Brokaw is about as sleazy a partisan liberal as they come.
The underlying message from Brokejaw: No matter who is President, it is not going to get better. America’s golden days are over. So, go with the guy you know will keep the welfare and free food rolling!
Liberals used to talk down expectations all the time - until Reagan came to town. Demoralized people are helpless people and helpless people vote for daddy government. The demoralization takes many forms beyond economics. Their enviornmental message is scolding and mean and their social message is that we are a bunch of fatties who need to be told what to eat and evil is good and good is evil.