Julian Zelizer : On the left , it seems gridlock hurts both parties . He says Democrats suffer more since their party places more restrictions on government . This prevents government agencies from proposing and taking the initiative . Otherwise , the party loses much of its vibrancy and becomes a more moderate shadow of the GOP . Clinton : Focus for Democrats shifts from proposing to protecting government agencies .
Julian Zelizer : On the left , it seems gridlock hurts both parties . He says Democrats suffer more since their party places more restrictions on government . This prevents government agencies from proposing and taking the initiative . Clinton : Focus for Democrats shifts from proposing to protecting government agencies .