From Washington Post:
One cannot discount how shattering the Obama administration’s killing of Bin Laden has been to the self-image of conservatives who have convinced themselves of that the fight against al Qaeda hinges not just on torture, but on how many times the president says the word “terrorism,” or on Obama’s refusal to engage in juvenile expressions of American toughness.
While we’re far from the moment where terrorism ceases to be a threat, what torture apologists fear most now is a future in which al Qaeda is destroyed without the U.S. embracing the war-on-terror “dark side” that’s become central to their identity. Indeed, having rejected torture, Obama has nevertheless lead the country to its greatest victory in the fight against al Qaeda.
There is no doubt in my mind that the new talking points for the GOP this year will be that Bush policy was the primary catalyst for Bin Laden's killing.
Much like the article states, this is partially because it will rally the conservative masses with a new reason to hate Obama (his hubris and disrespect to Bush - despite the fact that he invited him to Ground Zero), and partially due to their absolute, jaw-dropping, gobsmack of a realization that their beloved conservative leader's criticism-free policies did NOT deliver the result that would make us safer.
The reality just can't be ignored. Bush dropped the ball. Big time. He took his eye off the prize so that he could avenge his father. His immaturity, lack of critical intellect, and inability to filter information resulted in a 10 year war, a blemish on our public image, and frayed relations with most of the world (which, to a conservative, is a badge of honor).
Well, now the adults are in the room, and the path that got us our man was the path that would ALWAYS have gotten us our man - good detective work.
Not massive armies criss-crossing the desert. Not tortured prisoners. Not big talk from a small man. But the one thing they couldn't help but overlook in their attempt to show toughness.
And it's eating them up inside. Good.