Eight years ago, reflecting on the inauguration of President Barack Obama, I wrote a piece that made two arguments, which may be worth briefly revisiting.

First, I suggested that January 20, 2009, “marked the end of a conservative era.” This proved to be true. Despite the impressive renaissance of aspects of conservatism in the Tea Party efforts of 2010 and sporadically among Republicans in Congress throughout the Obama years; and despite the fact, as I argued then, that “conservatives have been right more often than not—and more often than liberals—about most of the important issues of the day,” Donald Trump’s nomination and election did confirm the end of the Reagan era. A new conservatism based on old conservative—and liberal—principles is possible. Indeed, it’s necessary. But it’s not going to be simply a continuation or even a revival of the conservatism of 1980 to 2008.