If it weren’t for the Iraq War quagmire, Obama wouldn’t have been elected. That’s what propelled his candidacy. Buchanan is absolutely right.
That and then the housing bubble ponzi economy.
There is still lots of denial by some as to how much trouble Iraq caused Republicans and helped Democrats, especially the mess from 2005 to 2006 before the surge. You had trouble finding a positive story on even FNC by 2006. McCain thought he would run by being for the successful surge that Obama opposed and then the economy completely blew up in fall 2008 giving Democrats a huge gift.
All bad memories for me.