It's bizarre to me to see people actually still trying to push the ridiculous myth that "centrism" (AKA acting just like the right) is the way to go for Democrats and "going left" would harm them. When has there ever been any evidence of anything but the exact opposite? That's exactly what they've already been trying for years, it's been losing them hundreds of offices, and the reason why is plain to see in all of the polls, from topic-specific polls showing large majority support for the left side of all major issues...
Here's the problem with relying on polling for specific topics...People often take opinions that are internally inconsistent. So, they may say "I agree that we should have free college/health care/etc.", but they will also say "I think taxes should be low/government should not interfere in my life".
Its easy to say you agree with a single issue on a poll... its much different when you are presented with a complete platform (including the costs of enacting that platform).
...to polls showing that most people believe the party "stands for nothing"...
Even if the Democrats take positions that are moderate-left rather than extreme left, there would be more than enough for them to say "I stand for something", and it would be distinct enough from the republican/right wing stance to make a clear distinction.
The fact that people think the Democrats "stand for nothing" probably has less to do with their actual positions than the way they try advertising their stances. Get a charismatic leader in charge, with good advisors who can make the best decisions for campaign ads/speeches/etc. and people should see the differences between the parties and accept that the Democrats do "stand for something".
...and that liberal voters who theoretically should be voting for Democrats don't see anyone to vote for precisely because they're disgruntled by Democrats going right and the lack of options to vote for to the left
I suspect that if a liberal voter doesn't see the difference between the republicans (a party that is trying to dismantle Obamacare, gave huge tax breaks to corporations, and wants to crack down on drugs) and the Democrats (who want to maintain Obamacare, were against the tax bill, think drugs need to be dealt with differently) then they are really a first class idiot.
If such a Liberal were foolish enough to not see the difference, then chances are they'd probably find
something to complain about regardless even if the Democrats took a far-left stance.
...to the latest off-year election results in which voters elected the farthest-left option they had in practically every case...
Not exactly a good measure, since you're talking about a fairly statistically small sample.
Oh and by the way, you know Doug Jones, the Democrat who beat Moore in Alabama? Well, he holds views in favor of gay rights, but he also said he was a "second amendment guy" and has no problem with the
concept of cutting taxes. So I'd characterize him as anything but "far left"... more of a "moderate-left". And he won the.
...to popularity polls showing that our country's most established left-winger is its most popular politician...
You talking about Sanders? I think most of his current popularity is more due to name recognition than an actual interest in his policies.
...and that the rabid orange baboon they managed to lose to with this brilliant strategy in the last Presidential election was the most unpopular (AKA most easily beatable) candidate ever on the day they handed the election to him.
That Trump won had less to do with Democratic policies and more to do with underlying bigotry, Russian interference, and a successful decades-long smear campaign against Clinton. (It should also be noted that Clinton actually won the popular vote, and only lost the presidency due to the foibles of the electoral college.)
