Modern version (tip to Instapundit):
Obama has single-handedly eliminated virtually all mainstream debate over these War on Terror policies. At least during the Bush years, we had one party which steadfastly supported them but one party which claimed (albeit not very persuasively) to vehemently oppose them. At least there was a pretense of vigorous debate over their legality, morality, efficacy, and compatibility with our national values.
Those debates are no more. Even the hardest-core right-wing polemicists -- Gen. Hayden, the Heritage Foundation, Dick Cheney -- now praise Obama's actions in these areas. Opposition from national Democrats has faded away to almost complete nonexistence now that it's a Democratic President doing these things. What was once viewed as the signature of Bush/Cheney radicalism is now official, bipartisan Washington consensus: the policies equally of both parties and all Serious people. Thanks to Barack Obama, this architecture is firmly embedded in place and invulnerable to meaningful political challenge.
As I've said many times, President Obama has been far better on war issues than I feared. He really has adopted many Bush war policies that were once portrayed by his side as "shredding" the Constitution.
But the president's most left-wing and anti-war political allies from the 2008 campaign are noticing.
It's the lamentations part that I particularly like.
UPDATE: Thanks to Instapundit for the link.
