James Carville, the seasoned Democratic strategist, is demonstrating that even a broken clock can tell time—at least twice a day. In a recent opinion piece for the New York Times, he boldly characterized his own party as a ‘cracked-out clown car.’ It’s hard to argue with that particular assessment.
A recent poll reveals that the approval rating for Democrats in Congress has plummeted to a disheartening 19 percent. Adding to the chaos, the party has just nominated a self-identified communist for the mayoral race in New York City. With no clear leader, no coherent message, and a dearth of innovative ideas, the Democratic Party seems to be in disarray.
For once, Carville’s commentary hits the nail on the head.
While his full piece resides behind a paywall, details have surfaced in a report by The Hill:
Carville: Democratic Party ‘a cracked-out clown car’
In his New York Times article, James Carville describes the current state of the Democratic Party as “a cracked-out clown car.”
“Constipated. Leaderless. Confused. A cracked-out clown car. Divided. These are the terms I hear echoed among my fellow Democrats when discussing our party’s current state. Frankly, they’re not mistaken: The Democratic Party is in shambles,” Carville articulated in his Monday release.
He highlighted the recent Democratic nomination of Zohran Mamdani as New York City mayor, an event that took many by surprise, stating it “wasn’t an isolated incident.”
“This reflects a significant fracture in our political identity. We are divided along generational lines: candidates like Mr. Mamdani demand an economic future that many of my contemporaries doubt can be realized,” Carville noted.
“We also face ideological divides: a party that has historically supported Israel is now at odds with a faction that cannot overlook the humanitarian issues in Gaza and the West Bank,” he continued. “From Medicare for All advocates to Affordable Care Act reformers, the divisions are numerous.”
Indeed, the list goes on, Mr. Carville. You have a point.
To punctuate this analysis, let’s consider an astute observation:
The biggest problem the Democrats face is their base is completely insane.
— EducatëdHillbilly™ (@RobProvince) July 20, 2025