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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



It won't be Carville...

Posted: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 3:29 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Andrea Mitchell
There are clearly changes coming but...
Contrary to a Fox News report, James Carville tells me he has no role in the Clinton campaign. He will continue talking to his friends in the campaign, but: "Reports that I will have a role are ludicrous."

"My role in the campaign is the same as its been all along -- I'm a Clinton supporter, sympathizer. I talk to people in the campaign all along"

His advice all along has been to "put her out there" -- and let Hillary be Hillary.

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Maybe CNN would do the right thing for once and stop referring to him as an objective political analyst when he even admits he is not!  
WOW!!!  More evidence that HRC is not really a candidate, but a SURROGATE.  Since hearing this I can not look at her news shots without expecting Bill to crawl out of her mouth.  When Bill said today "this whole thing is the biggest fairytale I've ever seen", was we really talking about HRC instead of Barrack Obama?
If CNN did the ''right thing''their studios would be in Moscow. Not in the US.
Sorry: why should anyone trust *anything* Carville says? Or for that matter, anything coming out of the Clinton campaign?

Lots of nonsensical chatter prior to augering in.
Uh "let hillary be Hillary"? Who is that wicked woman that has been campaigning as Hillary then? BORING!!
After 20 years of Clinton's, Bush's it is time for change.
Go Obama
Cnn get over it. You have always been a Clinton network. Do not want Bill running around in White House. Dangerous.
After 20 years of Clinton's, Bush's it is time for change.
Go Obama
Cnn get over it. You have always been a Clinton network. Do not want Bill running around in White House. Dangerous.
Oh great. I guess after this news, we best brace ourselves for another crying episode from Hillary.

She has done nothing but cry "me, me, me".

Yeah.

Thanks Hillary for setting back women back 50 years in the world of politics.
I hope she does add Carville.  Once again it will be Hillary's campaign showing that they have no idea how to evolve.  Bring in another old recognizable face with a ton of Washington experience.  Thats exactly what the people do not want. We do not want Washington run the way it has been, and them bringing in these people is only further proof that they are old and Barack is new. I can't believe that they haven't learned this yet.
"Let Hillary be Hillary"  isn't that a line from the West Wing TV Show - "Let Bartlet be Bartlet"
No wonder the writers are on strike when Carville steals their stuff. ;-)
Here, here Mike. The casual observer get the Clinton spin straight from the horse's mouth. Have some integrity CNN!
"put her out there" -- and let Hillary be Hillary.
 
I don't think that's working, hillary is not what the country wants or needs. people in new york seem to like her, she needs to go back home, she just as well take her clone rudy back with her, nobody outside of new york needs him either.
Hello, guys, anybody home? We are all posting like crazy and I guess you all get a LONG afternoon nap break!?! Where are our voices?
Hillary's team needs a shakeup, start with Terry McAuliffe or at least hide him somewhere.  
So ... assuming(!) that Hillay's current crop of handlers is to blame for her woeful performance to date: Was it her experience or her judgment that led her to hire them as her handlers?
I agree completely, David. When I saw Madeline Albright standing behind Hillary during her concession speech, it was about as laughable (only more pathetic) as Chuck Norris pumping his elderly fist behind Huckabee.

Hillary needs to man-up and deal with rejection. She is not the people's "princess". Ha!
The animosity towards Hillary Clinton is telling...but sad because so much of it is vicious.  She has accomplished an awful lot in her life -- a lot that is good -- and whether she wins the Democratic nomination or not, she should be respected for that.  I'd rather see Edwards than Obama, only because no matter how much we all want change, an inexperienced president won't be able to navigate the raging waters of D.C.  Like it or not, we need someone who knows how to work within the system to create change.  Doesn't anyone remember what happened to Jimmy Carter?
Maybe CNN would do the right thing for once and stop referring to him as an objective political analyst when he even admits he is not!  



Maybe the same can be said with other news organizations for Stephanopoulos, Albright, Gergen, and on and on. It's always fun, in a geeky kind of way, to google the people these so called news organizations bring on as "experts". Many times you find out they come from not so unbiased organizations, and they are more activist then they are analyst.
In 92, Bill Clinton said, "I feel your pain."  In 2007, saying, "It's personal", Hillary is asking all of America to feel her pain.  Doesn't work that way.
Make sure to check Campaign Diaries's updates throughout the night and, for now, its guidelines for what to expect going in: http://www.campaigndiaries.com/2008/01/setting-expectations-we-will-have-whole.html
"It's my turn,..." says the princess in one of her responses... turn to Clintonize the country, once was enough and beneficial but twice is not in the cards.  Expierence can be equated to political baggage and promises.
Clinton looks like she is waiting in line for the throne from King George "the Worst". I have been waiting 10 months for her to speak up and convince me to vote for her. Now that she can't win the campaign on her own, she is having high profile figures do her fight. Hope they go to the White House with her to convince Congress and the Senate to agree with her. Barrack is proving he can unite different sides without all the negative high profile attacks. Waiting for the Queen to speak up, positively, but I may not change my vote to her since she is on the wrong path already and has been for so long. Would hate to she her on the wrong message for a year as President. GO OBAMA 08!
I THINK SHE SHOULD GET RADIO HEAD, LYNETTE AND BOLEY LMAO
I THINK SHE SHOULD GET RADIO HEAD, LYNETTE AND BOLEY LMAO
The animosity towards Hilary Clinton amazes me.  She is criticized for being too political, but she has done what every other male politician has done to get where he has gotten.  She is an extremely bright and accomplished woman.  She is as capable of being a chnage agent as anyone running.  I have heard Michelle Obama speak, and frankly I believe she would be a better candidate than her husband.  She is the one who has been bringing home most of the bacon and providing stability for the family while he pursues his various interests.  Everyone should take a step back and look at what the candidates have actually accomplished.  
More hateful posts from the Obama cult, what a surprise! Hillary does not deserve such horrible, ugly and cruel comments from fellow democrats.You people continue to reinforce that a vote for Obama is a vote for anger and hatred. How can you all act like this and yet claim that you want positive change? The way I see it, even voting republican would be more positive than the "hope"(hate) you're all offering. True democrats are SO PROUD of all Hillary's accomplishments!
Lee Holmes--
Lee, that splintering sound is the legs breaking off your antique 3 legged Ronald Reagan, Republican, milking stool.
James in Charlotte, I agree with you 100%. Terry McAuliffe is extremely irritating. I am less than impressed with Harold Wolfson and Mark Penn, as well. I'm not sure that anyone could help Hillary now, but her current political team seems out of touch and negative.

