I'm not confused. Calling them the left and calling them leftist are different. One can be "left" of the GOP, and not be a leftist. Just like one can be "right"

I'm not confused. Calling them the left and calling them leftist are different. One can be "left" of the GOP, and not be a leftist. Just like one can be "right" of the DSA and not be an arch conservative. Neither the left nor the right are monocultures, and they do not hold consistent views. The world is more complicated than that. I'm a socialist who hates plenty of leftists and can hang with some right wingers because I don't write off anyone right of me as a "right wing nut job" or whatever. You also seem really bothered by this. I'm not sure what's got you so upset. I just don't see the world as black and white as you do, we can say "agree to disagree" whenever if this conversation is making you angry.