Now, one can understand an author trying to gin up interest in his subject. But a Karamazov brother this president is not. What Bush’s generally underwhelming public performances suggest to me is that he’s a reliably inarticulate and uninterested guy who every so often gets a talking point straight and who tends to play better in intimate settings. How the campaign’s attempts to obscure this makes for some elaborate conspiracy is beyond me….

The truth, as Bruni might say, is more complicated. I don’t doubt that Bush is a kind, decent, compassionate man. He’s also a man who, like most of us, knows how to act grown-up when the situation demands it. But, short of that, Bruni hasn’t convinced me that Bush wouldn’t rather be making fart noises with his armpit. (Bruni gives Bush special praise for not yukking it up while looking down at the ruins of the Trade Center. But what 8-year-old couldn’t do that?) That may be fine for the lead in some screwball romantic comedy. It may even make you want to talk baseball with the guy over “near-beers.” But president? Let’s be serious.