Carville is just a noisy irritant, not running for office, and no threat.

Le Pen is running for office, and a different threat. However, from what I've read he has as much chance to get elected as Carville.

As I understand the election system, it was safe to vote for Le Pen knowing that when it came time for the "real" election one could vote against him. With a "free" vote like there, where I

knew the person wouldn't get elected and

that I could vote for "my" candidate when it really mattered,

I might have voted for some pretty radical people myself in my time just to let whoever got elected while my vote was sort of a binary ON, my sentiments might range down to a 51% approval, or a 51% dislike of his/her opponent.

Thank God neither of them can get elected. In the US, in my opinion, you can throw Ollie North into the same box, too.

Arf