What the 'shellacking' wrought

I can’t believe I’m about to praise Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer, the famed über conservative and curmudgeon. In his latest piece, he writes, "Riding the lamest of ducks, President Obama just won the Triple Crown."

The bottom line for Krauthammer: The Republicans just got their butts kicked by a re-energized White House – and they better get ready for more of the same.

Some starling excerpts:

On DADT: “The symbolism of the don't ask, don't tell repeal cannot be underestimated. It's not just that for the civil rights community, it represents a long-awaited extension of the historic arc - first blacks, then women, now gays. It was also Obama decisively transcending the triangulated trimming of Bill Clinton, who instituted don't ask, don't tell in the first place. Even more subtly and understatedly, the repeal represents the taming of the most conservative of the nation's institutions, the military, by a movement historically among the most avant-garde. Whatever your views, that is a cultural landmark.”

On Red vs. Blue: “The great liberal ascendancy of 2008, destined to last 40 years (predicted James Carville), lasted less than two. Yet, the great Republican ascendancy of 2010 lasted less than two months. Republicans will enter the 112th Congress with larger numbers but no longer with the wind - the overwhelming Nov. 2 repudiation of Obama's social-democratic agenda - at their backs.”

On Obama: “’Harry Reid has eaten our lunch,’ said Sen. Lindsey Graham, lamenting his side's "capitulation" in the lame-duck session. Yes, but it was less Harry than Barry. Obama came back with a vengeance. His string of lame-duck successes is a singular political achievement. Because of it, the epic battles of the 112th Congress begin on what would have seemed impossible just one month ago - a level playing field.”

A singular political achievement. Wow. That's high praise considering the source.

But giving credit where credit is due, Krauthammer’s overall analysis is excellent (though I have a quibble or two with his read on START). His take on the repeal of DADT is spot on. In fact, it is more penetrating than anything I’ve read on the left – by a country mile.

Methinks something else is afoot, too. Krauthammer’s piece is evidence that Obama is winning the grudging respect of conservative intellectuals and Republican grown-ups. In 2008, George Will wrote that Obama is “Reaganesque in two important senses: People like listening to him, and his manner lulls his adversaries into underestimating his sheer toughness -- the tempered steel beneath the sleek suits.” The baying critics are finally getting a close-up of Obama’s steely spine – now in tandem with his able swordplay – and the scales are falling from their eyes.

Admittedly, this could be wishful thinking on my part. Only time will tell. Then again, I never thought I’d see the day when Obama would earn what amounts to a gentlemanly hat tip from the likes of Charles Krauthammer. Amazing times.