As long as this is a tactic towards gaining 2012 independents and undecideds, I don't think it's much of a problem. The Republican leadership keeps shouting "no quarter", so what harm is there in the Democrats playing reasonable?

That said, Democrats must remember they still have half the government and bargain down no father right than the actual populace (who may identify as center-right, but hold positions on specific policies that are well left of that).

Clearly this election was a repudiation of the Democratic Party's tactic of just governing. The voting public demands they start the 2012 campaign now.