Gail Collins

At this point it comes down to politics. The Republicans HAVE TO stand against the bill for the sake of making the Democrats out to look like failures, and the Democrats HAVE TO pass the bill, no matter how watered down, for fear of letting the Republicans win. At the end of the day, sadly, the only winners are going to be the "moderate Democrats" (and Joe Lieberman -- whatever the hell he is) who are currently weilding more power than anybody else on the planet.

Meanwhile...... what about the unemployment extension? Isn't that MORE imminent for people with benefits expiring? The gov. needs to remember they are voters too!

My now-senior Senator is dancing in The Nutcracker too? Man, that guy's well rounded.

Sometimes Gail Collins makes me forget how much I miss Molly Ivins.

You're always on the mark, Gail. Lieberman is not to be trusted. And he's trying way too hard not to be boring and meanwhile making himself more dangerous than usual.

Even you, Gail, can't put this mess into words that can make me smile or take hope. Joe Liberman is just the visible, metaphorical wart on the deep malignancy that the Democrats represent at this point. Together, they have pretty much ruined any chance we might have had for a fairer society. 2010 will be a Republican juggernaut. Bummer.

David Brooks doesn't seem to want to emphasize that many undesirable structural changes in the economy, such as the end of decent paying unionized jobs, have contributed to the economic polarization in the U.S.A. I would also point out that it is only a fairly limited subset of intellectual skills which guarantee the success that he discusses.

The use of mercenaries in performing essential government functions and tasks is never a good idea.

Vintage Collins. I love the comment: The clear message here is that the best routes to being fascinating are an adulterous husband or lots of eye makeup.)

I remember when you wrote about local government shenanigans in the Post oh, about 20 years ago, and thinking, Oh my gosh, this is the funniest person in the world if she can make me read about this topic!

so true! so you glad you are there to give the common sense perspective.

I agree with you, Patrick Bolger. The fact that Gail Collins is able to argue very serious issues while still keeping her articles lighthearted is amazing. All of her commentary is extremely relevant. Collins is an excellent columnist!

Hi Gail, so excited to read your book. I write about women's history for Young Adults. Do you know about Jerrie Cobb? www.tanyastone.com

Once again, Gail, you bring a perspective to the whole grizzly mess that makes things almost bearable. Thank you.

As a Tiger fan, I am sorry that he is so miserable in his marriage that he would seek out these sleazy women over his classy wife. As for his baby-faced, pure as the snow image, in the world of macho men, he may gain respect for his sexual exploits. His image would suffer more if known that his wife really beat him with a golf club.

If you recorded the speech, through which I cried for the first 11 minutes, please take a good hard look at his face at minute 22. He didn't look like he's one bit pleased about this either.

Haven't had a chance to review minute 22, but he didn't look too pleased all night.

Yes.

Definitely not. People need to have health care and there are way too many who do not in this country.

2 more reduced COBRA payments to go then I'll have to drop it; can't afford it at full price on unemployment. Sad the way things have turned out.

"Still skeptical. Given the long span of time in which women were said to be particularly well-suited for everything from typing (tiny fingers) to domesticity (“She has a head almost too small for intellect and just big enough for love.”) I... See More’m becoming increasingly leery of giving too much credence to theories about how any group is particularly well adapted to anything."

Way to go, Gail!! Please remain skeptical. And please tell your colleague Nick Kristof to be skeptical of the evolutionary psychology literature. Nick is great, but he throws it in now and then, and it just makes me cringe. It's bad science masquerading as good science; just because there is purported biological "evidence" in it people think it sounds "scientificky" (I just invented that...feel free to use it...I'm hoping it will make the Oxford Dictionary new word of the year next time around). LOL. Keep up the great columns. I love your informed wit!! I read Dowd too, but she doesn't understand feminism when she tries to tackle it. You can tell her to lay off the Christina Hoff Summers perspective. :-)

Read her new book, it is very informative and what the women before us have sacrificed for us....how many would have done that.