The specter of democratic socialism is (sort of) upon us. At the very least, candidates communicating the Sanders narrative, and advocating his main policy positions, have become more prevalent and more successful. Democratic Socialists of America membership has skyrocketed. The momentum is undoubtedly with grassroots movements, which reject corporate money and have been shifting the Democrats towards the left, much to the chagrin of the party establishment. These leftists are no longer a pesky little nuisance, but a genuine political force, which cannot be undone via strategists or placated offhand. The democratic socialist response has a new sense of integrity and gravity that the party establishment lack.
Americans still hold elites in Washington in low estimation. Many would be right to question the appearance (or lack thereof) of the Democratic Party's values or program. Even in the run-up to the midterms in November, it was clear that the Democratic establishment strategy was to not have a strategy. After all, conventional wisdom held that a socialist might do well in the Bronx, but probably not in Kansas. Irrespective of whether this non-strategy works at the polls, parties with coherent narratives have a sustainability and clarity that could help them avoid problems, especially as presidential primary races approach.
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