No I highly doubt they planned it, and they can point fingers all they want, the Republicans will find ways to pin it on them.
If the Democrats had a downfall it was their own disorganization. For example the healthcare bill… its arguably (and in my opinion is) the best piece of legislation passed in this country in about 20–30 years. It will help Americans and our country as a whole immensely. But they let the Republicans paint it as some kind of government take over/evil plot to kill grandma almost uncontested. Then, they watered down the legislation so much trying to get Republican votes, that they disheartened so much of their own base. The result was a bill that sure is good, but they let the opposition paint it as evil, and turned their own base off to the idea. How are you supposed to get people excited to vote for you about that?
What I’d like to see happen, is the same thing that happened in 1994. Clinton found a way to work with the Republicans, and while nothing groundbreaking like healthcare or social security was passed… our country grew, by leaps and bounds. Our economy thrived, and we saw the best decade since the 50’s.
Unfortunately I fear the Republicans have eradicated too much of their own moderate half to make compromises with Obama and company on anything. If Obama wanted to pass a bill outlawing the eating of babies I suspect you would have at least some Republicans saying the government is trying to tell you what you can and can’t eat.