What do Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Al Gore and Bill Clinton have in common?

[Jim Lane]

67. Bernie's overall influence has been to move the electorate to the left.

You write that "on some issues his influence has been to move a large group of voters to the right." I really don't see that.

Bernie was criticized for focusing too much on issues of class and economics and comparatively downplaying other matters. In the age of the sound bite, no politician can cover every issue in every speech, but, putting that aside, even if you buy that criticism, Bernie's denunciations of "millionaires and billionaires" certainly didn't move anyone to the right on social issues. The worst you could say is that it was a lost opportunity to move some to the left. (As for his position, years ago, in opposition to marriage equality, I recall hearing exactly the same thing from Hillary Clinton.)

What Bernie did do on those issues was to bring into the system many people, especially younger ones, who were already progressive on the issues but who had not been motivated to get involved politically, not even to the extent of voting. Causes like women's rights and LGBTQ rights are in better shape today because of Bernie's campaign.

You write, "Any criticism or even suspicions of inadequate devotion are fiercely patrolled." As someone who's had a couple posts removed because of insufficient Clintonolatry, I can certainly agree with that generalization, although of course not in the way you meant it.