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He starts with:
Analysts of American politics since Tocqueville have seen the nation as a paradigmatic "liberal democratic" society, shaped most by the comparatively free and equal conditions and the Enlightenment ideals said to have prevailed at its founding.

Note that he says "since Tocqueville" but in an off-hand way so some readers may read him as including Tocqueville as having us founded on "Enlightenment ideals". That is the first paragraph.

I guess we just have to say it goes downhill from there. Its hard to be specific when he doesn't make concise points and just writes in buzz word and glittering generalities.

His point is that the founding wasn't egalitarian enough...we didn't slaughter and sink barge loads of live people like a real egalitarian liberal revolution....the French version.

Tell him that he should learn a trade--work with his hands.

That's my feeling -- he wanted Americans of all periods to acknowledge 1990's "enlightenment." (Note the jabs at Justice Thomas).

It seems back-ass to me that he rejects the "liberal persuasion" that led to his desired enlightenment while rejecting contemporaneous objections to it. Really, this sh*t gets published, and by the U. VA on it's De Tocqueville website? I'm beyond cursing. I'm depressed.

Thanks for your thoughts. Your...

His point is that the founding wasn't egalitarian enough...we didn't slaughter and sink barge loads of live people like a real egalitarian liberal revolution....the French version.

...makes this exercise worthwhile!