Well, this "pushing Dems Left" leaves me cold. I did CA single payer for 6 years w a superb Dem Senator. Arnold vetoed it each time. But it worked, just couldn't pay for it well. Every "left" person trying it elsewhere has failed. Bern's sucked BIG time. So...who's "left"? Smarts matter more.
eh, I still like AOC. Bernie...yeah, I have thoughts and feelings, many of them less than charitable. I thought he brought something important to the Discourse as a rabble rouser back in 2010 or so. He's still doing the same spiel, he's stuck in 1934 or so, and he doesn't play well with others.
so, "pushing," however much credit you want to give St Bernard himself, I do think there was some Overton window shifting in how to frame shit in the general public that needed to happen. Policy, well, I don't think he's real good on the specifics. I wanted Warren. I LIKE wonks.