Carville Advocates for a Strong Democratic Offense

James Carville, a seasoned strategist for the Democratic Party, has vocalized his concerns about the party’s direction, suggesting that it might be wise for Democrats to adopt a more aggressive stance against what he refers to as the “identity left.” During his appearance on “Saturday in America” with Kayleigh McEnany, Carville also endorsed the idea of expanding the Supreme Court by adding four liberal justices in 2028, should Democrats reclaim power.

When the topic of court expansion came up, Carville commented, “We should do that because the public has lost confidence in the entire government sector.”

McEnany probed Carville about the Democratic Party’s shift towards the left, particularly after recent special elections in New York City and Seattle resulted in the election of two Democratic Socialists.

Carville remarked that while it’s crucial for the coalition to welcome many voices, some individuals are just more trouble than they’re worth. “But when one part of the coalition becomes destructive to another, it’s time to reconsider our relationship with them,” he noted.

He underscored that ignoring the “identity left” may not be sufficient and argued for the necessity of a direct confrontation with this progressive wing. Carville expressed frustration, saying, “I think we need to not just say, ‘Hey, we lost, we know we lost,’ so we just move on.” He lamented how certain progressive actions, like promoting new gender pronouns, have damaged the party’s electoral prospects.

“It has caused great damage to the electoral process,” he stated. “Some people believe we should just declare victory and move on, but my perspective is that we’ve navigated a really, really stupid era in Democratic politics, which has caused lasting harm.”

In the discussion, Carville shared his conviction that if the Democrats secure the 2028 presidential election and gain a majority in Congress, they should proceed to pack the Supreme Court. He claimed with confidence, “In 2028, there’s going to be a Democrat elected. You know that. I know that.”

Carville predicted that a Democratic president might establish a Special Transition Advisory Commission to spearhead Supreme Court reforms and mentioned recommendations to increase the number of justices from nine to thirteen. “It’s going to happen, folks. They’re going to win. We’re going to nominate three people. And a Democratic Senate and House will pass it,” he affirmed.

Addressing McEnany’s concerns regarding former President Biden’s commitment to not pack the court, Carville maintained that expanding the court is essential, as people’s trust in government has waned remarkably. “This is the lowest number in the Supreme Court’s evaluation,” he said. “Nowhere in the Constitution does it say it has to be nine; it’s just a number that was decided upon.”

As the conversation unfolded, McEnany pointed out the necessity of making Puerto Rico a state and abolishing the filibuster to facilitate such a court expansion. Carville seemed open to this idea, highlighting the urgent need for drastic measures amidst a national emergency.

“When this country is facing a national emergency, I think they … implemented a filibuster for nominations. That’s not written into the law,” he explained.

Carville asserted that political motivations underlie all actions in the Senate, emphasizing the inherent nature of political strategy in governance. “Why would the Senate do anything other than political reasons? Of course, it’s for political reasons!”

In closing, Carville pointed out that both parties engage in political maneuvering to undermine each other, suggesting this is simply the nature of politics.