The Rasmussen poll on this subject was devastating to the Dems. When a heavy majority of people believe that the President had the authority to authorize the spying, AND believe he SHOULD do it, the Dems have lost the issue.
It looks like Bush set them up like a Poker master, and now the tag of "weak on security" is tattooed on the Democrats for another 10-20 years.
Politically, I think you're right. I'm more worried about the legal aspect, which I imagine the Republicans will fumble with clockwork precision.
As far as the 'soft on terror' tag, the Democrats are stamping it on themselves with white hot irons. They're simply too dumb and fanatical to realize that if something happens because the Patriot Act fails to pass, and this wiretap program was compromised, the Republicans are going to 'wave the bloody shirt' at them for decades.
It looks like Bush set them up like a Poker master, and now the tag of "weak on security" is tattooed on the Democrats for another 10-20 years.
..AGREED