In a tour de force of apologetic paragraphs, New York Times columnist David Brooks denounces as “baloney” the idea that “the McCain on the campaign trail is the real McCain.” Believe the last “half-century of evidence,” not what you see today.

It’s all perfectly in character for the longtime McCain supporter until out of the blue, WHAM!, he delivers the knockout punch line. “[I]t seemed worth stepping back to recall the fundamentals — about McCain.”

McCain: his fundamentals are strong. I can’t believe Brooks missed the irony, and I hope in the days to come he decides not to be subtle.