The jingoism in SM1 still makes me

a little, but Nolan has proven himself to have a subtle hand in these matters, so I will reserve judgment until I see the film.
I don't think TDK would be the way it is had it not been made after 9/11. It reflects some of the feelings we had at that time, and still have today. However, it's still a general feeling, it doesn't get specific, and the feeling is very much attuned to the plot. Besides there have certainly been times of suspicion and fear in other times, like the Cold War and McCarthyism. That sort of thing will always be timeless.
Now, what dates a movie for sure is the use of pop songs.
Well it's not really tired because they haven't truly tackled it in a summer tentpole.
And besides, the Nolans never said that Batman's actions in TDK were correct. They just portray him doing them, which is true to the character. When he tortured Maroni, it didn't get him anywhere. He used the sonar machine and he found Joker, but also got a crowbar to the head. And he allows it to be destroyed it later anyway. I've never really understood why TDK was thought to be such a political movie. That WSJ article was written by a blockhead.
Ehh, it kind of depends on your viewpoint. True-red conservatives hold tight to the status quo no matter what, especially if it's benefits them. Liberals are the ones who always wants to make things better even if shakes up the establishment, which is what Batman does.
But Batman is all sorts of weird paradoxes. That's why we love him, right?