Take It Back

Our Party, Our Country, Our Future

By: James Carville, Paul Begala

Narrated by: Paul Begala

Length: 6 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

By being too timid and too weak, too hesitant and too confused, Democrats have allowed Republicans to run amok.

Republicans today control everything: the White House, the Congress, the Supreme Court, the federal bureaucracy, the military, and the corporate special interests and their lobbyists. They operate powerful right-wing organizations, right-wing think tanks, and a conservative media that serves as an attack dog against Democrats.

Republicans have used their absolute power to corrupt our democracy, degrade our military, weaken our health care system, diminish our stature in the world, damage our environment, reward the rich, hammer the poor, squeeze the middle class, bankrupt our Treasury, and indenture our children to foreign debt holders.

In this important audiobook, James Carville and Paul Begala show Democrats how they can take it back. They offer a clear-eyed critique of their party's failures and make specific, concrete recommendations on how Democrats can avoid losing elections on divisive issues such as abortion, gun control, gay rights, and moral values and start winning them on health care, political reform, energy, the environment, tax reform, and more.

Carville and Begala say that liberal Democrats are right that too many establishment Democrats kowtow to corporate interests and shamefully supported George W. Bush's rush to war. And moderate Democrats are right to complain that too many Democrats are out of step with middle-class values, too removed from people of faith, too enthralled with intellectual and cultural elites.

But the problem with the Democrats, Carville and Begala argue, is not ideological. It's anatomical. They lack a backbone. Take It Back is a spinal transplant for Democrats and an audacious battle plan for victory.

Don't miss James Carville and Paul Begala at the 92nd Street Y.

©2006 James Carville and Paul Begala (P)2006 Simon & Schuster, Inc. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.

Critic reviews

"These consultants offer a thoughtful and passionate appeal for change in the Democratic Party and the nation." (Booklist)

same swill, different author

It's amazing to listen to a book written from a talking head either from the left or right. What's nice about this book, is that beyond mocking the other side, the authors actually spend quite a bit of time on what their ideas are for solutions to taxes, healthcare and other key issues. And of course, the ragin' cajun narrates the preface.

BRILLIANT

This book lays out a brilliant plan of action for the Democratic party. Hopefully they will follow it! I would expect nothing less from James Carville and Paul Begala. I really loved this book - I will definitely listen to it again.

Taking the Dems to task

Tho they do a bit of a trash job on the current administration (and, deservedly so, IMHO), the authors really turn their guns on the current Democratic party powers-that-be, and their compliance and lack of direction.

A fairly good operations manual for would-be candidates...and a fairly good review of just-what-the-heck-happened since 9/11 for the rest of us...

Awesome and very important for all to read!!!

This is important for all to read to get a good idea of what is going on in politics and with OUR Politicians. Not just a democrat view but a centrist view. If centrist are a majority then why do we let the extremist run our country into the ground??? Why do we let the extremist tear our country into two warring factions, ridiculous...

If the Democrats would do what these guys suggest they would win me over but I must say I am skeptical that would happen. Buy it Read it and then discuss it with friends. Lets get this country back to its greatness.

Inspirational

Looking for something to inspire you? Leave your politics outside and listen to this. Then work to reclaim America. I'm sorry this is only available in its abridged version.

This book didn't age well.

Not a bad book. I can see that it might have been very good in 2006,, but little of the book seems to fit in 2018.

Take it Back

I would like to begin by stating that I am a right leaning American. I found the book to be quite honest about the path the Democrats ought to take to reconnect to the public. Even though the middle portion of the book tends to Bush bash, the recommendations for change were sound and would require a significant effort of will and coordination by the current Democratic leadership. It is a good listen for any open minded person who either wants affirmation of being right or to have a different look at why and how there can be change in the face of politics. Carville and Begala were frank in their effort to express a significant concern about the political party that they have comitted to. I am anxious to see if their party takes the advise of this book. Begala did a fine job reading the book.

Disappointing

I was expecting Carville to unleash a nuclear attack on the Democrat Leadership after three disappointing losses in a row and an ever growing fasination with the Republican-Lite policies of the DLC. Instead, this book more closely resembled the Boy Scout Manual.

Carville continued his love affair with Bill Clinton and totally ignored his departure from Democrat fundamentals on such issues as NAFTA. This Republican trade agreement was on track for extinction until Clinton revived and passed it shortly after assuming office in 1992.

The central advice to Democrats was to maintain your integrity and hold on to your principles and victory will be yours, eventually.

Quite honestly, I was expecting James to disclose a plan of attack that more closely resembled the cut throat, take no prisoners politics typically played in his native louisiana. Maybe that's his real plan for the next election and he's just keeping it under wraps!