Thursday, November 16, 2006

There's no longer much point in wishing, "Come back to us, James." Nevertheless, it's important to remember that he wasn't always as we see him now

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I just want to say one thing about James Carville.

I can't disagree with any of the well-earned vilification of his recent career and current bizarre political strutting. I just want to say this: I don't believe that, really and truly, he was always like this.

James used to be one of my political heroes. His 1995-96 book We're Right, They're Wrong: A Handbook for Spirited Progressives was one of the loudest and clearest and least equivocal manifestos for those of us who felt increasingly under siege with the mounting control of the public conversation by the far, far right.

Clearly something happened with James. And when you consider that this is politics we're talking about, why should this be mysterious?

Politics does that. It is, in fact, what politics is about. It's why we have to keep such a close watch even on people who enter that world with, seemingly, the best intentions. They so often go over to the dark side. This, alas, is human nature. IĀ imagine that over Master Rahm Emanuel's desk there's a hand-embroidered sampler proclaiming the inspiring message:

"What's in it for me, stupid?"

I wonder if James himself realizes what has happened to him. It doesn't matter. He has gone from being part of the solution to being part of the problem. I just ask everyone to remember that he wasn't always this way. It's important, not just to keep the record straight, but to recognize the awful things political success can do to people.

4 Comments:

At 11:39 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Carville's transformation: mystery solved...

James Carville and Mary Matalin have two young children. Ms. Matalin is a war criminal. In light of these facts, his words and actions are understandable.

Not justifiable--but understandable.

 
At 12:44 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Can't someone tell Bill Clinton to "curb his dog"?

 
At 2:54 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Carville is vile, duplicitous corporate scum.

Howard Dean is an honest servant of The People.

The proof is in now.

 
At 10:55 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, concidering that the wife, the ever charming Matlin, works for the Dark beast himself, Cheney, is it any wonder?
And Carville, when he chooses to be a democrat, only hobnobs with DLC types, also known as republican lite, he obviously has no idea what a real democrat is anymore.
I heard he had dinner with the mouth of the south, Ginrich, the night before his little tantrum on CNN.

 

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