They always have been. It's only "big government" when it benefits their mates and future board positions.

There's a missing negation unless I'm misreading your comment: it's only big government when it doesn't benefit their mates.

They only complain about regulations when someone they know, or want to be on the board with, wants that regulation to go away. It's exactly the right size government when it happens to be a massive handout to those same people, or buys off a social group who literally do want to control what you do in the bedroom, for example.

The point is, its all misdirection anyway - the correct question about governments is always to focus on issues and results. When someone has to declare ideology as a motivator, and can't imagine step-wise plans or trials, then they should be ignored.

or "their" can refer to democrats.