Government

On Team President, Who Is The Coach

December 6, 2005 ⋅  E-Mail Article ⋅  Print Article ⋅ Post a comment

Many people associate politics with football, there is a team, a strategy, and a coach. The last 14 years of your life have been played out by a team that was coached by either one of two men, James Carville, or Karl Rove. Most people know their home teams coaches names, rabid fans know their coaches favorite food, music, and movies. But how many of us know about Carville or Rove? You should, they have shaped your life for the last decade and will again well into your future. Make no mistake; these two are the Vince Lombardi, and Jimmy Johnson, of politics.

Since we read left to right, we will get to know these two from left to right.

James Carville is considered to be one of the greatest American political consultants in history. The “Ragin’ Cajun” as he is commonly called is considered to still be the moving force behind the Democratic political party. James gained national attention as the political strategist of the successful 1992 presidential campaign of Bill Clinton. Although James was not the official campaign manager, Dave Wilhelm was at the time, it is James that most people credit with getting Clinton, and numerous other Democrats elected. After his tenure as head coach for the Democratic Party Carville became the co-host of CNN’s Crossfire, he hosted until the shows last broadcast in June of 2005. James is considered to be back in the swing of things and ready to help the Democrats regain lost seats wherever possible. Could a Hillary ticket, supplemented with a Bill First person, and a James Carville game plan be in the making? Many think it’s possible.

James was born and raised in Louisiana, it’s easy to recognize Carvilles’ distinct Southern drawl. But don’t be misled by the sound of the voice, this man is as quick and fiery as any you will find, many feel this unique combination has made him the charismatic leader he is. Before James entered politics he worked as a lawyer at a Baton Rouge law firm. In his early political years James worked tirelessly along with fellow crossfire co-host Paul Begala, as the two formed a powerful political consulting team. Carville stepped aside as the main man for the 2004 elections but many say he is ready to be back in business full time for the Democrats.

Two of my most favorite James Carville quotes are, “When your opponent is drowning, throw the son of a bitch an anvil.”
And
“Don’t get mad. Don’t get even. Just get elected, then get even.”

Karl Rove is considered to be a political genius for what he has done recently for the Republican Party. Karl was recently U.S. President George W. Bush’s senior advisor, chief political strategist, and his Deputy White House Chief of Staff in charge of policy.

Rove has managed numerous campaigns for individuals such as George W. Bush, John Ashcroft, George H Bush, and Phil Gramm.

Recently Karl Rove has been involved in accusations that accuse him of involvement in the felonious act of disclosing the identity of an undercover CIA agent to a Time Magazine reporter. It is accused that Karl leaked the name of Valerie Plame to reporter Matthew Cooper in retaliation for her husbands’ criticism of the Bush administration. Rove has acknowledged speaking to Matthew Cooper, but he denies any wrongdoing occurred. Rove has not been indicted, but still remains a subject of the investigation.

Rove has many triumphs throughout his political campaigns. Most notably, he was involved in the 1984 Ronald Reagan Presidential campaign; he was also involved in the 1994 John Ashcroft Senatorial campaign. Karl began to rise to prominence with his work in the 1994, and 1998 George W. Bush gubernatorial campaigns.

Karl grew up in Colorado but he also spent time in Nevada and Utah. Karls first election was run for himself, he got elected student council president at Olympus High School. This helped spark his interest in not only politics but campaigning.

Rove entered into major American politics in 1968. Rove was the Olympus High chairman for Wallace F. Bennett’s re-election campaign, it was during this time that karl befriended Bob Bennett; Bob would go on to become a United States Senator.

In 1970, Rove used, what would go on to become known as out of the box campaigning, a false identity to enter the campaign office of Democrat Alan J. Dixon, who was running for Illinois State Treasurer at the time. Rove reportedly stole numerous blank campaign letterhead papers and utilized them to print phony campaign rally fliers for Dixons’ campaign. The fliers promised free beer, free food, and beautiful girls at no charge. Rove is said to have distributed these fliers at rock concerts and homeless shelters. Rove later stated it was just a youthful prank that looking back he now regrets.

In 1979, Rove was the first person hired by George H. W. Bush for his official 1980 presidential campaign.

One of the more notarized accomplishments of Karl Rove is his work in getting Bill Clements elected the first Republican Governor of Texas in what was at the time a span of over 100 years.

In 1988, Rove helped Tom Phillips become the first Republican elected as Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court. By the end of 1998, Republicans held all nine seats on the Court.

In 1989, Rove encouraged George W. Bush to run for Texas governor, bringing in experts to tutor him on policy and introducing him to local reporters. Eventually, Bush decided not to run. Rove backed another Republican for governor; his candidate lost in the primaries.

In 1992, former president George H.W. Bush fired Rove because of the accusations arising that stated Rove had planted a negative story with columnist Robert Novak about dissatisfaction with Republican campaign fundraising Chief Robert Mosbacher Jr.

Rove went on to help Kay Bailey Hutchinson successful Senatorial campaign in 1993. Then in 1994 he went on to help the 94 John Ashcroft Senatorial campaign, and the 1994 George W. Bush gubernatorial campaign.

In 2000 Karl Rove helped George W. Bush assume the Presidency.

There is much more to these men than is stated in this story but for now, at least you know a little something about the men coaching your team.

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