The last time the Democrats had full control of the House, Senate and White House and had things blow up in their faces, in 1993-94, while the lesson Bill Clinton learned was “triangulate to the center”, the lesson those on the left in the Democratic Party learned for the next time they were in a similar situation was “do national health care first.” Which they did in 2009, with the predictable public reaction.

With things already having blown up in 2010 and odds good for further decimation in 2012, there is no sign of triangulation on the horizon, and Barack Obama won’t chart that path without a major support structure by his side, anyway. But what the more passionate people on the left seem to be taking from the current slow motion debacle again isn’t any thoughts of moderation — it’s that the next time they get control of the House, Senate and White House, Goal No. 1 will be “take out your political enemies first.” As heated as things are now, they really could get interesting if and when that date arrives.