If we have a takeaway here, that needs to be part of it. Hedging her bets with Wall Street, dialing back Sanders' calls for reform, squelching and deriding optimism and aspiration in favor of deal making and maneuvering.

It could have worked in a less divided country, with a more evenly recovered economy. But, "No we can't," was not going to cut it this time.

Clinton and her people need to own this, so we don't make this mistake again, because they will surely want to.