In Philadelphia, a very grand old gentleman is taking friends to lunch at the Union League. “This club is going to hell,” he says, his eyes darting around the dining room. “They let Democrats join now. Can you imagine? And I hear they even let” – here he casts sidelong conspiratorial glances around the table – “I hear they even let Jews in.” This last bit is delivered in a pro-grade stage whisper that leaves nearby businessmen squirming. He doses his snapper soup with sherry, a twinkle of gleeful malice in his eye. It’s his little joke: As everybody in …