"Liberal" these days, also seems to mean: "Will not seriously challenge the corrupt uniparty".

They go after Bernie, Vivek, RDS, RFK with equal disdain.

IMO, it is not about left vs right, or any particular issue, so much as it is insider vs outsider. Issues are simply tools to divide voters, and keep outsiders and reformers out of contention.

True that there are some hot button issues that are third rail for the oligarchy. The oligarchy are pro war in the sense that they want to keep getting contracts for their expensive and less bang for the buck weapons - yet sabotage efforts to rebuild US industrial (and thus military) security. Willing to fight proxy wars to use up (and repurchase) military goods - and yet totally fail to address security risks regarding China. Willing to let big pharma & medical insurers write legislation.

Anyone honest and potentially effective are the establishment's biggest targets.

Truman had it right: It is impossible for an honest person to get rich in politics. We need someone both as tough and as honest as Truman was - regardless of positions on various issues. In the context of politics, going along with long established corrupt policies and procedures - and getting along with politicians who are clearly corrupt - is not consistent with what Truman would call honesty.