The tenor in the liberal elite is identical to that of Louis XVI's court. If the preening idiots on Park Ave and in Hollow-wood could speak French, you'd swear you were in the Hall of Mirrors! Yet there are people who actually care what these pampered twits have to say.
My husband has long quoted George Costanza's "Rules of the Opposites " from the Seinfeld Show. For those who don't remember, George started a run of successful jobs and relationships when he started doing the opposite of what he thought he should do. For example, he went to a job interview with the Yankees and was rude to Steinbrenner, who of course thought he was aggressive and just what the organization needed.
I just read this article to my husband, who said the rule should be extended to all aspects of the democrats. When they say they "feel your pain" they are getting ready to CAUSE pain. When they say they are for the working man, they mean they hold him in contempt.
I really, really like your analogy to the Hall of Mirrors. The Court at Versailles was concerned with appearances, bon mots, posturing, and generally cared not a whit about the common folk. Excellent, excellent analogy. I hope you write an essay expanding on it.