During a Republican administration making tough, statesmanlike decisions, the Dems - pols and media - highlight starkly any suffering due, or even seemingly due, to those moves. What they achieve is a feeling that Republicans bring misery. When things finally come out all right, they bury the good news. During the last Democrat administration, the President himself went with this flow, avoiding tough decisions as much as possible, fostering the appearance that everything hums along nicely with Dems in charge.
Unfortunately for the Dems, the American people are not stupid enough to fall for all the spin. Thank you, Victor Davis Hanson, for your perspectives.