This Row Has Been Hoed

Sidney Blumenthal in Slate today (via Howard Kurtz's Media Notes extra online):

Bush's America is gone with the wind. It lasted just short of four years, from Sept. 11, 2001, to Aug. 29, 2005....

Bush's entire presidency and reelection campaign were organized around one master idea: He stood as the protector and savior of the American people under siege.

E.J. Dionne on Tuesday:

The Bush Era is over....

The Bush Era did not begin when he took office, or even with the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It began on Sept. 14, 2001, when Bush declared at the World Trade Center site: "I can hear you..

The source of Bush's political success was his claim that he could protect Americans. Leadership, strength and security were Bush's calling cards. Over the past two weeks, they were lost in the surging waters of New Orleans.

(blogged here)