Paul Begala

PAUL E. BEGALA * TO: George W. Bush FROM: Paul E. Begala RE: How you can win the election (maybe) * I am writing this real slow, 'cause I know you don't read too fast. I know, cheap shot. But if you're going to win the election (a proposition I both doubt and fear) you have got to overcome a few major obstacles, among them the sense that, well--how can I put this delicately?--you're a few French fries short of a Happy Meal.

Bill Press, the former KABC talk radio host and chairman of the California State Democratic Party who has been arguing the "left" side of issues on CNN's "Crossfire," is being replaced by former Clinton insiders James Carville and Paul Begala. The two one-time advisors and political strategists for President Clinton will rotate in the job at the venerable political debate show.

James Carville and Paul Begala are tossing around some harpoons they'd like to aim at George Bush in 1992. Carville waves his arms in big circles, his voice gets louder, his Southern accent more pronounced as the fantasy of the television commercial grows: "I can see a big flame--a red flare in the sky over the capital--with a voice saying: 'Why, what's that?

PAUL E. BEGALA * TO: George W. Bush FROM: Paul E. Begala RE: How you can win the election (maybe) * I am writing this real slow, 'cause I know you don't read too fast. I know, cheap shot. But if you're going to win the election (a proposition I both doubt and fear) you have got to overcome a few major obstacles, among them the sense that, well--how can I put this delicately?--you're a few French fries short of a Happy Meal.

Bill Press, the former KABC talk radio host and chairman of the California State Democratic Party who has been arguing the "left" side of issues on CNN's "Crossfire," is being replaced by former Clinton insiders James Carville and Paul Begala. The two one-time advisors and political strategists for President Clinton will rotate in the job at the venerable political debate show.

Tommy Vietor was the first youthful convert to pack his bags, leave home and sign on to the Barack Obama campaign, joining the Chicago operation before his boss, then running for the Senate, had even given the convention speech by which the rest of Democratic America would discover him. He rose from driver of a press van across rural Illinois to fixture of the White House situation room. Now, the 32-year-old is contemplating something new -- a future not working for Obama. Amid the high-level departures and appointments of Obama's second term, a quieter changing of the guard is taking place farther down the food chain.

Paul Begala, a top White House aide who was key to President Clinton's 1992 election, said he is resigning to teach at Georgetown University. "[Students] need to believe in something, because [politics] matters," Begala, 37, said. A vocal Clinton defender through the Monica S. Lewinsky scandal, Begala said the end of the impeachment trial made it easier to go. "I wouldn't be leaving if I thought the White House was in trouble."

David SHAW critiques the appearances of Pat Buchanan, Paul Begala and James Carville, et al, in fostering a perception of media bias [Media Matters, "War Horse Analysts Come Saddled With Image of Bias," 10/3/04]. These pundits make no secret of their partisanship for their respective positions, so what is the problem? Is there a TV viewer alive who doesn't now know this? Shaw doesn't seem to have a problem with the "Dennis Miller" show, hosted by Bush's opening act. If Shaw is going to write about Dan Rather's lapses, fine.

Here's the rundown on guests and topics for the weekend's public-affairs programs: Today "Today": Post-pregnancy make-over; fashions for new moms; children's books; Vermont Senate candidate Fred Tuttle; rewards of grandmotherhood; simple home repairs, 5 a.m. KNBC. "Evans, Novak, Hunt & Shields": Paul Begala, counselor to the president, 2:30 p.m. CNN. "John McLaughlin's One on One": President Clinton and foreign policy, 2:30 p.m. KCET. "Tony Brown's Journal": President Clinton's behavior, 3:30 p.

I was amused by Paul E. Begala's personal attack on George W. Bush ("And Now For Something Completely Treasonous," Aug. 13). Isn't this the same Begala who appeared on talk shows, denying President Clinton's involvement with a young intern? Begala may have thought he was just being a loyal soldier, but in all fairness, one must add to the recipe several pinches of naivete and plain dumbness. It's not exactly a Phi Beta Kappa performance. Begala should be one of the last to question another person's intelligence.

James Carville and Paul Begala are tossing around some harpoons they'd like to aim at George Bush in 1992. Carville waves his arms in big circles, his voice gets louder, his Southern accent more pronounced as the fantasy of the television commercial grows: "I can see a big flame--a red flare in the sky over the capital--with a voice saying: 'Why, what's that?

Healthcare plan: An article in Tuesday's Section A about President Obama's healthcare plan quoted Democratic strategist Paul Begala as saying, "The Republican leadership is more likely to perform in a gay marriage than they are to work with Democrats on healthcare." The quote should have read, "The Republican leadership is more likely to perform a gay marriage than they are to work with Democrats on healthcare." Congress and Twitter: An article in Tuesday's Section A about the growing use of Twitter by members of Congress, in a passage about politicians' past use of diaries before the rise of social media, referred to former Sen. Bob Graham of Florida as a Republican.

Executives of three of the nation's largest health insurers told federal lawmakers in Washington on Tuesday that they would continue canceling medical coverage for some sick policyholders, despite withering criticism from Republican and Democratic members of Congress who decried the practice as unfair and abusive.