Is America in the course of a massive political realignment, or just a temporary blip that sees strange alliances being formed between bits of what used to be the Left and Right? It’s a big question on political junkies’ minds these days, and inquiring minds want to know.

One hint that we are in the midst of a massive political change that could endure past the next few years is the increasing ad hoc coalitions we’re seeing in some parts of the country between market-oriented, green interests and libertarian-ish, blue-state Tea Partier-type conservatives who place great emphasis on principles like defense of private property rights and opposition to subsidies benefiting big, entrenched industries — or regulation used by wealthier, established interests or people to maintain their status.