So bernie?

There are two reasons for the Democratic party embracing socialism. Firstly, many voters are too young to remember the Cold War and the ills of the Soviet socialism/communism. These voters have no historical knowledge of this time period. Interestingly, it is possible to tailor this explanation around the globe. Many Kiwi voters are too young, or have no historical knowledge of Robert Muldoon's New Zealand socialist (not communist) economic fortress.

In more recent times for ideological reasons, Hillary Clinton's doomed 2016 presidential campaign is a ripe target for socialists. Now the political left is free to embrace socialism and claim victory over Democratic centralism. The DNC "rigging" their 2016 primary process is also perceived as a permanent stain on the middle road of the party. Clinton is rightfully scorned for stacking the primary deck in her favour and losing to Trump.

I have two different view points on Sanders' 2020 presidential ambitions. Unintentionally, he may have laid the ground work for winning carrying his party's flag against Trump in 2020. His original aim was to influence the Clinton campaign's policy platform, and not win the Democrats 2016 presidential nomination. Alternately, his time may have passed three years ago. Left wing discount at Clinton's presidential campaign, and wide spread anti establishment rage was the political breeding ground for his political rise. Of course, I made my last point with the benefit of hindsight.