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Left Has Won (Whoever Wins)

The conservative counter-revolution has failed

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 10, 2008 2:55 PM CDT

(Newser) – After 4 decades, the conservative revolution launched by the likes of Goldwater and Buckley is not only washed up, Michael Lind writes in Salon, it failed "completely, undeniably and irreversibly." The structure of 20th-century American liberalism is intact, if battered, he writes, and liberals should stop worrying so much. No matter who wins the election, “prospects for the moderate, reformist center left” are better now than in half a century.

The coming policy controversies will be fought within the Democratic party—and that’s even if the US has a Republican president. The right is “defeated … demoralized, dispersed and diminishing,” with the ascendancy of evangelical activism overstated and McCain forced to triangulate on climate change, health care and foreign policy. Don’t get too complacent, Lind tells the left, but by all means ... relax.

Acceptance Speech (Archive Photos)

Johnson and King (Getty Images (by Event) Individuals)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., puts on his jacket before he boards the plane at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Left Has Won (Whoever Wins)

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Left Has Won (Whoever Wins)

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

climate change • health care • John McCain • New Deal • evangelicals • conservatism • Great Society

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Evangelical Preaches Gospel of Global Warming

West Texas scientist aims to win over skeptics

As Earth Bakes, Blame Cowards Like McCain

Oil and coal money, gutless lawmakers killed climate bill

Texas Pols Tussle Over Obama's Name in Textbooks

Schools to take hard right with curriculum changes

Hayworth to Hit McCain With Conservative Wrath

Challenger says Palin is backing Mac out of gratitude

Climate Groups Look to Avoid Health Care Repeat

But administration reluctant to push climate legislation this year

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