Both played the political game, far too much. Saying one thing to appease the base of the party, then doing something to simply "get along", when the Dems would throw a temper tantrum. In some perverted way, they believed they could get Democrats, the media, and even thier base to "like them", if they literally caved on issue, after issue, after issue. They never saw it as caving of course, they saw it as "compromise". However compromise to Democrats is simply doing it their way....just not as fast, but still doing it their way.
Pop Quiz.......When's the last time the Democrats ever compromised on an issue that was favorable towards a conservative cause?
That's a serious question, by the way