Republican strategist Mary Matalin appeared on last night's episode of Real Time with Bill Maher to discuss the book she wrote with her Democrat husband James Carville, Love & War: Twenty Years, Three Presidents, Two Daughters and One Louisiana Home. (Carville also appeared on the Real Time panel.) When she sat down next to Maher, he remarked, "I know you're very brave because you had a fall and you had a little medical problem and you still showed up." Matalin proved to be more than just brave—she seemed hopped up on something that made her speech sluggish and slurred. She brought the party.

Jeff Zucker, the flesh egg whose destruction of NBC earned him a job running CNN, has launched his reign of terror over the network: James Carville and Mary Matalin — gone! Erick Erickson — gone! Managing editor Mark Whitaker — gone! And lo: Chris Cuomo's silhouette appears on the horizon, ready to take on "a major role in a new CNN morning show and across the network."

Democratic swamp-rat strategist James Carville told reporters today that "If Hillary gave up one of her balls and gave it to Obama, he'd have two." Will Obama mock him, like the last time Carville said something along these lines?

Today, Glenn Beck fit a full hour of crazy into his press-conference-shortened show. He started by comparing July 21st, 2010 to September 11th, 2001 (apparently, today marked the end of our republic). Then, he called Brian Urlacher a "Neo-Nazi."

This morning, on the eve of BP's attempt to cap the oil spill off the Gulf Coast, James Carville harshly criticized President Obama and his administration for neglecting to take action when the spill was in its infancy.

The most terrifying woman on cable news, Nancy Grace, turns 50 today. Director Sam Raimi and "Weird Al" Yankovic are both turning 50 today, too. Actor Ryan Reynolds is 33. Oscar-winning director Ang Lee is 55. Writer Augusten Burroughs is turning 44. ABC News correspondent Brian Ross turns 61. Jessica Stroup of 90210 is 23. Retired soccer legend Pelé is turning 69. Andy Warhol muse Jane Holzer is 69. And Meghan McCain turns 25 today. A list of people celebrating their birthdays this weekend is below.

When reporting on things said and done by the incredibly vocal minority of angry white people who make up the Republican base, one should always remember that their "reality" is different from ours. James Carville has proven this, with science!

Hillary Clinton is holding a contest to sucker people into paying her debt to Mark Penn. You can choose a prize, including a not-creepy-at-all day with Bill Clinton. We ask, which is the most bearable?

Oh, hey, look what some bloggers caught! Yesterday, Democratic strategist and original Clinton war room attack dog James Carville gave a lousy review to the first night of the Democratic National Convention. Which is his prerogative as an independent commentator, of course! Except that all the other liberals-and Democratic Party Operatives, like him-liked it, and loved Ted Kennedy, and loved Michelle Obama, and those little girls. But Carville, he was all, no, it sucked. "If this party has a message, it's done a hell of a job hiding it tonight, I promise you that." Click to see how his choice of footwear explains this bitter response to the first night of the party.

The moderator's chair was empty as Tom Brokaw and Meet the Press vets James Carville, Mary Matalin, Mike Barnacle, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Gwen Ifil, Maria Shriver and the show's executive producer Betsy Fischer gathered to celebrate the life of their old friend. Clip after the jump.

It's that time of year when institutions of higher learning heartlessly eject their seniors into the real world! Princeton grads were treated to the best speech of the season; Stephen Colbert delivered a zinger-filled address (above) in which he wisely reminded grads that "no one will ever, ever want to hear you sing a capella" outside college. How true. But plenty of other colleges tapped A through Z-list celebs to brace their soon-to-be-discharged students for entry into the workforce.

CNN has apparently banned some of its most recognizable analysts from its campaign coverage. James Carville and Paul Begala—CNN's top Democratic analysts, both of whom achieved political fame in Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign, and both of whom support Hillary—were suspended from commenting on the presidential race sometime in December. And no one noticed!

Tina Brown discusses the broadcast media's mad scramble to book relevant guest speakers during wartime. Winston S. Churchill (yes, they're relatedauthor of My Grandfather Invented Iraq) was in serious demand but when he appeared on CNN's Crossfire recently, "former Clinton spin-doctor James Carville s introduction to his guest was so perfunctory and hastily prepared it could be summarised as 'So, Winston, who the fuck are you?'" Tina also laments the cancellation of her talk show, and says that "'If only Tony Blair were President' is still the prevailing feeling among Americans." (Perhaps in New York, Tina. The rest of America's prevailing feelings about the PM would better be described as "Who's Tony Blair?")
CNBC's pre-emptive strike [Times2]