this book-it is not designed to persuade but to reinforce preexisting views and enliven the Democratic troops. For all libraries. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 9/15/03.]-Michael A. Genovese, Loyola Marymount Univ., Los Angeles Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

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