It's not about exonerating anybody. Failures and wrong doings should be recognized and those responsible should be held accountable regardless of what side of the aisle they fall on. Everybody ... EVERYBODY ... should be willing to do that if we ever hope to advance and get a better governing body.
The ideal would be if people would stop pointing across the aisle and instead point at those in their own party. "Look, you're in my party, I supported you and you represent me, but this **** you're doing now doesn't represent me at all and you need to stop." Instead of breaking down the other side, hold your side to a higher standard and I believe they will rise to meet it. Instead our standard seems to be "please don't be as bad as that other guy" (or gal)
I know it won't happen.
Regardless of what party you identify with you should strive to make them stronger and not by just having more seats but by making sure they are better people and legislators. If both sides do that, we all win. With what's going on now, we are all losing.