I have been hesitant to write another, here is "why we lost" diary. Obviously, there was a confluence of factors that contributed to bloodbath of 2014, much like the bloodbath of 2010.
But, I can't go on reading more statements of how the Democrats are too cowardly; they were afraid to run on their principles etc.
In reality, most Democrats ran on the golden principle that governs all elections -- gaining the favor of corporate interests.
The Republicans, thanks to their Randian ideology, can be fairly explicit in running as pro-corporate candidates (yes, their narratives are distortions of the facts but they have a consistent story to tell).
Democrats on the other hand try to have it both ways: appealing to a base that supports policies which reign in corporate excess while wink, wink, getting all those wondrous campaign donations from corporate lobbyists.
Yes, on occasion, we can get the Elizabeth Warren or (independent) Bernie Sanders but they are the exception to the status quo and function as tokens to give some semblance that our democracy is not simply "the best one money can buy" to quote muckraking journalist Greg Palast.
I know that this is a depressing narrative but in a reality based community, we have to come to terms with one inevitable fact: the reason that the majority of Democratic candidates don't run on progressive policies is not due to a lack of courage or inexplicably bad campaign strategies. It is because the entire political system is geared to the interests of corporate power.