I think polarization became bipartisan in 2000 when the Supreme Court intervened in a presidential election. Polarization was a Republican enterprise before that (Think Newt Gingrich “this is war.). Afterward 2000, the Democrats saw what the Republicans were willing to do to win.

— John Stoehr (@johnastoehr) January 29, 2018

The difference is that while Democrats saw it, they never became willing to replicate it. Almost to the end, President Obama thought the gop’s partisan fever would break and they would deal. Ultimately he turned to EOs but Dems overall stayed bound by the normal political rules. https://t.co/ekd9xM3b4S

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) January 29, 2018

The idea that a major political party would suborn foreign intervention in our elections then demonize federal law enforcement in order to prevent an investigation into the interference, on top of extreme voter suppression and attacks on basic healthcare, voting etc ARE shocking.

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) January 29, 2018

But Democrats have been slow to accept what is happening, and even slower in figuring out what to do about it.

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) January 29, 2018

I’d say part of that slowness is the fact of how many institutions have basically just given in to the “rule’ of #IOKIYAR and continue to hold Dems to a higher standard to the point of often blaming Dems precisely for GOP transgressions.

— Citizen K (@Citizen_Kryptik) January 29, 2018