In order to win next year we need to maintain party discipline and cohesion. I do agree with regard to our registered party members, however we're under a very large and growing tent.
Consider the many independents who never registered as Democrats but generally vote with us anyway. (For many years I was one of those indies, and I do get it.) It goes without saying that we must get the indies on our side and the right nominee will do that, the wrong one might not. Besides the independents, we can hope to attract some never-Trumpers and many disaffected former GOPers. These people will vote against Chump (hopefully) but not necessarily for our candidate.
The candidate we choose to be our standard-bearer next year needs to be someone who can embrace these non-Democrats and yet not turn his/her back on the core Democratic principles. The party faithful need to understand that some posturing or backpeddling will happen now and then, and it's not a sign of weakness.
Not everyone will warm up to the term "establishment" Democrat because many of us are Baby Boomers who grew up with an anti-establishment mentality. So ... you know ....
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