Mr. Dickerson's interest is not in the content of recent Obama speeches, but in the reporter's own changed reaction to Obama.

Obama's sarcasm is just a point on which to hang the real analysis, of Obama's ordinariness as a candidate. The Obama Mr. Dickerson first idolized is fading during the election, and like any hero-worshipper, he's heart-brokenly criticizing the ideal who proved all too human.

So I suggest some sympathy for him. As one gets older, one adores fewer and fewer people on brief acquaintance. And Mr. Dickerson is now wondering whether his affection was more a one-night-stand than a response to a (fictive) legend.