[Flag_This]

"And yet Bush’s reputation is marred by his lapse on 9/11."

Your original point was that Bush's "lapse" would hurt him and the GOP- not mar his reputation. My question is: why did it take 5 freakin' years (2006 congressional elections) for people to become aware of it and take action?

I supported Bush in 2000 and 2004, but by 2008 I was highly pissed at many of his (and the GOP's) political positions. The 7 minutes in 2001 never even crossed my mind. I suspect I'm not the only one.

[Rockingham]

The slam on Bush as dumb gradually proved persuasive with young voters, especially those who watch and take key aspects of their political and cultural attitudes from their professors, Saturday Night Live, John Stewart, Steven Colbert, David Letterman, and The View. That cohort of young people grew and, by 2012, they became the intensely committed late teen and twenty something shock troops for Obama.

Recall how so much of Obama's appeal in 2012 was that he seemed so smart and articulate -- in implicit opposition to the seemingly slow witted and word-mangling George Bush. Jobless or job scared and living back at home now, many of those Obama kids are having second thoughts. Too late. If they listen carefully, they can hear the laughter of con men emanating from the White House.