The Death of Liberalism

Tyrrell (After the Hangover: The Conservatives’ Road to Recovery), the colorful editor of the American Spectator and conservative columnist, sets out to prove that liberals have lost the ability to control the nation’s political debate, and that the Democratic Party is hopelessly damaged—a premise that turns out to be difficult to prove. Tracing the problematic turns of the Democratic Party, which he calls “a whole generation of crybabies,” Tyrrell fares best when dicing up left-wing showboaters and mocking politically correct “Good Causes.” He deftly skewers Hillary Clinton’s declaration of an emotional relationship with the Beatles, and reminds us of Gary Hart’s escapades and John Edwards’s cartoonish treachery. Fans will find Tyrrell’s signature verbal acrobatics and wit here, but this thin book covers familiar territory, and much of it reads like Tyrrell’s random musings—items pulled from old hard drive files and stitched into a book. Promising a serious evaluation of American politics and study of resurgent conservatism, Tyrrell resorts instead to name-calling for voltage. Though Tyrrell reasonably suggests that most Americans reject the nanny state and identity politics, he makes no credible case that liberalism is actually dying. Agent: Alexander Hoyt, Alexander Hoyt Associates, (May)