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In that very issue of The New Yorker magazine that had the cover showing Barack and Michelle Obama in terrorist gear — intended as a send-up of dumb charges, but appearing to some as a dumb charge — there happened to be a piece dealing with political satire. Writer Hendrik Hertzberg began:

"One of the World Wide Web's most distinguished organs of fake news, the Borowitz Report, leads its current issue with this flash:

" 'The liberal blogosphere was aflame today with new accusations that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is trying to win the 2008 presidential election.' "

The Borowitz Report was making fun of the born-yesterday bloggers who were fainting in shock every time Sen. Obama did anything that seemed political, like reneging on his promise to accept federal campaign money, or endorsing a centrist bill on anti-terrorist surveillance.

Maybe the following complaint is in the same mold as those bloggers, in that it is premised on too-high expectations for a candidate. Nevertheless:

John McCain's campaign so far is a disappointment.

Once upon a time, he seemed — didn't he? — like a guy who would resist turning to the slash-and-burn tactics associated with the likes of Karl Rove. He talked about wanting a "respectful" campaign. He invited his opponent to share the stage with him at multiple events. He trashed certain kinds of charges made against Sen. Obama, such as those made by Ohio talk show host Bill Cunningham and Columbus-based preacher/activist Rod Parsley.

But look at what's happening now. A nonpartisan Web site named FactCheck.org monitors campaign ads for truth. It is widely respected. Here's a list of five of the six most recent postings as this editorial was being researched:

• "A new McCain ad calls Obama a celebrity (true) who says he'll raise taxes on electricity (false)."

• "A McCain TV spot falsely insinuates that Obama canceled his visit (to injured troops) because 'the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras.' "

• "Under-the-radar (McCain) Web ad quotes the Cuban's (i.e., Fidel Castro's) praise but omits his criticism."

• "McCain ad says Obama's the guy to thank for emptying our wallets at the filling station. We say that's ridiculous."

• "A McCain TV ad says Obama 'voted against funding our troops.' He did, once. Every other time he voted in favor."

Ohioans have been exposed to more of these silly ads than just about anybody, because the campaign are focusing on certain states.

There's tough stuff at the FactCheck site about pro-Obama ads, too, and there will be more. (Indeed, one of the downsides of the McCain approach is that it invites the opposition to the low road.) But you get the idea about who's setting the campaign tone now.

One day Sen. Obama is a possible socialist; the next, he proposes a tax on electricity that Sen. McCain opposes; or he's Fidel Castro's guy; or he "would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign;" or he wants to raise taxes on people making less than $32,000; or he's responsible for high gas prices.

Presumably there will come a time when the McCain campaign returns to the high road, touting its own guy as a man of exceptional, demonstrated character and a not-so-partisan, not-so-political figure.

But when that time comes — dictated by the views of professionals as to what the moment calls for — it will mean less because of what is happening now.