Forget that "centrist independent" nonsense. He's got no constituency but Wall Street, and there is no yearning in the voting populace for his "ideas."

Based on a lot of great research by political messaging gurus I respect, I am convinced that the best play for Democrats consists of talking populist economics, taking on corporate special interests, and combining it with a head-on approach to race and class that raises issues of racism upfront. This cycle I had a chance to experiment with this kind of approach and the evidence suggests it was a big winner.

According to Schoen, “moving the party away from a reflexive anti-Wall Street posture” was a key factor in the success of one Clinton presidency and the defeat of another.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, created in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, has been remarkably effective at reining in lawless banks. How effective? So much so, that Republicans now target the agency for destruction.