I don't buy it.

Anyone who doesn’t think that has been a handy talking point for Obama-hating RW Iran hawks over the years is kidding themselves.

This is absolutely true. As a progressive farther left than King or Ghandi, I watched the Democratic party embrace hawkishness after September 11th, joining with Republicans to shove the Constitution-shredding PATRIOT ACT through. When Bush started bombing Iraq, it was dumb as shit as they didn't have anything to do with 9/11, but also - Bill Clinton legitimized use of force against Iraq by starting the bombing campaigns. This in turn provided cover for Trump's campaigns. I know that Dems and Repukes are not the same, but honesty, all of my adult life (40-ish years) has been marked by the Democrats moving right to appease some imaginary centrist Republicans. The party is a LOT more conservative than when I was young, though thankfully that seems to be changing. Meanwhile, the party has spent the same timeframe calling the progressive wing delusional and ignoring every suggestion or prediction we've made - which explains to me how we got here.

Democratic leaders are not gods, and sometimes they fuck up and are in denial of that fuck up. However, if we can't even acknowledge our past we can never hope to change it - and change the whole political culture that caters to the Epstein class and gave rise to Trumpism.

based on merit and substance lest it be unpopular.

"Democratic leaders are not gods, and sometimes they fuck up and are in denial of that fuck up. However, if we can't even acknowledge our past we can never hope to change it - and change the whole political culture that caters to the Epstein class and gave rise to Trumpism."

That's definitely the seed.