NOVAK:   Time now for "Fireback," when the viewers "Fireback" at us. The first e-mail tonight's from Rene Goguen of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. I was stationed at Fort Devons right near Fitchburg. "Bob, you are my kind of guy. To think that the Democrats economic package is the better plan is ridiculous. I have a problem when I, being a taxpayer, have to pay for those who don't pay taxes by choice. It is a sure sign to me of Socialism. Keep up the good work showing our side." Rene, it's great to find one clear-thinking American in Massachusetts. 
CARVILLE:   All right. We'll now attack Massachusetts. A state with a new Republican governor. "CBS's decision to air a reality version of `The Beverly Hillbillies' is disgraceful. If a network ran a show where blacks were moved into gated communities, people would rightly e outraged. can't we give rural Americans the same respect?" Willie Davis, Lexington, Kentucky. You're right, Willie. 
NOVAK:   All right. Gare Galbraith of Charlottesville, Virginia says, "Novak's claim the Democrats are afraid of what Al Sharpton will bring to the dynamics of Presidential primaries is sadly narrow. Stop projecting, Novie. You're the one who fears these groups having more voice and power." Let me tell you, Gare Galbraith, what they're worried about is that 40 percent of the black -- of the Democratic voters in the South is black. If they all go to Reverend Sharpton, and they got eight white candidates against him, the Democrats are in huge trouble. 
CARVILLE:   You know, Novie, I thought you ought to change your last name to Scotia. All right. "Dear, James, you are so sexy when you get angry at those wrong-headed conservatives. I just want to kiss you. I am 70 years old. Do you like older women?" Betty Sinski, Angleton, Texas. Betty, I love all women. 
NOVAK:   First question from the audience. 
UNIDENTIFIED MALE:   Yes, I'm Gregory Blant (ph) from Chevy Chase, Maryland. Would the Clintons, Bill, Hillary, Roger, be a good family to star in this new "Beverly Hillbillies" show on CBS? 
NOVAK:   That is a good question. I think it would be ideal. 
CARVILLE:   I think it would be great. I think a guy with an IQ of about 199, went to Oxford, was a Rhodes scholar would be a good representative. 
NOVAK:   Go ahead.  
UNIDENTIFIED MALE:   Hi. I'm Josh Mintz (ph) from Richfield, Connecticut. Do you think Senator Daschle would have won the Democratic nomination? Why or why not? 
NOVAK:   He wouldn't have won a thing. That's why he got out. Nobody likes to lose. Cooter doesn't like to lose and Tom Daschle doesn't like to lose. 
CARVILLE:   I think he was going to run, as of yesterday.   and I think he really did decide that he needed to stay as a leader. That he made an obligation to his party. And I think he felt it and I congratulate him for it. 
NOVAK:   Question? 
UNIDENTIFIED MALE:   Yes. Wade Ewing (ph) from Hershey, Pennsylvania. 
NOVAK:   Hershey, I love the smell of that town. 
CARVILLE:   That's where Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points. 
UNIDENTIFIED MALE:   As you can tell, I do, too. I was wondering, why Democrats are always so willing to take credit for all the foreign policy and economic work that Bush Senior and Reagan did, and use Clinton as the vessel to accept that Credit. Yet they don't give the same credit for the bad situation that we're in now to Clinton. Instead they blame it on Bush Junior. 
NOVAK:   Excellent question. 
CARVILLE:   It was Clinton that created $3 trillion worth of debt? Or was it Clinton that solved the problem. It was Clinton that solved all these problems. Wasn't Clinton that inherited $5.6 trillion surplus. From the left I'm James Carville. Good night from CROSSFIRE. 
NOVAK:   From the right I'm Robert Novak. Join us again next time for another edition of CROSSFIRE. "CONNIE CHUNG TONIGHT" begins right now.
