XDA

Aside from the repressiveness of the policies themselves, there are three highly significant and enduring harms from Obama's behavior [continuing core Bush terrorism policies]. First, it creates the impression that Republicans were right all along in the Bush-era War on Terror debates and Democratic critics were wrong. The same theme is constantly sounded by conservatives who point out Obama's continuation of these policies: that he criticized those policies as a candidate out of ignorance and partisan advantage, but once he became President, he realized they were right as a result of accessing the relevant classified information and needing to keep the country safe from the Terrorist threat.

[...]

Second, Obama has single-handedly eliminated virtually all mainstream debate over these War on Terror policies.... What was once viewed as the signature of Bush/Cheney radicalism is now official, bipartisan Washington consensus: the policies equally of both parties and all Serious people. Thanks to Barack Obama, this architecture is firmly embedded in place and invulnerable to meaningful political challenge.

Third, Obama's embrace of these policies has completely rehabilitated the reputations and standing of the Bush officials responsible for them.

Glenn Greenwald

Now that the pathetic AG Holder has finally dropped the investigations of the CIA "torturers" the circle, so it seems, is complete--the Enlightened One is now the Dark Master.

(h/t Tom Maguire)

Labels: Glenn Greenwald