My problem with this kind of sentiment is that it's exactly, precisely, down to the use of "coddled and appeased," the kind of thing you see on RedState when they talk about why they hate John McCain.  Because he doesn't want to destroy Democrats.

What happens when you have a huge partisan divide is that there's no incentive to get anything done but fundraise and marshal ammo for the next election.  The nation is very nearly divided between those who vote Dem and those who vote Repub.  (Usual caveats about marginal third parties and non-voters included.)  The more rigid the divide, the more the side barely out of power feels entitled to obstuct any gov't work at all.

I'm sorry, but I believe in compromise.  You can't always get what you want; or, more precisely, you can never get everything you want.  The people who tell me that partisanship is good and that we just need to focus on a permanent [PARTY NAME HERE] majority to really remake the world in its image are, I think, engaged in the permanent campaign.  And I'm sick of that.