Um, this has more to do with 20+ years of Third Way Dems appeasing real crazies,

[MFrohike]

121. I disagree

The Democratic Party has had two main problems over the last 40 years. One, Democrats of all stripes became addicted to corporate campaign donations. There was always corporate money funding the Democratic Party, oil money at that, but not almost exclusively. These donations, bribes to be honest, influence votes. Two, the party became unmoored from its traditional anchor as a party dedicated to the economic advancement of the mass of Americans. The party often substituted social issues for traditional economic issues. There are informal litmus tests for social issues, but none on economic issues. It's inflammatory to say that, but it is true.

I don't think there's a sinister cabal of "Democrats" who seek to destroy the country anymore than I think the average Republican seeks the same. I think most of the leadership at the top are simply and demonstrably wrong when it comes to economic issues. I think too many of them seek consensus in a situation where it does not exist. They fail to recognize that the division of the spoils is a matter for conflict, not consensus.* If it were a matter of consensus, I doubt we would have ever increasing income inequality.

*I don't mean violent conflict, nor do I mean some mythical revolution. The current protests at fast-food chains are the type of thing I mean. I simply don't think the people who've bribed the government into redistributing wealth upwards are going to listen to anything but power at least the equal of theirs.