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

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. I 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.