Denial
There are very few ways of interpreting the pattern after 2008 other than a hell of a lot of moderates changing their economic views to conservative. Note that in that time period, "liberal" picked up one point on the chart.
The 2010 election, which was run on economic issues, is another data point. 2012, despite the best efforts of Democrats to divert the election to side issues, will also be run on economic issues.
If there's "delusion" around here, it isn't me or Rob.