Synopses & Reviews
The political strategists who directed the
Clinton campaign's War Room
reveal the lessons and secrets from
their hard-fought battles -- and how to
use these highly effective
strategies for success in everyday life. James Carville and Paul Begala have waged political war all across America and on three continents. They've won some of the most spectacular political victories of the twentieth century and lost a few campaigns too. Along the way, they've learned a few lessons. Some sound simple, like "Never Quit," some comic, like "Kiss Ass," and some are more complicated and nuanced, like "Strategy Ain't Tactics." But each lesson contains tried-and-true wisdom, illustrated with colorful stories from long political experience -- many never told before:
- Find out how Carville's mother, Miz Nippy, used a bass boat to "frame the debate" in selling encyclopedias.
- Discover what success secret Hillary Rodham Clinton and Tom DeLay share.
- Learn the War Room tricks for sharpening your message and delivering the perfect sound bite.
- And much more.
Whether you are a senior executive or a secretary, a political junkie or the president of the United States, the rules to live by can be found in Buck Up, Suck Up...and Come Back When You Foul Up.
About the Author
James Carville and Paul Begala have been a political team since 1983. Their first campaign together was the worst Democratic defeat in the history of the state they were working in. They recovered, regrouped and went on a five-year winning streak that caught the attention of the talented young governor in Arkansas. From that effort came the War Room, a new way to run political campaigns that has been studied around the world and was the basis of the Academy Award-nominated documentary.
Table of Contents
Contents Acknowledgments
Introduction
RULE 1: DON'T QUIT. DON'T EVER QUIT.
RULE 2: KISS ASS
RULE 3: KICK ASS
RULE 4: FRAME THE DEBATE
RULE 5: UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STRATEGY AND TACTICS
RULE 6: BE OPEN
RULE 7: KNOW HOW TO COMMUNICATE
RULE 8: WORK YOUR ASS OFF
RULE 9: TURN WEAKNESS INTO STRENGTH
RULE 10: BE NIMBLE, JACK
RULE 11: KNOW HOW TO RECOVER WHEN YOU REALLY SCREW UP
RULE 12: KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU WIN
Conclusion
Source Notes