I still have a few weeks to make up my mind as I live in Florida (not that my vote will count thanks to our Republican contolled state legislature that moved up our primary to before Feb. 5th, causing the DNC to not award any delegates from Florida). I'm not sure I'm quite ready to jump on the Obama bandwagon, though he sure is inspirational. I still like John Edwards but that $400 haircut may have been his Waterloo. As for Hillary, I cannot rule her out, she has always championed the right causes. It just looks too late to re-invent herself. Her concession speech tonight may be a make or break moment for her campaign.
I can't believe that with the world in ity's current condition, and the U.S. as messed up as it is, people admit to supporting a candidate with NO significant experience of any kind to run this country.  I like Obama but not THIS year.  And I like James Carvelle, too.  He's smart/articulate enough to have his wife's respect, and she's anoher smart, competrent woman.
I cannot believe anyone would want to listen to james carville,  He is such a pain. Yes Let Mr Obama do something different in Washington.  The no do Congress always investigating people instead of doing their over paid jobs.

I personally like John McCain and Fred Thompson, but of course those are the good guys.  

and PLEASE. turn off the tears Hillary, where were they when Bill was running amouk in the White house
Clinton says she's ready to lead on day on (1) and she can't keep her campaign together.  How is she going to lead with such a dysfunctional staff?
One voter's thought on a new campaign song for their "new" strategy:

"Glory Days."  

At least the crowd would be energized for 4 minutes.  Hard not to stand up for that one.
Cathy from Upstate NY - What did you think would happen, when in the process of attacking another Democrat, the Clintons manage to trash both the concept of hope and Martin Luther King? And that's just one day, in which they also managed to throw in a little Rovian politics of fear. Do you think that would endear her to Democrats?
i really agree with the posts that dare to ask how those seeking a "positive change" can be so negative and ugly to clinton.  she HAS championed the right causes and she HAS fought hard for what is right.  this is when politics becomes ugly...taking a positive,upbeat message delivered by obama and turning it into a distasteful, negative, small minded blog, lashing out at clinton.  does anyone REALLY know how much difference there is in obama and clinton's views?  not much...and i suggest we all stick together lest we end up with 4 more years of republican drivel.

Cathy from Upstate NY - Relax. Drink some warm milk. Turn on Oprah, no wait, that won't help you. Try the Lifetime channel. This will all be over soon.


If America is so crazed with style and eloquency, maybe Obama is your man. Just do not complain when you have to
pay the extra taxes with the last few dollars you still have left in your pocket.

Of course, party hard for now, while you still can.
The fact remains that a democratic president is an imperative in this election.  The problem is that too many people forget how manipulation works.  Have we not learned any lessons from Watergate and Michael Dukakis?
Obama would not be a "bad" president -- it's just that he is the Republican's Democratic candidate and will get crushed.
Please everyone stop, think, reason.  Put away your idealistic visions and do what it will take to put a democrat in the White House. Hillary is an experience, articulate, powerful candidate.  What is everyone griping about?  I've seen the word "witch" used!  For heaven's sake.
G Manners in Burlington: I don't like milk, and I don't like Oprah. Believe it or not,even though I'm a Hillary supporter, I never had anything against Obama other than his lack of experience and empty promises. That is until I began to see how much hatred lies within his supporters...it's quite tough to find a "positive message" among all the cruel posts. I don't watch the lifetime channel either, and it's just ignorant on your part to suggest it...was that your idea of a sexist joke? Oh, I get it, because I support Hillary it's Okay to make sexist jokes...I could tell you to go !*&%#@*!, but I'm too much of a lady for that!  Hillary OR a QUALIFIED candidate for President!!!
stateofdisbelief:

Sooooo... you're saying we ought to toss aside a likable, inspiring candidate because the candidate with more baggage and extraordinary negatives would be more electable? Um, I think I'll pass on that offer.
Unbelievable!   Are American voters again going behind a candidate who speaks only to values?  Where is the substance? Leave out the hatreed and think about what you are doing. Values are important, but this is a big country with lots of problems?  Can your chosen candidate fix them? D. Brooks






















D. Brooks,Waterford, WI

Why would you believe anything Carville says?
When a campaign is not performing as expected, you shake up the staff. That's what good politicians do. No surprise there.  And for those Democrats who want another Republican in the White House for four more years, by all means vote Obama. If by some miracle he is elected, you have to wonder how his flowery speeches will go over in Tehran or Pyongyang. I can't understand why so many people complain about the Clinton years. Balanced budget, 8 years without a single American killed in combat. Family and Medical Leave Act passed into law, just to name a few of the Clinton disasters. Yeah, those were some really horrible times, weren't they? Get a grip, folks.



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