Perhaps AOC's great contribution is to show just how possible it is to change the conversation, and thereby shine a light on how Democrats inability to do so for so many years in many case represents an unwillingness to do so.

AOC doesn't have some sort of super-powers. She's just got principals.



Nothing against her—she's very talented—but I think what she's doing is easily replicable just by standing for something real and working for it, and refusing to back down from it or accept bad framing.

Doing these simple things are politically powerful tools that should be used all the time.



Refusing to back down is as valid and effective a tool as compromise.



Idealism is just as valid and import as pragmatism.



They should be employed every time they're appropriate.