@BenRossTransit @adamkotsko i think he’s not drawing distinctions within the Democratic Party, but suggesting (accurately) that, in recent years, overall the party has defined the normative by past practice and legalistic intent, and sought to protect those “norms” from flamboyant and dangerous violations on the right. but sapped of their own calling out to deeper forms of legitimacy, its an ouroboros that eventually deprives itself of moral oxygen.

@BenRossTransit @adamkotsko i think you are right this was not true of New Deal and Warren Court Democrats. but i think he is right that, overall, “liberals” as defined by the Democratic Party have backed away from this kind on courage in insisting on the preeminence of a normative beyond legalism.