Ross Douthat thinks the left should be celebrating. After all, neoconservatism is dead, the culture wars have been won, and we are on the precipice of a massive expansion of the welfare state. Is he right?
Not really. The demise of neoconservatism was as welcome to the reactionary right as to the left, so you can hardly count it a liberal victory. On the culture war front, red states have started to use their political power to shut up the left, and the Supreme Court is poised to eliminate left-wing rights and further enshrine those appreciated by the right. The welfare state expansion may very well not pass. Finally, the likelihood of a soft coup by Trump and his acolytes is greater now than at any time in his presidency, because it will have the support of the mainstream of the GOP.
I don’t see any reasons for celebration here. There is no realistic prospect of getting out of the woods until the 2024 election.