> Both parties continue to self-sort in unhealthy ways.
I agree.
> the left is part of the Democratic party, but it doesn't have a strong-enough hand to play
If by "the left" you mean people like Bernie Sanders, I agree. But his hand isn't strong enough not because he's a leftist, but because he's an outsider. The insider policies of the Democratic party are just as leftist; they're just a different flavor of leftist--roughly speaking, New Left vs. Sanders-style Old Left, hardball power politics vs. "softer" socialism. That's also why the Democrats now are just fine allying with Wall Street and big business: power politics needs financing, and that's where the money is.
> don't be so hard on Hillary
You're entitled to your opinion, but I'm also entitled to mine.
I agree.
> the left is part of the Democratic party, but it doesn't have a strong-enough hand to play
If by "the left" you mean people like Bernie Sanders, I agree. But his hand isn't strong enough not because he's a leftist, but because he's an outsider. The insider policies of the Democratic party are just as leftist; they're just a different flavor of leftist--roughly speaking, New Left vs. Sanders-style Old Left, hardball power politics vs. "softer" socialism. That's also why the Democrats now are just fine allying with Wall Street and big business: power politics needs financing, and that's where the money is.
> don't be so hard on Hillary
You're entitled to your opinion, but I'm also entitled to mine.