AND I QUOTE: What Political Books Are Saying : WE’RE RIGHT, THEY’RE WRONG: A Handbook for Spirited Progressives. By James Carville <i> (Random House: $10; 183 pp.)</i>

“It’s not too surprising that the Wall Street types overwhelmingly support the Republican party. Hell, everyone knows the Republicans are better for the economy. Actually, they’re not. Since World War II, job growth has always been better under Democratic presidents than under Republican ones. In the last 50 years, there have been 10 presidents--five Democrats and five Republicans--and the Democrats place first, second, third, fourth and fifth. Dumb luck? I was curious about that myself. So I called a couple of mathematician friends. They say the chance of that occurring randomly is one in 252, which just happens to be almost the exact odds of being dealt a straight in a game of five-card stud. . . . Cut the crap, boys and girls. Facts are Facts.”

Blam! Slap! Crunch! Are the Republicans really up to balancing the books? Cutting taxes? Do they really know the feel of their own bootstraps? Here is the counterpoint, told in soundbite ripose and flash-card facts, by the Democrats’ most colorful political sage. This book belongs in the lunch pail of everyone who isn’t convinced by today’s political debate. Carville may be overexposed, but few are as entertaining as he up against the idea that government is America’s No. 1 enemy and business its best friend.

In Conclusion: A meaty, spicy, savory Cajun gumbo to make fire breathers of the Democrats.