James Carville says democrats are too optimistic about Obama winning this season. That we need to

[applegrove]

be more aggressive. I agree. The GOP always, always makes sure their base are fighting mad by election day. And it works. When you are fighting mad you are ready to fight for more territory. So you go out and make others around you mad. And then you all go vote. Really, the GOP base has no reason to be mad. The Democrats do. The GOP messed with governance for 4 years. We need to own this election. We need to be fighting mad (all fired up) and ready to go.

[Lionessa]

1. Is this that Louisiana loon that is married to some extreme

winger? He lost credibility years ago in my book.

[pangaia]

7. In this case I think he is right..

[adigal]

2. I have been watching the comments on the Yahoo story

today about why it may not look good for Obama in November - the comments are overwhelmingly nasty, racist and Republican. It makes me very worried - I have not ever seen such stupidity in our country.

[Ikonoklast]

19. You do realize that their are people that get recruited to post on websites like Yahoo?

They actually think that they are changing the narrative.

Stupid powerless people writing ignorant screeds are to be ridiculed.

[adigal]

20. Well, they shouldn't be linking their Facebook pages and names

with their horrible posts. They should be ashamed of what they are saying.

[Xipe Totec]

3. Who is too optimistic? Us, or Obama?

Send us some raw meat.

Get us excited.

Don't take us for granted...

[elleng]

4. Fraudulent 'vote fraud' is what worries me.

Dems had BETTER NOT ignore it this time.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. I agree too

we need to fight hard at all levels to elect Democrats and other progressives and de-toxify our country from the past 2-4 years.

[liberalmuse]

6. Carville, you lost me in 2006...

He's fucking crazy. LITERALLY.

[Thrill]

8. He's right. I've talked to some people

who feel no one could possibly want Mittens. But they underestimate how much people hate Obama based on skin color alone

[treestar]

9. Wasn't he one of the ones who tried to get us mad at Obama?

Something he said or did.

[Odin2005]

10. Mr. Matilyn can go STFU.

[Drunken Irishman]

11. You can be optimistic and aggressive...they're not exclusive feelings...

I think some people try to compensate for that optimism by being extremely negative - suggesting it's going to be really hard for Obama to win or that it'll be stolen. For one extreme, there's another and the other extreme is just as damning - Democrats who become so dispirited with the narrative that he can't win (and I see it here a lot, which is sad), they give up.

So, be optimistic. Feel Obama will win this thing - but be aggressive as well. We want people to think he'll win it. It's a good narrative to have MOST Americans believe your guy is going to win. It helps cut down on the potential of fraud, since it's more difficult to steal, and more people are likely to work their butts off if they can taste victory in the air - while the other side will find itself in the difficult position of conceding defeat.

It's why, in '08, McCain could never gain traction. Democrats knew, by October, that Obama was going to win comfortably, but it didn't change the direction of the fight - or make people more passive. What it did, though, is force Republicans to realize their guy wasn't going to win and that did have an impact because, let's be honest, a lot of people don't want to vote for a loser. They like winners. If they think Romney is going to lose in November, they're going to be less likely to go to the polls and vote and if they do vote, vote for him.

So, be optimistic, but aggressive at the same time.

[applegrove]

12. +100

[bigwillq]

13. I think Carville is just trying to get people, i.e. DEMS, to the polls.

If folks feel Obama has this in the bag, some might stay home.

So, yes, I guess I agree with Carville and applegrove.

edit: I don't know why some folks are trashing Carville here. I guess they can't get over some things.
I think he has a point.

[lunasun]

14. I do not like him but I agree with him on this pt.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. I agree. Same old MO here. Whenever anyone makes a point you can always count on

at least 25-50% of the responses attacking the "messenger." Just like anyone trying to
post a poll that has any hint of negativity for our side...half the responses will be
that the pollster's crazy or a repuke.

[Kablooie]

16. The people against Obama are EXTREMELY against Obama.

There is such a violent upsurge against him in parts of the country that it may be more difficult than many think.
I get the impression that an Obama win may even create violence in some places.

It's irrationally insane but that's what almost half of the US is right now.

[otohara]

17. Why Is He Still Relevant

loud mouth 1%'er and then there's his ugly wife.

[mac56]

18. Broken clock, right twice a day.

Blind squirrel, sometimes finds an acorn.

James Carville, occasionally hitting the mark.

[Bake]

21. Carville is RIGHT. We DO need to be more aggressive.

And GOTV with a vengeance! Complacency will cost us the election. Blood, sweat and tears will win it for us.

Bake