Links for 12/29/16

Links for 12/29/16: I sympathize with E. J. Dionne who, in this morning

MGB: The left needed the push provided by Trump's election to get the rest of the Democratic Party on board with a progressive socialist agenda. Whether Trump is a diagnosable narcissist or just plays one on TV will be seen shortly. If the former, we live in interesting times. If the latter, he may actually do the right thing from time to time, although that may not get him a renomination by his party.

Freedom does not mix well with traditionalism, especially when you have true believers in Leviticus - whether they consist of conservative Jews or conservative Catholics and those beliefs reinforce cultural as well as moral values - especially when there is a separatist impulse. Making the Hacidim more politically aware and savy is probably a worthwhile goal, but finding a way to include the Palestinians in the family is much more crucial to the survival of Israel, especially with the hard right unable to embrace the two state solution in all its implications (including the Arab north).  Freedom means rights in society enforceable by the Courts regardless of group opinion.  I doubt the Hacidim are ready for this, or some Evangelical or Trump voters.

Gushee is right about the split among evangelicals, although they have been headed that way for a while. Of course, it may simply be a transformation toward the Millennial generation, with the older conservatives having their last hurrah with Trump. Whether the anti-gay marriage crowd will be able to do anything is questionable. They could not do anything about interracial marriage either - and the religious freedom issue is likely dead at the hands of the courts (although the anti-abortionists are still trying to draw the magic court case they will never get) and the whole focus was more anti-Obama than anything else - just like the opposition to the Affordable Care Act (rather than just the taxes on the rich that fund it). If Pence were to do a Cheney on cultural issues, he would not get far. Most of these issues are constitutional law, which puts them safely (and thankfully) beyond popular opinion.