Liberals have always believed that socialism (totalitarianism) will work this time if they can just put the right socialist in charge (invariably themselves). The reason socialism didn't work the last time was because they had the wrong guy in charge. By extension, one can say they have to believe that the only thing wrong with Stalinism was Stalin.
I think this is one of the main reasons why liberals have always insisted their candidates were so extraordinarily intelligent and wise and the Republican presidents from Eisenhower through George W. are terminally stupid. If the right liberal can be found and put in charge of everything, they believe, you'll have paradise on earth.
