This actually the money post, where a fellow academic points out that Professor Nichols’ personal taxonomy is not widely shared, and (imo) not helpful to the current moment.

I’ll always give Nichols credit for being a forthright Never Trumper, but I’ve come to accept that his political analysis is at best a mix of pedantry and massive blind spots (racism, etc., etc.) Plus as you say he flees from serious interlocutors.

This is an excellent point, and is a reminder that the 1980s conservative movement really did believe they were on their way to New Deal-like control of all 3 branches. Made them less hostile to democracy for a time. Also helps explain the hysterical opposition to Clinton just a few years later.