DAVID BROOKS AGONISTES: “It is fascinating to observe New York Times columnist David Brooks, like a fish on a hook, struggle and thrash, trying (perhaps) to break free of the Obama hook on which he first impaled himself in the 2008 campaign. One week he is throwing bouquets and the next he’s warning President Obama he is going to dump him. Aside from Brooks himself, a respected conservative pundit who has moved steadily left (no surprise) during his tenure at the New York Times, there are no doubt many upscale moderates who voted for Obama in 2008, can’t bring themselves to dislike the man but knows in their heart of hearts he’s been a poor president and has no idea what to do about the challenges that have only worsened during his term. Today, Brooks is back in break-up-with-Obama mode.”