How the Left Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Federalism

It's all in a New York Times Magazine article here, though this has been a long time coming, and not just on gay marriage. Similar role-reversals occurred during the 2000 election fracas in Florida and over federal opposition to state medical marijuana laws. And more recently, John Ashcroft tried to go after doctors in assisted suicide cases in Oregan, where state law makes it legal.

I have to think, though, that the Left's newfound love of federalism is nothing short of opportunistic. Had Congress and the Presidency both been in their hands, I have no doubt that states' rights would have all the same stigma it did for them ten years ago. Nietzsche would have a field day analyzing this, at least in this regard: is not the push for federalism an expression of relative powerlessness in our political system? The Democrats know that aside from the occasional filibuster, there's very little they can actually accomplish on the federal level. Hence, federalism. Nice switch if they can pull it off.