Product Description

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 business and 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:

• Find out how Carville's mother used a bass boat to "frame the debate" in
selling encyclopedias.
• Learn the War Room tricks for sharpening your message and delivering the perfect sound bite.
• Discover what success secret Hillary Rodham Clinton and Tom DeLay share.
• 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #304530 in Books
• Published on: 2003-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780743234481
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Amazon.com Review
Even if you fervently disagree with the party bias they tout proudly and often, you probably concur that Democratic political consultants Paul Begala and James Carville know what it takes to craft a winning strategy. In Buck Up, Suck Up... and Come Back When You Foul Up, the two lay out 12 of the rules they developed while separately and jointly masterminding some of the hottest political races in recent years. And with entertaining and enlightening behind-the-scenes anecdotes drawn from both effective and futile experiences along the campaign trail--most notably their work with Bill Clinton during his two presidential terms--Begala and Carville present a practical course that can be followed in business as well as politics. "If the audience you're trying to reach is smaller than the one hundred million voters we spend our time trying to reach," they write, "we believe these lessons are even more important because your target audience is even more sophisticated, even more interested, even more up-to-the-minute."

At first glance, some rules appear blatantly obvious ("Don't Quit," "Turn Weakness into Strength") and some intentionally controversial ("Kiss Ass," "Know How to Recover When You Really Screw Up"). But, in their explanations, the relevancy and potential application of each consistently comes through. For example, in "Frame the Debate," they note how Ronald Reagan controlled the agenda in his 1980 challenge to Jimmy Carter through early attacks on the incumbent's most unpopular policies--showing precisely why "military strategists know that most battles are won ... by the side that determines where, when and how an engagement is fought." Likewise, in "Know How to Communicate," they bring five tips (tell a story, be brief, be emotional, be unique, be relevant) to life by explaining how their use aided campaigns for Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair, and others. The result, while perhaps too profane for some and definitely not Republican-friendly despite its grudging acknowledgment of a few masterful GOP performances, is nonetheless uniformly readable and genuinely practical. --Howard Rothman

From Publishers Weekly
In their introduction to Buck Up, Suck Up... and Come Back When You Foul Up: 12 Winning Secrets from the War Room, political strategists James Carville and Paul Begala state, "If you buy this book and read it, you will not make $1 million at least not because you bought this book." But they go on to say that readers will get "good, sound advice on how to win." They proceed to make good on their word, offering secrets from the Clinton campaign that range from "kiss ass"' to "reward risk more than you punish failure." Their good-natured approach is humorous and refreshing. Agent, Robert Barnett.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Two major political strategists teach you how to win your own battles.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Attack . . . Attack . . . and Counter-Attack
Caution: This book features lots of coarse language. If that sort of thing offends you, skip this book.

The two Democratic strategists combine to describe the key elements of how they feel that political candidates (whether Democrats or Republicans, conservatives or liberals) can win elections, and successfully pursue their agendas in office.

The general advice is to take the offense, and stay on it, even when on defense.

Let me paraphrase the key points into a shorter list to make the concepts more understandable:

1. If you keep trying your hardest to get elected, someday you will succeed. Abraham Lincoln is the prime example.

2. Honestly seek out allies when you need them to get elected. John F. Kennedy taking on Lyndon Johnson as his vice presidential candidate is the main example.

3. Attack your strongest candidate in the general election constantly above the belt. Attack first, attack hardest, and counter-attack first. The first Clinton presidential campaign is the main example.

4. Pick the issue where the strongest general election opponent is most vulnerable, and don't let go! "It's the economy, stupid!"

5. Tell your story unceasingly in a brief, emotional, unique, and relevant way. "Are you better off than you were four years ago?"

6. Be quick to lead with your mistakes, weaknesses, and flaws by realizing that people want to hear it from you first. They will find out anyway, and you can gain credibility and trust this way.

7. Once you are in office, use your political capital wisely where it will make a difference. Build on success!

I suspect that most of these points are not new to you. Why read the book, then? Actually, it's main appeal is in the self-deprecating humor the authors use in describing how determined people on both side of the political spectrum verbally wrestle for power. If you are a Republican or a conservative, you probably won't enjoy the book because there's lots of positive things said about the Democratic candidates the authors have assisted. The book also refers to Republicans, especially President Reagan, but much less intensively.

As examples of the humor, Mr. Carville tells how his mother used to sell encyclopedias to help support the family by looking for men with lots of kids and a bass boat, the book has chicken salad and French toast recipes, and the authors tell about their own personal awkward moments in campaigns.

Will you read about the political issues surrounding the most famous White House intern? Oh, yes. Perhaps more than you want to.

Why should you want to be in office? I suggest that you have a pretty good reason . . . or you won't want to live like this.

The authors leave it up to you as to whether the book applies to other fields. The section on Rule 7: Know How to Communicate was the only section that I thought provided any insights that you might not know already. But that section is quite well done, with vivid examples.

If you are like me, your biggest take-away from this book is how effective open, self-deprecating humor is.

Help others in all the ways you can!

Reiterating Old, Good Ideas
In an abrubt version of "Failing Forward" by John Maxwell, with a dose of Machivelli and a smidgen of Covey's "Seven Habits...", "Buck Up, Suck Up...and Come Back When You Foul Up: How to Fight and Win...in Business, in Politics and in Life" explains for the hundreth time what Horation Alger knew all along...

Work hard, play smart, and be honest. That, with a little bit of luck, things will work out.

Unfortunately, Paul Begala and James Carville are not afraid to explain that tenacity need not always be focused on what's best. Their adage of "It's the economy stupid" only shows that being simplistic can win the war.

They do emphasize wisdom. Know your assets, increase them when you can, and spend them wisely. Whether this is a budget, polital cachet, or people devoted to your cause... use them wisely.

I recommend "Buck Up, Suck Up...and Come Back When You Foul Up: How to Fight and Win...in Business, in Politics and in Life." The title is long, but the book is good.

Anthony Trendl

Long overdue book from the War Room
The dynamic duo of James Carville and Paul Begala have teamed up to compose a manifest of the strategies essential for the ever famous "War Room" operations. The tweleve winning secrets, as Carville and Begala deem to be, are: 1.) don't quit, 2.) kick [butt], 3.) kiss [butt], 4.) frame the debate, 5.) understand the difference between strategy and tatic, 6.) be open, 7.) know how to communicate, 8.) work your [butt] off, 9.) turn weakness into strength, 10.) be nimble, jack, 11.) know how to recover when you really screw up, and 12.) know what to do when you win.

The book gives the lesson of each secret along with stories and examples which exemplify how the secret proved to be successful in their experiences within the War Room. It is always fascinating to read the real life applications of such strategies and to be inspired by such action.

As usual, Carville and Begala write with such flair and style that it is nearly impossible for a reader not to laugh and love the book!

My being a loyal follower of Carville and his work, this book certainly is recommended with the highest regard.