James Carville takes on Trump, Biden and 'Preachy Females' in CNN documentary

James Carville learned how to sell a product from his beloved mother and spent his entire career working as a salesman for the American Dream. And the new documentation Carville: Winning is everything, stupid is a snapshot of the work, conviction and personality required to succeed in this tireless job.

Set in 2023 and 2024, director Matt Tyrnauer's documentary glorifies its subject not only for his triumphs for the Democratic Party, but also for his prescience about Joe Biden's age, which no one listened to for an entire year until the disastrous debate on June 27, Carville proved right and everyone else wrong. It celebrates him as an old-school firebrand who, like anyone else in the modern political business, knows how to proselytize and strategize, and is a factual affirmation of Carville's belief that you cannot make or achieve change without power to win.

The title is a reference to Bill Clinton's famous 1992 campaign slogan – “It's the Economy, Stupid” –Carville: Winning is everything, stupid (Oct. 5, on CNN) is both a loving look back at Carville's life and a real-time portrait of his ongoing efforts to make his voice heard and fight Donald Trump's bid to retake the White House. Tyrnauer's film is as timely as one can consider it given these limitations (the plot ends with Biden's disastrous debate and in the headlines with Kamala Harris replacing him on the ticket), and finds Carville as lively, engaging and quick-witted as ever and ever.

Apparently he has lost none of his ability to distill complex ideas into easily digestible (and inflammatory) phrases, saying what many are thinking but too afraid to say out loud, since his claim that the Democratic Party is of “Preachers” have been overtaken by women,” to his criticism of the woke left (“These people are annoying, silly, and most people don’t even know what they’re talking about”), to his assessment of Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville , as “a colossal idiot.” ” and House Speaker Mike Johnson as “a human piece of shit.”

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Carville is hailed as “the smartest son of a bitch who ever did this for a living” by his long-time friend and colleague Paul Begala, and as a “two-fisted shit-catcher” by his wife Mary Matalin, his adversary. in the political arena – as is well known, she is an influential Republican advisor – and his partner.

As sincere as he appears in lectures and media appearances, where his folksy straightforwardness is always on display in entertaining ways, Carville is a true believer, driven by a desire to improve the lot of all Americans, and his marriage to Matalin is proof for not having his mission derailed by dealing with those on the other side of the aisle. Their union is a striking example of a less polarized America where individuals can argue about issues without demonizing and alienating each other, although Matalin is quick to point out: “We don't have bipartisan civility, we have marital civility, we have bipartisan civility.” Cacophony.” ”

Carville is described by his wife as “relentlessly authentic,” and it shows Carville: Winning is everything, stupidwhether he's chatting on MSNBC, criticizing Democrats for not being “huckster enough,” or praising the beignets of his native New Orleans as a “sign of an advanced civilization” while a “donut is a sign of a fat cop.”

The man's enthusiasm and passion are infectious and are seen as a result of his childhood in a small Louisiana town called Carville thanks to his grandfather, the postmaster. Carville grew up poor and then struggled to make a name for himself as a consultant – he didn't visit Washington until he was 33, didn't manage a campaign until he was 38 and didn't win an election until he was 42 – and is a salt-of-the-earth guy , who can appeal to large swaths of the public, responding both to his uncompromising nature and his zealous belief that the system can please and do better for everyone. As former Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Donna Brazile says, “He talks like he’s a real person because he interacts with real people.”

Carville: Winning is everything, stupidCarville's praise is tempered by the lack of opposing viewpoints to Carville, whom everyone involved – including Bill Clinton, George Stephanopoulos and Sidney Blumenthal – praises as a smart, personable and passionate leader. Still, through Carville's prophetic warnings about Biden's health and the damage it could do to his re-election campaign, the film shows that he still cares deeply and that one should ignore his comment at their peril. For months, Carville has emerged as one of the only prominent Democrats willing to sound the alarm when polls show Biden several percentage points behind Trump, attributing those poor numbers to a combination of the commander-in-chief's physical and mental health problems, as well as a growing one progressive faction that cares “more about changing dictionaries than changing lives.”

The documentary combines juicy sound bites with behind-the-scenes glimpses into Carville's everyday life at home with Matalin and while traveling around the country to spread his message. Exercising by running through hotel hallways (which, given his pace, is more like a strenuous walk), visiting a local cafe in New Orleans – a city he loves for its respect for older people, among other things – or taking his dog When out for a walk, Carville is always himself. Director Tyrnauer doesn't have to strain to capture the essence of the political advisor, because he is exactly what he advertises himself to be – refuting previous claims that he and Matalin are merely performative An act intended to raise their profile and enrich their wallets.

Whether the Democrats' decision to replace Biden with Harris was the right move will only become clear in November. Still Carville: Winning is everything, stupid illustrates that the famous advisor's compatriots (and opponents) would be foolish to fire him, considering that despite his advancing age – and inability to travel the country he loves as he once did – he remains sharp and clever and feels comfortable doing the dirty work and taking the heat if it means advancing his cause. In an increasingly divided America, he is a partisan who consistently puts country above party.