Whose mainstream?

Brother Bob writes at Flopping Aces,

When you live in a place where saying that you voted for George W. Bush gets you looked at like you have two heads but saying that you’re a gay vegan is considered completely normal being mainstream for here (we live in the DC area) just means that we’re out of the mainstream for the rest of the country.

...The real appeal of the New Deal wasn’t its alleged success, it’s that the New Deal is synonymous with a time when progressives had nearly unfettered political power to do what they wanted. Liberals don’t really worship the New Deal, they worship themselves. The New Deal is just a talisman in their undying faith in their own ability to guide society and make decisions for others better than people can make for themselves.