A little less triumphalism, please:

Even longtime Republicans are deciding that Obama is the right leader in face of the economic troubles that loom over the country.

Of course, the Republicans, being infested with authoritarian followers, may well be deciding on a "leader." I'm not; I'm electing a President. But let that pass. Before we get too excited that William F. Buckley's legitimate son has endorsed Obama, let's remember Brad DeLong's useful "class of" formulation:

What I would like is a list of “honest conservatives” who fit into the following categories—and let me try to give an example of a person whose existence is recognized by the mainstream media for each class:

• Class of 2000: People who in 2000 said, “George W. Bush is not qualified to be president, and we should be really worried about this.”

• Class of 2001: People who in 2001 said, “I supported Bush in 2000, but George W. Bush is not listening to his honest conservative policy advisers, and we should be really worried about this.” John DiIulio

• Class of 2002: People who in 2002 said, “I supported Bush in 2000 and 2001, but 911 has unhinged the administration; it’s detention and other policies are counterproductive; it needs to be opposed.” Richard Clarke

• Class of 2003: People who in 2003 said, “I supported Bush over 2000-2002, but enough is enough. That’s it. I supported the invasion of Iraq because I was certain there was evidence of an advanced nuclear weapons program—otherwise invading Iraq was just stupid. Well, there was no advanced nuclear weapons program. Invading Iraq was just stupid. Plus there’s the Medicare drug benefit. These people need to be evicted from power.” Tim Barnett, Bill Niskanen

• Class of 2004: People who in 2004 said, “I’ve been a Bush supporter. I’m a Republican and a conservative, but I’ve had enough: I’m voting for Kerry.” Andrew Sullivan, Bruce Bartlett, Brent Scowcroft

• Class of 2005: People who in 2005 said, “I voted for Bush in 2004. But I made a mistake. A big mistake.”

• Class of 2006: People who in 2006 said, “I know I supported Bush up to last year, but that shows I’m not the brightest light on the clued-in tree.” Rod Dreher, Andrew Samwick

The class of 2007—people who are now opposed to Bush only because they think Bush will drag the Republicans down in 2008—doesn’t count.

Nor, I would suggest, does the class of 2008 count.

NOTE Originally cited in 2007, after Nooners broke with Bush.