So define "common sense" as you propose it?
As far as I am concerned what you posted is complete sophistry and utter bullshit. Politics is a contact sport. The aim is to defeat your political opponent, not find common ground. To suggest that Obama isn't trying to crush the republicans is naive beyond comprehension. I don't blame. He should. And he is not only doing a good job of it, they are helping him with their bullshit "centrist" positions.
Admittedly, it is always going to be easier to sell socialism because it is easy to sell "Hey, I will take shit from that guy you hate and give you stuff". It is a tougher sell telling people they should work for themselves.
As it stands today, left wingers are winning the argument. If the GOP thinks that becoming more liberal on issues will help them, they are as deluded as Neville Chamberlain thinking he achieved "peace in our time"