(1) the terminology adopted is hostile to the pre-established usage—in politics, the term “wonk” is almost exactly equivalent to the general use term “geek” and occurs most frequently in the phrase “policy wonk”, which it is taken to refer to when used alone. It almost means the opposite of a person obsessed with process but unconcerned with ideals and output. (“Almost” because policy wonks often extend their concern with policy to the mechanisms by which policy proposals are implemented, so they aren't necessarily unconcerned with process.) It's publicly visible uses have been about politicians who are perceived get into the tiny details of policy rather than confining themselves to the process lane the way people expect politicians to (Bill Clinton was a notable example.) And while “geeks” is rarely used about any obsession with a political subject matter, where I have seen it used, it's been consistently about people who are obsessed with polling and process dynamics, very commonly media analysts or hired-gun political consultants, whose only concern with policy is can it pass and what votes will it win or cost for the people visibly supporting or opposing it.
(2) The specific examples are not so good; most notably, the idea that Hamilton was concerned only with process and not ideals (or that Jefferson was focussed on ideals and not process) is ludicrous.
The battle to control history isn't between people focussed on process and those focussed on ideals, its between different ideals. The people focussed only on process are observers or mercenaries, not a side of the battle of their own.
(1) the terminology adopted is hostile to the pre-established usage—in politics, the term “wonk” is almost exactly equivalent to the general use term “geek” and occurs most frequently in the phrase “policy wonk”, which it is taken to refer to when used alone. It almost means the opposite of a person obsessed with process but unconcerned with ideals and output. (“Almost” because policy wonks often extend their concern with policy to the mechanisms by which policy proposals are implemented, so they aren't necessarily unconcerned with process.) It's publicly visible uses have been about politicians who are perceived get into the tiny details of policy rather than confining themselves to the process lane the way people expect politicians to (Bill Clinton was a notable example.) And while “geeks” is rarely used about any obsession with a political subject matter, where I have seen it used, it's been consistently about people who are obsessed with polling and process dynamics, very commonly media analysts or hired-gun political consultants, whose only concern with policy is can it pass and what votes will it win or cost for the people visibly supporting or opposing it.
(2) The specific examples are not so good; most notably, the idea that Hamilton was concerned only with process and not ideals (or that Jefferson was focussed on ideals and not process) is ludicrous.
The battle to control history isn't between people focussed on process and those focussed on ideals, its between different ideals. The people focussed only on process are observers or mercenaries, not a side of the battle of their own.