Nah, 2008 we had no chance. But when Obama won he ignored the DNC leaving neoliberals in charge.
So they focused on changing the "weak points" that allowed Obama to pull an upset. In 2016 Hillary was literally funding the DNC, and her campaign had final say on every action the DNC took and everything they said.
That wasn't even an agreement most members of the DNC were aware of, we only know because Donna Brazile blew the whistle as interim chair.
2016 I thought Bernie had a shot, but he never did. They very likely would have just went against the primary if he managed to win. That's how bad shit really was.
If anything I undersold how long it's been. Even back with Jimmy Carter the DNC faced a revolt because he was a hard right pivot compared to FDR and not really what Dem voters want.
The Overton window has just moved so far right, we remember him as the last good one and not the first moderate one. So I wouldn't object to the argument that this is the best chance in 50 years.
It's truly historic, but we had to go thru some shit to get here. And someone like Newsom would make it all worth nothing.