Interesting piece. Part of the confusion is the definition of "liberalism". It is a such wide brush in terms of defining an ideology to guide society.

Thy myth of the democracy of Athens is similar to the myth of the US independence and its constitution. Both served the elites of their respective times and places. Until we accept the more real versions of these stories, we will continue to flounder.

BTW, I agree that the previous actions of the Democratic Party led to the rise of Mr. Trump. A definite failure there.