> I am wondering if anyone, maybe Doug, has any further
> thoughts on his this might game out in practice?
The main argument I know of comes from Doug's summary of Adolph Reed. (I would love to see Reed's extended argument.) The aim would be to marginalize the far-right frothers into a self-destructive caucus and co-opt the more esteemed members of the right. Obama takes his left flank as given, regardless of his positions, because of indulgence and the fact that in a two-party state, there is nowhere else to go. Beyond those broad outlines, I am not sure what to expect, because I don't know what about public sentiment can be held constant (a position for which Kevin Phillips makes the case <http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/11072008/watch3.html>).
We can watch the stimulus fight and entitlements to see how realignment may play out. Galbraith has a way to spotlight just what Obama may concede (thought not in those terms). Galbraith calls for lowering the age to enter Medicare to 55 and increasing Social Security benefits. This would encourage people to retire who might otherwise delay (opening up positions for everyone else), be one more step toward Medicare for all, and support retirees and the nearing-retirement whose plans have been decimated. I say, we argue for that and mark the response. That and card check.
Shane