by the neoliberal capitalist oligarchs and their gross, bloated, swollen propaganda organs since 1984 when the Fairness Doctrine was allowed to die by Ronald Reagan.

The truth is like having refreshing cold water splashed on your face on a really hot day.

Not because he'll pander to them and try to be Republican lite, but because he's authentic and has a clear set of beliefs and policies he is willing to stand up for. And economic populism resonates across the political spectrum. Most people agree that the system is not working for the vast majority of Americans.

We both had worked hard all our lives, and neither of us was rich. We both resented being called lazy by someone who was born a millionaire.

Conservative economics are about paying bills on time, balancing budgets, and doing those things with CASH (as opposed to credit and borrowing), and not screwing around with whats been proven to work...like social security.
Many of us 'dirty liberals' are actually into upholding or expanding traditionally conservative economic models, because they fucking work.

The lowering of taxes for big business and the stripping away of social contract payments is called corporatism, and is only called conservative by idiots who don't know they've been brainwashed.
May be the OP's friend is starting to figure some of this out...=)

...about "liberalizing" markets, reducing constraints on them.

It's not related to political liberalism, and as you've already observed, usually results in policies and practices that run counter to it.

Knowledge is one of the reasons I come here.

--vote in 2014 who did not vote. Energizing alienated voters like that is a remarkable thing.

Plutocrats want us divided. Bernie tries to unite us so we can benefit.