It’s not that they changed, it’s that they never believed it.
Glenn Reynolds other blog has a few questions for Al Gore and Ted Kennedy. See, in 1998 they made all sorts of claims about “Regime Change” in Iraq, and democratizing the thugocracies of the Middle East.
Glenn and many others ask “Why do these people now fight against these things that they supported only a few years ago?” They attribute it to “jealousy”, or “BDS”
I think however, that there is another answer (espoused by Rush Limbaugh as well) - They never really meant it in the first place. They knew that in 1998 that nothing would be done about it, so they’d never have to back up their tough words with actions. So, they can say whatever will play well to the people in “flyover country” and be done with it. Now that they are seeing their words enacted, they are racing to say “I never meant to say that. See, that evil genius stupid chimp Bush and his time machine made us say all those things in 1998.”
Hat Tip:Instapundit