Reihan Salam, whose LA Times article I linked to a while back, has a post outlining his suggestions for a new class-oriented politics for the GOP. It should, he says, be all about empowering the “aspirational classes,” those who, in John O’Sullivan’s words

are striving to better their condition-whether that betterment has to do with founding a business or improving their own human capital. These people will generally include a majority of the middle class, a substantial minority of the new educated upper class, and many people now seen as social problems rather than economic actors.

Salam argues that this kind of neo-populism has democracy promotion as its logical counterpart. By this he means democracy promotion both at home (e.g. by reining in the courts) and abroad.

Definitely a worthwhile read, as is The American Scene generally.