“So Democrats have always loved political power when they exercise it, and have often gone nuts when thrown out.”
Really strange, that. Usually human beings hate to have political and economic power. Reminds me after 1865, Republicans poured the nation’s wealth into rebuilding the South - parity is expected anytime in the next half century.
After the war, Republicans disenfranchised themselves in the North, and made sure their former opponents in the South had easy access to political power in Congress. Do you remember that?
Me neither.
Here's what it should remind you of:
In 1788 we had two parties -- pro-Constitution Federalists and anti-Constitution anti-Federalists.
After ratification Federalists lead by Washington & Adams took over Federal government and anti-Federalists lead by Jefferson & Madison became the opposition.
In 1800 Federal government moved to Washington, DC, and Jefferson & Madison's Democrats took over.
The old Federalists soon responded to loss of power by threatening secession, most notably at the Hartford Convention in 1814.
President Madison responded by moving US Army troops to threaten invasion of New England.
The result was secession died and with it the old Federalist party.
So Jefferson/Jackson Democrats ruled in Washington DC until 1860, when the old Federalists & Whigs successors, Republicans, won the election to take over in Washington.
Now it's the Democrats who didn't just threaten secession, they began to declare it, and soon enough, war on the United States.
The difference is: when Federalists threatened secession in 1814, Democrats responded with military force and it destroyed the old Federalist party.
When Democrats seceded and declared war in 1861, Republicans defeated them militarily but far from destroying the Democrat party, in due time R's were defeated by D's Southern (Wilson) & Northern (FDR) "progressive" candidates.
Ever since Republicans take defeat with resignation, introspection and blame ourselves.
Democrats take defeat like a slap in the face, reacting with outrage, aggression & "resistance".