David Brooks at The Atlantic chronicles his intellectual and political journey from democratic socialism to conservatism and then drifting back to the center where he hovers today, 70 percent Dem and 30 percent GOP, using his own measurement. … I guess you can say I’ve had a similar intellectual and political journey over roughly the same time period, though I started out as a New Deal Democrat, not a democratic socialist, and ended up roughly back in New Deal Democrat territory, though no one refers to it that way anymore. … I’d add: Changing one’s political views, if only a little, is strangely exciting, a small drama playing out in your mind, a pleasant mix of confusion and clarity.