"Though my husband James Carville, a Democratic Strategist and Clinton supporter, shares neither political nor philosophical views with Scooter, he has a deep respect for his intellect, his integrity, and joins me in the sentiments expressed here."

BLITZER: If anything, Howard Dean has been very consistent over the past few years, including when he was running for president.

MATALIN: Howard Dean is in some form of denial. Let me make a New Year's prediction for you, Wolf. The Democrats are going to have to dump him as a party chairman. He can't do the two things a party chairman is required to do, which is to raise money or get the message out.

When you look at a country that has gone from tyranny to sovereignty, to a transitional government, to a constitution, and next week is going to have the first self-determined elected government in the region, that is progress. He can be in denial, but who doesn't have a plan, doesn't have a policy, is the Democratic Party. And he's certainly not helping the Democratic Party, who are back-pedaling from their chairman faster than a (INAUDIBLE).

"Obviously James Carville is not a stupid man. He knows he didn't invent the 50-state strategy and that this line that they didn't pick up an additional 20 seats because of Dean is ridiculous. So what's the explanation? Why is he spouting these absurdities? Covering for Emanuel because he either ignored or got into the third tier of races so late? Frankly, Emanuel never imagined that we could have had 50 seat pickup this year, and he wanted to focus on the 20 races he started with, on his grand plan.

Is Carville is carrying Emanuel's water on this one? I don't know for sure, but I do know that the rest of the Dem Party establishment has credited Howard Dean and the 50-state strategy for the great success of this cycle."

Ford himself said he will likely run for office again, although Ford did turn down an offer by James Carville to run to replace Democratic Chairman Howard Dean."