Re: The vote
If you're looking at the big picture, it is on topic.
The Democrats assumed that recent Democratic victories were a mandate to take this country firmly leftward on several fronts. It should have been a clue that they were having trouble doing this with majorities that required no Republican votes at all. Even now, the assumption is that without a 60-vote single-party majority, their agenda is doomed. 60-vote majorities are not required when something really has popular support.
I think most Americans do not want an all-powerful government, on either side of the aisle.