From a reader in response to my predawn rant:

Jonah, As much as I hate to disagree with you, my friend, I’m afraid I must. Huck is a wake-up call to us in this: a toothy country bumpkin—who’s admittedly a natural politician—is spreading progressive ideas as Evangelical GOP Truth, and it’s resonating. I think it’s because no one has anything to get behind anymore from the standard-bearers, and people need something. My old boss David Frum’s new book outlines some new ideas, or at least new approaches, to appealing to the electorate (Global warming? Carbon tax. Stagnated middle class income? Stop focusing so much on the income tax and look at payroll taxes. Et cetera.). These may or may not be right ideas, but as unconservative as it may sound, we have to start formulating something new.

Me: Maybe I was too strident in the wee hours. But I don’t think I disagree that much. I am all in favor of “formulating” new ideas. I’ve come around on a lot of Ross Douthat’s stuff. I think David’s book is brilliant. But I get a distinct tulip-bulb craze vibe from a lot of corners. Change is good when change is necessary. Reckless change is never good. And fakery in the name of change bums me out to no end. Who can forget Bob Dole trying to spell out his campaign’s web address?

The horror, the horror.