Making Sailor's Day

Just as John McCain is frantically trying to repackage himself as a faux conservative for the Florida Republican-only electorate whose votes he has to have to qualify as bona fide GOP frontrunner, the New York Times spits out this endorsement like a brick:

Senator John McCain of Arizona is the only Republican who promises to end the George Bush style of governing from and on behalf of a small, angry fringe. With a record of working across the aisle to develop sound bipartisan legislation, he would offer a choice to a broader range of Americans than the rest of the Republican field.

We have shuddered at Mr. McCain’s occasional, tactical pander to the right because he has demonstrated that he has the character to stand on principle. He was an early advocate for battling global warming and risked his presidential bid to uphold fundamental American values in the immigration debate.

So in the eyes of the "paper of toilet," Republicans are a "small, angry fringe" (but the anti-war left is the epitome of comportment and civility), and John McCain will continue to shaft them on behalf of his "friends across the aisle" to advance the Democrat agenda.  He has the "character" to stand on left-wing principles like using the global warming hoax to collectivize and crash the economy and "uphold the fundamental American value" of inviting Mexico to colonize the continental United States.

On these grounds, Republicans in Florida and across the country - that "small, angry fringe" - should, according to the New York Times, nominate John McCain to be the Republican nominee for president in 2008.

And I'm to understand the "Grey Hag" wants McCain to win?

If the idea wasn't preposterous, I could almost wonder if they're on Mitt Romney's payroll.

UPDATE: Double-H and J-Ger are just as incredulous.

UPDATE II: Wow, do you think Darth Queeg is prouder of his "conservative record" or the New York Times endorsement?

UPDATE III: Latest Florida polling composite: McCain 25.3%, Romney 25.2%, Giuliani 18.2%, Huckles 15.0%

That was before the NYT endorsement and Romney's clear victory in last night's debate.

Point to ponder: If this trend continues through next Tuesay, will Darth Queeg's head explode?

UPDATE IV: Romney wastes no time, and dispenses with subtlety: