Clinton’s sidelining is an especially humbling pill to swallow for someone who is not only widely acknowledged — by Democrats and Republicans — as the brightest political talent of his generation but also someone who lives and breathes politics like few others.

Clinton is, of course, nothing if not resilient — having ridden the waves of public opinion through a series of ups and downs beginning in the 1970s. His own past history suggests that the self-proclaimed “Comeback Kid” should never be counted out entirely.

But, but, but. Clinton’s diminished role — internally and externally — within his own party marks a moment for Democrats. No figure — and certainly no family — in recent memory has been so closely associated with the Democratic Party as Bill Clinton. That he is largely an undesirable figure to the new faces of the party speaks volumes.