As I read it, a number are arguing that the Democratic Party should also fall apart, the nation collapse, and then, somehow, progressives will be able to form a new nation where all will live happily. It seems to me that the collapse part is far more likely than the idealistic reconstruction part, and most of us would not live to see the end of the bloodshed and hardship. Therefore, I don’t take the talk lightly and consider the thinking immature, but the talk dangerous.

David Brooks is off today.

…er, and every other day, even the days that there is a Brooks column.

Some of brain trusters, like Moley, stalked out and became Republicans.

With the implosion of the Rethug party, the reverse of that is occurring now, to the detriment of the Democratic party.

FDR did have more reliable public support, because the Depression had much greater, more impact on lives than the current recession has to date. On other, more progressive issues, FDR was subsequently criticised for lack of action on civil rights. Such issues as gays in the military or same sex marriage weren’t in public view. The Depression and WWII had the effect of marvelously focusing public attention.