Well, that didn't much happen after '01 to '08. Obama was elected, big majorities and then people fired the Democrats for passing the ACA.
Obama the Candidate was pretty good, but quickly sold out to become Obama the president who didn't even TRY for universal health care and put in that ACA you speak of, which is really a gift to the insurance industry, forcing money into their pockets. The same guy that vowed to close guantonomo (sp?) and didn't, and who increased drone strikes killing innocents, etc. If you think that Obama was somehow not controlled by corporate interests and the establishment in Washington, you are rather blind. I am talking about an actual reformation where the 99% become relevant and the 1% no longer pulls the strings of their puppets to control your country, as they have been doing for decades. There is a reason why both Sanders and Trump were popular in the past election cycle. Both of them came across as populists. Trump as a sham, yes, but one that convinced enough to vote for him over corporate shill Hilary. Hillary came across as corporate sell out (rightfully so) and Trump came across as self funded (though really he's just as if not more corrupt than she is), spending far less on his campaign than her, etc. It worked in his favour. There is a lesson to be learned in this.
The question now is whether or not the Democrats will learn the lesson and push against money in politics, billion dollar speeches to banksters, etc and push to truly speak for the common people. The question also arises whether liberals will be able to get the regressives and the rabid identity politics under control and push for true liberal values (like free speech, government accountability, etc) to be able to mount a powerful force against Trump and the Republicans. The people for the most part already agree with liberal ideals, if only the Democrats can get their act together.
American Democrats done fucked up, and you need to realize it, instead of just pointing and waving and calling people who voted for Trump racist and deplorable, etc. Fail to learn from this, and you really will spiral into oblivion and Trump will win his 2nd term.